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 5: Achieve regional and national prominence of the university.

• I. Develop, publicize, and implement a university-wide public relations and marketing plan that provides support for university initiatives and accomplishments and tells our "story" to the region and the nation
  • A. About faculty.
  • B. About staff.
  • C. About students (e.g., those graduating in the top 10 on certifying exams).
  • D. About academic programs (Promote flagship and innovative (e.g., BAS) programs to the general public and potential students.).
  • E. About student life programs (Promote innovative student life programs, e.g., housing, residence life).
  • F. About facilities and infrastructure (housing, facilities, technology, etc.).
• II. Measure up to national standards.
  • A. Baldrige criteria, regional accreditation, specialized accreditations
  • B. Rankings
  • C. Benchmarks (e.g., retention, placement)
• III. Strengthen competitive research and scholarship.
  • A. Increase external grants.
  • B. Promote cutting edge research and scholarship (in business, geosciences, and environment and sustainability).
  • C. Increase juried publications.
  • D. Increase juried presentations.
• IV. Strengthen academic programs.
  • A. Identify, promote, and financially support strong "flagship" programs.
  • B. Seek industry and community review and suggestions and use results of assessment to improve programs.
• V. Strengthen conference programs.
  • A. Bid to host smaller regional and national conferences.
  • B. Host workshops, seminars, and conferences in key areas of "excellence."
• VI. Strengthen services to and support of students.
  • A. Increase scholarship opportunities for students of promise.
  • B. Highlight student achievements.
  • C. Provide easier access to services and information.
• VII. Improve excellence of faculty and staff.
  • A. Recruit highly qualified faculty and staff.
  • B. Provide a reward and professional development structure that promotes faculty and staff excellence.
  • C. Ensure that workloads are consistent with performance expectations.