If you want to know where northeast Indiana’s colleges and universities are headed, you need to learn about their strategic plans.

A strategic plan is both a wishlist and a road map and it keeps such schools accountable.

It is both a plan of attack and a call to action.

Here are eight area schools’ strategic plans.

TAYLOR UNIVERSITY: A VISION FOR THRIVING

Since the implementation of Taylor University’s strategic plan, Taylor Thrives, the school has entered a season of extraordinary growth. Starting with the 2022-23 incoming class, the university has seen consecutive years of record enrollment, with this year’s freshman class poised to be the largest in the school’s 178-year history.

In addition to increased enrollment numbers, the university has experienced an outpouring of generosity, leading to record-breaking fundraising. Taylor has raised $350 million toward its ambitious $500 million Life to the Full campaign goal, which is focused on advancing its vision for a thriving future.

Horne Academic Center

A significant milestone in this journey came in August 2024 with the opening of the Horne Academic Center, Taylor’s first new academic building in 10 years. Following a two-year construction phase, this 45,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is home to two signature programs: the award-winning Film and Media Arts program and the newly launched Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Funded entirely by philanthropic gifts, the building was brought to life through partnerships with Design Collaborative and Michael Kinder & Sons (MKS), Fort Wayne businesses that served as architect and construction firm, respectively.

Health Sciences

To address critical needs in the healthcare sector, Taylor has expanded its academic offerings in health sciences by launching a School of Nursing and is currently working through the accreditation process for a Physician Assistant program. This initiative is supported by major renovations to two existing facilities that will house these programs. A groundbreaking partnership with Fort Wayne-based Parkview Health has further strengthened this effort, preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders to be compassionate, Christ-honoring professionals equipped to serve.

Leadership Development

Taylor has also expanded its graduate offerings, including two new leadership programs: a Master of Arts and an online Ph.D. Additionally, gifts for the Cornwall School of Business and Leadership and the Roth Center for Missions Computing provide opportunities for undergraduate leadership development, while the Presidential Fellows Program offers select students character and leadership development through mentoring focused on faith formation and cultivating strong leadership skills.

Student Aid

Beyond academics, Taylor has launched initiatives to enhance student development. The Good Work Initiative is an innovative approach to reducing student debt while providing valuable professional skills and career-launching opportunities. A transformative $20 million gift in 2023 is being leveraged into a remarkable $40 million in financial aid. The 10:10 Scholarship Challenge Match is advancing access for students from all walks of life through merit and need-based scholarships.

Athletics

The university is also bolstering athletic programs through improvements to its athletics facilities. Substantial investments include an upgraded 4,200-square-foot weight room, the renovation of Stillman Fieldhouse, enhancements to the Kesler Student Activities Center and the recent addition of a new tennis and pickleball complex. Plans are underway for the Trojan Athletics Club, which will elevate the game-day experience for football and soccer fans, from pre-game tailgating to immersive in-game experiences.

Campus Facilities

The University’s commitment to enhancing the campus experience extends beyond athletics. A major renovation of the campus dining facility, which includes a 600-seat Event Center and new outdoor dining areas and gathering spaces, is enriching student life. To support a growing student body, a Residential Village featuring five three-story townhomes for upperclassmen and graduate students has been built. Additionally, in 2025, the university is expanding its Campus Center to include a new and enlarged Chapel and a Welcome Center that will bring Taylor’s vibrant campus life closer to prospective students and guests.

Main Street Mile Initiative

Taylor’s vision of thriving extends beyond its campus and into the surrounding community. In partnership with the town of Upland, the university launched the Main Street Mile Initiative, an economic development plan to revitalize the area. Catalyzed by a $30 million grant from the Lilly Endowment’s College and Community Collaboration initiative along with public and private investments, the $100 million project will bring to life a range of new developments, including a campus inn, residential properties, mixed-use retail spaces, and the renovation of the public library.

Taylor University’s bold and comprehensive vision–spanning from campus innovations to community revitalization–ensures that it continues to prepare students to lead, serve and impact the world for Christ. As Upland thrives, so too will Taylor, as both continue to grow, adapt and strengthen their shared commitment to service and leadership.

TRINE UNIVERSITY

Trine unveils master plan featuring new, upgraded facilities:

A state-of-the-art student design center; new residence, academic and dining facilities; expanded green space and upgrades to Zollner Stadium and Hershey Hall are highlights of a new master plan developed by Trine University.

