Progress with Purpose
Coe College Strategic Framework 2025-2028
PURPOSE
At Coe we are committed to delivering upon our promise to provide each student with a singular experience through a dynamic blend of academics, mentoring, community and career integration. This personalized education is transformative, helping students reach dreams they never imagined as possible. Coe is an evolving, student-centered institution dedicated to innovative education while staying true to its core values and mission. In both residential and online environments, the college offers an accessible, career-connected liberal arts education responsive to emerging opportunities. Coe prepares and empowers students to design their futures, launch their careers and lead lives of purpose.
VALUES
These values, carefully synthesized from our mission statement and related guiding principles, serve as both a foundation and a touchstone for the plan. They reflect our commitment to fostering inquiry, excellence, respect, collaboration and innovation, ensuring that our evolving and thriving institution remains true to its core character. The Coe envisioned by this framework is not only one of adaptation and growth but also one that strengthens and reinforces these values in every aspect of our work. By anchoring our vision in these shared principles, we affirm that the transformative, student-centered education we provide will remain deeply rooted in the traditions and qualities that make Coe exceptional.
WE VALUE:
INQUIRY AND DISCOVERY…by coupling the spirit of curiosity with critical and creative thinking as well as the ability to effectively communicate, we prepare our students not only for successful careers, but also to be innovators and leaders.
EXCELLENCE…by setting high standards and striving for unmatched quality in all our endeavors, we develop leaders on campus and in the world.
RESPECT…by cultivating a desire to understand and appreciate the dignity of each person, we embrace civil discourse and model how to be engaged members of a diverse, global and inclusive community.
COLLABORATION AND IMPACT…by collaboration and leadership, our skills are honed in our Coe environment to serve our greater communities, local and global.
INNOVATION AND ADAPTABILITY…by embracing change and continually seeking new ways to enhance learning, teaching and community impact.
The vision of this framework is for Coe to EVOLVE and THRIVE.
WE WILL EVOLVE BY:
INNOVATING…at a pace that matches the emergence of transformative opportunities.
EMBRACING…continuous learning and growth for our students, our local community and as an institution.
CONNECTING…education with technology and industry insight to deliver programs that are of high need and high interest.
CREATING…enhanced learning environments through personalized, face-to-face engagement and common technology.
WE WILL THRIVE BECAUSE OF:
MEANINGFUL MEASUREMENT…our success will only be measured by the success of our graduates.
DISCIPLINED MANAGEMENT…we will be financially sound, operationally efficient and operate with a growth mindset.
OPEN ARMS…the Coe community will welcome and support every student, faculty and staff member.
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES…a foundational education is rich in diverse body and thought.
By 2028, Coe will...
- Be a comprehensive college attracting total revenue that is the equivalent of 450 new Kohawks per year through residential, transfer, international, online, graduate, credential and pathway students.
- Stabilize first to second year retention and six-year graduation rates at 78% and 63%, respectively.
- Generate $6-8 million per year through fundraising, which is an increase from the current five-year average of $4-6 million per year.
- Rely on an endowment draw of no more than 5%.
Strategic Framework Initiatives
To bring the strategic framework to life, we developed a series of foundational pillars and themes that define the areas of focus critical to Coe’s future. Each pillar represents a core priority and theme — financial sustainability, academic experience, community engagement and impact, positive student experience and an improved employee work environment — that collectively underpin and guide our path forward.
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These foundational themes ensure that our ensuing initiatives are aligned with Coe’s mission and values, reinforcing our commitment to providing a transformative education in an evolving and thriving college. The initiatives that shape this framework can be found on our Initiatives page.
Progress with Purpose Initiatives
