Executive Summary

Pepperdine theme tower

We share a global vision, an inspiring mission, a glorious dream, and a transformative idea called Pepperdine. Our collective dreams for the next chapter of Pepperdine are so grand and unbounded, they are like a mighty mountain beckoning us—to climb.

President Jim Gash
Inaugural Address, September 25, 2019

Pepperdine 2030: Ascend Together

Pepperdine 2030: Ascend Together builds on the University's distinctive identity and its momentum as a top-50 ranked national university. The strategic plan is both anchored in the unchanging values and ideals of the University and flexible enough to adapt to new and evolving opportunities and challenges.

We lean into our future with faith in God's providence, believing that Pepperdine has the people, the mission, the vision, the values, and the resilience to ascend to new heights of excellence. Pepperdine has aspired, rightly, to preeminence as a global, Christian university. Now, we are prepared to fulfill our aspiration and to be one.

Our Vision

Pepperdine University will be a preeminent, global Christian university, known for the integration of faith and learning, whose graduates lead purposeful lives as servant-minded leaders throughout the world.

Our Mission

Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.

Board of Regents Strategic Guidance

↓

Mission

↔

Vision

↓

Presidential Vision

↓

Animating Convictions

↓

Empowering Commitments

↓

Objectives and Goals

↓

System

↔

Structures

↓

Measurements

Strategic planning at Pepperdine is an ongoing and iterative process as the University is constantly in a state of refinement and recalibration to maximize the excellence it delivers. The diagram offers a snapshot of a highly dynamic process and incorporates the strategic guidance offered by the Board of Regents and the Presidential Vision Statement from President Gash.

Animating Convictions

A fresh articulation of the enduring values, beliefs, and ideals that motivate and inspire the University.

We Affirm
that all things hold together in Christ

We Have an Unyielding Commitment
to the relentless pursuit of both academic excellence and Christian faith and values

We Will Lead
with courage, integrity, and humility

We Will Strengthen
our shared sense of belonging and celebrate God’s diversity

We Will Embody
the distinctive spirit of Pepperdine

Empowering Commitments

The fuel that energizes the animating convictions and empowers our efforts to realize the strategic objectives and goals.

1

Expanding Resources and Partnerships

2

Sharing the Pepperdine Story to Strengthen Our Reputation and Brand

3

Advancing Strategic Innovation and Mission-Enhancing Technology

Academic Excellence

Foster and promote a culture of academic excellence and an enhanced commitment to integrative learning and scholarship

Hire, develop, resource, and retain outstanding faculty who will strengthen the University's pursuit of missional excellence through their teaching, mentoring, and scholarship.
Establish Pepperdine as a global leader in the faith and scholarship conversation.
Explore strategic opportunities—for developing new academic programs, new colleges or schools, and for building creative alliances with like-minded partners—that leverage University strengths, meet student and community needs, and advance the University's mission.
Employ state-of-the-art technology in both physical and online classrooms in the service of academic excellence, transformative educational experiences, and innovative scholarship.

Vibrant Community

Cultivate a vibrant community grounded in Pepperdine's Christian mission and guided by incarnational faith

Hire, develop, retain, and resource exceptional staff members and administrators who will strengthen the University's vibrant community and culture of missional excellence through their work.
Strengthen spiritual life and formation efforts within the University and increase collaboration and engagement across departments and schools.
Cultivate an enhanced commitment to service and to community engagement through the curriculum and the cocurriculum.
Deepen and broaden the impact of the Office of Church Relations, the Boone Center for the Family, and the Center for Faith and Learning in equipping families, scholars, ministers, and faith communities.

Transformed Students

Deliver a transformative educational experience that holistically prepares students to be global servant leaders

Attract, enroll, and retain exceptional students who embrace the University's distinctive mission.
Fully implement best-in-class student wholeness and resilience programming across the University to strengthen a thriving student community intellectually, spiritually, relationally, and physically, in both life skills and service.
Expand high-impact educational practices, especially experiential learning, that prepare students for leadership roles and equip them for lives of purpose and service.
Promote and support the highest level of excellence in the arts and athletics.

Strengthened Sense of Belonging

Strengthen and deepen a community of belonging

Enhance diversity and deepen the sense of belonging at Pepperdine.
Strengthen alumni engagement with the University and deepen the sense of connection to alma mater.
Foster a culture that embraces intellectual diversity and promotes a hospitable environment for the expression of ideas guided by Christ's love and framed by the relentless search for truth.