The master plan, titled “Something Greater,” was endorsed by the university’s Board of Trustees at their winter retreat earlier this month and will serve as the basis for Trine’s next capital campaign.

Costs for all the projects encompassed by the plan are estimated at $120 million. That amount is in addition to more than $100 million of facilities and improvements added to Trine over the last decade.

“We continue to invest in the future of Trine University and our students, providing leading-edge facilities and technology to support our growing academic programs, a vibrant campus environment and athletic teams that compete at the pinnacle of NCAA Division III,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University’s president.

“We know that these investments will pay dividends as students graduate from Trine equipped to succeed in their careers and make a positive impact on our community and the world around them.”

Housing, athletics, design

The new 200-bed residence hall called for in the master plan is already under construction and will be ready for occupancy this fall.

The university plans to demolish Cameron and Platt Hall later this spring to provide more green space on campus. Another residence facility in a new location will replace those buildings.

The university will break ground in May for the new John and Mary Pellegrino Student Design Center, which will offer expanded space and state-of-the-art design and fabrication equipment to better meet the needs of student design teams and industry partners. The new center will be constructed on the west side of Best Hall.

Renovations to Zollner Football Stadium will begin as soon as possible, with completion planned prior to the next football season. The project includes the renovation of the existing football locker room and weight room along with the construction of a new locker room and weight room.

The new facilities will be located in the west end zone overlooking the field.

Following Commencement, the university will begin construction on a storage facility and an additional parking area for its Campus Operations. The university’s old power plant will be razed and parking will be expanded in that area.

The master plan includes extensive renovations and upgrades to Hershey Hall. These will include a new welcome center; new practice, competition and intramural spaces; premium locker rooms; and storage, office and support spaces.

The plan also includes a new facility to house the growing Franks School of Education, a new branded dining venue and additional campus parking.

“A key part of our success at Trine has been staying ahead of the curve by continuing to add to and upgrade our facilities as well as enhancing and expanding our academic offerings,” said Dr. Brooks. “We’re grateful for the vision of our Board of Trustees and the many supporters who make it possible for us to offer an outstanding learning and living environment for our students.”

MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY

Manchester University’s Strategic Initiatives:

Manchester University, with locations in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, is dedicated to providing vibrant and transformative student experiences, which would not be possible without support from generous donors. These initiatives not only aim to enhance the student experience but also to ensure the university’s continued excellence in academics, athletics and campus facilities.

Raising funds for endowed scholarships is one essential way to enhance their experience and remain affordable. Manchester graduates change the world, and scholarships help make that possible. They increase access to higher education for countless students, regardless of their financial means. Manchester currently offers 380 endowed scholarships.

Another fundraising goal is to increase financial support for the study away program. After being unable to send students abroad for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Manchester is once again offering study away opportunities across the world. The program allows students to gain global experiences through international travel and study and provides them with invaluable cross-cultural learning opportunities, preparing them to become globally aware and competitive in their careers. Donors are encouraged to help fund study away, making these transformative experiences accessible to more students.

Investing in experiential learning opportunities is a cornerstone of Manchester’s strategic initiatives, ensuring that students gain hands-on, real-world experience alongside their academic studies. By integrating internships, service learning and paid positions into the curriculum, students can earn while they learn, further easing their financial burden. These opportunities also allow them to engage directly with industries, communities and global challenges, preparing them for successful careers as persons of ability and conviction who improve the human condition.

Manchester is also focused on enhancing its campus facilities–particularly Otho Winger Hall, home to the arts and music programs. This renovation will modernize classrooms, practice spaces and performance venues, while also making the building accessible to all students, faculty, staff and guests. Donor funds from the 2022-23 Manchester Bold Campaign, as well as grant money from Lilly Endowment’s College and Community Collaboration initiative, have made this renovation project possible.

These initiatives represent Manchester’s commitment to providing an exceptional, well-rounded educational experience. Through generous financial support, these goals can be realized, securing the university’s success for years to come.

HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY

Huntington University has many exciting initiatives either recently completed or in progress among personnel, campus facilities and academic programming.

The university is celebrating a transition in its presidency from Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, who is retiring following the 2024-2025 academic year, to Dr. Robert Pepper, who will serve as the 14th president of the University.

The university recently completed a $19 million renovation of the Merillat Athletic Complex. The renovation and expansion include over 100,000 square feet in the Merillat Athletic Complex as well as the baseball and softball complexes. New and improved spaces in the Merillat Athletic Complex include three arena and gym spaces, substantially expanded weight and cardio areas, larger classrooms, and a new entry lobby, hospitality suite, pro shop, and hall of fame. In a related project, the university continues to expand its Golf Lab. An indoor putting and chipping space has been completed, and plans are in place to add two top-tier simulators for the men’s and women’s golf teams.

