The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan for Villa Maria College
Elevating Outcomes.
Expanding Opportunities.
About Villa Maria
Villa Maria College has been a staple on Buffalo’s East Side for more than 60 years.
Since 1961, Villa Maria has made higher education accessible to everyone. We have proven our dedication to student access, academic readiness, ongoing support, and education equity. As a result, enrollment is higher than ever. At a time when most colleges and universities are struggling to meet their enrollment goals, we are exceeding ours.
Our new strategic plan builds upon our accomplishments, paving the way for a future full of opportunities for all.
Our Vision
Villa Maria College will be a leader is creating a more equitable and prosperous Buffalo. We will do this by:
Developing structured pathways to sustainable careers, particularly for underserved populations.
Serving as the hub of the creative economy in Western New York.
Our Mission
Guided by our mission and values, we will strengthen institutional culture and identify guided by our mission and core values.
Villa Maria College is a Catholic Franciscan college, founded by the Felician Sisters, that uses innovative strategies to educate and empower a diverse study body to positively impact their communities.
To achieve our vision, we must:
Implement a cohesive mission integration program for students, faculty, staff, and Trustees.
Establish a formal DEI&B program, influenced by the principles of Catholic social justice teachings, focused on fostering a culture of belonging and improving outcomes for all campus constituents.
Institutionalize the Villa Way program.
Create a work environment that is attractive to current and prospective employees.
Strengthen the Board of Trustees through enhanced recruitment efforts.
Academic & Student Programming
Villa is the most diverse private college
in Western New York. Our faculty will
do anything to enable our students to
succeed. We will develop academic and
student affairs programming that enables
students to thrive, breaking down barriers
as we meet students where they are,
with what they need.
in Western New York. Our faculty will
do anything to enable our students to
succeed. We will develop academic and
student affairs programming that enables
students to thrive, breaking down barriers
as we meet students where they are,
with what they need.
• Revitalize and optimize the academic program portfolio to create sustainable growth and support academic and career success.
• Create affordable and academically sound graduate and joint degree programs.
• Expand data reporting and governance infrastructure to enhance data-informed decision-making.
• Design and implement academic and student affairs initiatives that promote whole student development and engagement.
• Reorient organizational structures and practices to create a coordinated care network to support student academic, financial, social, and personal needs.
Career Preparation
Villa prepares students to succeed in the workplace.
Supporting job readiness through exposure and
experience, Villa drives financial and social mobility.
The foundation of learning and relationships are
transformational. We will enhance career preparation
programming for students and community members.
Supporting job readiness through exposure and
experience, Villa drives financial and social mobility.
The foundation of learning and relationships are
transformational. We will enhance career preparation
programming for students and community members.
• Revitalize and optimize the academic program portfolio to create sustainable growth and support academic and career success.
• Create affordable and academically sound graduate and joint degree programs.
• Expand data reporting and governance infrastructure to enhance data-informed decision-making.
• Design and implement academic and student affairs initiatives that promote whole student development and engagement.
• Reorient organizational structures and practices to create a coordinated care network to support student academic, financial, social, and personal needs.
Community
From its beginning Villa Maria College
has been focused on our community,
drawing students from WNY who stay
and work in this community. This
focus is stronger on Buffalo and WNY
than ever before as we build a network
of community relationships that strengthens all.
has been focused on our community,
drawing students from WNY who stay
and work in this community. This
focus is stronger on Buffalo and WNY
than ever before as we build a network
of community relationships that strengthens all.
- We will use campus resources strategically to benefit the community.
- Leverage partnerships with other organizations to generate revenue, streamline operations,
and reduce costs. - Complete a comprehensive rebranding campaign to align mission and vision to messaging, position, and strategic communications.
- Leverage the Board of Trustees and President’s Advisory Council to cultivate new major donors and increase philanthropic giving.
- Implement a coordinated alumni engagement program.
Enhancing Facilities
We have always known that the
people are what makes Villa
Maria College a special place.
And now we are investing
into our campus to enhance
facilities to reflect our identity
and values. The relationships
fostered at Villa Maria will
thrive in facilities that meet
the needs of a model campus.
people are what makes Villa
Maria College a special place.
And now we are investing
into our campus to enhance
facilities to reflect our identity
and values. The relationships
fostered at Villa Maria will
thrive in facilities that meet
the needs of a model campus.
- Complete major capital improvement projects.
- Create cross-disciplinary digital production spaces that promote Villa’s alignment with the creative economy.
- Improve student and employee learning and workspaces.
- mprove campus security.
Realizing Our Strategic Plan
We are creating pathways to sustainable careers. We are becoming the hub of the creative economy. We are empowering educational equity by providing access, support, and preparing students for success in the workplace.
