STRATEGY FOR THE 2.5%
A framework for bold academic leaders who refuse to manage decline
You don’t need another report collecting dust. You need a strategic framework built by and for Canadian deans who are done waiting—for permission, for consensus, for the perfect time.
This is that framework.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Higher ed isn’t just under pressure. It’s at risk.
Declining public trust. Political interference. Budget constraints. Rising expectations with shrinking support. The cracks are showing—and you see them from the inside.
So we asked a simple but urgent question:
Who’s going to lead the transformation Canadian higher ed actually needs?
A group of maverick deans from across the country gathered to figure it out.
Together, we built a strategy to move forward—with clarity, courage, and an appetite for real change.
This isn’t a document.
It’s the start of a movement.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE STRATEGY
This is not your typical white paper.
Inside, you’ll find:
The 4 Strategic Opportunity Areas
What’s broken, what’s possible, and where to act first.The Resilience Dean Archetype
The leadership profile built for complexity, trust gaps, and change.A Shared Vision for Higher Ed
Bold, realistic, and actually useful—not a feel-good fantasy.The Core Values of Resilient Leadership
For deans who lead with integrity and purpose, not optics.Next Steps for the 2.5%
You don’t need a blueprint—you need a direction and the will to move.
WHO IT’S FOR
This is for the 2.5%
The innovators. The edge-walkers. The ones who go first.
If you're a dean, provost, or higher ed leader who:
Feels like business-as-usual is bleeding your team dry
Wants to lead change—but on your own terms
Knows trust and relevance are your strategic assets
Refuses to watch the sector drift into irrelevance
…then you already know this strategy is for you.
WHO WE ARE
We’re not your typical consultants
Tidal Equality is a Canadian capacity-building firm that’s worked with some of the boldest institutions across North America, Europe, and the U.K.. We’ve watched U.S. higher ed take body blows from politics, culture wars, and funding cuts—and we know what’s coming if we don’t act now.
That’s why we convened the Dean’s Resilience Summit.
That’s why we guided the co-creation this strategy - by deans, for deans.
And that’s why we’re offering it—for free—to the 2.5% ready to lead.
BONUS RESOURCES
Start small, start smart. Just start.
To help you take the first step, we’re also offering a free set of practical tools for bold academic leaders:.
Practical tools. Built for leaders. Yours to use and share.
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Get a panoramic view of your institution’s strategic landscape. This self-guided diagnostic helps you identify blind spots, leverage points, and the competing priorities pulling your team in different directions.
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This guided reflection helps you assess your institution’s resilience across five key domains. Discover where your systems, people, and culture are already strong—and where you might be vulnerable.
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Designed for Deans seeking to nurture belonging, trust, and connection, this guided journal helps you reflect on your leadership practices, your campus culture, and the ripple effects of your decisions.