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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
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
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
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
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
Continue
physical improvements 1
Complete
campus construction 1
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
Do
away with athletics completely 4
Continue
to support and improve development of athletic programs 10
Keep
the Indian mascot 1
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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