The U of S is currently in its third planning cycle (2012/13-2016/17). Promise and potential: the third integrated plan (2012 to 2016) was approved in March 2012.

In each planning cycle, colleges, schools and administrative units submit individual college/unit plans to the provost’s office. Several committees review each college/unit plan and feedback is given to the dean or associate vice-president of each college and unit. The content of the university’s overall plan builds on the ideas from the college/unit plans, as well as the guiding strategic directions (2002, 2010), planning conversations across campus, resources and infrastructure, and changing social trends. The university-wide integrated plan is reviewed multiple times by the campus community before being approved by the university’s governing bodies (University Council, Senate, Board of Governors). After approval, the plan is set into motion.

The U of S integrated planning process is typically a four- or five-year cycle. Planning for the next cycle occurs in the last year of the previous cycle. Continuity is provided by the strategic directions and foundational documents, which set university-wide planning goals. Each cycle is distinct from the others with its own integrated plan, multi-year operating budget, capital plan, planning parameters, implementation and communications plans.

First planning cycle	May 1, 2003 to April 30, 2007
Transition year	May 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008
Second planning cycle	May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2012
Third planning cycle	May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2017 (extended by one year)
Fourth planning cycle	May 1, 2017 to TBD