Sage Forward: Our 2025-2029 Strategic Plan

A note on the timeframe: While this plan is a four-year plan, we recognize that higher education is a dynamic and ever-changing field influenced by many outside opportunities and pressures. This plan will be reviewed at least annually and adjusted as we lean into our institutional strength of agility.

The new strategic plan is a tapestry, in which our distinctive values are woven with strategic threads.

View the Approved Plan

Sage Forward 2025-2029

In This Section

Offer Feedback

We encourage members of the Russell Sage community to contribute your thoughts, as often as you like, in this Strategic Plan feedback form.

Illustration of people sharing their ideas

Russell Sage College’s Distinctive Values

  • Social Mobility & Empowerment: Commitment to empowering individuals– regardless of their background – to reach their fullest potential.
  • Students First: Prioritizing student success, well-being, and holistic development.
  • Inclusivity: Commitment to equity, belonging, and a welcoming community where every individual feels valued and supported.
  • Care: Nurturing and supportive environment that values individual well-being and care.
  • Agility: Ability to adapt and respond effectively to changing needs.

Strategic Threads

  • Students First: Student success, inclusivity, evolving academic programs, athletics, dynamic/experiential learning. How can we ensure students thrive and adapt our academic offerings for a changing student body? 
  • Defining Our Distinction: Ecology of learning, careers, tech, experiential learning, leverage Women’s Institute, Thrive@Russell Sage, social mobility. What sets us apart, drives our unique value proposition, and elevates our brand?
  • Fortifying Our Future: Continued financial stability, fundraising, enrollment, housing, and campus planning. How do we continue to secure our future through enrollment, endowment growth, and realistic facilities planning? 
  • Empowering Our People: Supporting faculty/staff with professional growth, competitive compensation, and inclusion. How do we recruit, retain, develop, and empower talent? 
  • Connecting and Contributing: Engaging alumni, building external partnerships, and contributing to the community. How do we strengthen our connections with our students and our community? 
  • Pursuing Operational Excellence: Improving processes, data-driven decisions, and continuous enhancement. How do we effectively and without friction, make informed decisions and continually strengthen our operations?

Strategic Planning Process Timeline

  • August 2024: Cabinet retreat – draft strategic planning guide initiated
  • September 2024: Initial Board of Trustees feedback; Faculty Executive Committee feedback;  alumni, faculty, and staff surveys; EAB kickoff
  • October 2024: Open forums, inauguration, board planning session
  • November 2024-March 2025: Workgroups formed, including representatives from students, faculty, and staff, to gather data, engage stakeholders, and propose strategic goals, action steps, and metrics
  • April 2025-May 2025: Refinement of goals, metrics, and stakeholder feedback
  • June 2025: Board of Trustees reviews and approves draft
  • July 2025-August 2025: Finalize writing and design
  • October 2025: Board of Trustees approves strategic plan

2019 Strategic Plan

One Sage: A Vision for the Future was launched in 2019.

One Sage: A Vision for the Future 2019

Questions?

If you have questions, please email Kirk Robinson, assistant provost for student success and institutional effectiveness, at robink6@sage.edu.