Tarleton State University Institutional Priorities for 2007-2008
(Priorities outlined by the Office of the President, Divisions, and Colleges)

PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITIES (8)

1. Achieve greater diversity among faculty, staff, and students.
2. Construction of a dairy center and nursing building.
3. Establish an academic advisement center.
4. Expand course and degree offerings in the Southwest Metroplex and Waco.
5. Improve retention and graduation rates.
6. Increase enrollment at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level.
7. Proceed with initiatives to assist with the maturation of Tarleton-Central Texas.
8. Secure approval for a joint Ph.D. program in Environmental Agriculture.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS PRIORITIES (7)

1. Faculty Support (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 1,2)

In order to promote excellence in student learning and provide an outstanding teaching faculty we will encourage and promote multiple channels of faculty support.

2. Articulated Student Learning Outcomes (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 3,4)

In order to continuously improve learning, all academic programs and the general education (core curriculum) program will have a set of clearly articulated student learning outcomes that are acceptable to and endorsed by the Academic Assessment Committee and programs will actively collect data and use data to improve programs.

3. Research (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 5,6)

We will encourage and promote scholarly endeavors and research opportunities for faculty, undergraduate and graduate students and will significantly increase efforts to acquire external funds at the university.

4. Diversity (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 7,8)

We will actively recruit and retain a more diverse student body and faculty, and will increase diversity within the curriculum.

5. Academic Excellence (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 9,10)

Charge each Dean to bring forward a plan for one program or college initiative that aspires to improve its standing and recognition as a program of national or regional excellence and an implementation timeline for that plan. Once the plan is approved the college will implement that plan.

6. Enrollment, Growth and Access to Higher Education in the North Central Texas Region (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 11)

We will actively recruit, and retain a larger more diverse student at the undergraduate and graduate level and will improve access to higher education in the North Central Texas Region.

7. Enhance Student Learning and Success (Corresponds to WeaveOnline priorities 12)

Establish university-wide initiatives in the areas of Advising Center and Developmental education in order to enhance student success.

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES (10)

1. Procure and initiate e-Business Solutions to provide more efficient services for students, faculty, and staff.

2. Implement new software to improve personnel time management.

3. Implement more efficient business process tools to automate and streamline operations.

4. Foster and support safe and secure environments throughout the campus and associated areas.

5. Expansion of Tarleton Campus Bookstore.

6. Expand and enhance the university-wide risk management program.

7. Review/monitor current software solutions to ensure compliance with PCI and other certifications.

8. Initiate Central Utility Loop project.

9. Enhance the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program.

10. Enhance police operations.

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT PRIORITIES (3)

1. Develop and implement another significant Capital Campaign in the general range of $100 million.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive promotional plan to refine and increase public awareness of Tarleton, especially in the Metroplex.
3. Develop new services and opportunities for expanded communication service and activities, both on-line and hard copy, for Tarleton alumni and visitors.

STUDENT LIFE PRIORITIES (5)

1. Enhance the freshmen year experience.
2. Initiate supporting civility, integrity, and diversity.
3. Evaluate and update all division websites.
4. Increase students’ completion rates of Alcohol Education and Sexual Assault Education.
5. Complete program reviews in 5-7 departments.

TARLETON – CENTRAL TEXAS PRIORITIES (5)

1. Improve effectiveness and efficiency of internal processes.
2. Evaluate performance of existing academic programs.
3. Create a continuous culture of assessment.
4. Expand existing programs and implement new programs.
5. Initiate with professional assistance a “branding” study resulting in an enhanced promotional plan.

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN SCIENCES PRIORITIES (7)

1. Provide students with a challenging curriculum taught by outstanding faculty in a supportive and personalized environment.
2. Ensure the highest quality academic standards and expectations of students.
3. Increase and support diversity among faculty, students and staff in the college.
4. Support and encourage faculty in areas pertaining to salary and benefits, professional development and recognition.
5. Support, enhance and extend learning through the appropriate use of technology.
6. Increase efforts to acquire external funding for academic programs and research.
7. Operate the college in a fiscally responsive and responsible manner.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS PRIORITIES (9)

1. Student Learning – To achieve a high level of student learning and critical thinking that enable our graduates to pursue successful careers in the global economy, through excellent teaching, relevant curriculum, diverse experiences, and continuous program assessment and improvement.
2. Academic Standards – To develop and articulate high academic standards, leading our students to engage themselves in active learning and to value honesty and integrity, both in the classroom and after graduation.
3. Scholarship – To engage in scholarly and creative activities that broaden knowledge and understanding in business disciplines and develop the capacity of faculty and students to create and contribute to the body of business knowledge.
4. Diversity – To support, increase, and celebrate diversity among faculty, students, and staff throughout the College.
5. Access – To provide expanding access to our courses and degree programs, including through greater use of distance learning technology.
6. Faculty and Staff Development and Enrichment – To maintain and develop the professional competence of faculty and staff and to support active participation by faculty and staff in professional and academic associations and activities.
7. Resources – To acquire, maintain, and effectively use the human resources, facilities, financial resources, and technology that support the College and its programs.
8. Service – To contribute our individual and collective expertise toward accomplishment of University goals and the continual improvement of the effectiveness of the College, University, and community at large.
9. External Relationships – To develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with our alumni, businesses, and other organizations, enhancing the reputation of the College of Business Administration and Tarleton State University.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION PRIORITIES (9)

1. Strive for excellence in student learning.

Objective 1.1: Increase pass rates on certification and licensure exams.
Objective 1.2: Maintain and support an outstanding teaching faculty.

