College of Business Administration Strategic Plan

At Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration, we are committed to shaping the next generation of business leaders. Our strategic plan reflects our dedication to student success, faculty excellence, industry engagement, and inclusive growth—ensuring that our graduates are not only career-ready but also equipped to make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
Guided by our mission and vision, we foster transformational, applied learning experiences that empower students to lead with integrity, embrace innovation, and create sustainable value in an ever-evolving global marketplace. Our core values—ranging from ethical leadership to fostering a culture of belonging—are at the heart of everything we do.
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Our mission and vision
Mission: We prepare future business leaders through hands-on, transformational learning experiences that equip them to make meaningful decisions and drive positive change in their communities.
Vision: We strive to be a leader in business education, empowering students to innovate, foster belonging, and create lasting value in a dynamic global economy.
Core values
Student success: We are committed to supporting students’ academic, personal, and professional growth through transformative educational experiences.
Community and industry engagement: We foster meaningful partnerships with businesses, communities, and alumni to bridge academic learning with practical impact.
Integrated, applied learning: We value a forward-thinking approach to education that integrates real-world applications and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Integrity and leadership: We uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior, accountability, and principled leadership.
Celebrating individuality and fostering collaboration: We value the unique perspectives each person brings and strive to create an environment where ideas are shared openly and respectfully, ensuring everyone thrives.
Global and local impact: We value initiatives that prepare our graduates to succeed in a dynamic global marketplace while making meaningful contributions to their communities.
Our strategic priorities
To fulfill our mission, our strategic plan is built around four key priorities:
- Priority 1: Enhancing student learning and success
- Priority 2: Supporting faculty and staff
- Priority 3: Expanding outreach, engagement, and sustainability
- Priority 4: Fostering an open and inclusive culture
Through these strategic initiatives, we continue to set the standard in business education—empowering learners, engaging communities, and shaping the future of business.

Priority 1: Enhance student learning and success
Student success is at the heart of everything we do. Through innovative academic programs, hands-on experiential learning, and strong mentorship opportunities, we prepare students to thrive in their careers and adapt to an ever-changing business landscape. By continuously refining our curriculum, expanding leadership development programs, and strengthening student support services, we ensure that every learner is equipped with the skills, knowledge, and connections to achieve their goals.
Goal 1: Provide academic programs that prepare students for success in their chosen careers.
- Objective 1.1: Assess the CBA Core Curriculum and make revisions to ensure students are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills.
- Objective 1.2: Develop new undergraduate business programs that better meet the needs of online, adult learners.
- Objective 1.3: Explore new, market-driven interdisciplinary programs.
- Objective 1.4: Continue development of relevant, in-demand graduate certificates for adult learners and working professionals.
- Objective 1.5: Continue appointing faculty directors for key courses in core curriculum.
Goal 2: Expand opportunities for leadership development and high-impact experiential learning outside the classroom.
- Objective 2.1: Continue supporting HUB operations and evaluating and improving
student programming. - Objective 2.2: Identify opportunities and secure funding for new leadership
development programs. - Objective 2.3: Increase donor funding support for student experiential learning opportunities.
- Objective 2.4: Evaluate the addition of experiential learning and professional development as required components of CBA Core Curriculum.
Goal 3: Improve student success.
- Objective 3.1: Develop a sustainable model to leverage faculty and staff expertise in
supporting learners during their time as CBA students and beyond. - Objective 3.2: Leverage innovation and collaboration in and out of the classroom to equip students with the adaptive skills needed for success in a rapidly changing world.
- Objective 3.3: Expand and formalize programming and structure to support student
well-being and mental health. - Objective 3.4: Increase the number of students participating in peer or alumni mentoring relationships.

Priority 2: Support faculty and staff
Our faculty and staff are the foundation of the College of Business Administration’s success. By fostering professional growth, recognizing excellence, and prioritizing well-being, we create an environment where educators and staff can thrive. Through targeted development programs, enhanced collaboration, and meaningful recognition initiatives, we ensure our faculty and staff have the resources, support, and opportunities needed to excel in their roles and inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Goal 1: Implement a comprehensive professional development plan for faculty in support of their goals for teaching and scholarship.
- Objective 1.1: Continue funding at least one professional development conference, training, or other activity each year for all tenure-track and fixed term faculty.
- Objective 1.2: Continue funding access to research databases, academic journals, and analysis tools in support of faculty scholarship.
- Objective 1.3: Improve collaboration between college leadership and the Faculty Development Committee to formalize an annual plan for teaching, research, and professional development programming.
- Objective 1.4: Formalize college expectations and priorities for department chair positions, including the responsibility to actively work with faculty and staff to support their professional development goals.
- Objective 1.5: Establish a faculty committee or leadership team to collaborate with college leadership to improve communication and support of faculty.
Goal 2: Support the professional development of staff members.
- Objective 2.1: Develop a formal professional development plan for administrative and classified staff.
- Objective 2.2: Establish a staff professional development and advisory committee to collaborate with college leadership to improve communication and support of staff.
Goal 3: Recognize and reward outstanding faculty and staff performance.
- Objective 3.1: Collaborate with the Faculty Development Committee to identify new awards that recognize outstanding performance and support of the college mission.
- Objective 3.2: Develop and implement a formal faculty and staff peer-to-peer gratitude program.
- Objective 3.3: Prioritize the establishment of new endowed professorships for
tenure-track faculty and fellowships for instructors as a college funding priority in ‘the new capital campaign.
Goal 4: Enhance faculty and staff mental health and well-being.
- Objective 4.1: Establish a college Well-Being committee that will collaborate with college leadership on the development of a formal mental health and well-being program.
- Objective 4.2: Support activities, programming, and best practices that facilitate faculty and staff participation in community service and personal development and support the ability for college members to bring their true selves to work.

