SU Focuses on Future with New Strategic Plan
By SU Public Relations
SALISBURY, MD---High-impact practices and experiential learning will be two of the key drivers for Salisbury University in the next five years, according to SU’s new strategic plan, effective July 1.
Charting the University’s course through 2031, the plan focuses on four pillars: transformational learning and academic excellence that connects to everyday needs; support students and their success at every stage; a community-engaged campus that strengthens and uplifts the region; and responsible stewardship for a strong future.
“Our strategic plan is not a list of everything we might do,” said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre. “It is a statement of who we are choosing to be. … Salisbury University strives to be Maryland’s model for connecting foundational learning and intellectual discovery with regional problem-solving and impact, preparing our students for a lifetime of success.”
The plan builds upon the University’s mission as a regional comprehensive institution with input from students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, community members, and other campus constituencies.
Goals in the new plan include delivering an exceptional and transformative educational experience characterized by academic excellence, innovation, and student success; making experiential learning, grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, the defining feature of an SU education; aligning academic programs with workforce needs and regional priorities; and ensuring all students engage in learning experiences that develop critical thinking, civic responsibility, and global perspectives.
The plan also recognizes the need for student support, with objectives including fostering belonging and engagement; removing institutional, financial, and structural barriers to student success; investing in programs and practices proven to help students stay on track, complete their degrees, and achieve meaningful learning and career outcomes; and promoting student resilience, health and well-being as foundations for academic achievement and lifelong learning.
In the community, the plan calls for SU to continue building strong partnerships with regional employers, organizations, and communities to address shared challenges and expand learning opportunities for students; demonstrate the University’s value as a hub for lifelong learning, civic engagement, and community problem-solving; and strengthening SU’s role as a regional gathering place by expanding engaging cultural and athletic programs that unite the Eastern Shore.
Looking toward the future, the strategic plan also lays a groundwork for sustaining enrollment management while maintaining the educational excellence and distinctive student-centered learning environment that defines SU; coordinating faculty and staff roles to advance student learning and academic excellence; and further strengthening the University’s financial resilience, including the launch of a comprehensive capital campaign.
“This plan provides the framework that positions Salisbury University to move ahead with purpose, and to continue to advance learning, impact, and student success, leaning into a distinctive element of our mission: to serve this place we call home while preparing students to lead anywhere,” said Lepre.
The 2026-31 strategic plan is available online.
Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.