Tyler McKay | Assistant News Editor
Featured Image: Sarah Cantrell, newly elected Chair of the Board of Directors for SCUP. | Courtesy of YFile
As of July 16, the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) has had a new Chair of the Board of Directors. This position has been filled by York’s own Assistant Vice-President of Institutional Planning and Analysis, Sarah Cantrell.
Cantrell began volunteering for SCUP because it allowed her to be “actively involved in developing their learning strategies, conference programs and to connect with academic and non-academic planners about the challenges and successes they are facing on their campuses.”
The official SCUP website says: “We believe that by uniting higher education leaders, we can meet the rapid pace of change and competition, advancing each institution as it shapes and defines its future. Through connection, learning, and expanded conversation, we help create integrated planning solutions that will unleash the promise and potential of higher education.”
“We create a range of learning opportunities, from publications to our annual SCUP conference, for our community to share perspectives, resources, best practices, and fresh ideas that move challenges to solutions—building upon a culture of integrated planning.”
“I have always brought something of value back from SCUP and I enjoy the volunteer time because the association is really invested in helping people transform their organizations and position them for success,” Cantrell says.
Cantrell has served SCUP in many other capacities over the years. She was the Vice Chair and then Chair of the Professional Development Committee. She has also served as a member-at-large of SCUP Council, as a member of the Annual Conference Program Committee, and as the program and conference chairs for the North Central region.
The SCUP website states that the purpose of the Board of Directors is to “envision, shape, and create the organization’s future through its vision, mission, and strategic plan. With input from the SCUP membership, the board identifies and prioritizes strategies that will unleash the potential of higher education, ultimately driving value and more opportunities for higher education leaders, inside and outside of the planning community, to learn and connect.”
When asked what her goals as Chair of the Board of Directors are, Cantrell said: “My main priority this year as chair will be to provide strategic oversight for the implementation of SCUP’s new Strategic Plan. Key initiatives will be to develop SCUP’s learning strategy that supports professional development of higher education leaders in the area of integrated planning and to develop more accessible platforms and curriculum for global members.”
Lisa Philipps, Provost and Vice-President Academic, said, “Being elected to this major international volunteer leadership role is a recognition of Sarah’s tremendous skills, knowledge and experience in university planning. We are very fortunate to have Sarah at York, and are proud of her accomplishments. She will do a wonderful job in this role,” Philipps said.
