STRATEGIC PLAN ROAD MAP 2015-2020 Prepared for Southern University System March 2016 In the following document, Hanover Research proposes a series of projects designed to support the research priorities of the Southern University System.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview... 3 Introduction... 3 Summary of Implementation Support... 3 Strategic Plan Implementation Road Map... 6 Research Series: Enhance the Academic Experience... 6 High-Demand and High-Growth Program Market Assessment... 6 Program-Specific Market Assessments... 7 Prospective Student and Employer Survey... 7 Research Series: Facilitate Faculty Research and Collaboration... 8 University-Business Research Partnerships... 8 Faculty Research Support... 8 Research Series: Promote Student Success... 8 Matriculation Analysis... 8 Retention and Graduation Analysis... 8 Gatekeeper Course Identification... 9 Research Series: Develop Centers for Excellence... 9 Centers for Excellence Needs Assessment... 9 Centers for Excellence Benchmarking... 9 Concept Testing: Stakeholder In-Depth Interviews or Focus Groups... 9 Research Series: Implement a Facilities Master Plan... 9 Facilities Master Plan Benchmarking... 9 Facilities Master Plan Stakeholder Survey... 10 Facilities Master Plan Infographic... 10 Economic Impact Assessment... 10 Annual Strategic Plan Progress Monitoring... 10 2016 Hanover Research 2
OVERVIEW INTRODUCTION This document describes a long-term research agenda designed to support Southern University s major priority areas as outlined in its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. The University emphasizes that [t]he 2015 2020 Strategic Plan will not only provide a strategy, but also a means of implementation to ensure all of its objectives are addressed. 1 Thus, this research agenda will facilitate the implementation of Southern University s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan through a series of custom projects that align with specific goals, objectives, and strategies in the Plan. SUMMARY OF IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT Figure 1 on the following page provides an overview of the proposed projects and details the corresponding goals, strategies, and objectives in Southern University s Strategic Plan that these research projects will support. Additionally, the summary of implementation support indicates how the proposed research aligns with other state-level strategic priorities outlined in Blueprint Louisiana and Louisiana s Board of Regents Plan for a Better Louisiana (The Return on Education). 2 Overall, the proposed projects focus on: (1) enhancing the academic experience through broad and program-specific market assessments; (2) promoting student enrollment, retention, and graduation through studentlevel matriculation, retention, and data analyses; (3) supporting research and innovation through benchmarking and stakeholder engagement; and (4) providing other strategic implementation guidance through facilities master planning support, accountability progress monitoring and reporting, and economic impact assessment. 1 Strategic Plan FY 2015-2020. Southern University and A&M College, p. 10. Document provided to Hanover Research by the University. 2 [1] Reset Higher Education for Excellence. Blueprint Louisiana. http://www.blueprintlouisiana.org/index.cfm/page/higher-education [2] The Return on Education. Louisiana Board of Regents. Documentation provided to Hanover Research by the University. 2016 Hanover Research 3
Figure 1: Alignment of Implementation Road Map with Institutional and State Strategic Plans HANOVER PROJECT(S) SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2020 Applicable Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategies OTHER STRATEGIC PRIORITIES High-Demand and High- Growth Program Market Assessment Program-Specific Market Assessments Prospective Student and Employer Survey Ensure program quality and accountability Increase opportunities for student access and success Increase the census day headcount enrollment in public postsecondary education by 1.3 percent Increase the total number of completers for all award levels in a given academic year Promote distance-learning activities in each region of the state. Expand academic programs including the establishment of new instructional degree certification programs which are sensitive to workforce development needs. Reset Higher Education for Excellence: Right Size Higher Ed Programs and Campuses Return on Education Louisiana: Close Workforce Gaps University-Business Research Partnerships Faculty Research Support Increase the number of community, national and global partnerships Develop and offer specialized programs that involve partnerships between institutions, local/global business and industry, national laboratories, research centers, and other organizations Create a successful model with research and development as a driver of economic development in partnerships with other universities, national laboratories, and research centers (nationally and internationally) Return on Education Louisiana: Increase Research/Innovation Matriculation Analysis Increase opportunities for student access and success Increase the percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen retained to the second Fall Implement admissions criteria at SUBR to further optimize student recruitment and retention Reset Higher Education for Excellence: Preserve Higher