2017 DSU Strategic Plan

Dickinson State University STRATEGIC PLAN 2021

CONNECTING, INVESTING AND MOVING FORWARD In the near-term planning and implementation of Dickinson State’s strategic plan, the University will focus on connecting and engaging its students, staff and faculty and will work to foster relationships with its constituents and partners. DSU will invest time, talents and resources into the campus community and will move forward, learning from the past and looking to the future, by being proactive and positive while focusing on living the Mission, Vision and Values and Beliefs of the University.

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This Strategic Plan is founded on Dickinson State University’s Mission, Vision and Values. Each Strategic Plan goal and objective was determined based on the following: DSU MISSION to provide high-quality, accessible programs; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; to support scholarly and creative activities; and to provide service relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life of the citizens of the State of North Dakota.

DSU VISION to educate a diverse population through innovative teaching, learning and scholarship fostering responsible citizens who impact the world.

DSU CORE VALUES of integrity, accessibility, excellence, inquiry and innovation.

DSU PRINCIPLES • Teamwork and Community is the Platform Upon Which We Must Build How does this facilitate and enhance relationships on campus and within the greater community?

• Students are Paramount

How does this decision enhance our students’ education?

• Faculty and Staff are the Core of the Institution

How does this decision contribute to a climate of inclusion and excellence?

DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL Dickinson State University began on June 24, 1918, where 104 students attended the first classes at Dickinson Normal School. Today more than 1,300 students from 36 states and 23 countries attend classes at DSU, most on the campus of the historic “College on the Hill.”

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DEVELOP. STRENGTHEN. UNIFY.

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DEVELOP Programming Infrastructure Resources

STRENGTHEN Professional Development Recruitment Retention Partnerships

UNIFY Communication Connections Constituents

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DEVELOP. Dickinson State will develop programming, infrastructure and resources to fulfill its mission of providing high quality, accessible programs.

Develop Programming • Offer co-curricular programming to provide opportunities for students to complement their academic studies with a myriad of experiences, contributing to their intellectual, social or cultural development, community connections and growth.

• Provide opportunities for students to engage in either intercollegiate or intramural sports.

Seven students studying in the departments of Fine and Performing Arts and Language and Literature at Dickinson State University had the opportunity to attend the SelfEmployment in the Arts Conference outside Chicago, Illinois, in February of 2017.

• Be collaborative in establishing partnerships with NDUS and the community.

Explore Career and Technical Education partnerships and the establishment of a learning corridor.

• Develop internship opportunities.

Dickinson State partners with area business to develop internship opportunities for students in the workplace through the “Internship 101” program.

• Be innovative in developing and delivering programs that meet the needs of our region.

Be responsive to industry needs by creating interdisciplinary certificate of completion programs.

• Expand graduate program offerings.

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Develop Infrastructure • Develop the infrastructure building blocks to create a secure foundational platform for the University to thrive into the future.

• Within the NDUS Master Plan framework and timelines, comprehensively identify, prioritize and create an on-going plan for maintenance, replacement and updates to ensure DSU’s infrastructure (equipment, facilities, technology) is in place.

Members of the DSU and Dickinson communities Residence Hall Improvements – gathered to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking at Woods Hall in September of 2016. Originally built as a upgrades in amenities and safety are women’s residence hall, the facility will boast improved critical accessibility and enhanced safety features.

Pulver Hall – to be used as a residence hall when demand requires this additional space Selke Hall – transition from a residence life concept to an academic center • Policies and Procedures – Develop, implement and monitor policies and procedures, evaluating and reviewing on a regular basis to assure compliance, as well as to assure meaningful guidance of institutional efforts.

• Records Retention – Implement records retention efforts in accordance with Federal, State and NDUS accrediting guidelines and best practices protocols.

• Cybersecurity – Develop and employ measures to secure and protect institutional and personnel information and data from potential cyber dangers and attacks.

• Emergency Management – Implement emergency management efforts in accordance with Federal, State, NDUS and best practices protocols.

Develop Resources • Research, develop and secure additional resources to support the efforts of the University. Build resources through grants and donor support, as well as efficient and effective stewardship of current and future assets.

• Grant Funding – Increase research and submission of grants to support the implementation of DSU’s Mission and Strategic Plan.

• The DSU Heritage Foundation will establish and implement a Capital Campaign.

• Continued emphasis on fundraising: Work toward endowed chairs and programs.

Strengthen connections with alumni and friends to continue to grow scholarship giving through onetime and endowed gifts.

Operating and programmatic financial assistance for academic departments.

