Strategic Plan

Executive Summary

Image of Strategic Plan cover page, text .. black on white.

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications plays a critical role in advancing Penn State’s mission at a moment of profound transformation in media, technology, and democratic discourse. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, accelerating workforce disruption, erosion of public trust in information systems, and persistent inequities in access to opportunity demand decisive and future-oriented institutional leadership.

This 2025–2030 Strategic Plan articulates a focused agenda to ensure student success, elevate interdisciplinary research excellence, strengthen institutional culture, and expand the College’s land-grant impact across the Commonwealth. The plan deliberately positions communication not only as an academic discipline, but as a strategic capability essential to innovation, public trust, economic development, and civic life.

PDF Version of Strategic Plan

By 2030, the Bellisario College of Communications will:

• Graduate an increasing number of highly employable, ethically grounded, and technologically fluent students prepared for leadership in a rapidly evolving information economy.

• Serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research by centering communication in areas such as artificial intelligence, policy, health, democracy, and trust.

• Sustain a culture of belonging, professional growth, and shared governance that attracts and retains exceptional faculty, staff, and students.

• Amplify Penn State’s land-grant mission by addressing statewide needs in journalism, workforce development, digital equity, and public understanding of research.

This plan reflects broad faculty and staff engagement and establishes clear institutional priorities, measurable outcomes, and an accountable framework for leadership decision-making over the next five years.

Strategic Priorities at a Glance

Advance Student Success
Deliver an exceptional, future-ready educational experience with demonstrable career outcomes and national distinction.

Grow Interdisciplinary Research Excellence
Position communication as a driver of interdisciplinary discovery, innovation, and societal impact.

Strengthen Community and Culture
Foster an inclusive, high-performing academic community grounded in equity, belonging, and professional well-being.

Expand Land-Grant Impact
Leverage Bellisario College expertise to serve Pennsylvania through journalism, applied research, workforce development, and lifelong learning.

: Why This Matters
The communications and media workforce is undergoing rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, evolving technologies, and shifting public expectations around ethics, trust, and accountability. To remain competitive and uphold Penn State’s commitment to student success, graduates must be prepared not only with technical skills, but with adaptability, ethical judgment, and experiential learning that translates directly to professional impact.

Strategic Commitments
Bellisario College will:

• Embed ethical, responsible, and applied AI competencies across all undergraduate and graduate programs.

• Expand experiential learning, career preparation, and professional placement opportunities aligned with emerging workforce needs.

• Sustain industry-standard media production, analytics, and entrepreneurial infrastructure.

Executive-Level Metrics

• Graduate employment and placement rates improve annually.

• At least 90% of graduates complete a professional portfolio by 2030.

• AI learning outcomes integrated across curricula and assessment processes.

• Faculty and staff achieve defined AI fluency benchmarks.

• Media and instructional infrastructure maintained at industry standards.
: Why This Matters
Human communication underpins nearly all interdisciplinary research—from artificial ntelligence and public policy to health, climate, and democratic systems. Yet it is often underrepresented as a central research driver. Bellisario College is uniquely positioned to advance Penn State’s research enterprise by bringing communication to the center of interdisciplinary discovery and societal impact.

Strategic Commitments
Bellisario College will:

• Strengthen research support and administration to enhance faculty competitiveness for external funding.

• Expand interdisciplinary hiring and co-hire models aligned with University research priorities.

• Establish signature initiatives at the intersection of communication, AI, ethics, policy, and trust.

Executive-Level Metrics

• Sustained year-over-year growth in externally funded research.

• Increased interdisciplinary grant submissions, publications, and creative works.

• Launch of a communication-centered AI research initiative by 2028.

• Expanded institutional visibility of Bellisario research impact.
: Why This Matters
Institutional excellence depends on the ability to attract, support, and retain a diverse academic workforce while fostering belonging, trust, and shared responsibility. A strong internal culture is essential to student success, research productivity, and long-term institutional resilience.

Strategic Commitments
Bellisario College will:

• Expand and elevate the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to strengthen advocacy, belonging, and inclusive excellence.

• Invest in faculty and staff professional development, mentorship, and well-being.

• Reinforce shared governance and community engagement across the College.

Executive-Level Metrics

• Measurable improvements in faculty and staff satisfaction and morale.

• Increased participation in professional development and mentorship programs.

• Expanded student engagement in community and culture initiatives.

• Sustained faculty and staff retention.
: Why This Matters
As Pennsylvania’s only land-grant university, Penn State has a distinct responsibility to serve the Commonwealth through applied research, workforce development, and public engagement. Bellisario College contributes directly to this mission by addressing news deserts, digital inequities, and public trust in information systems.

Strategic Commitments
Bellisario College will:

• Partner with Pennsylvania media organizations to strengthen local journalism and civic information ecosystems.

• Translate Penn State research for public understanding and societal benefit.

• Develop scalable lifelong-learning and microcredential programs for students, alumni, professionals, and K–12 audiences.

Executive-Level Metrics

• Expanded reach and documented impact of journalism and media partnerships statewide.

• Increased land-grant-funded research and applied scholarship addressing Pennsylvania needs.

• Launch and growth of microcredential and non-credit professional programs.

• Increased statewide participation in Bellisario-led educational initiatives.

Revised Spring 2026

Executive Summary

Strategic Priorities at a Glance

Legal Statements