

Strategic Planning
Commonwealth University’s inaugural strategic plan identifies student-centered initiatives and ideals to advance our mission, vision, values, and goals, empowering students to achieve their personal and professional aspirations. Our strategic statements, priorities, and commitments will guide this journey of learning, discovery, growth, and achievement.
Strategic Planning Committee (SPC)
Through an inclusive nomination process, President Hanna appointed a Strategic Planning Committee to analyze the feedback from our campus community and develop the final strategic plan for approval. The members of this committee are listed below.
- Elizabeth Arnold
Executive Communications and Editorial Director
Lock Haven - Ms. Skylar Brown
Student - Political Science Major
Mansfield - Dr. John Bodenman
Professor of Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences
Strategic Planning Core Team Member
Bloomsburg - Ms. Denise Davey
Financial Aid Administrator, Financial Aid
AFSCME Representative
Mansfield - Ms. Amy DeLozier
Director of Student Recreation Center & Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisor
SCUPA Representative
Mansfield - Dr. Amy Downes
Associate Vice President for Student Success and Campus Life
Lock Haven - Ms. Tess Fosse
Executive Director, Disability Services and ADA Coordinator, University Disability Services
Bloomsburg - Mr. Kenneth Hall
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Lock Haven - Mr. Drew Hostetter
BU Foundation Board Chair
Bloomsburg - Ms. Brandy Hower
Clerical Assistant 3, Nursing UG
Nursing Department
Bloomsburg - Mr. Steve Jones
BU Foundation Board Vice Chair
Bloomsburg - Ms. Joleen Karichner
Clerk Typist 3, Health Science
AFSCME Representative
Lock Haven - Dr. Carolyn LaMacchia
Chair and Associate Professor of Instructional Technology, Analytics, and Workforce Learning
APSCUF Representative
Bloomsburg - Mr. Rick Lilla
Professor, Media Librarian
APSCUF Representative
Lock Haven - Ms. Hope Lineman
Strategic Advisor to the Chancellor on Workforce Innovation, PASSHE Executive Director Workforce Development
Bloomsburg - Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics, Professor, and Chair of Department of Athletics Faculty
Bloomsburg - Dr. Lynda Michaels
Associate Vice President for Alumni and Professional Engagement
Bloomsburg - Dr. Cori Myers
Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness
Strategic Planning Core Team Member
Lock Haven - Ms. Amy Osborne
Assistant Provost
Strategic Planning Core Team Member
Bloomsburg - Ms. Gretchen Osterman
Academic Advisor, Academic Advisement
SCUPA President
Bloomsburg - Dr. Alison Polly
Assistant Professor, Education & Special Education
APSCUF Representative
Mansfield - Dr. Latha Ramakrishnan
Dean, College of Science and Technology
Bloomsburg - Ms. Jen Riter
LHU Foundation Board Chair
Lock Haven - Ms. Barbara Romano
'83, '21M Alumna
Vice President, IT Product Development & Governance - Mr. Timothy Shuey
Vice President for Fiscal Affairs
Mansfield - Ms. Stacy Wagner
Associate Vice President, Facilities
Mansfield - Mr. Justin White
Student - Sports Administration Major
Lock Haven - Ms. Christine Wise
Assistant Director of Community Service
SCUPA Representative
Lock Haven - Ms. Kate Woodruff
Student - Geography and Environmental Planning
Bloomsburg
Strategic Planning Process
Following the integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities and adoption of unified Mission, Vision, and Values statements in August 2022, Commonwealth University embarked on its first-ever strategic planning process. This effort, which kicked off in fall 2022 and carried through early summer 2023, involved input and perspectives from across our entire campus community. CU received Senate endorsement at the September 14 meeting, and awaits the October Council of Trustees (COT) meeting for final plan endorsement.
As we aspire toward our vision to be a premier regional public institution that supports and prepares all students for success in the global workforce, CU’s steadfast efforts resulted in a strategic plan that reflects broad perspectives from everyone who has an important stake in the university – our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, donors, and business and community leaders.
To accomplish this, many opportunities for inclusive engagement through the course of the strategic planning process, were communicated and included surveys, focus groups, town halls, and local assembly meetings. At the fall 2023 Senate and COT meetings, CU seeks endorsement of the final draft; however, ongoing discussion and periodic review of the five-year plan will assure that it remains relevant as we move forward.
Strategic Planning Timeline The strategic plan development launched in fall 2022 and concluded in summer 2023.

Phase 1 - Research, Design, Plan
August – September 2022
- Background research and planning
- Meetings with leadership and core team
- Conduct stakeholder interviews
Phase 2 - Draft Initial Plan
October – December 2022
- Nominate CU Strategic Planning Committee (SPC)
- Partner with key stakeholders to draft an initial framework
- Introduce web-based comment tool
- Deploy community survey
Phase 3 - Refine and Validate
January – March 2023
- Host SPC kickoff meeting
- Facilitate SPC working session(s) to further develop strategic priority areas and initiatives
- Collaborate with university leadership on key plan elements
- Share and validate draft plan with community via brief survey and existing shared governance structures
- Facilitate culture and communication-focused listening and community building sessions
Phase 4 - Finalize, Share, and Prepare for Implementation
April – September 2023*
-
Partner with SPC to finalize goals, measures, and metrics
- Finalize and design the strategic plan
- Solicit feedback and endorsement through new Shared Governance Constitution and Council of Trustees
- Ensure the organizational structures and processes are in place for effective plan implementation
- Begin implementation process in partnership with university leadership
*The timeline was extended through September to accomodate when the new Senate first meets.
During fall 2022 and through early summer 2023, numerous opportunities for all members of the CU campus communities to participate in the strategic planning process were available through town halls and surveys.
In March, CU invited your input through the Strategic Planning Framework Feedback Survey and used the responses to make revisions. A brief presentation and opportunities for feedback were offered at the Local Assembly on each campus in April as a final opportunity to offer feedback.
Please review the most recent Strategic Planning Framework.
Click here to download our Strategic Plan Visual Rendering.
Should you have any questions, please contact StrategicPlanning@commonwealthu.edu. Thank you.