Northern Arizona University’s Office of Strategic Planning
NAU is committed to providing a high-quality education for our students with a solid mission, vision, and set of core values.
Under the leadership of President Cruz Rivera, development of NAU’s Strategic Roadmap is in progress. Following Arizona Board of Regents’ approval (anticipated in late Spring 2022), the Plan will sunset and the Roadmap will take its place as the definitive strategic document for NAU. Learn more about the Strategic Roadmap process.
These web pages provide information, useful resources and reports, and an archive on strategic planning at Northern Arizona University.
NAU Mission
Our academic programs, research, public service, and creative endeavors enrich lives and create opportunities in Arizona and beyond. We develop solutions to challenges and drive innovation in a supportive, inclusive, and diverse environment.
NAU Vision
NAU leads the way to a better Arizona and a sustainable world through personalized attention to student success and scholarly excellence.
NAU’s process for planning and budgeting the use of public funds and revenue
Northern Arizona University engages in thoughtful planning processes to fulfill its responsibilities to Arizona as a public university and to allocate state funds and tuition revenue effectively and with transparency. State of Arizona requirements and Arizona Board of Regents expectations are the foundations of the NAU processes. At the university level, strategic planning is coordinated through the division of Finance, Institutional Planning, and Analysis and informed by the members of the Strategic Planning and Budget Council and President’s Cabinet. Divisions and other lower-level units use the university strategic plan as a framework for their planning and budgeting efforts.
After a Visioning Process with extensive stakeholder input and feedback, the new Northern Arizona University Strategic Plan was released by the President in 2018.
The University Strategic Plan helps to guide planning, budgeting, decision making, and communication for the university. Supporting plans currently in progress or completed include:
The University Strategic Plan also serves as a guide for a number of external mandatory reports, requests, and plans, including:
- Arizona Board of Regents operational and financial review
- University master list
- State operating budget request
- Five-year strategic plan
Additional details and information can be found throughout the Office of Strategic Planning webpages. Please feel free to contact us with input, comments, and feedback.