Strategic Academic Visioning and Empowerment (SAVE) Final Report to UWF BOT December 2011

Committee Charge Develop vision, mission, goals and strategic priorities for Academic Affairs for the next 5-10 years – To be used to make key decisions related to Academic Affairs 1.Perform an environmental scan and SWOT analysis to identify strategic priorities Internal and External Stakeholders Internal and External Data 2.Facilitate a strategic planning/visioning retreat 3.Identify priority goals and key performance indicators/measures Completion date: October 1, 2011

Vision Conference Participants: 100 internal and external stakeholders – UWF faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni – Community, government, military, and BOG representatives Outcomes: Stakeholder Perspectives (by stakeholder group) – What is important for us to know about how you see the future of the institution? – What do you want us to remember as we plan for the future of UWF academics? Six preferred futures for UWF academics (mixed groups)

Vision Statement Three SAVE subcommittees drafted proposed vision statements based on data from Vision Conference in a transparent, collaborative fashion. The SAVE committee reached consensus on the following vision statement. Preparing students for successful careers and lives and advancing educational, cultural, and economic development through quality academic programs, creative scholarship, and innovative community partnerships.

Mission Statement The mission of UWF Academic Affairs is to offer distinctive and nationally recognized baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral programs that prepare students for successful careers and lives in the 21 st century. A hallmark of university life, UWF teacher-scholars are committed to producing new knowledge. They engage students in rigorous, personalized learning experiences, enriched through creative scholarship and relevant community service. The curriculum fosters disciplinary expertise, professional competence, and high standards of integrity. UWF graduates will be recognized for their achievements as leaders and scholars and for their civic contributions. Through effective, accessible, and sustainable programs and innovative partnerships, UWF is the premier intellectual and cultural center of the region. With a faculty and staff dedicated to fostering a caring university community, UWF enhances the quality of life of the citizens and communities we serve.

Strategic Themes, Goals & KPIs Eight strategic themes emerged from the environmental scan – Concept papers were written to summarize information gathered on these themes – Conducted Goals Conference with 50+ attendees Goals and KPIs were developed at all day conference Preliminary action planning conducted for top 2 goals in each theme Teaching Research Community Engagement Quality Innovation Growth 21 st Century Skills Visibility See final report for specific goals and KPIs

Implementation Issues and Concerns Tension between teaching, research, and service Division of labor Supportive of diverse approaches Disruptive technologies Assessment, accountability, and benchmarking Reorganization to enhance communication Buy-in from every level Student Activity Enhancement + Academics

Communication Recommendations Create a marketing/communication plan – Maintain ongoing “active” communication with all stakeholders of implementation and accomplishments – Ensure communication is appropriately crafted for the audience – Graphic to represent the strategic themes Communicate a visible commitment from leadership – Visioning should occupy prime space on UWF and department websites – Develop a plan to promote communication in multiple venues – Issue regular updates on next steps

Implementation Recommendations Create a collaborative and transparent process for completing action plans and implementing visioning goals – Provost to identify a “Champion” to lead Academic Visioning – Create chart that shows list of tasks, who is responsible, expected date of completion (Gantt chart) – Develop an implementation plan with long, short-term goals – Create implementation committee(s) to address themes – Complete action planning for goals

Implementation Recommendations Promote continuous improvement – Provide rationale and transparency for prioritization of initiatives – Identify gaps between what we do now and goals – Identify and address hurdles, challenges and issues that could impede visioning activities – Develop a continuous improvement review process to track progress of visioning activities Reconvene SAVE committee for one-year review of accomplishments

Questions/Comments