The goal of our organizational visioning initiative is to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of structures and practices that facilitate student, faculty and staff success, collaborations, innovations, and organizational sustainability.

 

EHHS has had the same organizational structure for nearly 15 years. During that time, we have continually developed new positions, new programs, and new practices that have defined and redefined how we operate. Yet, we do not know how well this structure fits the current context and climate of EHHS, Kent State, and higher education in general. Nor have we systematically examined whether our organizational structure and practices are maximally efficient to effectively fulfill our mission.

 

The current environment of higher education is challenging in unprecedented ways. To continue to be successful, departments, schools, and colleges need to be proactive and think more creatively about how to adapt to the current environment. This is a shared problem, and our adaptive success will require a shared commitment from all of us.

 

EHHS is partnering with the KSU Office of Strategy Management to ensure a systematic and comprehensive process. We: the dean, associate deans, and school directors, began by reviewing the current values and elements of those values in our strategic plan:

 

 

To guide this organizational visioning, we focused on essential elements of these values to act as guiding principles. These principles are action-oriented expressions of the core values that we will look to as we make decisions about structures and practices:

 

 

To ensure that all voices are heard, we are committed to practice open communication, maintain transparency, and encourage active engagement from all members of the EHHS community throughout the process.