An ongoing facility upgrade project for the university is bringing all hands-on Science Lab Equipment up to a current state. The university has already made a significant investment to do so, and the goal remains to continue this process to give students more real-world experience with state-of-the-art equipment to maximize their education.

Academically, the university’s digital media arts program is preparing to shoot its third feature-length film, “Overhill Manor,” in May. The first film, “A Carpenter’s Prayer,” saw national release and is available for purchase, rental and streaming on many major platforms. The digital media arts program stands as the top-ranked Christian college digital media arts program in the nation according to the BEA Festival of Media Arts.

The nursing program is another constant highlight among the university’s academic programs, also boasting a No. 1 ranking nationally according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

HU’s Department of Agriculture is another bright spot academically, being one of the top programs in both Indiana and in the nation. The department has been one of HU’s fastest growing since its inception in 2015 and continues to see expanded enrollment and significant financial investment from donors.

INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Indiana Wesleyan University: A Legacy of Faith and Innovation:

For over a century, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) has been a cornerstone of Christ-centered education, blending academic excellence with a strong commitment to service.

Founded in 1920, IWU has grown into the largest private university in Indiana, offering degrees at its Marion campus, regional education centers and through a robust online platform with approximately 200 programs.

With nine locations–six across Indiana and three in Ohio–IWU extends its reach far beyond its historic Marion campus, and with its online programs, IWU ensures accessibility for students all over the world who are pursuing degrees at every stage of life.

IWU Fort Wayne: A Hub for Education and Healthcare:

IWU’s Fort Wayne Education and Conference Center, located at 8211 W Jefferson Blvd, plays a vital role in the university’s mission by offering flexible education opportunities for working professionals and serving as a gathering place for businesses, churches and community organizations.

In 2025, this campus will also welcome the Integrated Health Hub, a groundbreaking initiative and degree program that blends education, research, and patient care to advance integrative health. This forward-thinking approach incorporates nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and faith-based healing into healthcare training, aligning with IWU’s vision for holistic wellness.

Expanding Access to Education and Workforce Training:

IWU remains committed to expanding educational pathways and equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

• The DeVoe School of Business Technology and Leadership is evolving to provide cutting-edge training in business, technology and leadership. This transformation includes a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, ethical business practices and online learning, with a key presence at the IWU Indy North Education Center.

• Coming soon! The Vocational Apprenticeship Program offers hands-on certified automotive technical training as part of an associate degree. This program bridges the gap for students seeking skilled trades while also developing essential leadership, communication and life skills. This initiative aligns with Indiana Wesleyan University’s mission by fostering character, scholarship and leadership, preparing graduates with versatile skills to excel in the workforce.

• Coming soon! The Early Childhood Education Center will provide much-needed educational opportunities and high-quality childcare in Grant County, supporting IWU employees and local families. IWU’s education degrees empower teachers and administrators with advanced skills, preparing them to lead, innovate and elevate the profession in K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

Athletics and Academic Achievements:

IWU’s dedication to excellence extends beyond the classroom. The university’s athletic programs are the most successful in Crossroads League history, with record-breaking football performances and back-to-back national volleyball championships highlighting a tradition of competitive excellence.

Academically, IWU continues to stand out. The undergraduate nursing program currently boasts a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam, underscoring the university’s commitment to preparing healthcare professionals for success. With rigorous academics, faith integration and hands-on experience, IWU graduates are making a lasting impact in their fields.

A Bold Vision for the Future:

IWU is building for the future with the development of a new 80,000-square-foot basketball arena that reflects the university’s guiding principle: placing God first, others second and self third. More than just a sports facility, this space will serve as a ministry and community hub, fostering spiritual growth alongside athletic competition.

Wesley Seminary: Training Leaders for the Church:

IWU is also home to Wesley Seminary, a unique institution dedicated to equipping pastors and ministry leaders with practical, biblical education. Offering master’s and doctoral programs designed for working ministers, Wesley Seminary blends theological depth with real-world application, preparing students to lead and serve in churches and communities worldwide.

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS

The University of Saint Francis is in the process of enacting “Renew 2028,” a new strategic plan to strengthen and grow the university.

