In Winter 2021, President Philomena V. Mantella charged an inclusive steering committee with leading the development of the Reach Higher 2025 strategic framework. Tara Bivens, benefits manager, Human Resources, Mark Schaub, dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Janet Winter, associate dean, Kirkhof College of Nursing, were appointed as co-leads. The committee included eight representatives from the University Academic Senate, student and staff representatives, presidential fellow appointees, and liaisons to the enrollment, digital, and equity parallel planning efforts. Chris Plouff, interim provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs, and Jesse Bernal, chief of staff to the president and vice president for inclusion and equity, served as executive sponsors.

Reach Higher 2025 represents the complex aspirations of Grand Valley’s faculty, staff, students, and community partners. These stakeholders asked for a plan that respected our foundation while driving toward bold new opportunities. The planning process included 24 steering committee meetings; 18 student, faculty, staff, and alumni huddles; and 8,000 engaged stakeholders, which resulted in more than 150,000 total comments received.

The work of the steering committee concluded with the endorsements of the University Academic Senate, Student Senate, and AP Committee in January 2022.