Strategic Plan and Roadmap at Kent State Stark

Strategic Plan Goals

View Kent State Stark's Strategic Plan Goals pdf

GOAL 1: STUDENT SUCCESS

Kent State University at Stark will promote student success from the first semester through graduation.

Objective 1.1: Kent State University at Stark will offer students a “signature experience” by

Providing students with a university education delivered by distinguished faculty
Connecting college majors to career opportunities
Developing a strong internship program
Supporting study abroad and study away opportunities
Reducing student debt through financial literacy, loan counseling and cost-saving textbook adoptions
Creating unique and meaningful co-curricular and experiential learning opportunities
Increasing options for student research in all majors
Implementing a leadership curriculum in the classroom
Expanding opportunities for service learning

Objective 1.2: Kent State University at Stark will support student success and retention by

Creating options for incoming students at all levels of academic preparation
Implementing a relevant, focused and innovative FYE program
Providing every student with easy access to academic advising
Crafting a schedule of credit classes that better meets student need
Providing high-quality, accessible academic support services
Increasing need and merit-based grant and scholarship resources for all qualified students
Recognizing benchmarks of academic achievement
Expanding the role of career services at all class levels
Determining and providing student life activities linked to retention

Objective 1.3: Kent State University at Stark will strengthen our entering freshman class by

Increasing and promoting scholarship opportunities for high-achieving, direct from high school entering freshmen
Actively recruiting students for the Honors Program
Involving high-achieving current students in appropriate recruitment activities
Creating and implementing opportunities for high-achieving middle school students to have multiple on-campus experiences
Developing initiatives to identify high-achieving, non-traditional freshmen for grants and scholarships

GOAL 2: ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Kent State University at Stark will promote excellence in student achievement, excellence in teaching and research and will build a vibrant academic community.

Objective 2.1: Kent State University at Stark will promote academic excellence in student achievement by

Offering an innovative and responsive curriculum that substantially increases experiential learning, writing across the curriculum, quality online courses and internships
Strengthening career guidance in helping students understand connections between majors and careers
Fostering critical thinking and decision making across the curriculum
Promoting and instilling commitment to academic honesty
Emphasizing the importance of work ethic

Objective 2.2: Kent State University at Stark will promote excellence in teaching by

Continuing to recruit faculty with evidence of teaching excellence and commitment to student learning
Supporting faculty in the use of innovative strategies, course offerings and interdisciplinary faculty partnerships
Promoting, inspiring and exciting faculty to use new and fresh technologies in the classroom to advance their pedagogy
Reaffirming the commitment to and the respect for diversity in the classroom

Objective 2.3: Kent State University at Stark will promote excellence in faculty research and creative activity by

Supporting research and creative activity that makes valuable contributions in all areas, including the wider community
Supporting faculty in their research efforts and creative activity—with both funding and time—through, for example, load lifts, travel funding and assistance with grant writing and administration
Promoting student and faculty research and creative activity collaborations across all disciplines

Objective 2.4: Kent State University at Stark will build a vibrant academic community by

Intensifying efforts to create a student-centered community to which all students belong
Creating more forums to promote and celebrate student accomplishments
Encouraging student-student and faculty-student discourse and collaboration
Exploring ways to recognize and celebrate outstanding teaching beyond student surveys and teaching awards
More widely publicizing, recognizing and celebrating faculty scholarly activities
Fostering consultations between faculty, staff and administration for effective, positive decision-making
Stressing the importance of diversity in the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff
Promoting intellectual diversity in the hiring of faculty
Welcoming and encouraging all—whether student or alumnus, faculty or staff, administrator or community stakeholder—to become full participants in the life of the campus—to be campus citizens

GOAL 3: IMAGE

Kent State University at Stark will promote itself as the number one choice for higher education in Stark County and be known as the place where cutting edge ideas are formed and acted upon and where students graduate ready to contribute to the overall well-being of the community. The greater community will see us as a scholarly resource and an economic driver.

