Mission Dossier: Strategic Planning and Assessment It only looks terrifying you can do this! In this Presentation Support the finalization of your 2015-2016 strategic and assessment plans (due Monday!) Describe NDSU s and the DSA s strategic plans Give you everything you need to engage in team action planning (right after lunch) Each group will share progress at the end of our time together! 1
Why We Link Strategic Planning and Assessment Expectation that assessment linked to planning, budgeting, decision-making Getting the most out of our assessment efforts Timeline for reporting to support Division planning Fall: submit plan for the year Spring: major accomplishments and results for the year (Summer is planning time) 2
the good-to-great transformations never happened in one fell swoop. There was no single beginning action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no solitary lucky break, no miracle moment. Jim Collins, 2001 (cited in Maki, 2004) NDSU s Strategic Vision Development Strategic Vision Development Facilitated by the Office of the Provost Began in fall of 2014 Led by three task force teams: Learning, Outreach, Research NDSU will report annually on progress toward strategic plan goals 3
Division of Student Affairs Vice President for Student Affairs Council reviewed institution s strategic plan Developed strategic plan for the Division based on the University s plan Feedback opportunity from all staff in the Division Plan up on the website: https://www.ndsu.edu/vpsa/strategic_in itiatives/strategic_planning/ Department Planning Identify key departmental goals for 2015-2016 For each goal, have at least 1 strategy (how you plan to achieve the goal) Each strategy should include a plan for how it will be assessed (results reported in May) Do NOT have to capture everything the department is doing Do NOT have to list something for every Division goal area Meaningful Manageable 4
NDSU s Four Overall Recommendations 1. Seek Balanced Growth 2. Communication approach to support strategic vision 5
9/24/2015 3. Pursue policies and initiatives to foster inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, collaboration 4. Better position NDSU as an asset for North Dakota Recommendations for action in five areas (A-E) which are the basis for Division and Departmental Plans 6
Activity: As we go, for each of the five areas, brainstorm departmental goal(s), strategies, and assessment Will use these later to complete planning Learning and Student Success: Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollment Learning and Student Success Theme Enrollment, retention, graduation rates not keeping pace with the needs of the state, region, nation 7
Increase Student Enrollment Recruitment in focused areas that align with research priorities, needs of NDSU, and programs that have capacity Recruitment to respond to demographic change and to enhance diversity Honors program Graduate student enrollment, particularly in doctoral programs A. Learning and Student Success: Enrollment NDSU: Increase undergraduate and graduate student enrollment DSA: Support the university s planned enrollment growth and create plans to have those resources in place as the university s enrollment increases. Improve services offered to students to support student success. -Service outcomes and operational effectiveness 8
Service Outcomes Many of the Division s Service outcomes fit in this section: Accessing and navigating the university environment Obtaining and making use of essential learning resources Creating educational, personal, professional goals and identifying strategies to achieve those goals Essential needs (health, wellness, housing, dining, etc.) Retention, Learning and Student Success Retention and Graduation Rates for Undergraduates Key issues: Difficulty registering for class in sequence and semester needed No clear path for those who do not meet selectivity requirements of certain programs Lack of advising about alternative majors or career paths Poor completion rates of those who are not consistently full-time Perceived lack of engagement and commitment to NDSU 9
Retention Initiatives 1. Bridge undergraduate experience and research in Grand Challenge areas 2. Support high impact practices (such as study abroad, research with faculty, service learning, peer mentoring) 3. Designate an individual responsible for monitoring retention efforts 4. Identify and reduce barriers that impede 8-semester graduation Retention Initiatives 5. Support an Office of Teaching and Learning 6. Increase incentives for faculty to participate in pedagogical development 7. Emphasize face-to-face instruction for foundational courses 8. University-wide advising system with mandated student participation 9. Cement partnerships between AA and SA that support connection between in-class and out-of-class experiences B. Learning and student success for undergraduate students NDSU: Improve retention, student success, and learning for undergraduate students DSA: Support the learning and retention of undergraduate students by enhancing existing programs and services. Identify strategies and best practices in regard to traditionally underserved students and students at high-risk of attrition. -DSA Learning Outcomes 10
NDSU has strong out-of-class experiences, such as learning communities, tutoring services, and service learning, that have demonstrable positive effects on student engagement and learning. C. Learning and student success for graduate students NDSU: Improve retention, student success, and learning for graduate students DSA: Support graduate students by improving existing programs and services and by identifying additional services and programs needed. -DSA Learning Outcomes Outreach and Engagement 11
Outreach Themes Communication with external stakeholders Better campus coordination of outreach Connection with underserved communities Assessment of quality, feasibility, sustainability D. Outreach and Engagement NDSU: Accurately identify community needs and priorities to be effectively engaged with North Dakota Communities DSA: Enhance and facilitate connections with underserved communities and improve communication with stakeholders. Research and Discovery 12
Research Themes Support infrastructure for research, including faculty hires and library of the future Streamlining processes and policies Centralized funding Enhance doctoral programs to attract highquality students Grand Challenges Strategic investment and faculty hires to focus on interdisciplinary research in: Food Systems and Security Healthy Populations and Vital Communities Sustainable Energy, Environment, Societal Infrastructure E. Research and Discovery NDSU: Propel the research and discovery enterprise forward DSA: Enhance collaborations between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs on research relating to the Grand Challenge focus areas. Support research by providing access to research opportunities in the Division for faculty as appropriate and serve as a resource for application of research projects. 13
Service Outcomes The Division supports students in: creating or embracing educational, personal, and professional goals, identifying strategies to achieve those goals, removing barriers to success, accessing and navigating the university environment, obtaining and making use of essential learning resources, meeting essential needs such as funding, resources, housing, dining, and holistic health and wellness, and transforming educational achievements into careers and life in their communities and the world. Learning Outcomes Practical Competence Communication Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, and Problem Solving Technology Human Societies Diversity and Global Perspectives Personal and Social Responsibility Strategic Planning and Assessment: Summary 14
Review Assessment linked with strategic planning Planning at the Institution, Division, and Department levels Do NOT try to capture everything you will do Focus on major activities and think through how you will assess them! Discussion What were 1-2 things you learned from this presentation? What questions do you still have? Note: This slide will self-destruct in 5 4 3...2 15