Setting the Standard for the 21st Century - Strategic Directions
DRAFT - September 2005

Summary List of Strategic Plan Objectives and Goals

Teaching and Learning

Assure excellence in academic programs
  1. Enrollment Management: Balance demand for campus enrollment with resources
  2. Access and Success: Improve the access, retention and graduation rates for all students, especially those from groups underserved by higher education.
  3. Curriculum Standards: Challenge students with a more rigorous curriculum that provides increased opportunities for interdisciplinary studies and complies with statewide requirements.
  4. Student:Faculty Ratios: Improve student:faculty ratios by growing the base number of faculty.
  5. Learning Facilities: Provide students and faculty with state-of-the-art learning environments and library services.
  6. Faculty Development: Expand faculty support services that improve instructional quality.
  7. Learning Outcomes: Evaluate and assess student learning as a critical measure of teaching quality.
Create distinctive undergraduate experiences
  1. Undergraduate Programs: Create a learning-centered culture through high-quality programs that attract prepared, motivated and well-rounded students.
  2. Active and Experiential Learning: Incorporate opportunities for active and experiential learning in all programs.Enhance the quality and role of graduate education1
  3. Graduate Degree Programs: Refine existing and selectively create new graduate degree programs consistent with the institution’s strengths and demands of society.1
  4. Graduate Enrollment: Increase the number of graduate students on campus.
Expose students to diverse cultures
  1. Campus Diversity: Foster a campus culture that attracts and supports a diverse student body and promotes a diverse culture in which to study and learn. 1
  2. International Emphasis: Broaden the exposure of students to today’s global challenges.
Integrate academic and co-curricular experiences
  1. Learning Communities: Develop residentially based learning communities that capitalize on our strength as a destination campus.
  2. Student Engagement: Increase student participation in a broad array of leadership, civic involvement, intercollegiate and intramural athletics, and cultural opportunities.
  3. Student Well-Being: Nurture student health, safety and well-being.

Research and Discovery

Foster excellence in research, scholarship and creative artistry
  1. Achievement in Research and Scholarship: Increase the quantity and quality of faculty research publications, proposals and cultural performance to levels commensurate with peer institutions.
  2. External Funding: Increase externally funded research.
  3. Economic Development: Expedite technology transfer and the commercialization of intellectual properties created by Colorado State researchers
Improve discovery capabilities
  1. Research Personnel: Grow the base of research faculty and graduate research assistants in keeping with the higher levels of external funding and goals for teaching excellence.
  2. Research Facilities: Construct and equip new laboratories, library and other research facilities to serve the needs of a growing research institution.
Focus research in key areas of institutional strength and societal need
  1. Superclusters: Encourage collaborative and cooperative efforts among discovery scholars with interests in common problems.
  2. Issues-Based Research: Encourage scholarship that addresses pressing social, political, economic and cultural issues.

Service and Outreach

Engage citizens though community involvement
  1. Cooperative Extension: Reposition Cooperative Extension county and area offices into educational service centers representing the entire campus.
  2. Agriculture: Support a modern, competitive agricultural industry.
  3. Natural Resources Stewardship: Encourage the responsible use and environmental sustainability of Colorado’s natural resources.
  4. Health: Promote community and public health among Coloradans.
Prepare and empower learners outside the campus environment
  1. Service to K-14 Schools and Students: Prepare teachers and ready students for success in targeted Colorado schools.
  2. Lifelong Learning: Expand the offerings of programs and courses to lifelong learners, regardless of age.
  3. Alumni Involvement: Engage alumni in meaningful ways in the university to build loyalty and support.

Resources and Support

Expand fundraising and marketing
  1. Yearly Giving: Substantially increase annual private support.
  2. Capital Campaign: Build assets to fund key projects though a multi-year capital campaign
  3. Marketing/Brand Management: Create broader public awareness and greater appreciation of Colorado State.
Build necessary infrastructures
  1. Master Building Plan: Maintain and upgrade the overall campus environment
  2. Information Technology: Create an IT environment required for student-focused learning, faculty research, service and outreach, and effective management.
Nurture human capital
  1. Human Resources: Provide nationally competitive compensation, benefits and employee services for faculty, administrative professionals and state classified personnel.
  2. Employee Diversity: Increase the diversity of faculty, administrative professional and state classified employees through the recruitment and retention of individuals from groups that have been historically excluded.
Guarantee financial stability
  1. Comprehensive Financial Management: Grow revenues, manage costs and invest/reallocate resources effectively to reach strategic goals.
Monitor plan progress
  1. Assessment Systems: Provide the Board, campus and public with transparent measures of accountability.