DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Athletics Enhances Strategic Plan to Align with 'Designing DePaul' Framework
4/18/2024 3:00:00 PM | ATHLETICS
CHICAGO – DePaul Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy released today enhancements to the athletic department's five-year strategic plan, entitled 'From DREAMS to REALITY,' as part of the university's December 2023 initiative for each academic and administrative unit to design or adapt a strategic plan that is aligned with the university's 'Designing DePaul' framework.
In early 2023, the DePaul community came together to imagine the expansive possibilities that exist as one of the nation's largest Catholic universities and an institution that has been at the forefront of education, research, and service since 1898. Through nearly 50 collaborative listening sessions with 3,000+ community members, the university explored topics around mission, values, community, financial principles, and innovation. This robust process culminated in December 2023 with the release of the Designing DePaul eBook. The publication incorporates comments and contributions sourced from the DePaul community and details the institution's shared path forward.
"It's been incredibly inspiring and rewarding to be a part of the Designing DePaul process over the past several months," said Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy. "The vision and direction President Rob Manuel, our faculty, staff, and students have come together to provide is exceptional. As we conclude the third year of our five-year strategic plan, this was the perfect opportunity for us to pause, examine, align, and enhance our goals to ensure continued forward momentum for both our department and the university. We have come so far together, but the best days are still ahead."
Upon release of the Designing DePaul eBook, DePaul Athletics' senior leadership began a nearly fourth-month process to refresh and enhance the department's strategic plan to ensure alignment with the Designing DePaul framework and add new goals that were deemed essential due to the shifting college athletics landscape. Specifically, as part of the process, DePaul Athletics' senior leadership engaged in discussions around student-athlete leadership, representation, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness resources, NIL, the national regulatory environment, digital innovation, budgeting and capital priorities, community and fan engagement, revenue growth, data centralization, and television and radio broadcast strategies.
"I'm thankful for our leadership's willingness to come together to research, strategize, enthusiastically engage in the Designing DePaul process, and continue to develop our plans for DePaul Athletics' future," said Executive Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation and Strategic Initiatives Taylor Stapleton. "We remained steadfast in our department's mission-aligned guiding principles while adding action items beneath each of them to continue to build a championship culture and to become the premier program in the BIG EAST Conference. An achievement of this plan will allow widespread university success as well."
Notable additions to the plan include the following goals:
The newly refreshed five-year strategic plan can be found online at DePaulBlueDemons.com/dreambig.
"I said it three years ago, and it still holds true today—a bold vision and unparalleled fan support will be essential to grow into a national leader in college athletics," said Peevy. "Our success relies on all Blue Demons working together collectively. Internally, we're building a highly effective staff, focused on innovation and growth, and we're aligning our resources to match our goals. Externally, I ask our Blue Demon family to support our student-athletes and coaches in the stands, consider a donation to support our path forward, and vocalize their pride and support for DePaul Athletics in their communities."
In early 2023, the DePaul community came together to imagine the expansive possibilities that exist as one of the nation's largest Catholic universities and an institution that has been at the forefront of education, research, and service since 1898. Through nearly 50 collaborative listening sessions with 3,000+ community members, the university explored topics around mission, values, community, financial principles, and innovation. This robust process culminated in December 2023 with the release of the Designing DePaul eBook. The publication incorporates comments and contributions sourced from the DePaul community and details the institution's shared path forward.
"It's been incredibly inspiring and rewarding to be a part of the Designing DePaul process over the past several months," said Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy. "The vision and direction President Rob Manuel, our faculty, staff, and students have come together to provide is exceptional. As we conclude the third year of our five-year strategic plan, this was the perfect opportunity for us to pause, examine, align, and enhance our goals to ensure continued forward momentum for both our department and the university. We have come so far together, but the best days are still ahead."
Upon release of the Designing DePaul eBook, DePaul Athletics' senior leadership began a nearly fourth-month process to refresh and enhance the department's strategic plan to ensure alignment with the Designing DePaul framework and add new goals that were deemed essential due to the shifting college athletics landscape. Specifically, as part of the process, DePaul Athletics' senior leadership engaged in discussions around student-athlete leadership, representation, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness resources, NIL, the national regulatory environment, digital innovation, budgeting and capital priorities, community and fan engagement, revenue growth, data centralization, and television and radio broadcast strategies.
"I'm thankful for our leadership's willingness to come together to research, strategize, enthusiastically engage in the Designing DePaul process, and continue to develop our plans for DePaul Athletics' future," said Executive Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation and Strategic Initiatives Taylor Stapleton. "We remained steadfast in our department's mission-aligned guiding principles while adding action items beneath each of them to continue to build a championship culture and to become the premier program in the BIG EAST Conference. An achievement of this plan will allow widespread university success as well."
Notable additions to the plan include the following goals:
- Develop innovative, inclusive, and digitally immersive recruiting materials for prospective student-athletes, across all sports, to better showcase our individual programs and collective identity.
- Develop diverse, interdisciplinary educational opportunities that service all DePaul students and explore the intersection of athletics and education.
- Modernize and expand sports performance data technology, nutrition support technology, and electronic medical records systems to provide student-athletes with industry-leading sports science insights and medical care. Enhance sports medicine coverage, support services, timeliness of and access to industry-leading care for student-athletes.
- Develop a dynamic broadcast department to streamline content production, optimize distribution channels, and elevate brand engagement through diverse multimedia platforms. Enhance in-game production value for all sports via increased media capabilities, technology/venue upgrades, and sponsorship agreement executions.
- Establish a nationally competitive name, image, and likeness (NIL) program that prioritizes access to educational opportunities, brand-building resources, and NIL opportunities for student-athletes.
- Audit and enhance department-specific processes to meet the standards of today's college athletics environment as well as increase departmental and institutional effectiveness.
- Develop deeper connections with Lincoln Park and Loop campus businesses, community organizations, and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as permissible by NCAA regulations. Develop a lineup of tentpole events focused on campus and community engagement.
- Establish a new priority point system for ticket holders and donors that rewards various forms of loyalty and enhances ease of understanding and transparency.
The newly refreshed five-year strategic plan can be found online at DePaulBlueDemons.com/dreambig.
"I said it three years ago, and it still holds true today—a bold vision and unparalleled fan support will be essential to grow into a national leader in college athletics," said Peevy. "Our success relies on all Blue Demons working together collectively. Internally, we're building a highly effective staff, focused on innovation and growth, and we're aligning our resources to match our goals. Externally, I ask our Blue Demon family to support our student-athletes and coaches in the stands, consider a donation to support our path forward, and vocalize their pride and support for DePaul Athletics in their communities."
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