UND LEADS in Action: Turning Data Into Direction
Faculty, staff and students explore progress on UND’s strategic plan, share feedback during interactive campus event
Members of the University of North Dakota campus community gathered on Wednesday, March 4, for “LEADS in Action: A Shared Look at Progress,” an interactive event highlighting progress on UND’s strategic plan and inviting feedback from across campus.
Hosted by the LEADS implementation team in the Chester Fritz Library, the event gave students, faculty, staff and community members a chance to see how the University’s strategic plan is being carried out — and to help shape its future.
Displays representing each LEADS pillar showcased recent UND Today stories, performance metrics and examples of initiatives aligned with the plan. Participants were encouraged to explore the displays, share feedback and submit ideas.
“This is an opportunity for campus to see what is happening relative to strategic plan implementation and to provide feedback, both on the process and what they hope to see in the future,” said Ryan Zerr, associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation and co-chair of the UND LEADS Implementation Committee.
The LEADS In Action displays will remain available in the Chester Fritz Library (second floor) through the afternoon of March 6. They are also available online. All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide their feedback about LEADS and the LEADS implementation process by completing a survey asking for any brags, worries, wonders, and bets they may have about UND and our institution’s future directions.
Measuring progress across campus
The event highlighted how UND is using data and storytelling together to track progress on its strategic priorities.
Each station featured posters outlining measurable indicators such as retention rates and program participation. These metrics are collected and reviewed regularly to assess whether initiatives are advancing the goals of the strategic plan.
Zerr said the goal is to show that the strategic plan is an active, evolving effort, involving people from across the campus and mirroring the more the 700 people who participated in the plan’s creation.
“One of the things we want people to take away is that the plan is a real, active thing,” Zerr said. “There’s a surprisingly large amount of activity happening across campus that aligns with the plan.”
Community feedback shapes the plan
A key feature of the event was an interactive feedback wall inviting attendees to share their thoughts using the sticky-note “Brags, Worries, Wonders and Bets” format — a method first used during the creation of the strategic plan.
From creating a pocket card about the LEADS plan to wondering how the plan can assist first-year students or better involve online students, participants celebrated successes, raised concerns and suggested ideas for future growth.
“Feedback is incredibly important,” Zerr said. “When we developed the LEADS plan, participation was a huge part of the process. This event is another opportunity for the community to help shape the trajectory of the plan.”
Highlighting the pillars
Each pillar of the LEADS framework — Learning, Equity, Affinity, Discovery and Service — was represented with data and examples of campus initiatives.
At the Affinity station, Odella Fuqua, associate vice president for Finance, highlighted efforts focused on belonging and campus community, such as the expansion of the University Children’s Learning Center playground. She also stressed that the event is a chance for University leaders to expand their knowledge about new projects or ideas they may not be familiar with.
“Events like this help us discover activities we might otherwise miss,” Fuqua said.
The event also highlighted how funding supports strategic initiatives. Under the university’s budget model, projects aligned with the strategic plan can receive funding through a strategic investment pool.
More than $10 million has been allocated for strategic initiatives, with much of the money going to projects that closely align with the LEADS core values.
Celebrating campus achievements
For attendees, the event also served as a chance to recognize successes across campus.
Nicole Derenne, chair of the Faculty Senate Budget Committee and a faculty member in the Department of Art & Design, said she appreciated seeing the progress being made across the pillars.
“It was exciting to see more detail about the strategic initiatives that have been put into place and that are being considered,” she said.
Derenne pointed to the University’s work supporting veterans and active-duty military members as one standout example. Efforts in that area helped UND achieve the Gold Award for military friendly schools, an accomplishment highlighted at the event’s Affinity station.
She also noted progress within the Discovery pillar, including research initiatives such as UND CONNECT and programs supporting early-career scholars.
“I’m excited to see more community engagement, especially locally and regionally,” Derenne said.
