What does it take to build a five-year academic roadmap for a polytechnic institution moving at full speed? UW-Stout Provost Glendalí Rodríguez tackles that question in an episode of TRANSFORMED, a podcast produced by Higher Digital. In a conversation with host Joe Gottlieb titled “Comprehensive Academic Planning in the Age of Polytechnic Velocity,” Rodriguez walks through how her team built a forward-looking plan that balances ambitious academic goals with the operational realities of running a university.
The episode digs into the practical side of strategic planning: using data to guide decisions, leading collaboratively across departments, and turning big-picture goals into initiatives people can act on. Rodriguez also shares insights on managing change, strengthening industry partnerships, and keeping academic programs responsive to a fast-changing job market – all hallmarks of UW-Stout’s polytechnic approach to higher education.
Whether you’re navigating your own institution’s strategic plan or just curious how a provost approaches change at this scale, the conversation offers an honest look at both the challenges and the wins along the way. Tune in to hear Rodríguez’s student- and faculty-focused vision for building a more resilient university.
