The process of long-range planning, political considerations, and approaches to the publication of such plans, are examined, based on the experience at Western Carolina University, North Carolina, a public regional institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees. A key element for a successful strategic planning effort is the involvement of campus constituencies, based on a top-down, bottom-up planning process, which is described. The plan should cover from 4-10 years, and the planning publication should be revised every 2 years. It is suggested that budgetary figures be excluded from the long-range plan but that the long-range plan be a major part of the budgetary process. The format of the plan should include a short description of organization, its function, and responsibilities; short- and long-range goals and objectives, and unit projections for items, such as enrollments, revenues, or units of work. Additional aspects of a long-range plan include: the need to be consistent with the institution's mission; the availability of a historical database; the existence of an organization to administer the planning process and an adequate staff to edit and publish the plan; and a process to evaluate the progress toward goals of each administrative unit. (SW)