Admission Standards Retention and Graduation Analysis Gatekeeper Course Identification Increase opportunities for student access and success Increase the percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen retained to the second Fall Increase the percentage of first-time in college, full-time, degree-seeking students retained to the third Fall Increase the three/six-year graduation rates defined and reported in the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) Graduation Rate Survey (GRS) at SUBR Implement admissions criteria at SUBR to further optimize student recruitment and retention Develop campus-wide and college/department retention assessment systems Evaluate and revise programs designed to ensure proficiency attainment in Math, Science and English Establish a program to minimize academic stop-outs Reset Higher Education for Excellence: Preserve Higher Admission Standards Return on Education Louisiana: Increase Success for Adult/At Risk Population 2016 Hanover Research 4
HANOVER PROJECT(S) SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2020 OTHER STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Centers for Excellence Needs Assessment Centers for Excellence Benchmarking Concept Testing: Stakeholder In-Depth Interviews or Focus Groups Increase the number of community, national and global partnerships Increase the number of SUBR students that engage in global education and research experiences Develop and offer specialized programs that involve partnerships between institutions, local/global business and industry, national laboratories, research centers, and other organizations Develop a funding model to facilitate international education and research experiences Enhance the current undergraduate and graduate research opportunities Return on Education Louisiana: Increase Research/Innovation Facilities Master Plan Benchmarking Facilities Master Plan Stakeholder Survey Facilities Master Plan Infographic Provide nuanced direction for the institution s strategic planning process Analyze and disseminate information about the University Review and revise current policies and develop new polices as needed Enhance opportunities for campuswide participation in the institutional effectiveness process Reset Higher Education for Excellence: Right Size Higher Ed Programs and Campuses Economic Impact Assessment Analyze and disseminate information about the University -- -- Return on Education Louisiana: Close Workforce Gaps Annual Strategic Plan Progress Monitoring All All Monitor progress through external assessments and stakeholder satisfaction surveys Utilize technology to provide ongoing feedback on progress issues in need of attention Return on Education Louisiana: Accountability 2016 Hanover Research 5
STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ROAD MAP RESEARCH SERIES: ENHANCE THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE In light of the Louisiana Board of Regents proposed Performance-Based Formula Funding Model, Hanover will help Southern University maintain and develop an optimal academic portfolio through market assessments, academic program feasibility studies, and program portfolio review. Specifically, this sequence of projects will (1) identify potential new academic programs with the highest projected student and employment demand in Louisiana (2) validate initial findings with deeper investigations of the programs with the greatest potential, and (3) determine which academic programs best fit Southern University in terms of student demand, employer demand, operational costs, alignment with current programs, cultural fit, and other factors of interest to the University. Following the completion of this research, Southern will be well informed to add new academic programs and/or modify existing offerings. HIGH-DEMAND AND HIGH-GROWTH PROGRAM MARKET ASSESSMENT Through a broad market assessment, Hanover would identify high-demand and high-growth occupations and degree programs in Louisiana and the specific geographical areas around Southern University System s flagship campus in Baton Rouge. Key questions that this research would seek to answer include: What employment fields will drive demand for college graduates in Louisiana over the next 10 years? What degree programs exist to meet future employment demand in Louisiana, particularly for 4 and 5 star occupations? 3 What degree programs does Southern University already offer to meet future employment and industry needs and what degree programs is the University uniquely suited to develop? A comparison of high-growth and/or high-volume occupations to annual graduates in related fields would allow Southern University to identify underserved occupations in terms of qualified graduates. 3 See for example: Top Rated Occupations. Louisiana Workforce Commission. http://www.laworks.net/stars/default.aspx 2016 Hanover Research 6
