Using Insight to Plan for Action: Strategizing for Systemic Change in Higher Education

Introduction

Strong data, thoughtful conversations, and shared commitment are essential—but without a clear path forward, insight alone rarely leads to meaningful change. Strategic action planning is the bridge between understanding and impact. In higher education, systemic change doesn’t move forward on vision alone–it requires intentional prioritization, clear goals, and coordinated action grounded in shared insight.

In this course, you’ll explore how to move from assessment and consensus-building into purposeful planning and activation. Building on insights from the TIJ-UP Assessment and Consensus Conversations, you’ll learn how to collaboratively identify priorities, set goals and objectives, craft actionable initiatives, and establish metrics that support sustainable, system-wide change. Along the way, you’ll gain access to practical tools, templates, and curated resources designed to help your change team move forward with clarity, alignment, and momentum.

Prerequisite Courses: 

1. Assessing Readiness & Opportunities to Plan Impactful Change with NCWIT’s TIJ-UP Platform
2. From Perspectives to Alignment: Building Consensus in Higher Education Change Efforts

Recommended Prerequisite Courses:

1. Beyond One-Off Efforts: A Systems Approach to Driving Sustainable Change in Higher Education
2. Stronger Together: Forming Effective Change Teams in Higher Education
3. Leading Sustainable Change in Higher Education: Building Collaboration & Communication
4. Turning Vision into Action: Leading Change Projects and Teams in Higher Education

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how strategic action planning supports systemic and sustainable change in higher education.
2. Use assessment data and consensus insights to identify priorities and set achievable goals.
3. Translate goals into concrete objectives and initiatives with clear roles, timelines, and metrics.
4. Apply evaluation strategies to monitor progress, inform decision-making, and demonstrate impact.
5. Share and activate a strategic action plan to build alignment, accountability, and ongoing engagement.

Click on the first lesson below—or the “Start Course” button above—when you’re ready to begin.