2026 SPARC National Conference

After a brief overview of the core concepts behind strategic planning, participants will shift quickly into hands-on work. Using SPARC’s strategic planning framework as a guide, this workshop walks participants step-by-step through the key components of building a strategic roadmap for their auxiliary programs.

Rather than attempting to complete a full strategic plan in a single session, participants will work through a structured process that helps them begin constructing the essential pieces. Along the way, we will explore how to assess your school’s strengths, clarify strategic priorities, understand your market landscape, shape a portfolio of initiatives, design leadership and staffing structures, identify operational capacity needs, and determine how success will be measured.

By the end of the session, participants will not leave with a finished plan, however, they will have meaningful pieces in place, practical tools in hand, and a clear framework and direction for completing a thoughtful and actionable strategic roadmap.