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Strategic Plan Tactics

This initial set of Tactics was reviewed by the º£½ÇÉçÇø University Board of Governors as part of overall Strategic Plan approval on September 14, 2023

GOAL 1: SHEPHERD WILL BE A PREMIER PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

Strategy 1: Recruit, support, and retain promising students.

• Tactic 1: Academic Affairs, Admissions, Financial Aid, Finance and Administration, Student Affairs, our colleges, and academic units will collaboratively establish and integrate prioritized recruitment and retention strategies, examining effectiveness and revising as appropriate.
  • Accountable: VPEM
  • Responsible: VPAA, VPEM, Director of Admissions, Director of Financial Aid, VP F&A, VP Student Affairs
• Tactic 2: Academic Affairs, working in conjunction with Finance and Administration and Enrollment Management, will examine the financial efficiency of class schedules and course offerings to ensure that offerings associated with majors, minors, and all curricula are streamlined to meet the needs of students. Necessary revisions will be made and revisited during each academic cycle.
  • Accountable: VPAA
  • Responsible: VPAA, VPEM, VP F&A

Strategy 2: Recruit, support, and retain faculty as teacher-scholars.

• Tactic 1: Academic Affairs will quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the gap between student needs and faculty professional development activities necessary to meet those needs.
  • Accountable: VPAA
  • Responsible: VPAA, Deans’ Council, Senate Professional Development Committee
• Tactic 2: Student Affairs work with Academic Affairs to provide necessary training and guidance on post-pandemic student mental health concerns and how they relate to student success.
  • Accountable: VP Student Affairs
  • Responsible: VP Student Affairs, Counseling staff, VPAA, AP Faculty Affairs

Strategy 3: Recruit, support, and retain staff as valued contributors to the academic enterprise.

• Tactic 1: Academic Affairs, working in conjunction with Human Resources and Finance and Administration, will examine equitable workloads for faculty and implement necessary structures to ensure targets are met.
  • Accountable: VPAA
  • Responsible: VPAA, HR, Deans’ Council
• Tactic 2: Human Resources will examine efficiencies via a desk audit to better understand workflow and workload among staff.
  • Accountable: CHRO
  • Responsible: CHRO

GOAL 2: A SHEPHERD EDUCATION WILL BE GROUNDED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND SUCCESS.

Strategy 1: Develop and promote experiential learning opportunities for all students from the first year on.

• Tactic 1: The Core Curriculum Committee will conduct a thorough examination of the Core Curriculum and degree offerings to determine how we are realizing liberal arts at our institution.
  • Accountable: Chair, Core Curriculum Committee
  • Responsible: Core Curriculum Committee
• Tactic 2: Academic Affairs, working in conjunction with Student Affairs, will promote experiential learning opportunities tied to workforce development for all students at the campus level.
  • Accountable: VPAA
  • Responsible: VPAA, Deans’ Council, Department Chairs, VP Student Affairs

Strategy 2: Develop and promote projects and initiatives that enhance career development for all students from the first year on.

• Tactic 1: All offices will explore strategies to leverage connections with alumni to enhance career preparation for students while they matriculate.
  • Accountable: VPEM
  • Responsible: VPAA, VPEM, VP F&A, VP Student Affairs, VP Athletics
• Tactic 2: º£½ÇÉçÇø University will support high quality, workforce-ready programs that respond to market demands.
  • Accountable: VPAA
  • Responsible: VPAA, VPEM, VP F&A, VP Student Affairs, VP Athletics

GOAL 3: SHEPHERD WILL SERVE AS A HUB FOR ACADEMIC, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

Strategy 1: Leverage our geographic location and human capital to increase partnerships and collaborations with organizations and stakeholders.

• Tactic 1: Academic Affairs will explore strategies to strengthen connections with external regional partners, effectively coordinating internship and field experience opportunities, leveraging connections with alumni in the workforce to enhance networking opportunities.
  • Accountable: VPAA
  • Responsible: VPAA, Deans’ Council, Department Chairs
• Tactic 2: All offices, led by Student Affairs and supported by Academic Affairs, will explore a new model for Washington Gateway promoting efficient resource sharing to create significant cultural learning experiences off campus.
  • Accountable: VP Student Affairs
  • Responsible: ELT, Senate Washington Gateway Committee

GOAL 4: SHEPHERD WILL BE A FIRST-CHOICE ACADEMIC HOME WITH HIGH QUALITY AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS.

Strategy 1: Ensure modern, innovative, well-maintained facilities.

• Tactic 1: All offices will work with Academic Affairs, Finance, Facilities, and Information Technology to develop a yearly assessment cycle of the instructional spaces and offices repair/replacement actions and an associated budget.
  • Accountable: VP F&A
  • Responsible: VPAA, VP F&A, ELT

GOAL 5: SHEPHERD WILL SERVE THE WIDE-RANGING NEEDS OF STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITIES.

Strategy 1: Create, support, and sustain environments that are welcoming to all people.

• Tactic 1: Human Resources will work with all offices to re-examine policies and institute practices to ensure the promotion of inclusive hiring practices and supportive work environments.
  • Accountable: CHRO
  • Responsible: CHRO, ELT