From Crisis to Clarity
Guiding a University System Through Policy and Cultural Turbulence
Research and Assessment
Core Services Delivered
01
Research and Assessment
Customized pluralism pulse survey, achieving 100% response rates and establishing a nine-dimension baseline across all institutions.
02
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Recommendations to shape improvement plans balancing safety, free expression, and statewide policy expectations.
03
Risk Mitigation with the Strategic Responsiveness Framework™
Applied insights from our proprietary framework and database - covering 700+ policies and 100+ institutional case studies - to benchmark against national best practices.
04
Leadership Development
Hosted three system-wide forums and multiple campus coaching sessions, engaging 500+ leaders in communication, decision-making, and strategic responsiveness.
Strategic Situation
A large university system confronted a series of high-profile flashpoints - campus unrest, incidents of antisemitism, rising anti-Palestinian sentiment, and clashes among students, faculty, staff, and community members.
These tensions drew national attention, deepened polarization across campuses, and triggered statewide mandates requiring immediate interventions and improvement plans.
The Office of the President recognized the stakes: without decisive action, the system risked escalating unrest, reputational damage, and legislative scrutiny.
They sought an external partner with the expertise to assess readiness, provide clarity, and guide leaders through this turbulent policy environment.
CSLSI Engagement
CSLSI was engaged to lead a multi-phase initiative grounded in research, strategy, and pragmatic action. Our team conducted a mixed-method assessment of each institution’s capacity to:
Support free expression
Manage protest and event use of campus property
Implement safety protocols
Communicate strategically during crisis
Mediate conflict and resolve disputes
This process combined comprehensive surveys, listening sessions, and policy reviews across the system. We developed diagnostic tools that established baselines, identified gaps, and surfaced campuses with national-leading practices. From there, CSLSI produced an Insight-to-Action Report at the system level, paired with prescriptive guidance for each institution that included specific action steps and implementation tips.
Building on these findings, the Office of the President asked CSLSI to design and facilitate a series of forums on shifting DEI policy dynamics, antisemitism, anti-Palestinian sentiment, campus expression, polarization, alternative models, and risk mitigation—equipping leaders to reduce vulnerability, enhance safety, and preserve institutional values under intense external pressure.
Impact
Strengthened Institutional Readiness
Participants gained tools and language to adjust strategy without compromising mission.
Field-Level
Intelligence
The association captured real-time insight into member challenges and needs to guide future programming.
Shared Strategic Framework
Leaders left with the ABCD Engagement Framework™ in hand—ready to lead with intention, resilience, and policy responsiveness.