UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

Strategic Planning

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June 07: Peacock Golf Classic

June 10: Fayette Campus OAR Day

June 22: Fayette Campus OAR Day

Refreshment Task Force One: Student-Centered Excellence

RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Centered Excellence: UIU shall make student centered excellence its highest institutional priority.

TASK FORCE ONE
Report of May 8, 2012

Operational Process
- Due to global membership of this committee, face-to-face meetings have been kept to an absolute minimum
- Business is conducted by e-mail conversations
- Members of the group may volunteer for and/or be assigned certain tasks; however anyone in the group may give input on any item at any point in the process
- A narrative document of the Task Force's workplan progress has been created and gets updated on a periodic basis, as the group adds new information
- Supplementary documents (appendices and environmental scan data) have also been created
MAKE STUDENT CENTERED EXCELLENCE THE HIGHEST INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITY
- Question: What is a UIU educated person?
  - Begin with the enrollment process
  - Enforce academic rigor
  - Design state-of-the-art student services
  - Build resource supports that sustain life-long learning
  - (Original charge from E.B. Wilson, 11/10/11)
Revised Charge Questions
- How does UIU create an environment of student centered excellence for its students and alumni?
  - How should UIU recruit and retain students who are committed to academic excellence?
  - How should UIU ensure academic excellence in the classroom?
  - What support services should UIU offer to help its students achieve their academic goals?
  - What support services should UIU offer to help its alumni achieve their life-long learning goals?
THE "RIGHT" QUESTIONS
- What is educational "rigor"? How does one recognize it?
- What intellectual benchmarks would best define UIU "rigor"?
- What criteria best define a UIU prospective student? Today and in the future?
- How would a strategy of accelerated "rigor" change the profile of UIU's faculty?
- How can the standards and expectations of "rigor" be uniformly applied across all departments and all learning modalities?
- (From E.B. Wilson, 11/10/11)
FRIEDMAN: 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Creativity
- Non-routine responsibilities
- Critical thinking
- Instincts to collaborate
- IT skills
- Bring added-value
- Intentional learner
- Dedication to life-long learning
- (From E.B. Wilson, 11/10/11)
Identifying the "right" questions
- How does UIU define student centered excellence?
  - Students will develop and hone key skill sets during their educational experience at UIU that they can utilize throughout their lives
  - Students will be encouraged to display key attributes that are characteristic of successful UIU alumni
  - Key skill sets:
    - Critical thinking skills (decision-making, problem-solving, strategic thinking)
    - Communication skills (verbal, written, interpersonal)
    - Collaborative skills
    - Discipline-specific knowledge and relevant experience
    - Applied learning skills
    - Research and information literacy skills
    - Organizational skills
  - Key attributes:
    - Flexibility
    - Strong character
    - Leadership
    - Teamwork
    - Global awareness
  - (Note: References and task force work cited in narrative workplan)
- What evidence does UIU currently possess that defines our commitment to student-centered excellence?
  - Current UIU Strategic Plan (2008) initiatives, and in particular, Strategic Initiative 3: Comprehensive Quality Enhancement of the Academic Program
  - Current UIU AQIP Systems Portfolio, and in particular, the updated Category 1: Helping Students Learn
- What efforts are currently underway that will help to shape our commitment to student-centered excellence?
  - AQIP Action Projects, and in particular, the Assessment of Majors/Programs Action Project
  - Revision of Faculty Governance, and in particular the new Academic Affairs Committee
  - Expansion of the Office of Academic Affairs
  - Development of comprehensive marketing plan, lead by Academic Distinctiveness group
- What key challenges still exist that need to be addressed to improve upon our commitment to student-centered excellence?
  - Higher Learning Commission's AQIP Systems Appraisal Feedback Report, which highlights opportunities for improvement in Category 1: Helping Students Learn
  - Feedback Responses from UIU Stakeholders who were asked to respond to the four Revised Charge Questions (slide 5)
Mission Statement
- Upper Iowa University shall make student centered excellence its highest institutional priority.
- Note: This was accepted at the 11-10-11 Strategic Planning Refreshment meeting.
Vision Statement
- Upper Iowa University will be recognized and respected as an exceptional and ascending institution of higher learning, developing global citizens who become lifelong learners prepared for leadership within society.
- Note: This is the same as the University's Vision Statement.
External Environmental Scan
- SWOT analysis from the current Strategic Plan (2008) contains a list of opportunities and threats, still pertinent today
- Comprehensive marketing research project, undertaken by Stamats Communications, Inc. for UIU's Academic Distinctiveness Committee – includes feedback from external audiences (Competitor Institution CAO's, Military Education Directors, Prospective Students and the General Public)
Internal Environmental Scan
- SWOT analysis from the current Strategic Plan (2008) contains a list of strengths and weaknesses, still pertinent today
- Comprehensive marketing research project, undertaken by Stamats Communications, Inc. for UIU's Academic Distinctiveness Committee – includes feedback from internal audiences (Board Members, Current UIU Students, Faculty, Staff, Administration, and Alumni)
- Feedback responses from academic and/or operational areas were collected where appropriate by Task Force members for the four Revised Charge Questions (slide 5)
- Feedback responses from UIU stakeholder groups (Board Members, Faculty, Staff, Current Students, and Alumni) were collected by Task Force members for the four Revised Charge Questions (slide 5)
Transformative Ideas
- Transformative Idea #1: Develop and/or refine a comprehensive Admissions Recruitment Plan
  - Set admission requirements high (ACT minimums, satisfactory writing skills, etc.), but not so high as to disqualify good students with strong work ethic
  - Tie recruiting to our emerging brand message, as well as to themes of global awareness and sustainability
  - Publicize faculty, student, alumni, and staff accomplishments, in order to attract prospective students
  - Maintain and/or upgrade facilities, equipment, and technology on a continual basis
- Transformative Idea #2: Develop and/or refine a comprehensive Retention Plan
  - Increase AE scholarship aid and provide continued scholarship aid to qualified returning students who demonstrate successful academic performance
  - Keep students actively engaged in their educational experience (e.g. honors program)
  - Provide contemporary extra-curricular student activities (e.g. new clubs)
  - Continue to support development of student-oriented businesses in Fayette
  - Transformative Idea #3: Develop a university-wide Academic Quality Assurance Plan
  - Define academic excellence and outline standards of excellence for both educators and learners
  - Develop university-wide learning goals, objectives, and/or outcomes for each program, major and course offered at UIU
  - Develop a university-wide assessment plan
  - Provide critical instructional support materials and assistance to all adjunct faculty
- Transformative Idea #3: Develop a university-wide Academic Quality Assurance Plan (cont.)
  - Design an effective evaluation/mentoring program for all adjunct faculty
  - Increase compensation for adjuncts to demonstrate they are valued
  - Provide full-time faculty with adequate release time to develop, monitor and uphold high academic standards
  - Hold all students to the highest academic standards for their respective learning experiences
- Transformative Idea #4: Develop a university-wide Student Support Services Plan
  - Expand appropriate academic and student support services from the Fayette campus to all learning experiences (e.g. career services, tutoring, remedial coursework, advising, counseling, and library services)
  - Provide the most current IT support mechanisms, and increase IT personnel to provide services to students (and faculty) in all learning experiences
- Transformative Idea #5: Develop a Center for Life-long Learning and Wellness
  - Work with Alumni Association to identify key services desired by life-long learners
  - Provide low-cost educational opportunities to all alumni (e.g. course offerings, professional development opportunities, continuing education opportunities, seminars, and summer experiences)
  - Provide career and counseling services to all alumni
  - Identify alumni willing to assist with student internships and job shadowing experiences