William & Mary board solicits input on Vision 2026 dashboard design

The College of William & Mary Board of Visitors spent part of its Nov. 19 working session gathering member feedback on metrics and dashboard design for Vision 2026.

Ms. Barbara L. Johnson, chair of the AD HOC Committee on Organizational Sustainability & Innovation, opened the session and asked the administration to use the exercise to inform dashboard tools that will track strategic objectives and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals. “The goal of the working session is to foster generative and open conversation about dashboard measuring tools,” President Katherine A. Rowe said, asking the Board to help establish a common vocabulary, key performance indicators and design requirements.

Board members split into four breakout groups and rated design dimensions via a 1–5 digital survey. Participants discussed five core trade-offs: prioritizing leading versus lagging indicators; choosing simplicity versus thoroughness for management use; whether to integrate DEI and strategic dashboards or keep them modular; update frequency and alignment with established reporting (IPEDS, CDS); and the role of peer benchmarks versus separation benchmarks. President Rowe said the administration will make recommendations that identify the shared purposes between the Board and university management to guide which metrics the Board should review.

Rowe told members a proposed dashboard tool will be brought forward in April 2022, and Board input from the breakout exercise and survey (displayed as “Graph 1”) will inform that proposal. The session concluded with the AD HOC Committee adjourned at 9:30 a.m.

Next steps: the administration will prepare the recommended dashboard approach and present it to the Board as Vision 2026 implementation proceeds.