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC MARKET ASSESSMENTS After identifying high-demand and high-growth programs through a broad market assessment, Hanover will conduct program-specific market analyses for promising traditional and/or distance education programs. Program-specific analyses of Southern University s newly proposed programs would provide information on potential student demand, labor market trends, and the overall competitive landscape for the specific program (e.g., nursing specialization, teacher preparation program, etc.). Key questions that this research would seek to answer include: What is the potential student demand for the newly proposed program in Louisiana and the United States? What are industry and employment trends in the proposed program s field? What are the likely competitors to such a program offered by Southern University? Primarily, Hanover assesses student demand by using conferral data provided by IPEDS and determines employer demand for program graduates using employment data provided by the BLS as well as state and local employment data. Additional sources of data or information to consider may include demographic data of the target market, industry publications, and job postings. Finally, Hanover provides information on relevant or likely competitors, such as tuition, course structure, and target students. PROSPECTIVE STUDENT AND EMPLOYER SURVEY If Southern University decides to move forward with the design and implementation of a newly proposed program based on the findings of initial market assessments, Hanover can design, administer, and analyze a survey intended to gauge relative student and employer demand and to inform program design. This survey would address key factors such as program curricula and structure, price, competitor programs, and other variables that may entice a prospective student to enroll in the proposed program. Key questions that this research would seek to answer include: What knowledge, skills, and abilities would employers expect graduates of the proposed program to demonstrate? How likely are prospective students to enroll in the newly proposed program? What specializations or concentrations of the proposed program most appeal to prospective students? The results of this research would help Southern University to ensure the ultimate success of a given proposed program by highlighting features that best align with student/employer needs and preferences. 2016 Hanover Research 7
RESEARCH SERIES: FACILITATE FACULTY RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS Hanover can identify ways in which peer institutions work with businesses and other entities (e.g., state and federal governments, non-profit organizations, community partners and school districts) to perform industry research and other related services as a channel of revenue generation. In particular, the report would focus on describing the types of partnerships in which peers engage, how these partnerships are structured (e.g., which university offices/personnel are responsible for the arrangement), and how the university s services are marketed, among other relevant issues. FACULTY RESEARCH SUPPORT Hanover Research can investigate the structures and mechanisms in place at peer and/or aspirant institutions around the country to promote original faculty research. The report would emphasize aspects of faculty research support of most interest to Southern University, such as internal funding, supporting external grants, encouraging collaborative research between students and faculty, and promoting research cooperation between faculty in different departments and at different institutions. RESEARCH SERIES: PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS MATRICULATION ANALYSIS A student matriculation analysis would examine Southern University s admissions data, including inquiries, applications, and enrollments to better understand students enrollment behavior. The analysis would identify student characteristics and behaviors that are most likely to affect the decision to enroll or not enroll in the University. Examples of student characteristics could include geographic proximity to campus, high school GPA, gender, and race/ethnicity. The results of this research will help to inform and improve recruiting efforts by allowing administrators to gauge the likelihood that a particular student will ultimately enroll or by helping the University to expand recruiting efforts to new, targeted markets and audiences. RETENTION AND GRADUATION ANALYSIS A retention and graduation exploratory would analyze student demographic and academic data to identify influential factors related to student retention, persistence, and graduation. The analysis would provide Southern University with actionable information regarding subgroups of students that are most at-risk of dropping out prior to program completion, for example, thereby allowing for targeted proactive interventions to maximize completion and graduation rates. The report would estimate regression models, which seek to determine the main predictors of retention, graduation, and attrition while controlling for a series of other potentially-confounding factors. 2016 Hanover Research 8
