#FLASHES FOREVER 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C P L A N STRATEGIC PLAN 2021
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
ATHLETICS VISION
To be a nationally recognized comprehensive athletics program that inspires communities and transforms lives.
ATHLETICS MISSION
GRADUATE student-athletes, BOLDLY prepared for life after sport, and WIN championships. #Flashes Forever STRATEGIC STRATEGICPLAN PLAN2021 2021
CORE VALUES Integrity
Equity
Competitive Excellence
Service
Family
Integrity: Do the right thing, even in the face of
Service: Lead by serving our campus, community,
adversity.
colleagues and students.
Equity: Provide a diverse and inclusive environment that
creates a culture of belonging.
Family: Embrace one another with respect, love, humility and
accountability. #FlashFamily
Competitive Excellence: Fierce competitors in
everything that we do.
STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
GUIDING PRINCIPLE
In line with the university’s mission and goals, Kent State Athletics is student-athlete centered, coach led and administrator supported. STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
PRIORITY AREAS The eight priority areas are the foundation of Kent State’s strategic plan. Each priority area has an overall objective, two or three goals, strategies to achieve each goal and action items to implement the strategies. This all builds to a strategic plan that will allow us to fulfill our mission and accomplish our vision.
Academic and Career Development
Engagement and Collaboration
Resources
Competitiveness
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Facilities Health, Safety and Well-Being Organizational Excellence and Culture STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
ACADEMIC AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT Kent State Athletics develops student-athletes to excel personally, academically and as leaders in life after sport.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS Kent State Athletics will create meaningful experiences laddered throughout the collegiate experience, building on university opportunities, to prepare and empower student-athletes in leadership, career development and life after sport.
Kent State Athletics will overcome roadblocks to graduation and allow student-athletes to reach their full academic potential by providing a collaborative academic infrastructure that reaches all student-athletes. STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION Kent State Athletics fully engages and collaborate with the university community, local communities and Golden Flashes alums.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS
Kent State Athletics will foster success for the student body academically and socially by engaging in strategic partnerships across campus and providing the best athletics-related student experience within the Mid-American Conference.
Kent State Athletics will be dynamic members of the community through service and outreach, fostering mutually beneficial relationships with businesses and emphasizing engagement with youth to better share the Athletics’ story.
STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
COMPETITIVENESS Kent State Athletics purposefully positions our sport programs to compete annually for Mid-American Conference championships and for post-season competition.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS
Kent State Athletics will be a first-choice destination for dynamic, collaborative and high-achieving coaches within the Mid-American Conference. Kent State Athletics will engage in innovative and collaborative recruiting strategies. Kent State Athletics will be the standard of comprehensive excellence within the Mid-American Conference (Reese, Jacoby, Cartwright awards). STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING Kent State Athletics actively creates a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for our student-athletes, staff and coaches.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS
Kent State Athletics will cultivate an environment within all facets of the department that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and promotes a culture of belonging.
Kent State Athletics will advance gender equity within all aspects of the department and continue its commitment to Title IX compliance.
STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
FACILITIES Kent State Athletics strategically prioritizes upgrades to current facilities and creates a vision for new facilities to meet the needs of the department and university.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS
Kent State Athletics will prioritize facility decisions with student-athlete well-being, safety, competitiveness and equity.
Kent State Athletics will focus on strengthening brand consistency and presence on campus and in the community.
Kent State Athletics will evaluate its facilities for efficient use and operation. STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
RESOURCES Kent State Athletics operates with an innovative mindset for fundraising and revenue generation, with a focus on sustainability and sound financial stewardship of our budget.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS
Kent State Athletics will practice donor-centered fundraising, while finding new and dynamic ways to engage our constituents in transformational giving.
Kent State Athletics will focus on revenue-generation opportunities that directly support our mission and strategic initiatives.
