DRAFT

Gannon University’s Strategic Plan II: 

2008 – 2013

The Mission of Gannon University

Gannon is a Catholic, Diocesan, student-centered University which provides for the holistic development of undergraduate and graduate students in the Judeo-Christian tradition.  As such, it offers each student outstanding teaching and a value-centered education in both liberal arts and professional specializations, in order to prepare students for leadership roles in their careers, society and church.  The University faculty and staff are committed to excellence and continuous improvement in teaching, learning, scholarship, research and service.  The University’s environment is to be one of inclusiveness and cultural diversity.

Gannon University Strategic Vision Statement

In five years, Gannon University will have developed a purposeful, data-driven assessment-based approach to education, where learning is emphasized inside dynamic classrooms and applied through practical experiences outside the classroom.  Gannon’s primary curricular focus will be exceptional professional education integrated with rigorous liberal learning, which will foster individual leadership, service and innovation.  Gannon’s students, faculty and staff will actively engage in learning, in their disciplines, and with the local, regional and global communities.

Goal I: Enhance Academic Excellence: Gannon will build upon its unique strengths and create a structure and dynamic environment to provide exceptional, innovative professional education integrated with rigorous liberal learning which emphasizes synthesis of knowledge through experience.  (Primary person with lead responsibility for implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs)

Primary Objectives:

1. Create an efficient and effective three-college academic organizational structure with one college emphasizing the Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences in order to maximize the strengths and synergies of these major academic areas and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration.

2. Establish excellence and innovation in each academic program and capitalize on and claim our competitive niche in health professional education and in the regional graduate professional education market.

3. Emphasize synthesis and engagement through inclusion of experiential education in each curriculum.

4. Define liberal learning at Gannon and integrate the core tenets into all undergraduate programs, ensuring a robust representation of the Catholic intellectual tradition.

5. Enhance faculty and staff salaries to attract and retain dynamic and innovative faculty and staff.

GOAL II:  Distinguish the University: Gannon will be recognized for its academic excellence and uniqueness as a Catholic institution of higher education while committing itself to enhancing its diversity and global perspective.  (Primary persons with lead responsibility for implementation: Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Executive Director of University Marketing, and Director of Public Affairs and Communications)                                                                     

1. Define and promote Gannon’s academic excellence, particularly in health professional education and graduate professional education and in the design and delivery of an integrated learning experience.

2. Achieve regional awareness and prominence of institutional academic excellence in the tradition of Catholic higher education.

3. Achieve recognition as an Institution with excellent academic programs, quality faculty and a strong Catholic Mission to attract prospective students, staff and faculty.

4. Internationalize the University by creating an environment of cultural diversity through coordinated programs that strengthen students’, faculty and staff’s global awareness and requisite skills for fully contributing as world citizens.

5. Strengthen the integration of the Catholic intellectual tradition relative to curriculum, marketing and partnerships.

6. Become an acknowledged regional leader in ecumenism.

7. Ensure that Gannon will enjoy the human resources to continue vibrant Catholic education in the next generation.

8. Increase Mission-oriented development of students, faculty and staff based on Catholic intellectual tradition.

Goal III: Increase enrollment of qualified, motivated students:  Gannon will increase its enrollment through strategic recruitment practices and enhanced retention initiatives capitalizing on its strengths in undergraduate and graduate programs leading to careers, advanced studies and professional development. (Primary person with lead responsibility for implementation: Dean of Enrollment Services)

1. Increase the University’s total undergraduate, graduate and high school student enrollment to 4,800 by 2012.

2. Increase four year and five year graduation rates by 5% to 53% and 69%, respectively, by 2012.

3. Increase freshmen-to-sophomore and sophomore-to-junior student retention rates to 85% and 76%, respectively, by 2012.   

4. Increase the diversity of the undergraduate and graduate student populations (racially, culturally and geographically) including coordinated international student recruitment.

5. Increase entrepreneurial program delivery through distance education and satellite or extension campuses.

GOAL IV:  Forge key relationships and partnerships:  Gannon will strengthen the University’s Alumni network through National Alumni Board partnerships and Alumni engagement with the local, regional and national Alumni community.  Gannon will also enhance its economic, educational, cultural, civic and professional relationships with the local, regional, national and global community.  (Primary persons with lead responsibility for implementation: Vice President for University Advancement and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs)

1. Establish a comprehensive plan to establish new partnerships with alumni and others in businesses, health care, educational systems, social service agencies and corporations in order to strengthen and expand opportunities for our students and academic programs to enrich our partners and community.

2. Encourage, identify and promote Alumni achievements of national importance and prestige.

GOAL V:  Establish a culture and practice of innovative strategic management: Facilitate innovation, forward thinking, continuous improvement, financial efficiency, increased voluntary support, enhanced facilities and creative and entrepreneurial activity by consistently and universally applying comprehensive, rigorous outcomes-based planning, assessment, and management approaches.  (Primary person with lead responsibility for implementation: Vice President for Finance and Administration and Vice President for University Advancement)

1. Make comprehensive, rigorous outcomes-based program assessment a central feature of the Gannon culture and key decision-making.

2. Fully integrate budget planning, strategic planning, and assessment processes.

3. Expand campus facilities to better support the teaching, learning and student life environments.

4. Increase the endowment through strong earnings with a reasonable amount of risk and reducing the spending draw to a fiscally conservative rate.

5. Improve Gannon’s financial liquidity by monitoring current debt and growing cash reserves.

6. Increase financial resources by implementing a comprehensive campaign to support the Strategic Plan goals.

7. Increase opportunities for student, faculty, staff and alumni and career and professional development.

8. Enhance inclusion of personal leadership development opportunities/experiences in the curriculum and co-curriculum.