Abstract
<jats:p>Strategic foresight offers a powerful alternative. By engaging in futures thinking—horizon scanning, scenario planning, systems mapping, trend analysis, and participatory visioning—institutions can cultivate the imagination and adaptive capacity needed to navigate unpredictable futures. Futures literacy supports more inclusive, innovation centered, and resilience driven planning across higher education ecosystems. Special attention is given to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), which operate at the intersection of educational equity, community engagement, and structural constraint. Experiences illustrate how foresight can advance servingness, support equitable student outcomes, and position institutions to respond creatively to emerging challenges. Global examples, conceptual framing, and practical strategies, demonstrate futures thinking as not simply a methodological toolkit—it is a mindset and cultural orientation that empowers higher education to move from reactive problem solving toward proactive, justice centered transformation.</jats:p>