We have begun a program with a group of alums and friends of DSU for the purpose of providing operational and programmatic support to the campus with the goal of raising $1 million dollars.

• Integrate the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Integrate the Theodore Roosevelt Library and digitization project with the DSU campus and community, providing outreach globally.

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STRENGTHEN. Dickinson State will strengthen the capacity of its staff, faculty and students to achieve academic and professional goals.

Strengthen Professional Development • Continue efforts to invest in faculty and staff through professional development and position-specific orientation and support. Consider additional resources (time, skills, abilities, capacity, and/or supports) needed to ensure position success.

Jennifer Withers attended the National TRiO Policy Seminar and the National Association of College Activities Conference in spring 2017.

Dr. Mari Rasmussen participated in the fourth annual North Dakota Indian Education alongside more than 150 educators in July of 2017.

Dr. Frank Varney visited the Cornell Archives in Ithaca, New York, on a research trip in the summer of 2017.

Josh Nichols completed a course in Web Analytics for Higher Education in the spring of 2017.

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Kristen Fleury was invited to help coach ten college athletes as they toured the Caribbean island of Curacao competing against four softball teams, including the Curacao national team during the summer of 2017.

Strengthen Recruitment • Expand recruitment efforts to increase new student enrollment.

Grow to a campus of about 2,000 students by 2021.

Increase the number of residential students.

Enhance student search.

Dickinson State University is collaborating to develop engaging marketing and outreach materials.

Strengthen Student Support and Retention • Strategically enhance and implement campus-wide retention efforts.

Student-centered campus-wide retention efforts will be strategically enhanced and implemented to support and help students to successfully reach their academic goals and to enhance the quality of student experiences.

Increase enrollment, retention and graduation.

Develop a Welcome Center for prospective students and families.

Create a One Stop office and Student Opportunity and Resource (S.O.A.R.) Center.

Implement a mobile app for student connection and communication.

Strengthen student services and support to promote student success.

Enhance residence life experience.

Increase scholarship support.

Strengthen Partnerships within the NDUS • Explore, expand and strengthen academic, serviceoriented and other collaborative efforts with NDUS institutions, thereby increasing opportunities for faculty, staff, students and constituents while maintaining fiscally responsible practices.

• Work with Bismarck and Williston to expand programming.

Dr. Thomas Mitzel, president of Dickinson State and President of Bismarck State College, Dr. Larry Skogen, met to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for student services in Bismarck in August of 2016.

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UNIFY. Dickinson State will unify its efforts internally and externally to actively engage the campus, alumni, community and constituents to achieve the Mission of the institution.

Unify Communication • Strengthen open lines of internal and external communication, connections and partnerships between DSU, its constituents and the community at large.

DSU Bismarck is holding community socials for students each semester to strengthen connections and communication between students and the main campus.

Unify Connections and Partnerships with communities and constituents • Foster connections and relationships outside the classroom that contribute to the intellectual, social, economic and cultural development of the greater community.

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The DSU Heritage Foundation partnered with the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce to host the first Harvest Festival on the DSU campus in October of 2016.

FOUR YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN • The trend of declining enrollment was reversed in the fall of 2016 and we are working to continue that trend to reach our goal of 2,000 students as we enter the fall 2020 semester (FY2021).

Projected Enrollment

Projected General Fund Revenue 1,974

2,000

$14,000,000

1,900

$13,000,407

1,794

1,800 1,700

1,631

$13,000,000

1,833

$12,000,000

$10,000,000

1,483

1,500

1,386

$10,966,714

$11,000,000

1,697

1,600

1,400

$15,000,000

1,572

$10,295,947

$10,212,205

$9,000,000

$9,081,490

$8,000,000

1,455

$7,000,000

1,386 1,300

$6,000,000

Fall 2016 Actual

Fall 2017 Projected 5% - 8% - 8% - 8% Increase

Fall 2018 Projected

Fall 2019 Projected

7% - 10% - 10% - 10% Increase

Fall 2020 Projected General Fund Appropriations

5% - 8% - 8% - 8% Increase - Tuition Revenue Budget

7% - 10% - 10% - 10% Increase - Tuition Revenue Budget

FY2017 DSU Revenue Budget

by Funding Source 10

As education is endlessly in motion and ever changing, we must always look forward and evolve how we do our work.

#4 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 Best Regional Public Colleges in the Midwest

#1 Safest College in North Dakota for 2016 backgroundchecks.org

#1 in ND for Lowest Student Loan Debt at Graduation for 2016 lendedu.com

#7 Most Affordable University for Out-of-State Students for 2016 affordablescolleges.com