I am honored to present the Harry S Truman College Strategic Plan: 2021-2025. The strategic plan provides a comprehensive roadmap that will lead our College forward in the next five years and serve as the framework for amplifying our mantra, “OneTruman!”

The strategic plan is the culmination of intentional collaboration across the College. We engaged students, faculty, staff, and administrators at every stage to create common plans for our future; though what made the strategic planning process distinctive was not so much the plan itself – but more so the people involved in its development.

In the last several years, Truman has undergone a significant transformation. We have reduced years of considerable enrollment declines by repositioning ourselves as a destination college for students and the community. We have made significant gains in improving students’ outcomes, including increasing graduation and transfer rates, and the level gains of our Adult Education students. We have reimagined and reconfigured several spaces on our campus to foster more student engagement and leadership. We have created more opportunities to increase cross-departmental collaboration. Lastly, we have leveraged our designation as the Center for Excellence in Education, Human, and Natural Sciences to form new and strengthen existing partnerships, positioning us as a hub for innovation and incubation.

One thing has remained through all this; our College is steadfastly focused on our students and cares deeply about moving forward.  Our mission charges us to deliver high-quality, innovative, affordable, and accessible educational opportunities and services that prepare students for a rapidly changing and diverse global economy.

Our work is centered on three primary pillars: Enrollment, Communication, and College Experience. These pillars have allowed us to create a common set of goals and aspirations across our College that will guide our path forward, clarifying our mission and vision while articulating our goals and aspirations.

Many of our strategies speak to our vision of being a destination college for the students and community. Some of these focus on recruitment, improving students’ satisfaction with our programs and services, and providing more support to our Adult Education students. Other strategies focus on our Center of Excellence designation by increasing workforce and job training, and creating a more robust integration of experiential learning in the curriculum. In addition, some strategies are designed to continue our efforts of increased collaboration across the campus, including the launch of our Action Research Initiative and a reimagined role for our Information Technology department. In all, the strategic plan is comprehensive in its reach and ambitious in its scope.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing faculty and staff for their tireless dedication to the Truman community. Additionally, I would like to thank City Colleges of Chicago’s District Leadership for providing guidance and support as we worked to develop our plans.

Alongside everyone at the College, I am excited to build on our enrollment, increase communication, and cultivate a positive experience for everyone that encounters Truman. The Truman experience rests on the shoulders of our talented team, and because of that, I am confident we will be able to implement this plan with success.

Sincerely,

Shawn L. Jackson, PhD

President, Harry S Truman College