Strategic plan update draws crowd, comments

More than 325 faculty and staff members participated in strategic planning update sessions Jan. 26 in Berger Hall.

Those who attended listened to presentations about the strategic plan created in 2012 and intended to guide campus decision making until 2020. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak requested wide participation in the sessions as the plan reaches its midway point and the campus prepares for a fall visit from the Higher Learning Commission.

On the hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., campus leaders provided updates, answered questions and accepted comments written on note cards and dropped into ballot-style boxes.

“I wish to thank everyone who participated,” Shockley-Zalabak said. “You provided 1,275 comments that my office will compile and share with the campus next week.”

Updates included ahead-of-schedule progress in areas such as new degree programs, enrollment growth,  new faculty positions, new staff positions, financial targets and physical improvements to the campus.  The formal presentation concluded with a quote from author Mark Twain, famous for his writings about everyday life on the Mississippi River.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails, explore … dream … discover.”

Specific areas for input included internationalization, diversity, research, student experience, health and wellness, and online education. A table was also devoted to items of interest or concern to faculty and staff that did not fit into the other categories.

The UCCS Strategic Plan (2012-2020) began in summer 2011 and included input from 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 goals follow.

UCCS Goals.

• 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.

Related Posts:

• Faculty and staff input sought for UCCS Strategic Plan
• Save the date: Strategic plan update set for Jan. 26
• Strategic plan headed to Regents