Elizabeth A. Cartier

The Fort Lewis College Strategic Plan 2025-30 is a transformative roadmap designed to propel the institution toward national recognition in rural higher education. It is guided by five interconnected Strategic Directions: Academics, Student-Ready, Reconciliation, Community Connections, and Basic Needs. The plan aims to establish FLC as a regional and national academic leader, support a diverse student population as a student-ready institution, become a national model for Reconciliation in Higher Education, advance economic mobility through workforce development and partnerships, and ensure all students have access to nutritious food and safe, affordable housing. Ultimately, the plan seeks to empower students as problem-solvers and leaders, creating a campus that exemplifies equity, reconciliation, and opportunity.

The 2025-30 Strategic Plan for Fort Lewis College focuses on establishing the college as a national model for rural higher education. The plan is structured around five interconnected priorities: Reconciliation, Academics, Student-Ready, Basic Needs, and Community Connections. Key goals include achieving academic excellence, ensuring student access to basic needs, driving economic mobility through workforce development, and fostering community and Tribal Nation partnerships. The plan emphasizes accountability through regular data tracking and review, with a commitment to shared governance and community engagement.

This document summarizes the progress, challenges, and accomplishments of various initiatives at an institution, likely a college or university. The initiatives are grouped into four categories: Students at the Center, Knowledge in Action, Community Regional Partnerships, and Systems to Facilitate Success. Each category includes several sub-initiatives focused on improving student success, enhancing academic offerings, building community partnerships, and strengthening institutional systems. Specific accomplishments include launching a new Academic Hub, implementing a comprehensive student retention plan, enhancing support services, developing new online programs, launching a nursing program, implementing a life-design scholarship, creating stackable credentials, and strengthening community partnerships. Challenges include staff turnover, budget constraints, securing funding, and navigating complex accreditation processes. The overall goal is to improve student outcomes, enhance the institution's reputation, and ensure its long-term financial sustainability.

The Fort Lewis College Strategic Plan, adopted February 1, 2019, focuses on improving student success, enhancing regional partnerships, and strengthening internal systems. Key areas of emphasis include: Students at the Center (improving student experience, retention, and recruitment); Knowledge in Action (promoting experiential learning, interdisciplinary studies, and career readiness); Community and Regional Relationships (expanding partnerships to meet workforce needs and foster regional development); and Systems to Facilitate Success (improving data-driven decision making, communication, and human resources). The plan sets specific, measurable goals and initiatives across these areas, aiming to increase student retention and graduation rates, expand enrollment, enhance experiential learning opportunities, strengthen community engagement, and improve internal processes and communication.

The board meeting focused on the implementation of C.R.S. § 23-7-108.5, which concerns the tuition classification of veterans. The board approved assigning in-state tuition status to honorably discharged members of the U.S. armed forces who meet the requirements for maintaining a domicile in Colorado as described in C.R.S. § 23-7-103. The president or designee was directed to develop policies and procedures to implement this decision.