2. Communicate and maintain academic standards.

Objective 2.1: Provide an excellent teaching/learning/working environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Objective 2.2: Enhance student understanding of academic honesty and integrity
Objective 2.3: Communicate academic standards and expectations.

3. Provide support for and recognition of scholarly endeavors and research opportunities.

Objective 3.1: Provide support for faculty scholarly endeavors and research opportunities.
Objective 3.2 Provide support for graduate and undergraduate student scholarly endeavors and research opportunities.
Objective 3.3: Provide recognition of faculty and student excellence in scholarly endeavors and research opportunities.

4. Increase faculty and student diversity in programs administered by the College of Education.

Objective 4.1: Increase and/or institutionalize effective recruiting strategies.
Objective 4.2: Increase student scholarships.
Objective 4.3: Increase efforts to hire a diverse faculty.

5. Encourage and recognize faculty and staff professional development and service achievements.

Objective 5.1: Support faculty and staff professional development and service efforts.
Objective 5.2: Recognize faculty and staff professional development and service achievements.

6. Develop and expand the use of instructional technology.

Objective 6.1: Support learning by increasing student and faculty accessibility to technology.
Objective 6.2: Enhance learning by integrating appropriate technology with face-to-face classroom instruction.
Objective 6.3: Extend learning by developing student and faculty use of technology as a resource.

7. Provide a curriculum that is current, faculty-developed and focused on student outcomes.

Objective 7.1: Refine and update the instructional programs provided.
Objective 7.2: Maintain approved accreditation with appropriate agencies/governing bodies.
Objective 7.3: Identify, recognize, and support programs of excellence throughout the college.

8. Increase efforts to enhance resources for the college.

Objective 8.1: Increase the amount of funds received from grants.
Objective 8.2: Explore fund-raising opportunities at the college level.

9. Facilitate university and community partnerships.

Objective 9.1: Increase the number of partnerships and publicize university-sponsored programs such as the Effective Schools Project and Cross Timbers School Development Council, Fantastic Field Day, and the Cross Timbers Counseling Association.
Objective 9.2: Refine and expand field-based programs in the Fort Worth and Waco service areas.

COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES PRIORITIES (5)

1. Access and Diversity - Enlarge enrollment in the Graduate School and increase diversity in the graduate population.
2. Academic Excellence - Foster quality in graduate education Tarleton State University.
3. Human Resources – To maintain quality and service in the office staff and the work environment in the Graduate School.
4. Enhance Graduate School image at Tarleton.
5. Engagement – Foster Graduate School Programs that reach into the community and extend beyond, include international locations.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL AND FINE ARTS PRIORITIES (3)

1. Make Excellence in Student Learning/Access our highest priority.

Objective: The College dean, and each academic department of the college, will monitor final course grades each semester for inflation as well as professorial outcomes reflected in the student evaluations administered by the university.
Objective: COLFA will interview and hire the best qualified faculty and staff candidates for each position vacancy.
Objective: Review, Revise, and Incorporate Capstone Experiences in Degree Programs for Students in COLFA.

2. Academic Integrity will be pursued throughout the College.

Objective: Survey incoming students in COLFA in their freshman and senior years, however sophomore and juniors will be surveyed as well to note change of attitudinal differences from freshman to senior year.

3. Advance the college through off-campus programs and raising the amount of externally generated funds.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES (6)

1. The College of Science and Technology will recruit, retain, and graduate high ability students from diverse backgrounds while not closing the door on students who may have unrealized potential.
2. The College of Science and Technology will acquire and maintain human resources, facilities, and equipment that fully support the College and its programs.
3. Through excellent teaching, relevant curriculum, diverse experiences, and challenging standards, the College of Science and Technology will achieve a high level of student learning that enables our students and graduates to learn and pursue successful careers in their chosen fields.
4. The College of Science and Technology will promote scholarly activities by faculty and students that broaden knowledge and understanding in the science and technology disciplines.
5. The College of Science and Technology will promote scholarly activities by faculty and students that enhance the teaching and learning experience.
6. The College of Science and Technology will promote the engagement of faculty, staff, students, and alumni participation in service to the department, college, university, profession, and community.