Priority 3: Expand outreach, engagement, and sustainability
We are committed to strengthening connections, increasing impact, and ensuring long-term growth. By deepening alumni engagement, fostering partnerships with employers and community stakeholders, and enhancing communication strategies, we expand opportunities for students and professionals alike. Through a focus on sustainability and innovation, we continue to evolve, creating a lasting impact on students, businesses, and the broader community.
Goal 1: Increase alumni engagement and support
- Objective 1.1: Build a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy focused on meaningful alumni experiences and interactions with students, faculty, staff, and peers.
- Objective 1.2: Formalize and expand a donor engagement and stewardship plan.
- Objective 1.3: Increase opportunities for alumni to earn credentials, receive training, and develop professionally in collaboration with the college and university.
- Objective 1.4: Encourage and support the development of additional department and center advisory boards.
- Objective 1.5: Prioritize alumni as a primary audience and improve communications
strategies and messaging to alumni across multiple mediums.
Goal 2: Expand and strengthen relationships with external stakeholders to increase societal impact.
- Objective 2.1: Build and strengthen relationships across campus that will enhance
cross-disciplinary education, research, and experiential learning. - Objective 2.2: Build and strengthen relationships with employers to increase participation in classes and improve student outcomes.
- Objective 2.3: Develop and implement a comprehensive relationship management strategy for regional ecosystem partners and alliances.
Goal 3: Enhance awareness and perceptions of the college’s impact.
- Objective 3.1: Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for
alumni, employers, the community, and other key stakeholders. - Objective 3.2: Evaluate and improve college communications strategies focused on
prospective students, their families, and influencers. - Objective 3.3: Develop and implement an internal communications strategy for faculty and staff in the college and across campus.
- Objective 3.4: Evaluate and improve internal communications strategies focused on current students.
Goal 4: Improve college sustainability and growth.
- Objective 4.1: Promote sustainable and efficient operations across various functions in the college.
- Objective 4.2: Create a college task force to focus on improving student retention and success.
- Objective 4.3: Continue proactive academic program management to identify and develop new high-demand programs to increase student enrollment and outcomes.
- Objective 4.4: Improve relationships and increase engagement with regional high schools and community colleges.
- Objective 4.5: Collaborate with Innovation and Online to increase enrollment of adult learners and working professionals in academic and non-academic programs.
- Objective 4.6: Continue collaboration with department and graduate program directors on program structure and course management to reduce low enrollment courses.

Priority 4: Foster an open and inclusive culture
We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. By addressing barriers to education, enhancing accessibility, and supporting diverse identities, we ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to succeed. Through inclusive programming, faculty and staff development, and expanded global engagement, we strive to cultivate a culture that values diverse perspectives and prepares students for success in an interconnected world.
Goal 1: Equalize access to education and student success.
- Objective 1.1: Examine barriers in admission requirements to identify vulnerable populations and develop recommendations to equalize access.
- Objective 1.2: Identify barriers and risk factors in first year success and retention to identify at-risk populations and develop opportunities and programming to support their success.
- Objective 1.3: Identify gaps in persistence and graduation rates and other student outcomes and develop programming and strategies to decrease gaps and equalize student persistence and success.
Goal 2: Foster an accessible, inclusive environment for faculty, staff, students, and the broader CMU community.
- Objective 2.1: Examine and improve physical accessibility of Grawn Hall.
- Objective 2.2: Examine support structures for diverse identities in Grawn Hall and address deficiencies in services and facilities provided.
- Objective 2.3: Provide educational opportunities around all identities.
- Objective 2.4: Find ways to celebrate differences.
- Objective 2.5: Implement biannual climate survey for faculty, staff, and students to identify issues that can be addressed to develop more inclusion and accessibility in the college.
Goal 3: Enhance faculty, staff, and student diversity.
- Objective 3.1: Train faculty, staff, and college leadership on ways to diversify applicant pools during searches and reduce bias during the search process.
- Objective 3.2: Ensure that every college search committee includes at least one diversity advocate who has completed updated diversity advocate training.
- Objective 3.3: Support the holistic development of BIPOC, female-identified,
first-gen, and Pell-eligible students.
Goal 4: Expand knowledge and awareness of other cultures.
- Objective 4.1: Increase meaningful participation in study abroad programs and support development of future programming.
- Objective 4.2: Provide support and funding for the development of intercultural projects and activities by faculty in classes to increase “Global at Home” learning opportunities and engagement for students.
- Objective 4.3: Provide support and funding for the development of events and programming by the college and international student organizations that increase engagement and cross-cultural learning between CMU students, faculty, and staff with international students.
- Objective 4.4: Expand and strengthen relationships with international business schools and universities to increase international student enrollment, faculty exchanges, and student opportunities for study abroad and intercultural learning.
- Objective 4.5: Develop a shared definition of intercultural competence, use curriculum mapping to identify gaps, and update curriculum to fill gaps in intercultural competencies.