Vision for the Future
The successful completion of the “Campaign for Siena Heights University:
Education with a Mission” capped the many plans and projects that emerged
from our strategic plan of the late 1990s. It is thus time to embark upon a
new strategic plan.
Vision and Values
Since February 2004, a committed group of University constituents (faculty,
staff, students, alumni, trustees) have been working to develop and begin
implementing a new University Strategic Plan. The process began with an
affirmation of our mission statement and the development of SHU’s new
Vision and Values Statement (right). Steeped in the tradition of our Adrian
Dominican founders and consistent with the mission of Siena Heights, our
vision statement focuses on student success and the new strategic plan maps
out Siena’s course for the next five years.
Siena Heights University, standing consciously in our Dominican
tradition, commits itself, above all, to the success of each student,
preparing all to realize their potential and serve the common good.
The University will focus on six strategic priorities: program quality and
value, the promotion of teaching and learning excellence, expanded awareness and understanding of SHU’s identity and impact, expanding and
enhancing resources for long-term sustainability, strengthening of organizational effectiveness, and comprehensive professional development for
our employees. Each priority has defined objectives and three have been
selected for implementation in the current academic year.
Truth
Respect
Community
Collaboration
Leadership
Service
In 2004-05, SHU will focus on the development and implementation of a
resource allocation process to assure that our strengths are identified and
adequately supported. Because the university is tuition dependent, our
second goal for the year is to make recruitment and retention everyone’s
responsibility. And finally we will look to improve operating performance
and our financial position.
The strategic plan also looks to strengthen Siena Heights’ distinctiveness
and impact. That requires University resources to be focused on core programs that provide quality and enduring value to our students. Deciding
where to focus limited resources is always a challenge. Every academic
and administrative unit will be involved in this process. Each unit has outlined a vision for its future.
Recruitment and retention are essential to making Siena a successful academic institution now and into the future. Recruitment and retention task
forces for each of our three colleges have been created. These groups are
working to develop enrollment plans with specific recruitment and retention
goals. They will also make recommendations to the University regarding
policies and practices that could have short and long-term recruitment and
retention implications.
A strong fiscal base is essential to sustain quality and to respond to opportunities. A financial improvement task force will develop a five year financial
plan and focus on improving specific financial ratios and benchmarks.
Concurrent with these three priority goals for this year, the University has
engaged a consultant to identify a group of peer institutions which will
provide benchmarks. An aspiration group of colleges and universities in the
Midwest will also be identified within this project.
Planning can be boring and a chore to some. Involving many people in
the process takes time – a valuable commodity on any campus. However,
effective planning that starts with mission, vision and values can yield
significant results. The Siena Heights community looks forward to keeping
you informed as we implement our new strategic plan.
Accordingly, consistent with Siena’s Dominican tradition of creating
a teaching and learning environment that is reflective and active,
we dedicate ourselves to…
Seek truth for tomorrow, informed by the wisdom of the past.
Embrace the uniqueness and the dignity of every person.
Build community by providing caring attention to individuals, sharing
experiences and responsibilities, and celebrating achievements.
Promote collaboration and partnerships within and across communities.
Develop leaders who serve, model, preach, and inspire.
Foster peace, justice and service to others, especially those in need.
Reflections Winter ‘05 - Siena Heights News
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