Strategic Plan Linking:

GVSU Plan to the College of Interdisciplinary Studies

GVSU Strategic Plan 2008-2010

Goals

Goal One
To provide high quality student-focused undergraduate, graduate, and professional education provided by faculty dedicated to excellent teaching, scholarship, research, and professional service

Strategy
To differentiate learning goals for curricular and co-curricular undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs by identifying appropriate learning outcomes that are grounded in liberal education

Objectives

• To involve faculty in defining learning outcomes and creating the strategies needed to determine if those outcomes are achieved
• To develop learning goals and outcomes that will include intercultural educational experiences to develop skills and professional competence essential to a diverse workforce
• To develop learning outcomes that will include international educational experiences for documenting that graduates have gained the skills and knowledge they need to function in diverse local, regional, national and global societies (COIS Goal 7)

Strategy
To create and implement an assessment plan designed to improve student learning

Objectives

• To develop an assessment plan that will provide evidence of student learning at multiple levels: course, program, and institutional
• To use assessment results for informing improvements in curriculum, pedagogy, instructional resources, and student services
• To routinely review the effectiveness and uses of the assessment plan
• To integrate into assessment of student learning data reported for purposes of external accountability (graduation rates, passage rates on licensing exams, placement rates).

Strategy
To review academic programs with attention to currency and relevance of courses and programs

Objectives
To determine curricular content and strategies for instruction based on the relationships among the courses of study, the currency of the curriculum, the utility of the knowledge and skills gained, and the cooperative opportunities with other agencies and educational initiatives

Strategy
To develop and maintain high standards of performance for teaching, scholarship, research, and service

Objectives

• To inform faculty of the research on teaching and learning and of technological advances that can positively affect student learning and the delivery of instruction
• To evaluate and to recognize effective teaching and learning (CoIS Goal 3)
• To address the issue of faculty workload
• To design professional development to facilitate teaching suited to varied learning styles and environments  (COIS Goal 3, 6)
• For faculty and students to produce scholarship and create knowledge through basic and applied research (CoIS Goal 6)
• To use scholarship and research to stimulate organizational and educational improvements (CoIS Goal 6)
• To demonstrate that inclusion and cultural competency are valued and supported (CoIS Goal 6)

Strategy
To provide a sufficient quality infrastructure that will support quality education

Objectives

• To recruit, hire, and retain highly qualified faculty and staff in sufficient numbers as indicated by best practices in comparable institutions of higher education
• To provide research resources (CoIS Goal 3)
• To market GVSU beyond local region
• To further develop partnerships with stakeholders, such as alumni and community (COIS Goal 5)

Goal Two
To create a broad educational experience that is guided by a philosophy supporting liberal education in all academic programs

Strategy
To integrate liberal education into all degree programs through curricular and experiential offerings to develop the attitudes and skills requisite for a life of learning in a diverse society

Objectives

• To demonstrate to students that acquisition of a breadth of knowledge and higher order skills in the exercise of intellectual inquiry is integral to all educational programs (COIS Gen Ed Goals)
• To graduate students who demonstrate well-developed, higher order skills, such as communication, critical thinking, self reflection, leadership, reasoning, integration of the various modes of inquiry, intercultural competence, global awareness, and the relevance of sustainability (COIS Goal 6)
• To increase opportunities for students to engage in study abroad, internships, service learning, and research (COIS Goal 4, 6, 7)
• To develop deeper networking between academic programs and student services  (See Lib 100 project)

Goal Three
To build collaborations within the university as well as between the university and the external entities that contribute to the enrichment of society in the region, the state and beyond

Strategy
To identify both internal and external communities of interests that are broad in scope and include marginalized communities

Objectives

• To recognize and acknowledge existing collaborations and partnerships  (COIS Goal5)
• To communicate and market existing collaborations and partnerships (COIS Goal 2)
• To create methods for embracing change in a broader context
• To develop Centers of Excellence (see COIS programs)

Strategy
To engage with identified constituencies and communities in order to serve them in ways that all value

Objectives

• To create outreach programs that respond to identified community needs (COIS Goal 5)
• To connect students, faculty and staff with external communities (COIS Goal 1)
• To develop partnerships focused on shared educational, economic, and social goals  (COIS Goal 5, 7)
• To practice environmental scanning to understand the changing needs of constituencies and their communities (COIS Goal 5, 7)

Goal Four
To promote inclusion and equity and integrate diversity in all aspects of university life

Strategy
To create a comprehensive, systemic, and measurable framework for both curricular and co-curricular educational excellence that incorporates diversity at its core

Objectives

• To develop a common understanding of the definition and the importance of diversity
• To provide access and equity by enrolling, supporting, retaining, and graduating economically disadvantaged students, first generation students, students of color, international students, and any other underrepresented population and by recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff who foster an intellectual, supportive, and nurturing environment for educational excellence
• To create and provide diversity content in the courses, programs, and experiences across all academic offerings and in the social dimensions of the campus environment
• To develop an inclusive community that promotes intercultural learning that engages all of its diversity in the service of student growth and organizational development
• To enact diversity in intentional ways that enhance intercultural competence, cognitive complexity and the ability to work in and bring leadership to diverse groups (COIS Goals 4, 6) 

Strategy
To build collaborations with the West Michigan Community for promoting inclusion and equity and integrating diversity in all aspects of the community

Goal Five
To create a vibrant university culture that fosters an atmosphere of inquiry and learning in all university and community settings

