Strategic Plan Implementation Update 2004-2005

Goal 1: Provide outstanding academic programs that further strengthen our performance and pre-eminence in the five thematic areas.

Key Initiatives, 2003-2004

• Colleges and divisions at OSU created strategic plans in support of the University Strategic Plan identifying unit-level goals for academic excellence and student teaching and learning environment.
• OSU established itself as a lead partner in the multi-institutional signature program (ONAMI) in nanoscience and microtechnologies.
• OSU increased its presence in Washington, D.C., through contract with Fleishman-Hillard, a government consulting firm.
• A process for establishing university priorities for Federal Agenda was established. Liz Clark was hired to facilitate this process and to promote OSU's Federal Agenda with Oregon's congressional delegation and in Washington, D.C.
• An ICR Task Force recommended changes for recovery of costs and incentives for growth. Recommendations related to funding of the OSU Libraries and Centers and Institutes were incorporated in FY05 and FY06 budgets.

2004-2005

• To advance excellence in OSU's five thematic areas, OSU invested $2M/year for up to five years in six interdisciplinary initiatives that leverage existing strengths, have potential for growth and external funding, and while advancing science in each of the six areas, helps OSU enhance its land-grant mission of outreach and extension. The initiatives are:
  • Center for Healthy Aging Research: Linking Individuals, Families, and Environments
  • Computational and Genome Biology Initiative
  • Ecosystem Informatics: Mathematics, Computer Science, and Ecology
  • Subsurface Biosphere Education and Research
  • Sustainable Rural Communities Initiative
  • Water and Watersheds Initiative

  In addition to central investment, many colleges and centers committed resources to the initiatives.

• A blue ribbon task force is assessing OSU's centers and institutes, and how to best position them to contribute to research innovation and growth. The task force report will submit its report to the Vice President for Research in spring 2006.
• Vice President John Cassady has led the concept development phase of an Innovation Campus. Various strategies are being evaluated, including collaborations with our industrial partners and a feasibility study for a site location.
• An external consultant helped complete an assessment of computer network needs to support excellence and growth in late summer 2005. Campus input during fall 2005 on the consultant's report will help define areas for enhancement.
• The Research Office enhanced capacity of OSU's Office of Technology Transfer.

Goal 2: Provide an excellent teaching and learning environment and achieve student access, persistence, and success through graduation and beyond that matches the best land grant universities in the country.

Key Initiatives, 2003-2004

• Established the Academic Success Center, including hiring of a new director, to enhance student retention and success.
• University Honors College increased enrollment by 13%
• OSU allocated $350K toward upgrading instructional equipment, and enhanced 48 classrooms on campus.
• Piloted new admission policy that considers non-cognitive factors in evaluating admissions.

2004-2005

• Academic Success Center initiated a number of activities to promote student learning and retention, including Transitional Learning Communities, programs for at-risk students, study-skills support workshops, and peer mentoring.
• Established Center for Teaching and Learning to provide resources for faculty development, including seed grants for teaching and learning, and consultation and mentoring with course planning, assessment, and technology use.
• Established a task force to assess precollege programs, including better integration among those programs and with OSU recruitment programs. The task force will submit its report to the Provost in fall 2005.
• OSU established new dual enrollment programs with Blue Mountain, Oregon Coast, Mt. Hood, Columbia Gorge, and Tillamook community colleges. OSU now has dual enrollment partnerships with 10 of 17 community colleges in Oregon.
• Initiated the Austin Entrepreneurship Program and opened the Weatherford Residential College to house this program.
• Created programs to address social dimensions such as suicide prevention and alcohol education.
• Created a framework for enhancing assessment, including program objectives for academic programs. Student Affairs coordinated participation in relevant assessment surveys and analysis of results.
• The University Honors College enrollment grew an additional 6.5%. The six-year graduate rate for students entering UHC is 90%.

Goal 3: Substantially increase revenues from private fundraising, partnerships, research grants, and technology transfers, while strengthening our ability to more effectively invest and allocate resources.

Key Initiatives, 2003-2004

• OSU initiated a two-year project, OSCAR, to develop web-enabled transaction systems in human resource and business management. A number of tools under development will be released to the campus during the 2005-2006 academic year.

2004-2005

• Appointed new leadership to support the university's marketing, public relations, and capital campaign: Mike Goodwin, President of the OSU Foundation; Jeff Todd, Director of Alumni Relations; and Luanne Lawrence, Vice President for University Advancement.
• Completed establishing priorities for the university-wide capital campaign, resulting in a university case statement completed in spring 2005. Feasibility study on those priorities will be completed in fall 2005.
• Development of a space allocation model is underway. A task force was appointed, and will deliver their report to the Provost by December 2005.

In addition to the initiatives listed above, the following will enhance OSU's community and diversity climate, and enable professional development of faculty and staff. These include:

2003-2004

• Implemented Professional Faculty Professional Development Fund.
• Developed and began implementation of new professional faculty performance evaluation framework and guidelines.

2004-2005

• Expanded the Office of Community and Diversity and hired a new Director.
• Each academic and support unit at OSU completed an initial Diversity Action Plan that define strategies for faculty, staff and student recruitment and retention, and for creating a positive work environment for all. These will be enhanced and finalized during the 2005-2006 academic year.
• Conducted a campus climate survey that, along with the status report from the President Commission on the Status of Women, will help define goals for diversity action plans.
• Commenced a new Faculty Diversity Initiative to recruit senior faculty to OSU to serve as role models and mentors.
• Implemented Faculty Orientation brown-bag series and Department Head/Chairs annual workshop.
• Terryl Ross, Director for the Office of Community and Diversity, initiated the C2D initiative-Committed to Diversity-to help build a stronger sense of community on campus.

Office of the Provost
10.18.05