Features
To increase student involvement and recreation, Newman has launched intramural sports programs. To increase student health and wellness, the university is exploring affordable memberships in Wichita health and fitness clubs, and the creation of a student health center. Austin notes that achieving some of the goals and objectives will be challenging. “One of the most important goals and probably the hardest goal to achieve is getting one-third of our students to have an international experience,” Austin said. “Another big one is the student health center. It’s do-able, but we will have to put our resources there.” To nourish the university’s Catholic Identity, Newman will strive to be the recognized leader in the region for Catholic scholarship, devotion and engagement. The university will increase awareness and commitment of students to its Catholic academic identity, and ensure that Catholic principles permeate all curricular, co-curricular and business operations. Newman will also provide more opportunities for visits and service missions to ASC ministries around the world. The plan also calls for Newman to expand partnerships with alumni, and with church, education and community organizations. To achieve this, Newman will form liaisons with local Catholic parishes and other churches, initiate dual-enrollment agreements with out-of-state community colleges, and expand the reach of the Gerber Institute for Catholic Studies into western and southeast Kansas.
to increase Newman’s capacity to use data to make effective decisions. This includes improving how we gather and analyze measureable outcomes, such as student learning and the success of academic and co-curricular programs.
‘stretch plan’ Austin noted that the university has already taken steps to achieve many of the goals and objectives. Newman has made progress with some technological parts of the plan, he said, launched intramural sports, developed new processes for course management, as well as other activity that has an important impact on the university. Still, he adds, the plan is not without its challenges. “It’s a stretch plan – it really is something that’s going to stretch us,” Austin said. “We’ll have to work hard on it for a long time, but I feel confident we can reach the goals we’ve set.”
To view the entire Newman University Strategic Plan - 2014-2019 visit http://newmanu.edu/strategic-plan.
One of the most important goals is 14
NEWMAN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
75 percent of Newman education program graduates are still teaching after five years (compared to the national average of about 50 percent).