Strategy
To provide curricular and co-curricular activities that support inquiry, practice, creativity, and social responsibility

Objectives

• To develop student programs that support learning throughout the student’s experience regardless of the location of the student
• To provide quality, accessible advising systems that focus on student learning, including the mastery of skills needed for academic success
• To value and promote a life of learning for students, faculty and staff
• To follow explicit policies to ensure ethical conduct in research, instructional activities, and intellectual property rights (See Center for Scholarly & Creative Excellence)

Strategy
To expand opportunities for students to engage in research with faculty, community change, and alumni development

 
Goal Six
To effectively develop and allocate financial resources with which to advance the university’s mission and respond to change and emerging opportunities

Strategy
To manage university resources consistent with a disciplined financial plan to ensure long term financial viability and vitality

Objectives

• To establish budgeting priorities that reflect the university’s vision, mission, values, and goals
• To enable partnerships and innovations that enhance student learning and strengthen teaching effectiveness
• To enhance affordability for students through the establishment of need-based scholarships and financial aid
• To evaluate activities, programs, and services to ensure university resources are being used effectively and efficiently
• To establish more public/private partnerships to enhance resources (COIS Goal 5)

Strategy
To create the human resources needed for an inclusive, diverse learning environment through recruitment, hiring, retention, and professional development practices

Strategy
To develop a master plan for current and future facilities and maintenance

Strategy
To build an infrastructure that supports safety and security for the university community

Strategy
To insure that all forms of financial resources, including state funding, private support, and university revenue and assets are aggressively pursued

Goal Seven
To effectively present the university’s image and to advance its reputation

Strategy
To publicly share the achievement of students, faculty, staff, and alumni

Objectives (see COIS Goal 2 as well as Program Plans)

• To highlight student, faculty, staff, and alumni success stories to illustrate the key university marketing messages in engaging and active ways
• To create a central on-line resource to assemble the scholarship and creative activities of faculty, staff, and students
• To develop and distribute marketing materials to ensure consistency of messages both internally as well as externally in a manner that demonstrates the energy of the university’s varied efforts
• To create a presence at the national and international levels by showcasing the university’s centers of excellence and by assisting faculty, staff, and students to present at national and international conferences.
• To provide opportunities for groups to experience Grand Valley via such things as  conferences, faculty and student exchanges, and special events

College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Strategic Plan 2008-2010

TOP

Mission
Connecting diverse interdisciplinary communities and cultivating innovative liberal learning.
 

Vision
Guided by the ideals of liberal education, the College of Interdisciplinary Studies exemplifies the university mission by serving as the nexus for transformative teaching, engaged learning, and exemplary scholarship for GVSU and the larger community

Through an innovative culture and inclusive conversation, the College of Interdisciplinary Studies:

• Facilitates and fosters collaborative, interdisciplinary teaching and learning.

•  Models inclusion and change for the university, by connecting with local, national and global communities (match to GVSU goal 3).

• Creates, promotes, and supports experiential and intercultural learning opportunities.

• Encourages and sustains a nurturing and creative environment by supporting and including the diverse voices of the College and the greater university community.

• Encourages collaborative, interdisciplinary projects and programs across College boundaries.
  

• Adds value to programs university-wide through integrative activities and programs.

We value:

• A collegial and collaborative environment where we support each other and work together in an open and transparent manner.

• Cultural diversity and diversity of thought and ideas as a source of creativity and as a foundational principle in our curriculum and in our communities.

• Engagement in our local and global communities, in such programs as experiential or service learning, intercultural studies, community education, and study abroad programs.

• Exploration and teaching that challenges the metaphors of disciplinary boundaries and engages students in a transformative critique of their multiple environments.

• Creating and atmosphere where faculty, staff and students work together as educators.

• Risk-taking and innovation and encourage alternative approaches to scholarship, teaching and learning.

Goals

1.      Increase participation of faculty, staff and students in CoIS programs
(match to GVSU Goal 3)

2.      Increase the visibility of the work of CoIS in the GVSU community

match to GVSU Goals 3 and 7

3.      Promote excellent interdisciplinary, integrative teaching and learning in the tradition of liberal education.(match to GVSU Goal 1)

a.       Hire faculty with interdisciplinary areas of expertise and share across colleges through joint appointments

b.      Establish Center for Scholarship and Creative Excellence

c.       Expand faculty/student research opportunities

4.      Develop curriculum, scholarships, programs, initiatives and campus events that internationalize the university. (match to GVSU Goals 2 and 4)

a.       Chinese Studies major

b.      Area studies faculty hires

5.      Increase college engagement with external communities for the common good (match to GVSU Goals 1, 3 and 6)

a.       Holland- Adult degree completion program

b.      Professional Development Program

 6.      Imbed diversity, intercultural competence and inclusive excellence in CoIS curriculum, scholarship, initiatives and programs (match to GVSU Goals 1, 2 and 4)

a.       Provide collaboration and support across Colleges

b.      Provide area studies expertise across Colleges

c.       Offer US diversity course (US 201)

d.      College-focused Theme annually (i.e. poverty and economic justice, immigration)

e.       Community readings

 7.      Increase the involvement of students, faculty and staff in sustainability education and initiatives (match to GVSU Goals 1, 2, and  3)

a.       CE – Grad certificate, Hot Topics

b.      SI-  Campus sustainability week, Focus the nation, sustainability intro courses, teaching circle

c.       Environmental Studies minor

d.      Liberal Studies suggested major

TOP

College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Program Strategic Plans