Key Points: Powering Minds 

March 27, 2006 -- Here are some the key points regarding the implementation of Powering Minds:

• The institution that evolved into Arkansas State University was founded by Legislative act in 1909.
• Arkansas State University engaged in a strategic planning process in 2003-04.  The purpose was to chart a course for the next 5-10 years. 
• Numerous students, faculty members and staff participated in the strategic planning process and in the enrollment management plan development. Approximately 150 individuals participated in planning, and more than 60 served on the enrollment management plan development.
• One of the institutional priorities developed through this process was an emphasis on boosting enrollment, retention rate, and graduation rate.
• Related to that was a finding that ASU needs to enhance its reputation, visibility and influence.
• A key part of the enrollment management plan is to better define for our publics who we are and what we do.  Through this enrollment plan development and through the work of many committees and individuals, ASU has developed a theme, “Powering Minds,” that we believe captures in a very succinct message who we are and what we do.
• The enrollment management plan has many aspects, and we have already seen significant progress.  We will observe a celebration of the enrollment management plan success thus far on Wednesday, April 5.
• The limestone carving marked the entrance to the library that was located in this building for 31 years, from 1932 until 1963.
• This character, called The Scholar, is one of several architectural elements that were part of the original design of Wilson Hall.  When Wilson Hall opened on Nov. 28, 1932, it contained most of the school’s operations: classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, administrative offices, and the library.
• The Powering Minds badge will be seen in numerous ways as the theme is established.  The immediate implementations include the prominent banner on the Dean B. Ellis Library, light pole banners throughout the campus, the university home page on the Internet, and future advertising and recruiting materials.
• This visual element is being added to our family of images that help us highlight our academic mission.
• Credit for implementation of Powering Minds goes to faculty, staff and students on the Enrollment Management Committee and Sub-committees; the creative, marketing and alumni relations teams in University Advancement; support teams in Facilities Management, Information and Technology Services, and other areas throughout the Jonesboro campus; the ASU Center for Social Research; and Jim Black of SEM Works, our enrollment management consultant.

See Powering Minds for more information.

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