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Strategic Planning Survey

Question 6:
What is the single most important thing that needs to be done for Arkansas State University to rise to the next level in terms of reputation and stature?

224 responses out of 240 possible responses

Academics

 

Increase library funding 5

Continue teaching mission over research 4

Commit to undergraduate education 5

Embrace on-line learning; increase distance learning opportunities, degree centers, and on-line degrees 6

Focus on academic excellence 11

Improve academic facilities 1

Increase admission standards 2

Increase number of PhD programs 7

Focus on student success initiatives 2

Continue to improve strong academic programs, discontinue weak/low productivity programs 2

Become a learning centered campus 1

Increase emphasis on sciences, biotechnology and ABI initiatives 2

Continue to move toward research institution (Carnegie and SREB) 5

Increase graduate enrollment and graduate degree completion 1

Increase undergraduate retention and graduation rates 2

Improve/provide technology and other equipment used for instruction 2

Offer academic programs that serve ASU’s constituent needs of region served 3

Improve quality of academic instruction 2

Place academics above athletics 8

 

Faculty

Increase faculty salaries/equity 7

Provide better incentives to attract and retain high quality faculty 7

Promote improvement of faculty scholarship; more resources to support faculty scholarship               and teaching 7

Define research mission and its impact 1

Balance/blend teaching and research 4

Faculty need to improve their attitudes 2

Decrease course load to promote scholarship 1

Increase hiring of research-oriented faculty 1

Improve quality of faculty 1

Increase diversity and respect for diversity 1

 

Staff

Increase staff salaries/equity 4

Provide better incentives to attract and retain high quality staff 5

Increase diversity and respect for diversity 1


Students

Increase enrollment 1

Increase quality of students 2

Increase number of students living on campus (more Greek housing, new residence halls) 1

 

Funding

Increase funding to academics 3

Increase state funding/funding equity 11

Keep tuition costs down 1

Strategically allocate limited resources 1

Shift funding from administration to academics 1

Increase endowments 1

Improve grants and contracts procedures 1

 

Governance/Communication

Improve understanding and process of shared governance 5

Ethical Leadership 1

Improve communication campus-wide among all constituencies 1

Improve communication from administration 7

Improve support of administration for faculty 4

Change administration 4

Improve administration’s respect for faculty 2

 

Facilities

Continue physical improvements 1

Complete campus construction 1

 

Image

Develop a sense of institutional pride by faculty, staff and students 2

Increase positive publicity and press 4

Develop and accept a common vision for ASU 5

Expand marketing activities and area (state and regional) 3

Focus on improving image 2

Become a “team” or family 5

Gain respect of state 2

ASU is okay – just keep improving 2

Establish ASU’s identity/niche 2

Improve marketing of graduate programs 1

Build better community relationships 2

 

Athletics

Do away with athletics completely 4

Continue to support and improve development of athletic programs 10

Keep the Indian mascot 1

 

Miscellaneous

Improve customer service 1

Provide more opportunities for children to bond with ASU 1


Exemplary Statements (Question 6)

A vision that creates excitement and buy-in on ALL levels--grass roots campaign

Stop worrying about our status and reputation. Doing what we should be doing will bring status and reputation as a natural result. Status and reputation should be the result, not the goal.

Form a collective front with administration and faculty to create a team atmosphere vs. the current atmosphere of distrust.

Be bold about restructuring. Conceive of the academic community as individuals who move among centers of activity. Abolish departments and colleges.

There is a real need to demonstrate to students why education is important, especially outside of the pragmatic needs for securing employment after graduation.

Better job with PR. ASU has many wonderful and unique programs for students and the community. Fabulous commercials have been developed for UAMS and are airing on our local station. ASU should invest in spreading the word and making it clear to the state and the region that we ARE the preeminent University

Develop a unified focus, but that requires... (1) Getting administration to actually listen to and include faculty in decisions, (2) develop a plan to integrate teaching and research flexibly, not contrasting each as is now done (3) stop trying to be other universities, and to be us---we can be great by ourselves

There is NOT a single thing ... -need faculty who care, not just more who are willing to assign A or B for any effort -facilities for students that shout "You are important to us!" -facilities for faculty that shout "You are important to us!" -an administration that understands in a priori ways that "us" includes faculty, staff, and students 

Image. We don't have anything about us that is a symbol that instantly brings name recognition. Many universities have a mascot, a yell, a slogan, or some other student-driven device that most people can associate with that university. ASU has none of those.

The members of the university community must be on the same page. Every one has to buy into the vision of the university. ASU has to be a place where people feel respected, trusted, etc. That kind of university will attract the best and the brightest.

More respect for faculty across the color lines, and more initiatives of senior faculty to nurture and support the development of junior (ALL) faculty without regard to ethnic preference.

We need to improve cultural and social life on campus to make us more than a place where students come for a few hours a week to get a degree in order to obtain a job. We need to provide more opportunities to make ASU an institution that people send their children away to in order to be educated as a whole person.

Becoming known as a research institution via both Carnegie and SREB. This will require changing the culture of the state as a whole to be more proactive in it's response to the research side of universities. Without the state changing some of it's policies that cause restraints for researchers, ASU, nor any other institute within the state can be seen as being competitive for federal research dollars - ABI or not.  

Establishing a sense of pride in students who attend and people employed at the university. Pride in appearances and behavior.

We are our own worst enemy. The attitude of everyone at ASU, student staff and faculty needs to change from one of cynicism to one of pride. We cannot sell our university if we do not believe in it. The community attitude will follow our lead. We need to respect individuals who consider ASU their home/place of employment. Pride in this place would do more to change our reputation than any other aspect.

Efficient teamwork by all ASU employees. Everyone must support the goals set within the strategic plan and be committed to its success.

The University must continue to build its aesthetics and its programs and promote its niche look and offerings aggressively throughout the state of Arkansas. A strong, direct relationship with high schools across the state that will cause counselors and teachers to point students in our direction is critical. Personal contact makes the difference in our state.

That you are a person and not a color or ethic group. That EVERYONE is respected because they earn that respect by their actions. Opportunities should be provided to anyone who can do the job.

Integration of research appreciation into general institutional (and community) fabric

We need to stand firmly behind athletics and then ride on the coattails that that exposure could potentially bring our school. No other facet of ASU gets as much media coverage as does its athletic program.

Stay Division 1-A in athletics and continue to work towards being successful at that level. The exposure that can be brought to this university "nationally" cannot be measured.

…the greatest way to build reputation and stature is to build bridges and connections with students, alumni, and community....

Increase its academic reputation, i.e. more stringent requirements for admission and graduation. The proliferation of post-secondary centers of study, such as the ones in Blytheville and West Memphis, can serve the mass of those who desire to pursue a post-secondary education at a more basic level. Increasingly, ASU needs to be known as the center for academic excellence in the MidSouth.

Change its focus and perception. ASU needs to focus on its programs and making them the best - bar none. We need to improve quality and offerings. ASU needs to build a sense of family, of community. Our perception of ourselves is not good. ASU must see itself as capable of the best and expect nothing less of itself. We need to quit focusing on apartments in the middle of campus, co-ed dorms, useless degree programs, building ugly buildings and supporting losing athletic programs. The perception is that ASU if more focused on these things than higher academic rankings, new graduate degrees etc.

Being More Inclusive of its Diverse Communities

      Truly support the faculty in their goals and visions rather than always telling them what their goals and visions are.  Give more autonomy to the academic units to excel in what they are good.  Trust, praise, and reward faculty.  Get the faculty on board and this institution is poised to soar.

 

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