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Executive summary
Higher education is navigating one of the most disruptive and consequential periods in its modern history. Across the nation, universities and colleges are confronting enrollment declines, demographic shifts, financial instability, political polarization, and growing public skepticism about the value of a college degree. Every day, it feels like we hear about another institution scaling back programs, reducing services, or simply closing all together.
This is not a temporary disruption. It is an existential moment for higher education.
We can make it a defining moment for DePaul University.
Because of the collective work of our faculty, staff, students, and Board of Trustees, we are entering this period with meaningful momentum already underway. Through the Designing DePaul Strategic Plan, our university has a roadmap grounded in our Catholic, Vincentian identity that positions us not simply to respond to change, but to lead through it.
At a time when many institutions are responding to uncertainty with contraction, DePaul is pursuing a balanced approach – combining operational discipline with targeted investments designed to achieve long-term sustainability. Across the university, we are actively translating strategic vision into measurable action.
This progress report highlights the early outcomes of that work, the foundation being built for DePaul’s future, and the financial plan to achieve it.
A primary objective of this report is to provide clarity about our path forward. Ongoing uncertainty understandably continues to create anxiety within our community. The goal of this report is to share the facts, outline the strategy, and provide reassurance that we have both an actionable plan and the financial framework to pursue it.
Designing DePaul: From Vision to Action
Over the past academic year, DePaul has advanced major initiatives in our strategic plan designed to strengthen student success, modernize our digital infrastructure, expand philanthropic support, and stabilize the university for long-term sustainability.
- Publicly launched Mission: Forward, the most ambitious campaign in university history, surpassing $500 million raised toward a $650 million goal.
- Created the new Belonging, Engagement and Mission division.
- Introduced a new public website and internal portal.
- Strengthened our capacity to bridge polarization through the Dialogue Collaborative.
- Designed a new Welcome Center to serve as our gateway to the Lincoln Park Campus.
We paved a path forward for the next phase of Designing DePaul by creating:
- Strategic planning committees through our shared governance process.
- A five-year financial plan that aligns university resources with investments in our future.
We also secured funding to invest in an initial set of initiatives that will position us to pursue additional ideas in the future. The initial initiatives include:
- Increasing domestic graduate enrollment and net tuition revenue through new marketing and branding.
- Preparing faculty and students to not only use AI effectively, but also to think critically about its implications.
- Launching a structured co-op model in the Driehaus College of Business.
- Advancing career readiness by launching a branded Placement Concierge Service that delivers personalized support.
- Improving student retention and success by creating a more connected support experience across the university.
- Strengthening the university’s visibility, competitiveness and financial sustainability through Athletics.
Each one of these initial investments reflects a deliberate strategy: pursue areas where we are uniquely positioned to lead, innovate, and shape the future of higher education through our Catholic, Vincentian values.
If we are successful with these first initiatives, we will use those dollars to invest in new ideas as they continue to emerge through the strategic planning process.
Investing in DePaul’s Future
All our work is grounded in the belief that the value of a DePaul education has never been more important—or more relevant.
In a world increasingly shaped by polarization and complexity, students need the ability to think, create, lead, and collaborate across differences. They need an exceptional liberal arts education that prepares them not only for their first job, but also for lives of meaning, leadership, and service in their communities. DePaul is already answering this call.
While our work ahead remains significant, this report reflects an important shift in our trajectory. At a time when many institutions are enacting austerity measures, DePaul is investing intentionally to strengthen our future.
If we succeed, DePaul will not simply navigate this period of uncertainty. We will help define what a modern, faith-based university can become—demonstrating how institutions can adapt to profound change while remaining grounded in purpose, academic excellence, and care for the individual.
That work is already underway.