Strategic
Planning Update
To: Campus
Community
From: University Planning Group
As you may recall 2006-07 was spent developing the strategic planning
goals, initiatives, and tasks, which were approved by the Faculty
Senate. This fall Chancellor Betz asked the members of the University
Planning Group (UPG) to review the current status of the strategic plan
“Living the Promise” and recommend planning priorities for 2007-08
that could be forwarded to the Faculty Senate for review and approval.
The following goals, initiatives, and tasks are being recommended as
major priorities for 2007-08. Faculty and staff are encouraged to
share their thoughts regarding these recommendations with members of
the Faculty Senate and/or members of the UPG. The strategic planning
Web site at http://www.uwrf.edu/strategy/
has a list of the UPG
membership. This Web site contains important information regarding our
planning process and provides detail in the Strategic Planning Grid,
which lists the operating paradigm, the 10 goals, the initiatives and
tasks for each goal, the suggested task leader(s), the committee that
would be responsible for completing the initiatives, and a status
report for each initiative.
As we move toward an integrated model of planning, we are working to
create a stronger connection between the planning process and the
allocation of resources. By selecting a few goals and initiatives as
priorities we are better able to channel our resources, both budget and
time, to the things that the campus community believes are the most
important. This does not mean that we will stop progressing on the
other goals. They will continue to move forward at their own pace.
Recommended Strategic Planning Priorities for 2007-08:
Top Priority: Operating Paradigm is to Assess Programs and Set
Priorities
UWRF will engage in continuous quality improvement and assessment,
define its priorities, and use solid information to make future
decisions about how to use its resources.
OP 1 - Define institutional priorities.
OP 1.1 - Examine the results of previous strategic planning efforts
used to evaluate priorities. Develop a list of resulting common themes
and priorities.
OP 1.2 - Determine an appropriate balance between the traditional
liberal arts mission and professional programs.
OP 1.3 - Identify populations of learners (current and future) to serve.
OP 2 - Assess all university programs and units in relation to
institutional priorities.
OP 2.1 - Generate appropriate criteria for assessing academic programs
and units consistent with institutional priorities.
OP 2.2 - Generate appropriate criteria for assessing non-academic
programs and units consistent with institutional priorities.
OP 2.3 - Develop processes to coordinate the strategic planning
assessment of programs and units with existing assessment mechanisms,
as appropriate.
OP 3 - Allocate resources consistent with institutional priorities, and
program and unit assessments.
OP 3.1 - Identify resources available to the institution including, but
not exclusive to, space, positions, and budget.
OP 3.2 - Investigate allocation models.
OP 3.3 - Recommend a model to be used for allocation of current and
future resources.
Priority: Task 1.1.2 - Increase support for the First Year Experience
Program, the Honors Program, and the Academic Success Center.
Priority: Goal 6: Promote the University of Wisconsin - River Falls
UWRF will create and implement an integrated marketing strategy.
6.1 – UWRF will create and apply an integrated marketing plan.
6.1.1 - Assess the perceptions that our stakeholders currently hold
about our institution and evaluate our position in the marketplace
6.1.2 - Define our unique selling points, target audiences, and key
messages.
6.1.3 - Implement and provide continuous support for an effective and
consistent branding campaign.
6.2 – UWRF will engage in strategic student recruitment that is
compatible with the university’s priorities and objectives.
6.2.1 - Establish a leadership position or office responsible for
undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education student recruitment.
6.2.2 - Identify, engage, and enroll students needed to meet university
priorities and objectives.
6.2.3 - Develop incentives so that students with high potential and
other preferred qualities will enroll at UWRF.
6.3 – UWRF will mobilize support for the institution, its mission and
its financial security.
6.3.1 - Develop and leverage an alumni and friends network capable of
influencing government and community leaders.
6.3.2 - Develop and implement a comprehensive and ongoing legislative
relations strategy.
6.3.3 - Develop and implement a community relation’s strategy that
increases perceived value of the university in the region.
Priority: Goal 7: Invest in Human Resources
UWRF will invest in the present and future quality of the university.
7.1 – Strive to enhance compensation and benefits plans for all UWRF
employees.
7.1.1 - Act to reduce salary compression.
7.1.2 - Act to reduce benefits inequalities.
7.1.3 - Develop and implement a new summer and J-Term session salary
schedule/model.
7.2 – Review and/or clarify the performance expectations of all UWRF
employees.
7.2.1 - Evaluate the workload model currently used to evaluate all
teaching and non-teaching staff at UW- River Falls.
7.2.2 - Evaluate and recommend changes in the lab/lecture equivalency
model.
7.2.3 - Define workload expectations in light of the UW- System growth
agenda.
7.3 – Increase financial support and expand opportunities for
continuing faculty and staff professional development.
7.3.1 - Double the number of Sabbaticals awarded on the UW-River Falls
campus within five years and review/redefine the criteria for granting
the awards.
7.3.2 - Expand opportunities for faculty and staff to attend
professional conferences without the need to present papers.
7.3.3 - Increase support for those faculty supervising research,
independent study, and internships for students.