GATEKEEPER COURSE IDENTIFICATION Hanover can conduct a data analysis to identify gatekeeper courses to uncover linkages between specific courses or course sequences and key student outcomes. This information could be used to further inform academic advising and in other key individualized academic planning channels. RESEARCH SERIES: DEVELOP CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE Hanover can help Southern University develop on-campus Centers for Excellence that leverage the institution s unique strengths and resources through an industry-focused needs assessment, operational benchmarking, and concept testing with key stakeholders. CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT A needs assessment would involve a cross-analysis of industry projections and Southern University s programmatic offerings to identify potential opportunities for new Centers for Excellence. This proposed approach ensures that the focus areas of the University s Centers for Excellence will align with industry and workforce needs while also building on Southern University s existing, emerging, and latent strengths. CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE BENCHMARKING Organizational benchmarking would investigate how similar and/or exemplary institutions staff and organize Centers for Excellence. The goal of this research would be to provide operational context around staffing, programming, marketing, and other elements critical to the success of higher education Centers for Excellence. Peer and/or aspirant institutions would be identified based on factors such as mission, available resources, student profile, and size. CONCEPT TESTING: STAKEHOLDER IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS OR FOCUS GROUPS After aligning Southern University s academic program and research strengths to workforce needs and developing general program parameters, concept testing would further refine and validate plans for a new Center for Excellence. Hanover would conduct in-depth interviews or online focus groups with key stakeholder groups such as current students, faculty and staff, and industry and academic topic experts to gain greater insight into issues such as program focus areas, community engagement, and other considerations. RESEARCH SERIES: IMPLEMENT A FACILITIES MASTER PLAN FACILITIES MASTER PLAN BENCHMARKING Institutional benchmarking would investigate how similar and/or exemplary institutions plan for and execute a Facilities Master Plan. The goal of this research would be to provide examples or blueprints of exemplary Facilities Master Plans to help Southern University inform the design and implementation of its Plan. Peer and/or aspirant institutions would be identified based on factors such as mission, available resources, student profile, and size. This research also will help to inform the design of a stakeholder survey on the topic. 2016 Hanover Research 9
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN STAKEHOLDER SURVEY To inform the development of the University s Facilities Master Plan, Hanover can design, administer, and analyze a survey to solicit input from key stakeholder groups, including faculty and staff, current students and alumni, parents of current students, local employers, and other representative local community members. The purpose of the survey would be to communicate Southern University s priorities to the community as well as to collect specific input on key aspects of facilities planning, such as perceptions of existing facilities and impressions of future needs. Key questions that this research would seek to answer include: What are stakeholder perceptions of current facilities? What are stakeholder priorities for future planning? How do stakeholder perceptions differ from each other and from the University s leadership? FACILITIES MASTER PLAN INFOGRAPHIC Infographics show data or information in an easily digestible and visually appealing format. Hanover can provide Southern University with infographics based on the results of the Facilities Master Plan Stakeholder surveys and other relevant data sources provided by the institution. The infographics would ensure that Southern University continues to engage stakeholders in the planning process by accurately and effectively communicating the results of the ongoing research and by informing relevant stakeholders of future plans. ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT Hanover Research will examine the economic impact of the Southern University System and its five campuses Southern University at Baton Rouge, Southern University Law Center, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Southern University at New Orleans, and Southern University at Shreveport in terms of both demand-side and supplyside impacts. The report will attempt to assess the demand-side economic impacts on the respective region of each campus in relation to operational expenditures, capital expenditures, faculty/staff spending, student expenditures, and visitor expenditures. The supply-side economic impacts will be examined through an analysis of regional labor needs and Southern University s role in supplying graduates to meet these labor needs, as well as through the System s role in the development of knowledge-empowered local labor. In addition to a comprehensive analysis, Hanover will provide a summary fact sheet for public consumption. ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS MONITORING Hanover Research can provide assistance in reporting annual progress toward the University s Strategic Plan goals. The Progress Report would highlight the institution s efforts toward its identified goals according to the most recently available data. The Progress Report would be targeted for delivery to Southern University stakeholders, 2016 Hanover Research 10
including current and prospective students, faculty and staff, and community members. To facilitate the interpretation of the University s progress, for example, Hanover could provide Southern University with interactive dashboards that allow the user to view and compare the data in a variety of custom ways. 2016 Hanover Research 11
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