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Strategic Plan 2023-2025

Strategic Plan 2023-2025

Vision, Mission, Values, Goals, and Strategies
As Adopted by the SAA Council, April 2022

SAA Strategic Plan Dashboard

VISION:   The Society of American Archivists empowers archivists to achieve professional excellence and foster innovation to ensure the identification, preservation, understanding, and use of records of enduring value.

MISSION:  SAA is a vital community that promotes the value and diversity of archives and archivists and serves as the preeminent resource for the profession.

CORE ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES:

The Society of American Archivists is committed to:

  • Advancing the public standing of archivists.
  • Ensuring the diversity of its membership and leaders, the profession, and the archival record.
  • Fostering an open and inclusive culture of creativity, collaboration, and experimentation across the association.
  • Providing excellent member service.
  • Ensuring transparency, accountability, integrity, professionalism, and social responsibility in conducting its activities.

The following Goals and Strategies represent areas of focus for the next three to five years. The Goals articulate the outcomes that SAA would like to achieve and answer the question, “What will constitute future success?”  The Goals are not necessarily identified in priority order, but are numbered to enable easy reference.

GOAL 1: ADVOCATING FOR ARCHIVES AND ARCHIVISTS

Society values the vital role of archives and archivists.

GOAL 2: ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Archivists have access to the professional community and resources they need to be successful and effective in their careers.

GOAL 3: ADVANCING THE FIELD

Professional knowledge expands to keep pace with an increasingly diverse archival record.

GOAL 4: MEETING MEMBERS’ NEEDS

SAA delivers outstanding service, fosters a culture of inclusiveness and participation, and is proactive and responsive to member needs.

SAA will

1.1. Provide leadership in promoting the value of archives and archivists to institutions, communities, and society.

1.2. Educate and influence decision makers in any setting about the importance of archives and archivists.

1.3. Provide leadership in ensuring the completeness, diversity, and accessibility of the historical record.

1.4. Strengthen the ability of those who manage and use archival materials to articulate the value of archives.

SAA will

2.1. Mentor and support the career development of members to assist them in achieving their goals.

2.2. Provide content, via education and publications, that reflects the latest thinking and best practices in the field.

2.3. Deliver information and education via methods that are accessible, affordable, and keep pace with technological change.

2.4. Foster communities for professional interaction. 

SAA will

3.1. Identify the need for new standards, guidelines, and best practices and lead or participate in their development.

3.2. Foster and disseminate research in and about the field.

3.3. Participate actively in relevant partnerships and collaborations to enhance professional knowledge.

3.4. Support the development of executive leadership skills and encourage the participation in leadership opportunities by archivists in all stages of their careers.

SAA will

4.1. Facilitate effective communication with and among members.

4.2. Create opportunities for members to participate fully in the association.

4.3. Foster an inclusive association and profession through educational and leadership opportunities. 

4.4. Ensure that leaders are accessible and that their work is transparent. 

 Also available as a printable PDF.

Updated: 2024-02-01