The Learning Lab experience is supported by both asynchronous and synchronous components. Each Learning Lab sequence includes a set of resources, an asynchronous discussion, and an interactive live session, all of which culminate in the development of a project or application to apply learning to local and specific contexts in support of the learning objectives.
Schedule
Part 1: Strategic Thinking
November 2, 2026, 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
We start with a quick intro into the Balance Scorecard Strategic Planning process. Participants will walk through the process of developing a strategic plan for an organization by assessing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The SWOT analysis will be used to inform strategic objectives across four perspectives: customer service, financial, internal processes, and organizational capacity.
Participants will be able to:
- Articulate the components of a strategic plan.
- Conduct a SWOT analysis.
- Use the results of a SWOT analysis to build strategic objectives.
- Classify strategic objectives into strategic perspectives.
Part 2: Strategic Prioritization
November 4, 2026, 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
Participants will use the results of the strategic planning process conducted in Part 1, move to the next step, and arrive at the answer to: How do we make sure our team, departments, and divisions are working on the right things at the right time?
We evaluate the impact and costs of incoming projects against a consistent measurement tool, ultimately ensuring alignment between the projects we take on and the organization’s strategic plan.
Participants will be able to:
- Use a strategic plan to align projects with strategic priorities.
- Score project impact and costs based on a simple scoring rubric.
- Use a scoring rubric to prioritize projects.
Part 3: From Strategy to Success: Project Management, Communication, and Change that Sticks
November 9, 2026, 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
In this session, participants will explore practical approaches to project management, stakeholder communication, and change management that help move strategic initiatives from planning documents to results. We'll look at the proven techniques for organizing complex projects and building support across diverse campus communities, and discuss how to navigate change to achieve success. We’ll identify and discuss practical tools and frameworks that can be put to work through engaging discussions, real-world examples, and opportunities to apply concepts directly to your projects.
Participants will be able to:
- Apply project management practices that align strategic goals with measurable outcomes.
- Develop communication strategies that build stakeholder engagement, transparency, and trust.
- Understand and apply change management practices that increase adoption and support.
- Create a repeatable plan for managing projects and change initiatives.
Part 4: Your New Project Partner: Using AI to Work Smarter, Not Harder
November 11, 2026, 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
AI will never replace the expertise, judgment, and leadership of an IT project director or project manager. However, knowing how to use AI effectively can enhance productivity and reduce the time spent on routine administrative tasks.
Keeping projects moving often requires as much time documenting work as doing it. Project plans, status reports, meeting notes, stakeholder communications, and risk logs are just a few of the deliverables that consume valuable time and attention. If you've ever wished for an extra set of hands, you're not alone. With AI to help teams draft updates, summarize discussions, and track risks, that extra teammate may already be here.
Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, participants will explore a variety of AI assistants and learn how to craft effective prompts, evaluate AI-generated content, and identify opportunities to apply AI in their daily work. We'll also discuss responsible AI use, its limitations, and practical strategies for ensuring AI remains a trusted and effective assistant.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify project management tasks that can be enhanced through AI tools.
- Create effective prompts that support project planning, communication, documentation, and decision-making.
- Evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs to improve accuracy, usefulness, and alignment with project goals.
- Develop a practical roadmap for incorporating AI into project management workflows while addressing responsible use considerations.
Lab Implementation Project
Throughout this Learning Lab, you will develop the framework for a high-level strategic plan tailored to your institution. Using a real-world scenario from your institution, you will create a strategic planning framework that identifies strategic objectives, goals, priorities, and an implementation roadmap. As you build your strategic plan, you will also learn foundational project management principles and explore how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to improve planning, collaboration, and execution. By the conclusion of the Lab, you will leave with a practical strategic planning blueprint that can be refined and applied within your institution.