Abstract:

A STEM University, located in Boston Massachusetts known for its hands-on, experiential, and cooperative education approach, prepares traditional graduates to be future-focused and career-ready. Part of the University's strategic plan, developed in 2020 and readopted in 2025 encompasses high-value learning, transformative student experience and next-generation partnerships. As the school began offering online degree programs and leveraging industry partnerships to recruit non-traditional students, the strategic plan, initially designed for the traditional educational landscape, was used as the framework to navigate change at the institution to serve a new population of learners. Adopting an entrepreneurial process highlighted the benefits beyond the traditional, allowing alignment with strategic goals to gain buy-in across the campus. This includes financial diversification through a life-long learning education model directly committed to the University’s strategy. Participants attending this session will learn about best practices, areas to avoid failure, and a framework that represents value for the institution as it relates to strategic goals, which can then be scaled to support change. This value is well beyond financial and directly correlates with the university’s mission.

Keywords:

STEM, Higher Education, Online Learning, Adult Learners, Non-Traditional Students, Strategic Planning, Partnerships, Education Framework, Best Practices, Educational Value, Curriculum Design, Quality.