To develop a strong campaign, it is important to determine your ultimate objectives, and then work backwards. To achieve what we aspire to see in the future, we need to set short and long term goals that build toward these ultimate goals. The short term goals should lead to the long term objectives and should subsequently move our university and nation toward greater awareness and policy change. Don’t forget to set membership and leadership goals. For example:
Short Term Goals: examples
- To fully learn and understand US and university policy related to your cause.
- To establish and organize a group of >15 students who are interested in the issue.
- To raise awareness this month through flyers in 5 dorms, a letter to the editor in student newspaper, 2 sidewalk chalking projects, 15 class raps, and 2 days of tabling on the quad.
- To organize campaign kick-off event and gather 50 people’s contact information.
- To have >25 students write to Congress about the cause by the end of the month.
Long Term Goals: examples
- To generate vast student, faculty, and community support for the cause, collecting 200 people’s contact info and 500 petition signatures by the end of the year.
- To pass a Student Government resolution in favor of the cause by the end of the year.
- To build a diverse coalition of >5 student groups, community groups, >10 faculty, staff, alumni, >3 religious organizations, and other influential groups to advocate to the decision-maker on this issue.
- To get >3 campus media hits this semester.
- To host 2 educational events, 2 social events, and 1 rally related to the cause this semester.
- To have >25 students attending meetings and >7 leaders by the end of the semester.
Ultimate Objectives:
- To raise awareness on campus and change university policy in favor of our cause.
- To raise awareness and impact policy at the local, state, and national level.
Remember to make goals S (sustainable) M (measurable) A (achievable) R (real) T (timely). Campuses are an excellent place to build a movement and achieve change, so don’t sell yourself short. Be ambitious and set goals high, though not so high they aren’t worth working toward!