Local and Global Impact

Elevate the University's presence and impact in Malibu, in Los Angeles, and around the globe

Elevate Pepperdine’s visibility and impact in the greater Los Angeles area.
Expand Pepperdine’s global reach and impact.

Operational Excellence

Innovatively reimagine the University's model for academic and operational excellence

Thoughtfully address student and family indebtedness at graduation.
Conduct a strategic review of the University's allocation of resources to ensure alignment between available resources and the University's strategic priorities, to identify and eliminate unnecessary redundancies, and to enhance operational efficiencies.
Significantly grow the University's resources and broaden sources of support to advance Pepperdine's mission and vision.

1 Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence

Foster and promote a culture of academic excellence and an enhanced commitment to integrative learning and scholarship

Hire, develop, resource, and retain outstanding faculty who will strengthen the University's pursuit of missional excellence through their teaching, mentoring, and scholarship.
Establish Pepperdine as a global leader in the faith and scholarship conversation.
Explore strategic opportunities—for developing new academic programs, new colleges or schools, and for building creative alliances with like-minded partners—that leverage University strengths, meet student and community needs, and advance the University's mission.
Employ state-of-the-art technology in both physical and online classrooms in the service of academic excellence, transformative educational experiences, and innovative scholarship.

2 Vibrant Community

Vibrant Community

Cultivate a vibrant community grounded in Pepperdine's Christian mission and guided by incarnational faith

Hire, develop, retain, and resource exceptional staff members and administrators who will strengthen the University's vibrant community and culture of missional excellence through their work.
Strengthen spiritual life and formation efforts within the University and increase collaboration and engagement across departments and schools.
Cultivate an enhanced commitment to service and to community engagement through the curriculum and the cocurriculum.
Deepen and broaden the impact of the Office of Church Relations, the Boone Center for the Family, and the Center for Faith and Learning in equipping families, scholars, ministers, and faith communities.

3 Transformed Students

Transformed Students

Deliver a transformative educational experience that holistically prepares students to be global servant leaders

Attract, enroll, and retain exceptional students who embrace the University's distinctive mission.
Fully implement best-in-class student wholeness and resilience programming across the University to strengthen a thriving student community intellectually, spiritually, relationally, and physically, in both life skills and service.
Expand high-impact educational practices, especially experiential learning, that prepare students for leadership roles and equip them for lives of purpose and service.
Promote and support the highest level of excellence in the arts and athletics.

4 Strengthened Sense of Belonging

Strengthened Sense of Belonging

Strengthen and deepen a community of belonging

Enhance diversity and deepen the sense of belonging at Pepperdine.
Strengthen alumni engagement with the University and deepen the sense of connection to alma mater.
Foster a culture that embraces intellectual diversity and promotes a hospitable environment for the expression of ideas guided by Christ's love and framed by the relentless search for truth.

5 Local and Global Impact

Local and Global Impact

Elevate the University's presence and impact in Malibu, in Los Angeles, and around the globe

Elevate Pepperdine’s visibility and impact in the greater Los Angeles area.
Expand Pepperdine’s global reach and impact.

6 Operational Excellence

Operational Excellence

Innovatively reimagine the University's model for academic and operational excellence

Thoughtfully address student and family indebtedness at graduation.
Conduct a strategic review of the University's allocation of resources to ensure alignment between available resources and the University's strategic priorities, to identify and eliminate unnecessary redundancies, and to enhance operational efficiencies.
Significantly grow the University's resources and broaden sources of support to advance Pepperdine's mission and vision.

Timeline

August 2019 to November 2019

Preparation

The formation of a strategic planning task force and the development of a process based on best practices.

December 2019 to March 2020

Analysis and Evaluation

An investigation into higher education and the current state of Pepperdine.

February 2020 to September 2020

Listening to the Community

Engaging the community through more than 20 sessions and more than 800 participants.

August 2020 to June 2021

Drafting of Strategic Plan in Community

A review of drafts by the Board of Regents, steering team, University Planning Committee, and engagement of the task force.

June to August 2021

Sharing and Reviewing Strategic Planning Documents

Distribution of Board Strategic Guidance and Presidential Vision to the community; followed by a 60-day period of review and comment for the Strategic Plan.

September 2021 and beyond

Adoption and Implementation of Strategic Plan

Adoption of the plan by the Board of Regents in September 2021 and then distribution and implementation of the plan across the University.

Progress under the plan will be assessed regularly and adjustments will be made as necessary to meet changing circumstances and conditions.