Facilitating Implementation Success in FY2026: A Year in Review
It’s the end of another fiscal year – the second of three in the current implementation plan. Below are some highlights from FY2026 activities of Institutional Effectiveness’ strategy and implementation team. While we strive to facilitate successful implementation of NC State’s Wolfpack 2030 strategic goals, our frameworks and tools are designed to help leaders succeed at every level of the university.
Two FY2026 highlights
- Led first-ever midpoint adjustment: We proposed and facilitated the first midpoint adjustment to a three-year implementation plan, introducing three new initiatives and a dedicated continuous improvement section to help ensure NC State’s implementation plan remains agile and relevant.
- Expanded “productive pause” toolkit: We design quarterly touch points and initiative success resources for implementation plan contacts intended to provide busy leaders with a “productive pause.” This year, we added two new scalable and customizable self-service frameworks on our Tools webpage: Initiative Success Consoles and OneStop Portfolio Management. See the featured success consoles in our June Implementation Insights article.
FY2026 by the numbers
- 95 check-in calls with over 40 contacts for over 60 implementation plan initiatives
- 22 attendees at the annual Breakfast and Brainwork event for implementation plan contacts
- 20 participants in three Onsite events focused on Goalsetting, Progress and Readiness
- 6 Statements of Work and custom facilitations in support of 4 implementation plan initiatives
The future of space: A new partnership
NC State’s physical space is a key asset relative to university effectiveness. Our team closed the fiscal year by entering a new Statement of Work (SOW) with the Facilities Division. Together, we are working to clarify high-level vision and success measures regarding the future stewardship of campus space. We’ll also co-create a strategic change and readiness framework summarizing unique considerations and impacts for individuals, units, neighborhoods and the university.
Open-access resources for all NC State leaders
Strategic implementation happens at every level of the university. Whether you are spearheading a departmental project, leading a new team initiative, or navigating institutional shifts, our tools and resources can help. We invite any NC State leader to utilize our suite of “productive pauses” for navigating the people side of change. Visit our tools webpage to download the new Initiative Success Consoles and OneStop Portfolio Management templates.
Gratitude and thanks
We remain honored to work alongside priority initiative leaders universitywide. We look forward to another year of partnership, applying continuous improvement practices and tools that facilitate strategic change at NC State.
Go Pack!
Questions about NC State’s implementation plan? Contact Courtney Thornton, associate vice provost for strategy, implementation and communication, at chthornt@ncsu.edu.
