Faculty and staff input sought for UCCS Strategic Plan

Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a campus-wide UCCS Strategic Plan discussion session Jan. 26 in Berger Hall.

Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak made the request as part of planning for a November 2016 accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission.

“This review is very important, as it is part of planning for the November 2016 accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission,” Shockley-Zalabak said in an email to all campus employees. “Over 400 employees participated in the initial planning in 2012; I would like to see at least 500 take part in this midpoint process.”

To accommodate faculty and staff work schedules and allow for broad participation, six one-hour sessions will be conducted in Berger Hall. Each session will begin with an update of where the university is relative to its strategic plan goals, followed by an opportunity for individual input in a variety of areas of the plan. Areas for input include: internationalization, diversity, research, student experience, health and wellness, and online education. There will also be a table devoted to input that does not fall into the categories listed.

Sessions are scheduled for:

• 8 a.m.–9 a.m.
• 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
• 1 p.m.–2 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
• 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

The UCCS Strategic Plan (2012-2020) began in summer 2011 and included more than 400 faculty and staff members before being approved by the CU Board of Regents. A total of 12 strategic goals were developed as well as statements on the university’s vision, mission and core values.

The UCCS goals are

• Foster academic programs that serve diverse communities and develop intellectually curious graduates who are globally and culturally competent.
• Cultivate an environment that sustains and extends quality research, scholarship and creative work.
• Provide a transformative educational experience that engages students both in and out of the classroom.
• Substantially increase international and domestic multicultural program opportunities and the number of international students and scholars on campus to build cultural understanding and to develop the global competencies of the UCCS community.
• Cultivate a vibrant, healthy, engaged campus community that unites students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University in support of the goals of the institution.
• Build an inclusive UCCS educational community that attracts, embraces and supports diverse students, faculty and staff to advance learning and scholarship in a multicultural world.
• Provide inspired sustainability leadership and education, and direct the responsible, informed application of social, environmental and economic sustainability measures in all University activities.
• Actively build responsible enrollment growth that helps achieve the UCCS mission and values and contributes to the University’s financial viability.
• Grow and diversify revenue through the expansion of business enterprise, intentional stewardship and philanthropy, and responsible management of revenues and expenses.
• Provide an infrastructure of innovative technology, effective facilities and collaborative learning spaces, blending virtual and physical resources to enhance and advance the educational experience.
• Build mutually beneficial cultural, civic, economic and system wide collaborations with external partners and organizations to advance UCCS and the southern Colorado region.
• Grow and diversify communication and marketing programs to advance our campus community, to promote our national reputation for excellence and to increase external support.

The plan is available for review at: 2012-2020 Strategic Plan.