Bowling Green State University uses a multifaceted approach to planning. Planning activities include both "bottom up" and "top down" elements, relate to both the institutional and external environments, and are driven by both University-wide strategic directions and departmental issues. Central to all planning activities is agreement that a successful planning process.

• should provide tangible positive results for participants and pose minimal administrative burdens, such as paperwork and committee time;
• requires support from the President, other University leaders and meaningful program review and institutional research;
• strikes a balance between broad-based participation and centralized authority;
• must offer continuity, flexibility and timely consideration of current and future issues;
• requires recognition and integration of institutional history, culture and politics, and acknowledgement of the role of established governance mechanisms;
• should be viewed as objective and consistently applied
• is linked with budgeting;
• requires regular evaluation and revision and;
• acknowledges that it can not capture all issues or solve all problems.

A recently-revised description of the University's planning process and a timeline and assignment of responsibilities is available here.

Planning activities are grounded in BGSU's Vision and Core Values, which were developed as a result of the Building Community Project.

The University Planning Council analyzes University-wide (internal) strengths and weaknesses and (external) opportunities and threats, reviews and refines as necessary its recommended Strategic Directions for the University, and recommends Annual Imperatives.The President and Cabinet review the UPC's Strategic Directions and Annual Imperatives each year and finalize these materials, which are distributed at the Opening Day Address. The President's Advisory Council also reviews and provides feedback about these materials.

Individual departments, colleges, and divisions develop multi-year planning documents that show how they support the University's vision.  Unit-level plans are informed by both the Strategic Directions and Annual Imperatives as well as local issues arising from the program review process.

Periodic program review assists units with analyzing strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and with establishing resource needs, timelines, designation of responsibilities, and benchmarks of success. The Office of the Provost coordinates the academic program review process, while vice presidents and their designated divisional program review liaisons coordinate program review for support units.

The Office of Institutional Research supplies information about BGSU’s internal and external environment to support the planning process at all levels. The Director of Planning and Institutional Research, along with the President, co-chairs the University Planning Council and the office supplies information to undergird its activities, particularly the University Portfolio and Environmental Scan. The office collects and codifies unit-level planning documents, maintains documentation, and serves in a coordinating role for University planning efforts.

Please click here to see a Diagram of the Strategic Planning Process at BGSU.