Villa Maria College will be a LEADER in creating a more EQUITABLE & PROSPEROUS BUFFALO.
”Villa has three characteristics that, in combination, make it a unique and powerful partner to the local economy. Number one is the diversity of credentials that it offers, from certificates to associate's to bachelor's, all leading to high demand career pathways in our community. Secondly, is Villa's focus and becoming the hub for the creative economy in Western New York. And then thirdly, and I think most powerfully, is its commitment to the whole student. That Villa is about supporting not only the academic needs of a student, wherever they are in their pathway in life, but also the social, the emotional and the individual dimensions of that individual student.
Clotilde Perez-Bode DedeckerFormer President & CEO of the Greater Buffalo Community Foundation
”This isn't just an education. It's certainly not charity. This is real economic development. We have 170,000 jobs coming in our two counties in the next decade, with two thirds requiring a post-secondary credential that many people aren't going to move here. Our prime opportunity is within our own communities to develop a workforce for everybody that's inclusive and helps take on the job opportunities that are becoming available to us.
David RustCEO of Say Yes Buffalo
”Villa was accessible because they provided me with a lot of generous scholarships and grants. One of them in particular was the Honors Program scholarship. If it wasn't for that, I don't think I would have be able to go to college, to be quite honest. As a first generation college student, the scholarships and grants really put value over the top.
Tien Nguyen, '19Motion Graphics Animator at Crowley Webb
”It just felt so supportive. I feel like that's always a word I keep using, but my whole experience was so supportive and every single teacher I encountered was down to earth and really cared about the students. Having that support in that way really helped boost confidence and feel like people actually saw you for who you were and all those assets that you have.
Lindsay Neilson, '19Senior Art Director at Mr. Smith Agency
”Villa occupies a very unique space in the talent pool, workforce development space. In our community. Because of its focus on the creative economy and as an employer, the need that we have for workforce talent that brings digital expertise, it s, visual illustration expertise. These are really important dimensions, that really fill a niche in the western New York economy.
Clotilde Perez-Bode DedeckerFormer President & CEO of the Greater Buffalo Community Foundation
”Villa Maria supports their students extraordinarily well. When you get to Villa, you know you're going to have a [financial aid] package that covers not just your tuition, but you're also going to have books and fees included. The things that are expensive and get in the way. You're going to be supported, whether it's through case counselors, behavioral health supports, clubs, and activities so that you have a sense of belonging when you're on the campus. People that look like you. So you know that you may not be the only one in your position. You know you're going to have a cohort and be extremely well supported on your journey to the post-secondary credential.
David RustCEO of Say Yes Buffalo
”I never thought like back when I was in high school or when I was a kid, that I can do my passion as a career because it seemed like, oh, animation, that's a kid's thing. I'm really fortunate that Buffalo is so upcoming with film and animation work nowadays. Villa taught me all the skills I need to know in order to do that work.
Tien Nguyen, '19Motion Graphics Animator at Crowley Webb
”Without my Villa education I wouldn't have landed close to where I currently am. I started my internship at Mr. Smith when I was in college and it led me down the path of art direction. That's really what I wanted to do with my graphic design background in photo minor, and that's what I currently do. The education that they gave me that really helped me thrive and succeed.
Lindsay Neilson, '19Senior Art Director at Mr. Smith Agency
”There's no greater joy than finding your place in the world and a job that that is fulfilling and that taps your talents. And that's what Villa does for students. It helps students find their place in the workforce and provide for their families and engage fully in their communities.
Clotilde Perez-Bode DedeckerFormer President & CEO of the Greater Buffalo Community Foundation
”Free college is too expensive for young people. Students have to go to work. Villa is an opportunity to level up and have a better long term trajectory towards your own economic freedom and mobility. That's what Villa wants.
David RustCEO of Say Yes Buffalo
”One thing that was really important to me was going to the International Animation Festival through my animation program. It introduced me to a whole new world of animation because we got to see a bunch of films and meet a bunch of different animators there, and it was just really inspiring to be a part of that. The fact that Villa provided that was so important. I never thought that could have happened to me.
Tien Nguyen, '19Motion Graphics Animator at Crowley Webb
”I feel like my Villa experience was like a family. I became so close with all my classmates, all my professors. It truly felt like a home away from home. I was so supported for the first time in school. I'd never really felt that type of support in education or in other areas of my life. Villa was really the first place where I felt seen and felt supported by faculty and staff. They really helped me break through a lot of the anxieties I had about working and about getting a full time job. The College led me to Buffalo, and led me to Mr. Smith, and it's truly that connection point there in all the education that they gave me that really helped me thrive and succeed.
Lindsay Neilson, '19Senior Art Director at Mr. Smith Agency
