This practical guide contains everything higher education leaders and administrators need to know in order to write simple, effective plans for their colleges and departments. Debunking the traditional notion that intricate, drawn-out planning automatically translates to effective strategy, this book calls for a paradigm shift, urging a move away from mere procedural planning and toward strategic thinking and action.The processes, techniques, and troubleshooting pointers described in this guide ensure strategic planning is a meaningful and impactful practice, empowering academic units to align their efforts with broader institutional goals and realize their full potential in an evolving educational environment. An invaluable resource on writing and maintaining strategic plans for university subunits, this book should have a place on every dean, provost, department head, and program director's shelf.