“Last summer, our founders, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, gave the university a renewed mission statement that reaffirms our work serving God by forming students for lives of virtue, service and joy,” Saint Francis President Dr. Lance Richey said. “This emphasis on forming the whole person distinguishes a University of Saint Francis education and makes our work in the world uniquely valuable. Inspired by this mission, the university has crafted an exciting new strategic plan–Renew 2028–to guide us in the coming years.”

The five goals of Renew 2028 are:

• Become a Midwest destination for Catholic higher education

• Form graduates committed to professional excellence, spiritual growth and service to others

• Cultivate a vibrant and relational environment that supports learning and human development

• Create a thriving workplace and institutional excellence

• Generate new philanthropic resources

Each of the five goals contains strategies and actions to achieve the desired results. Renew 2028 was developed considering not only the renewed mission but also the university’s strategic anchors and core values. The strategic anchors of Catholic Identity, the Common Good and Operational Excellence ensure that decision-making is grounded in our mission. The core values of Ceaseless Adoration, Generous Love and Franciscan Joy flow from the Franciscan charism of the university and its founding order and drive the behaviors and activities of university employees.

“The changes Renew 2028 calls us to will deeply inform our work and culture at the University of Saint Francis and prepare us to thrive in the decades to come,” Richey said.

Renew 2028 evolved from input obtained from a broad constituency base. With representation from faculty, staff, administration and the Board of Trustees, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee assessed three years of student surveys and coordinated employee feedback. From this data review, the committee was able to identify strengths, challenges, areas for improvement and opportunities for the university. This work laid the foundation of the five strategic goals.

PURDUE FORT WAYNE

As it moves closer to the start of its next strategic planning process this fall, Purdue University Fort Wayne remains laser focused on building facilities and academic programs to drive and accommodate enrollment growth, which is its top priority.

Purdue Fort Wayne is already making huge strides in campus construction with two major projects now underway that will enable it to attract more students to the university, especially from outside the region. Construction is in full swing on the $100 million Trace apartment complex that will house up to 600 students, as well as the $25 million Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building that will become the new home of the university’s popular music, music industry and music technology programs. Keeping those projects on schedule during 2025 is key to having them completed and open in time to welcome students for fall 2026 semester.

Another ambitious goal at Purdue Fort Wayne is to enhance and focus its academic programs on critical employer needs. Beyond manufacturing, engineering, business and computer science, the university is now working to reestablish a School of Nursing to help address critical shortages locally and across the state. The realignment agreement between Purdue University and Indiana University that resulted in the creation of Purdue Fort Wayne in 2018 also contained a noncompete clause at that time prohibiting it from offering programs in the health sciences. That noncompete clause was dropped in 2023. With five decades of nursing excellence under its belt, Purdue Fort Wayne is in a position to move quickly once it has assembled the necessary start-up resources, which is something the university is urgently working on.

For its part, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. is using its position as a leader in economic and community development to help garner support for a reestablished School of Nursing at Purdue Fort Wayne by including the effort in its 2025 legislative agenda.

INDIANA TECH

Indiana Tech recently finished developing its Building a Century of Excellence strategic plan, which will guide the university’s work through its 100-year anniversary in 2030. Central goals of the plan include providing quality and relevant academic programs that will prepare students for success in the workforce, and becoming a leader in student-centric support that will equip students for graduation and success beyond. Specific to these goals, with the support of alumni, individual donors and foundations such as Lilly Endowment, Inc. and the Don Wood Foundation, the university is investing over $50 million to expand access to STEM education, training, research and development services throughout Northeast Indiana.

In the fall of 2024, Indiana Tech opened the all-new Zollner Engineering Center on its campus in downtown Fort Wayne. The three-year, $21.5 million project included doubling the size of the existing engineering center and completely renovating the existing space, resulting in a new, 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art home for the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. These new facilities provide a home for the university’s current, growing programs in engineering, computer sciences and life sciences, while also adding room to offer new programs in AI, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, mechatronics and robotics, engineering technology and others.

Also in the fall of 2024, Indiana Tech received a $21 million grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to establish Junction 36, a new hard-tech-and-advanced-manufacturing innovation center at Electric Works in Fort Wayne. Junction 36 will build on the university’s expanding strengths in STEM education by utilizing its talented faculty and students to assist entrepreneurs and corporate partners with research, product development, prototyping, process improvements and other services. Junction 36 will also offer new education and training opportunities, making it a source not only of innovation, but of the talent that will help expand collaborations with corporate partners, attract new businesses to our area and help grow our regional economy.