New Initiatives (Big Bold Ideas) Administrative Council Meeting, September 28th, 2017
Strategic Priority I - Preparing students for a 21st-century global economy by delivering innovative and relevant academic programs:
- Better connect careers between programs:
- Career path options and opportunities
- What can I do with this degree?
- Support mechanism for distant internships
- Better accessibility of ESL, outside provider of language services (lecturer with some ESL responsibilities)
- General Education – innovative, message of its purpose
- Working with KHA to bring information to residents, and small giveaways
- Create a diversity / cultural center
- Enhance sustainability efforts
Strategic Priority II - Increasing college enrollment and degree attainment in north central Indiana:
- Connect better with parents on how higher education and opportunities work:
- Address parents’ fear of students moving away
- Economic diversity needs to be included in the conversation
- Work with M&M to develop messages through various social media to provide information to parents
- Increase enrollment:
- Summer program for kids
- College readiness camps
- Bring important public officials (church officials or other respected leaders) to campus; engage with other organizations –good fellows, fireman/
police initiatives
- Increase retention:
- Case managers to help students meet their non-academic needs; student ombudsperson
- Find/identify more retention efforts for low-income at-risk students
- Add retention efforts for sophomore and juniors
- Additional student space:
- Residence halls - our own or private partnerships
- Sports venue
- Wellness center
- Review general education as a possible hindrance to online degree enrollments and persistence
Strategic Priority III - Promoting the culture of discovery and creativity among students, faculty, staff and community members:
- Engage in data-informed decision making regarding the programs we deliver, promote
- Efficient use of financial resources
- Grants person
- Rolling deadlines for grant applications
- More community involvement with bringing kids to see the arts on campus
- Give students more power and involvement to help change campus:
- Board of Aeons
- Identify student challenges
- Minimize barriers to student participation in KEY and other extracurricular travel
- Create a website to highlight faculty and student research
Strategic Priority IV - Being a valued regional partner by enhancing relationships with community members and alumni:
- Increase community workshops
- Increase continuing education credit (workshops/conferences) for professionals in the community
- Student Alumni Association/board
- Create “Alumni U” webinar series
- Create additional space for campus and community events
- Create a center for community engagement