Objective 3.1: Kent State University at Stark will leverage the Kent State University brand and promote the distinguishing features and unique opportunities of being the only public university in Stark County by

Capitalizing on the affordability of Kent State University at Stark’s tuition, quality faculty, engaged learning, convenient location and the customer service that students and families receive
Emphasizing individual degree programs and how they meet the educational needs of our region
Utilizing The University Center to promote student success in the community
Developing and promoting benchmarks where students can receive the financial assistance needed to finish their degree
Promoting cost savings for students who plan or need to complete an advanced degree

Objective 3.2: Kent State University at Stark will differentiate itself, its students and faculty from the competition by

Creating added value opportunities for our students to differentiate themselves from other college graduates (e.g., LaunchPad, The Corporate University certificates and internships)
Creating innovative and thought-provoking events where dialogue is encouraged and promoted
Integrating career services initiatives into the business community

Objective 3.3: Kent State University at Stark will communicate with our defined target audiences by

Utilizing communication mediums where students connect and spend their time (social media)

GOAL 4: RESPONSIVENESS TO REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Kent State University at Stark will create a culture of responsiveness to community educational needs.

Objective 4.1: Kent State University at Stark will identify new degree programs that can be completed at the Stark Campus to support the economic drivers of the community by

Researching economic growth areas in the region
Creating interdisciplinary approaches to the development of new degrees
Exploring the use of the Regional College for the development of selected degrees
Supporting faculty in the development of new courses and degrees
Identifying and building pathways from our undergraduate degree programs to appropriate advanced study

Objective 4.2: Kent State University at Stark will meet regional educational needs with credit and non-credit programs by

Supporting graduate programs for area professionals
Providing professional development, research services and business/entrepreneurial counseling
Establishing advisory boards for select degree programs
Developing more student educational opportunities with area employers
Developing links between the student body and The Corporate University, such as a student professional development conference
Strengthening and expanding articulation agreements and exploring new degree models with area educational institutions
Establishing parameters for spending and revenue from new and existing academic programs

Objective 4.3: Kent State University at Stark will deliver academic courses and programs in the most effective manner by

Scheduling day, evening, weekend and/or online classes to meet the needs of students
Exploring stackable degree programs through collaborating with other local higher education institutions
Identifying potential degree programs for acceleration
Delivering flexible and alternative scheduling, including accelerated programs

GOAL 5: EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Kent State University at Stark will sustain current and foster new educational partnerships to promote student success from pre-school through college graduation.

Objective 5.1: Kent State University at Stark will sustain current educational partnerships by

Continuing academic liaisons, articulation and completion agreements with area colleges and universities
Strengthening our K-12 relationships by working with the Stark Educational Partnership and the Stark County Educational Services Center
Enhancing relationships with area school districts
Researching and developing grant partnerships

Objective 5.2: Kent State University at Stark will create the Office of Educational Outreach within three years to foster new educational partnerships by

Collaborating with Academic Affairs to encourage faculty, along with students, to share their expertise in regional pre-school, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school classrooms
Providing continuing education options on campus for P-12 teachers
Developing programs to engage middle and high school parents and students in preparing both academically and financially for college

GOAL 6: COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Kent State University at Stark will actively pursue initiatives to build and support relationships within the communities—both campus and the wider community—where we live, work and thrive.

Objective 6.1: Kent State University at Stark will build and support relationships within the wider community by

Making its intellectual resources available to the region by encouraging faculty civic and scholarly engagement with community schools, businesses and organizations
Encouraging focused faculty research directly related to the community and highlighting its impact on the community
Engaging local arts and cultural groups to promote creative, dynamic and reciprocal relationships
Recognizing and rewarding faculty, staff and administration for engaging with the community outside of higher education
Expanding current methods of engagement to include use of both existing and emerging media
Encouraging timely and thematic discussions between campus citizens and the wider community in online and interactive venues
Promoting and encouraging faculty and administration participation and leadership in local civic and professional organizations
Becoming an active and proactive participant in local government, Chambers of Commerce and business initiatives for the betterment of the wider community
Creating and expanding courses, certificates and adult programs—both on campus and online—that engage the community
Expanding opportunities for student community volunteerism and service learning to promote both local and global citizenship

Objective 6.2: Kent State University at Stark will build and support relationships within the campus community by

Expecting all campus citizens to treat others with the honesty and respect in action and communication that each person deserves
Continuing those traditions that celebrate student, faculty, staff and administrator accomplishments, and creating new venues and vehicles for recognition
Continuing and improving mentorship for new faculty
Creating a mentorship program for staff
Developing peer-to-peer and peer-to-faculty mentorship opportunities for students
Creating a culture supportive of staff development
Devising new ways of welcoming the families of campus citizens into the life of the campus
Remembering and honoring past campus contributors, embracing and supporting present campus citizens and leaving a thriving campus community to future students and colleagues

GOAL 7: REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Kent State University at Stark will contribute to the regional economic development by preparing students to become well-rounded, productive world citizens and by providing services and locations for business to be done in the community.

