Implementation

Moving Elevate Extraordinary 2030 From Vision to Action

Elevate Extraordinary 2030 articulates the University of Minnesota’s strategic direction. The strategic roadmap is organized into five Imperatives, 20 Focus Areas (goals), and associated Key Early Actions.

While some Key Early Actions were identified at the outset, additional actions will continue to emerge throughout planning and implementation through campuses, colleges and units.

What This Means Right Now

Since the introduction of Elevate Extraordinary 2030 in October and approval by the Board of Regents in mid-November, the University has shifted from strategy development to early-stage implementation.

At this stage:

  • Action Teams are focused on planning, coordination, and alignment.
  • Campus, collegiate, and unit planning remains the primary way most people will engage with the roadmap during the 2025–26 academic year.
  • Broader involvement and visible impacts will emerge as initiatives move from planning into implementation.

How the Strategic Roadmap Is Being Implemented

To advance Elevate Extraordinary 2030, the University is executing a concurrent planning process across three interconnected areas. Each area plays a distinct role while contributing to the shared strategic direction.

  • University Planning
    An Action Team has been assigned to each Focus Area and charged with operationalizing its Key Early Actions across the University. This level focuses on institution-wide initiatives and is one component of the overall plan.
  • Campus Planning
    At the same time, the five campuses (Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities) are developing or refining campus-specific strategic plans that reflect their unique geography, mission, and strengths, while aligning with the University Strategic Roadmap. These plans will represent a large part of the initiatives and programs that will lead to our overall success.
  • Collegiate & Unit Planning
    Colleges, schools, and administrative units have developed, are developing, or will develop strategic plans that align with both campus priorities and the University Strategic Roadmap.

These planning layers operate in parallel rather than top-down. The University Strategic Roadmap provides shared direction, while campuses and units define how they align based on local expertise and context.

Current University Planning Phase

The current phase focuses on planning for effective implementation. This includes:

  • Establishing Action Teams aligned to each of the 20 Focus Areas
  • Developing Action Team charters and initial project plans around Key Early Actions
  • Collaboratively developing draft metrics and outcomes with Action Team Leads and other stakeholders
  • Building communication structures to identify overlap and leverage synergies with campus and unit planning efforts

University Planning Implementation Timeline

Phase 1 (October 2025 – January 2026)
Identifying people, scope, and getting tools in place.

  • Action Teams established
  • Action Team meetings initiated and shared tools developed
  • Initial submission of proposals from early-forming Action Teams

Phase 2 (January 2026 – May 2026)
Turning priorities into clearly defined, aligned, and feasible project plans.

  • Action Team charters (optional) and project plans developed and submitted
  • Project plan proposals reviewed 
  • Leadership decisions on proposed plans 

Phase 3 (May 2026 – 2030)
Initiatives move into execution, with lessons learned informing broader adoption.

  • Funded initiatives launched and refined
  • Successful approaches expanded and institutionalized over time

Frequently Asked Questions

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How does University planning relate to campus or unit strategic planning?

Think of the planning process as synchronized rather than hierarchical. University planning focuses on a set of university-wide Key Early Actions that require cross-campus coordination. Campus and unit planning addresses local priorities and implementation details, aligning and laddering up to the 20 Focus Areas.

  • University Planning provides shared direction and coordination.
  • Campus and Unit Planning allows individual strengths, geographies, and missions to shape how the strategy is realized.

What are Action Teams, and how do they relate to existing committees?

Action Teams are the primary mechanism for advancing University-level development and implementation of the Key Early Actions in the Strategic Roadmap.

  • Purpose: Action Teams are implementation-focused and charged with operationalizing Key Early Actions within their assigned Focus Areas.
  • Scope: Action Teams work across campuses and units to develop project plans that reflect University-wide alignment.
  • Relationship to governance: Action Teams do not replace existing governance bodies or operational committees. 

Will there be opportunities to learn more about the plans being developed by the Action Teams?

Yes. While the detailed project plans serve as internal roadmaps for our teams, we are committed to keeping the University informed. We will provide regular updates on this website as we hit key milestones.

How will progress be measured?

Progress will be tracked using a set of metrics and multi-year outcomes that are being collaboratively developed by Action Team Leads and key stakeholders.

The proposed measurement framework will be presented to the Board of Regents for review and approval at its February 2026 meeting.

What if I don’t see my program, unit, or initiative reflected in the Strategic Roadmap?

Elevate Extraordinary 2030 is a high-level strategic roadmap, not a comprehensive inventory of all University activities.

Focus Area Action Teams

Action Teams are charged with developing project plans that span the University (all five campuses, when appropriate) and operationalize the Key Early Actions within their assigned Focus Areas.

Campus Planning Teams

The Campus Planning Teams will be charged with identifying priorities and initiatives that align and ladder up to the Strategic Roadmap to inform implementation on their campuses, under the direction of their campus leadership. Additional campus planning links will be added as teams begin and advance their planning processes.