Advantage: Lewis & Clark
The first phase of Lewis & Clark’s strategic planning effort sets the stage for institutional distinction. The new process is iterative and dynamic— responsive to a world that won’t stand still.
On October 18, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new strategic imperatives plan and mission statement for Lewis & Clark. Titled The L&C Advantage, the direction-setting document is the culmination of a collaborative process that began over a year earlier. The aim was to develop ways to leverage and build on the institution’s strengths to better meet the needs of students and respond to today’s marketplace. To create an institutional identity that sets us apart from competition, the plan broadly outlines large-scale actions (or “north stars”) needed to achieve our mission, suggests where the institution will invest additional resources, and defines where the three schools will work together more closely.
Unlike most traditional strategic plans, The L&C Advantage is less concerned with maintaining performance and operational improvements and focuses instead on a bigger idea: institutional transformation. To meet this goal, the strategic imperatives are not static. They are meant to be realized through an iterative process, allowing Lewis & Clark to navigate a fast-changing society and higher education environment.
The liberal arts and the rigorous pursuit of knowledge have untold value. But we recognize too that the present reality demands more.”
Together, staff, faculty, and leadership first identified a number of themes to guide the planning process and then began a “Big Ideas” proposal process. The goal was to develop concrete projects that would encourage interdisciplinary thinking and drive large-scale impact both on and beyond campus. Twenty-eight Big Ideas proposals were submitted, and the overlapping concepts were used to solidify and refine what became the plan’s three strategic imperatives. Over the course of the current school year, a small number of the proposals will be selected for further development. Selection criteria will include their potential to serve students and our community, differentiate us from peers, and inspire philanthropic support.
To read the full text of the L&C Advantage, including more detail on the imperatives, visit
The next stages of the planning process will be guided by a strategic council composed of faculty and staff from each of the schools, along with L&C’s top leadership. Like the previous strategic plan, Exploring for the Global Good, which laid the groundwork for a record-breaking comprehensive campaign, The L&C Advantage will ultimately be used to develop the contours of future fundraising efforts.
Once momentum builds toward a campaign, alumni will have a role to play in providing feedback and generating philanthropic resources to ensure that Lewis & Clark’s mission is fully realized. Measures of success will be evident in the day-to-day achievements of students and graduates and in the bold ways the institution applies its strengths to some of the world’s most complex challenges.
The Three Strategic Imperatives
In the coming years, we must:
INVEST in programs that develop leaders to address the most pressing challenges of our world. In particular, the most promising focus areas are:
- environmental solutions and climate action
- strengthening constructive dialogue and productive civic engagement, and
- the pursuit of a more just society in areas of institutional strength, such as education, the law, and mental health care.
We will create a new, cross-college center for environmental solutions, infuse the curriculum and campus culture with practices that promote productive dialogue, and enhance opportunities for advocacy across the three schools.
SCALE our impact in Portland and the region, while increasing learning opportunities.
We will forge new community partnerships, formalize and expand the footprint of existing ones, and engage as a reciprocal community partner to amplify the impact of our collaborative relationships. We will endeavor to expand our physical presence in central Portland and establish a more accessible hub for many of our community-based initiatives.
MAXIMIZE the return on investment of a Lewis & Clark education, while preparing students for economic opportunity and purposeful lives of consequence.
We will make sure every student in all three schools has regular exposure and access to structured, substantial, and immersive experiential learning opportunities that foster career-applicable skills. These include internships, externships, practica, on-campus work and service, research opportunities, and study abroad. We will reimagine our approach to undergraduate career preparation by adding in-demand majors, minors, concentrations, and certifications.
The New Mission Statement
Lewis & Clark’s new mission statement, along with a statement of the shared values of our three schools, reflects our readiness to succeed in the 21st century.
Lewis & Clark is a premier private higher education institution offering an exceptional education in an inclusive environment. By fostering critical thinking, innovation, creativity, civic engagement, and leadership, both inside and outside of the classroom, we prepare our students for lifelong success in a connected, rapidly evolving world. Lewis & Clark’s educational programs, including meaningful engagement with research and scholarship, equip students with the knowledge and skills to advance their careers, promote justice, and address urgent societal challenges facing our communities and the world.
Our Values
> We believe in the power of higher education as both an individual benefit and a public good.
> We strive to be a driver of socioeconomic mobility, improving opportunities for economic and social advancement, through individualized educational programs that support students from enrollment through graduation.
> We are guided by a commitment to diversity, equity, sustainability, global-mindedness, and the pursuit of a more just society.
