Overarching Themes in Responses to the Strategic Planning Online Survey

The following is an effort to synthesize comments received from an online strategic planning survey.

Goal 1: Maintain and strengthen an outstanding academic and student life on the Ellensburg campus.

• I. Strengthen academic and student life by:
  • A. Breaking down barriers and building bridges between all divisions, most especially student affairs and academic affairs and enhancing the integration of curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular programs.
  • B. Developing a coherent, integrated advising and support continuum for students.
  • C. Providing professional development and mentoring opportunities for faculty and staff.
  • D. Continuing to develop the IT infrastructure and improve the website.
  • E. Improving tracking of alumni.
• II. Strengthen academic programs by:
  • A. Renewing commitment to and opportunities for undergraduate education, including rethinking University 101, promoting learning communities, strengthening general education, promoting undergraduate research, strengthening service learning and civic engagement programs, streamlining the number of major programs, giving faculty more voice in the development of new programs, focusing on and funding programs of excellence, expanding interdisciplinary programs, breaking down barriers to and actively supporting study abroad, adding enrichment classes, promoting a diversity of approaches to teaching including more effective use of online instruction, and strategically planning course offerings to provide adequate number of courses and course sections
  • B. Increasing opportunities for career exploration and "workforce development" for students, strengthening partnerships with companies and corporations who provide internships and hire our students, reaching out to community professionals with appropriate curriculum, and establishing mentorship programs between current students and alumni.
  • C. Strengthening the curriculum and the skills and abilities of faculty and achieving accreditation of programs where appropriate.
  • D. Hiring and retaining a sufficient number of appropriately trained, qualified, and enthusiastic faculty and providing equitable salaries and workloads.
  • E. Developing a more coherent and integrated assessment, evaluation, and accountability plan
  • F. Determining the role of graduate education and refining the focus of existing graduate programs.
  • G. Increasing scholarship opportunities and improving information about scholarship availability.
• III. Improve student life by:
  • A. Tailoring programs to meet needs of students who live off-campus, addressing student transportation needs, and enhancing on-campus child care
  • B. Continuing to promote a healthy lifestyle and strengthening health services.
  • C. Promoting varied entertainment including individuals who will challenge our students and developing alternatives to the bar scene.
  • D. Strengthening student clubs and organizations on campus
  • E. Strengthening all levels of athletic performance including intercollegiate, intramural, and club sports.
  • F. Recognizing and planning for changing demographics of students including developing programs to serve the growing Hispanic student population.
  • G. Creating a one-stop student support services center and provide training to use online administrative processes.
  • H. Establishing an aggressive replacement plan for residence halls and apartments and improving dining services.
  • I. Enhancing orientation programs including expanding Wildcat Welcome Weekend.
• IV. Publicize outstanding achievements of the university community by
  • A. Publishing student academic and other achievements, awards, and other types of recognition, including through electronic means.
  • B. Publicizing outstanding programs, faculty, and staff.
• V. Create and strengthen a shared sense of community identity by
  • A. Teaching the practice of dialogue and build connections through it.
  • B. Strengthening cohesiveness between the Ellensburg campus and the Centers and between the Ellensburg campus and the Ellensburg community.
  • C. Promoting student interests to city officials.
• VI. Promote the diversity of ideas and people by
  • A. Increasing diversity of faculty and staff.
  • B. Continuing to provide diversity awareness programs
  • C. Increasing diversity of the student body through scholarships
  • D. Internationalize the curriculum
  • E. Requiring a diversity-related or global education course in general education.
  • F. Preparing students to work in a diverse world.