2017-2021 Grove City College Strategic Plan

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1

THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO BE VIEWED BY COLLEGE FACULTY/STAFF ONLY. NOT FOR EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION. CONTENTS

2

|

VISION, MISSION AND VALUES STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

GOAL 1: INCREASE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

GOAL 2: ENHANCE THE CAMPUS CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

GOAL 3: ACHIEVE OPTIMAL ENROLLMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

GOAL 4: EXPAND THE COLLEGE’S BRAND REACH AND INFLUENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10

GOAL 5: RECOMMIT TO EXCELLENT STEWARDSHIP AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT . . . . .

13

GOAL 6: EXPAND REVENUE SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1

VISION

Grove City College strives to be the best Christian liberal arts college in America. Grounded in conservative values, we develop leaders of the highest proficiency, purpose, and principles ready to advance the common good.

MISSION

Grove City College equips students to pursue their unique callings through an academically excellent and Christ-centered learning and living experience distinguished by a commitment to affordability and its promotion of the Christian worldview, the foundations of free society, and the love of neighbor.

VALUES

Faithfulness

By God’s grace, we remain committed to the Christian faith of our founders.

While we continuously adapt our efforts in relation to the realities and challenges of this world, we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Excellence

In everything we do, from classrooms to residence halls, from performance stages to sports venues, we are devoted wholeheartedly to the highest standards of excellence. “…[D]o all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

Community

We foster life-long community engagement through a dynamic campus experience marked by service, hospitality, and abiding respect for others.

Stewardship

We honor the financial support and commitment of families, alumni, and friends of the College by managing our resources wisely.

Independence

We value and safeguard our institutional autonomy as a blessing of America’s heritage of freedom.

www.gcc.edu

|

3

4

|

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1 GOAL 1

INCREASE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Objective 1.1 – Prepare students for success in today’s world Tactic 1.1A – Evaluate the continued relevance of all current program offerings, including major requirements and individual course content, and consider developing new programs with potential high-demand Tactic 1.1B – Conduct a formal review of the general education (core curriculum) program to determine its optimal size, content, and format

Objective 1.2 – Strengthen the academic program through innovation Tactic 1.2A – Explore the feasibility of enhancing existing programs to bolster national interest and reputation Tactic 1.2B – Evaluate the feasibility of offering graduate degree programs, either in the five-year B.A./M.A. and B.S./M.S. format or as stand-alone graduate programs

www.gcc.edu

|

5

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1 GOAL 2

ENHANCE THE CAMPUS CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT Objective 2.1 – Strengthen and expand Christian formation programs Tactic 2.1A – Restructure the format and content of the chapel program to emphasize corporate worship, biblical preaching, and Christian testimony Tactic 2.1B – Develop new co-curricular programs that offer opportunities for students to serve the common good by pairing Christian thought to practice

Objective 2.2 – Align campus programs with the College’s vision, mission,

and values Tactic 2.2A – Develop common goals and outcomes for all campus ministry groups that can be assessed through a standard evaluation process Tactic 2.2B – Enhance support activities before and after cross-cultural experiences (e.g., study abroad, ICO trips) to expand learning outcomes

6

|

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

www.gcc.edu

|

7

8

|

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1 GOAL 3

ACHIEVE OPTIMAL ENROLLMENT Objective 3.1 – Enhance the College’s reputation for selectivity and

maintain full residential capacity Tactic 3.1A – Implement a national, attitudinally-focused recruitment initiative giving priority in the allocation of resources to our target student cohort Tactic 3.1B – Improve or establish dependable pipelines for prospective students through K-12 student-oriented programming and the cultivation of durable relationships with affinity groups and organizations Tactic 3.1C – Increase student diversity through the development of initiatives focused on minority and international students

Objective 3.2 – Procure and provide the financial resources necessary to

compete for the best students Tactic 3.2A – Launch a national campaign to raise money for meritand need-based financial aid in the form of new endowment and passthrough funding Tactic 3.2B – Improve gradually the academic profile of the student body by awarding sufficient merit scholarships

www.gcc.edu

|

9

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1 GOAL 4

E X PA N D T H E C O L L E G E ’ S B R A N D R E A C H AND INFLUENCE Objective 4.1 – Enhance awareness of the College’s brand and reputation

through strengthening engagement with stakeholders and

natural constituencies Tactic 4.1A – Develop and implement a marketing and communications plan that increases awareness among those who share the College’s values and enhances the school’s reputation Tactic 4.1B – Develop and launch a renewed, mobile-friendly website Tactic 4.1C – Utilize the College’s assets, including members of the faculty and the Center for Vision and Values, for educating the public on a breadth of significant issues Tactic 4.1D – Raise institutional profile through participation at key gatherings and by hosting events that reflect the College’s brand Tactic 4.1E – Strengthen the network of College alumni who are serving in leadership roles in organizations that are strongly aligned with the College’s vision, mission, and values

10

|

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

www.gcc.edu

|

11

12

|

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1 GOAL 5

RECOMMIT TO EXCELLENT STEWARDSHIP AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Objective 5.1 – Exemplify outstanding resource management Tactic 5.1A – Effectively utilize current spaces, renovation of existing buildings, and requirements for new construction based upon the Master Plan Tactic 5.1B – Determine the optimal use of technology staffing and resources with intentional focus on operational and academic applications Tactic 5.1C – Conduct an analysis of the laptop program (“Information Technology Initiative”) Tactic 5.1D – Develop a financial strategy for addressing all maintenance, new capital projects and major purchases / investments

Objective 5.2 – Improve internal efficiency through intentional

improvement processes Tactic 5.2A – Complete a comprehensive internal review of institutional budgeting processes and spending trends to determine opportunities for capturing additional organizational efficiency Tactic 5.2B – Develop and implement a process to ensure that all open positions are vetted for mission necessity and that recommendations are made for personnel adjustments when appropriate Tactic 5.2C – Identify other academic and operational efficiency opportunities

www.gcc.edu

|

13

Building for a Strong a n d Fa i t h f u l F u t u r e

S T R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 2 1 GOAL 6

E X PA N D R E V E N U E S O U R C E S Objective 6.1 – Capture more of the revenue-generating potential of

College assets Tactic 6.1A – Determine viability of revenue-generating opportunities that maximize existing college assets, including but not limited to offering non-credit-bearing online offerings, hosting additional summer camps and conferences, pursuing new campus procurement and sponsorship relationships, and forming new college/business partnerships Tactic 6.1B – Determine the feasibility of expanding eligibility for creditbearing online course offerings to non-matriculated students

Objective 6.2 – Expand the College’s donor base beyond its

current footprint Tactic 6.2A – Identify psychographic profile and geographic concentrations of likely new and non-alumni donors Tactic 6.2B – Develop data-driven, customized communications materials to target likely new donor subpopulations Tactic 6.2C – Achieve annual increases in new donors and giving totals

14

|

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

www.gcc.edu

|

15

GROVE CITY COLLEGE 100 Campus Drive Grove City, Pennsylvania 16127-2104 www.gcc.edu