Kent State Athletics will effectively manage available resources to ensure sustainability of programming and demonstrate stewardship of those resources.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021 STRATEGIC PLAN 2021
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING Kent State Athletics uses a holistic approach to support our studentathletes’ physical and mental health and overall well-being.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS Kent State Athletics will prioritize student-athlete holistic mental well-being by building collaborations and enhancing internal Athletics Department infrastructure to support the effort. Kent State Athletics will provide a purposefully designed nutritional program for student-athletes. Kent State Athletics will maximize high-level performance by providing consistency with Athletic Training and Sports Performance staffs and collaboration within the Athletics Department.
STRATEGIC STRATEGICPLAN PLAN2021 2021
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CULTURE Kent State Athletics is efficient and effective in organizational operations and cultivates a work culture that is consistent with our core values.
PRIORITY AREA GOALS
Kent State Athletics will establish organizational structure and communication consistent with core values and across all units.
Kent State Athletics is a destination workplace by providing a fun work culture that builds community, fosters a sense of belonging and respect, and provides growth opportunities. STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN 2021 2021
LEADERSHIP TEAM SPECIAL THANKS The intentional and collaborative process of creating the strategic
SPECIAL THANKS plan involved more than 80 individuals from across campus and the
community. A debt of gratitude is owed to our senior leadership team that Aoversaw debt of graditude is owedoftothe ourstrategic senior leadership team that and members the development plan and the chairs helped putpriority this strategic plan together. of the to eight area working groups. The hard work and dedication of these individuals has been paramount togroups the completion These individuals oversaw specific working as well asof this plan and these individuals to be a driving the implementation of worked together aswill ourcontinue senior leadership team.force The in hardwork and dedication of this group has been paramount to the completion of the plan. this plan and these individuals will continue to be a driving force in the implementation of this plan.
LEADERSHIP TEAM LEADERSHIP TEAM Amy Densevich Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services
Greg Glaus Senior Deputy Athletics Director Amy Densevich Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services Pamela Grimm Chair of Faculty Senate GregHathaway Glaus Senior Deputy Athletics DirectorConsulting Jeff Managing Partner at CarrSports Pam Grimm Faculty Senate Peter Holway Chair of Foundation Board Jeff Hathaway Managing Partner at Lamar Hylton VP for Student AffairsCarr Sports Pete Holway Chair of Foundation Board Karen Keenan Associate Chief of Staff Lamar Hylton VP for Student Affairs Nasha Manitkul-Davis Student-Athlete; President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Karen Keenan AssocaiteGender Chief ofEquity Staff and Title IX Coordinator Tiffany Murray Director, Nasha Manitkul-Davis Student Athlete; Pres. of SAACat CarrSports Consulting Gerald O’Dell VP of Management Consulting Tiffany Murray Director, Gender Equity & Title IX Coordinator Mary Parker VP for Enrollment Management GeraldPolatajko O’Dell VP Management Consulting at Carr Sports Mark Senior VP for Finance and Administration Mary Parker VP for Enrollment Management John Rathje Information Technology and CIO Mark Polatajko Sr. VP FinanceSecretary and Administration Charlene Reed VP andfor University John Rathje VP for Information Technology and CIO Randale Richmond Director of Athletics Char Reed VP and University Secretary Trent Stratton Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, Sports Randale Richmond Performance Director of Athletics and Student-Athlete Well Being Trent Stratton Assoc. VP ADand for Sports Melody Tankersley Senior ProvostMedicine, Sports Performance, and Student-Athlete Being Isaac Vance Student-Athlete;Well VP Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Melody Tankersley Sr. VP and Valoree Vargo Interim VP Provost for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Isaac Vance Student Athlete; VPDirector of SAACof Sales and Fan Experience at Connor Whelan Assistant Athletics Valoree Vargo InterimForest VP forUniversity Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Wake Connor W helan Asst. AD, Wake University Kathryn Wilson Faculty AthleticsForrest Representative Kathryn Wilson Faculty Athletics Representative STRATEGIC PLAN 2021
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