Office of the President » Strategic Plan

Share your ideas for reaching the goals Strategic Planning Framework – Year 1 (.pdf) Strategic Planning Framework – Year 2 (.pdf) Strategic Initiative Input from Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and USI community members (.xls) Environmental Scan (.pptx) Dreams & Core Values Strategic Plan Update – March 2010 Strategic Plan Year 2 Update – January 2011 Strategic Plan Year 3 Update – January 2012 USI Strategic Map – April 5, 2010 Reflections & Directions Videos Share your Reflections & Directions President's Page

When the University’s Board of Trustees approved a strategic plan in summer 2010, the campus community went into high gear working on initiatives, detailed planning, and proposals to meet the six major goals laid out in the plan. USI’s first-ever strategic plan was preceded by a year-long process of revising our mission and vision statements, along with establishing the goals and broad strategies to reach them.

In year two of the process -- officially the first year of a five-year plan -- groups of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other friends of USI formed to move the plan forward, particularly focusing on 18 initiatives. In 2011-12, there will be significant activity in project implementation and additional planning to help achieve the six major goals.

“In these first two years, there has been strategic, creative thinking about how to make this an even better university,” said President Linda L. M. Bennett. “Other institutions of higher learning look to us as a new model for strategic planning and that is a testament to our Office of Planning, Research, and Assessment, which coordinated the process. It’s also notable that we will make significant steps forward in a time of limited fiscal resources.”

The strategic plan process has highlighted the role USI plays in regional leadership, economic development, and community interaction. “Our partnership with Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, for example, is unlike any other in the nation, facilitating civilian applications of innovative technologies developed at Crane through the knowledge-transfer and patent process,” Bennett said. “At the same time the partnership has created invaluable opportunities for our science, engineering, and business students and faculty.”

Many other examples of innovation and academic excellence at USI have been highlighted by the strategic plan process, Bennett notes. “The University of Southern Indiana has a key role to play in helping transform the region, not just in providing outstanding educational opportunities, but also in being a strategic partner with organizations, businesses, and municipalities. We are shaping the future through learning and innovation, as our vision statement boldly proclaims.”

See updates on the six goals:

Enhance Experiential Learning Opportunities	Increase the Graduation Rate
Preserve & Nurture the Campus Community	Provide Leadership to Indiana and the Region
Increase Diversity of Faculty, Staff, and Student Body	Become a 24/7 Campus


Enhance experiential learning opportunities	Increase the graduation rate
Key Strategies Promote and more fully integrate community and global experience in the academic curriculum Increase internships, coop, study abroad, and community engagement Accurately track and measure the experiences of students Year Two Update: During 2011-2012, the University will establish the Experiential Learning Council to share information and ideas across colleges and programs and to clarify definitions and outcomes of such opportunities. Other initiatives in the planning stage include the development and funding of enhanced international experiences for the USI community and maximizing the University’s connections to New Harmony through academic and experiential learning opportunities. Share your idea on reaching this goal	Key Strategies Provide consistent, effective advising across campus to increase accountability and ensure students are on track to graduate Provide more flexible ways to gain a degree Develop an effective framework for student recruitment and retention Increase on-campus job opportunities for students who need financial assistance Year Two Update: This year, USI’s four colleges will establish new types of advising programs, improving how students receive academic guidance throughout their college careers. The “freshman experience” – getting students off to a strong start and increasing retention and overall student success – will be enhanced by expanded use of EBI MAP-Works (a student success program targeting new freshmen). Efforts will continue in other areas, including how to expand career counseling services to underclassmen and to better track USI students’ overall academic success. Share your idea on reaching this goal

Preserve and nurture our campus community	Provide leadership to Indiana and the region
Key Strategies Support the health, well being, and quality of life of our campus community Build connections across campus, the buildings, and disciplines Provide ongoing development for faculty, staff, and students Year Two Update: Several groups are working to highlight USI’s history in anticipation of our 50th anniversary in 2015 (including a new, regular history feature in USI Magazine starting in fall 2011), sharing and building campus traditions, enhancing the opening convocation program for new students, redesigning the celebration of Founder’s Day, and establishing a new USI song. Share your idea on reaching this goal	Key Strategies Supply collaborative expertise and applied research for issues impacting the region Make it easier for people to engage with our resources and/or capabilities Elevate our visibility to a level more appropriate to the University's accomplishments and impact in higher education and on the economy Year Two Update: USI continues to step up its outreach and involvement efforts, both through the Division of Outreach and Engagement and through other activities and programs campus-wide. Several new initiatives are underway to enhance the University’s role as the go-to resource in the region, develop and encourage faculty and staff regional leadership and community connections, and support student leaders in work and engagement off campus. A new marketing campaign is raising USI's visibility with key audiences through the news media, advertising, and other important avenues such as social media. Share your idea on reaching this goal

Increase the diversity of faculty, staff, and student body	Become a 24/7 campus
Key Strategies Develop activities and experiences that promote diversity as a value Enhance support networks for faculty, staff, and students of diverse backgrounds, including first-generation status Provide international programming for faculty and students Year Two Update: A committee is evaluating services and programs relating to both the increase and support of diversity on campus, including in hiring and in student recruitment, and that work will continue into the new academic year. The standing Diversity Committee created a new website in spring 2011 highlighting existing resources and programs related to diversity: www.usi.edu/diversityresources Share your idea on reaching this goal	Key Strategies Engage students in the process of developing a "full-time" campus Identify and facilitate activities, spaces, programs, and services to offer during nontraditional hours Encourage students to be deliberate in their co-curricular activities Year Two Update: Many services on campus will be augmented this fall to better meet the needs of the campus community. The Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center will extend its hours and will boast a Simply To Go eatery and enhancements to lounge facilities – and the Student Health Center will also have expanded hours (see details). In addition, an after-hours shuttle service between the fitness center and the student apartments section of campus will begin this fall. An improved online calendar and other web-based enhancements will improve communications tools that support campus events and programs. Share your idea on reaching this goal