Objective 7.1: Kent State University at Stark will be known as a community asset and a place where economic development thought leaders meet by

Promoting the Conference Center as the place (both real and virtual) where business happens
Hosting quarterly events for the Stark Development Board at the Conference Center
Fostering relationships with businesses and giving them reason to come to campus
Hosting a “Made and Done in Stark County” community development education forum showcasing cluster business opportunities
Capitalizing on Stark County Kent State University alumni by developing ways to connect them to the campus (e.g., create on-going signature event on economic development; LaunchPad)
Showcasing Internship & Career Services and alumni at the Conference Center where business executives meet

Objective 7.2: Kent State University at Stark will foster partnerships between campus members, students and businesses to build campus programs that are relevant and meet market needs by

Conducting the Part-time MBA (PMBA) at the Conference Center
Promoting services available through The Corporate University
Creating defined linkages with the arts community and the Arts in Stark economic development plan
Creating courses, certificates and adult programs (on campus and online) that engage the community by broadening cultural awareness and promoting individual enrichment (e.g., The Corporate University programs)
Funding a chair, professorship or executive in-residence
Bolstering an entrepreneurial spirit on campus through broadening LaunchPad into all classrooms and disciplines, expanding curriculum and integrating Small Business Development Center, SCORE and The Corporate University into the campus culture

Objective 7.3: Kent State University at Stark will develop the reputation of the campus as a strategic economic partner in creating learning organizations and communities by

Encouraging and supporting activities in which our faculty members engage the world beyond our campus through research and service-learning opportunities
Expanding and creating internship programs for students in the community
Engaging in focused research directly related to our local communities
Creating a downtown presence to demonstrate commitment to community and contributing to the downtown economy

GOAL 8: SECURING OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

Kent State University at Stark will strive to increase and diversify funding streams and reduce costs.

Objective 8.1: Kent State University at Stark will create and encourage the increase of traditional and non-traditional revenue streams by

Increasing and expanding Advancement opportunities and efforts
- Institutionalizing a culture of philanthropy on campus and among alumni
- Identifying and cultivating alumni to create funding opportunities
- Developing a campus-focused annual campaign
Increasing grant opportunities and funding
Determining realistic and sustainable enrollment goals to meet future operating budgets
- Supporting the creation of a dedicated research position in Institutional Research for the regional campuses
Engaging alumni more in the campus community
- Hiring an alumni relations coordinator
- Developing appropriate processes to identify alumni
- Increase alumni support for the campus
Strengthening course offerings and programs in areas with clear marketability
Maximizing enrollment of those degrees that can be completed entirely at Kent State Stark
Developing additional high-quality, high-demand online offerings

Objective 8.2: Kent State University at Stark will develop cost-reduction strategies and budget efficiencies by

Investigating the costs and benefits of selectively developing department operating budgets
Continuing strategic hiring and assignment of faculty and staff
Evaluating current processes to identify areas of increased efficiencies
Examining current business models of campus auxiliaries

Objective 8.3: Kent State University at Stark will integrate all campus plans, including the conceptual master plan, to manage and accommodate growth

GOAL 9: SUSTAINABILITY

Kent State University at Stark will act in environmentally responsible ways.

Objective 9.1: Kent State University at Stark will enhance recycling, reducing and reusing efforts on campus, engaging students, faculty and staff

Objective 9.2: Kent State University at Stark will develop a community education program in sustainability

Objective 9.3: Kent State University at Stark will name and/or create a position to lead the campus community in sustainability efforts

Objective 9.4: Kent State University at Stark will commit funding in support of green initiatives, including considering alternative fuel vehicles

Objective 9.5: Kent State University at Stark will actively engage in community sustainability efforts, ultimately leading them

Objective 9.6: Kent State University at Stark will actively partner with industry innovators to bring new energy technology to campus