UA Rich Mountain Strategic plan 2016-2017

University Arkansas ofRICH MOUNTAIN OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

Chancellor’s Welcome The University of Arkansas Rich Mountain has a rich history serving our local communities. Rich Mountain began in 1973 as a vocational-technical school and has grown into a comprehensive community college. Rich Mountain has graduated thousands of students and offers over 25 programs of study. Over its forty-year history, Rich Mountain has been at the forefront of educational and workforce development for the Polk, Scott, and Montgomery county service area.

Our mission to provide educational opportunities for the residents of the Ouachita Mountain region continues to be our guiding force as we look towards the future.

I am pleased to present you with University of Arkansas Rich Mountain’s Strategic Plan. The administration, faculty, and staff are committed to making our institution the best it can possibly be for you, our stakeholder. The University of Arkansas Rich Mountain is steadfastly living our mission to improve our educational services to the citizens of the Ouachita Mountain region. I hope that you are as excited about the future as we are!

Warm regards,

Phillip Wilson, University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Chancellor

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Phone: 479.394.7622 | Fax: 479.394.7295 | www.uarichmountain.edu

Mission, Vision, and Values Mission: University of Arkansas Rich Mountain exists to provide all residents of the Ouachita Mountain Region with exemplary educational and enrichment opportunities to improve the quality of life and standard of living.

Vision: University of Arkansas Rich Mountain is a gateway of opportunity for all residents who seek its services, and demonstrates respect for the worth and dignity of each person.

Values: University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, as a vibrant contributor to the quality of life of the Ouachita Mountain Region, seeks to provide an excellent learning environment based upon the following core values:

All who engage University of Arkansas Rich Mountain resources are treated with respect and challenged to maximize their potential.

All students are encouraged to grow as individuals and citizens while expected to accept responsibility for learning.

A commitment to providing an atmosphere of respect and cooperation where diversity, ideas, inquiry, and the continued pursuit of self-development is emphasized.

Dedication to responsible stewardship and continued sustainability of human, fiscal, and natural resources.

Maintaining and expanding the impact the college has on the communities it serves through data driven responsible decision making.

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Goal One: Mission Driven UA Rich Mountain is committed to maintaining and expanding programs and opportunities to the residents of the Ouachita region in fulfillment of its mission.

Strategies:

1. Review, update and revise mission documents annually using institutional and community input. (G1S1) 2. Review academic programs and student services to assure they are consistent with the current UA Rich Mountain mission. (G1S2) 3. Align planning and budgeting to activities and identified priorities that support the mission. (G1S3) 4. Articulate the college mission through publications, syllabi, community activities and outreach. (G1S4) 5. Update and revise mission documents to reflect the priorities of the college, which include an emphasis on learning, workforce training, student development, and community needs and involvement. (G1S5) 6. Update and revise mission documents as needed to identify the nature, scope, and intended constituents of the programs UA Rich Mountain provides to its residents. (G1S6) 7. Ensure library collections include various perspectives within subject areas to foster critical thinking and diversity of thought (G1S7)

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Goal Two: Ethically Based UA Rich Mountain operates with the highest levels of ethical responsibility in all of its interactions with resident stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Strategies:

1. Continue to operate with integrity with regard to college policies and procedures by the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff. (G2S1) 2. Continue to act with transparency with regard to program costs, requirements, and institutional accreditations. (G2S2) 3. UA Rich Mountain’s Board of Trustees will continue to act with autonomy in the best interest of the institution with input from internal and external constituencies. (G2S3) 4. The administration continues to manage the financial and physical plant affairs of the college and expects faculty to provide input and direction of academic affairs. (G2S4) 5. UA Rich Mountain is committed to freedom of expression and the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning and institutional policies reflect this commitment. (G2S5) 6. Continue to provide students with information on the ethical use of resources and policies in place to reflect support for academic integrity. (G2S6) 7. Ensure a balance in library materials without bias and despite possible controversy to encourage academic freedom and student learning. (G2S7)

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Goal Three: Providing Access to Education UA Rich Mountain continues to provide the Ouachita Mountain region residents with accessible and affordable education.

Strategies:

1. Provide foundational-based programs to better prepare students for college-level courses (G3S1) 2. Provide general education and college transfer programs (G3S2) 3. Provide educational programs in Polk, Scott and Montgomery counties based on community, regional, and state needs assessments (G3S3) 4. Explore and expand course delivery methods and assess their effectiveness (G3S4) 5. Provide student access to faculty through flexible work scheduling, office hours and email in addition to classroom instruction (G3S5) 6. Provide, evaluate, and assess student tutoring services for continuous improvement (G3S6) 7. Provide, evaluate, and assess advising to ensure successful enrollment, matriculation, graduation, and student transfer as appropriate (G3S7) 8. Seek to expand programs such as the Career Pathways Initiative to assist eligible adults in meeting their educational goals (G3S8) 9. Design, implement, and maintain current curricula and technology for occupational and technical programs (G3S9) 10. Ensure that students are instructed in the ethical and effective use of research and information resources (G3S10) 11. Identify and investigate additional sources of financial aid for students (G3S11) 12. Maintain tuition and fee rates that balance student access to college with needed institutional resources (G3S12) 13. Provide equal access to information for all students without discrimination (G3S13)

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Goal Four: Quality Learning Environments UA Rich Mountain creates quality learning environments by promoting excellence in teaching and learning enhanced by state of the art facilities, technology, and delivery.

Strategies:

1. Explore and expand course delivery methods and assess their effectiveness (G3S5) 2. Design, implement, and maintain current curricula and technology for occupational and technical programs (G3S9) 3. UA Rich Mountain promotes and publishes learning goals for all degree programs consistent with industry needs and general education transfer programs (G4S1) 4. Strive to have faculty and students contribute to scholarship, creative work, and the discovery of knowledge to the highest extent possible within individual programs (G4S2) 5. Employ well-qualified faculty and staff who have expertise in their respective fields, including those working in dual credit, contractual, and consortial programs and involve them in appropriate roles (G4S3) 6. Each degree program offered at UA Rich Mountain engages students in collecting, analyzing, and communicating information; in mastering modes of inquiry in creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments (G4S4) 7. Evaluate the effectiveness of instruction on a continuous basis for improvement (G4S5) 8. Provide appropriate professional development activities based on faculty and staff needs assessments (G4S6) 9. Conduct continuous assessment of student learning in all educational programs that includes reviews by ADHE and other outside accrediting bodies (G4S7) 10. Strive to have faculty and other instructional staff members develop and implement processes and methodologies to

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Goal Five: Student Success UA Rich Mountain is committed to student success by developing, delivering, and assessing its programs, services, and co-curricular activities for continuous improvement, to help students achieve their educational and career goals.

Strategies:

1. Review and assess retention, persistence, and graduation rates to develop and define goals and implement strategies to improve program completion and/or transfer (G5S1) 2. Evaluate graduate success through employment and transfer rates (G5S2) 3. Monitor and evaluate the level of attainment for each degree and certificate for areas of improvement (G5S3) 4. Develop and maintain clearly stated goals for student learning, effective assessment, and achievement of stated learning program goals and co-curricular activities (G5S4) 5. Maintain an active program for assessment of student achievement as a means for continuous evaluation and improvement of instructional programs (G5S5) 6. Maintain processes and methodologies that reflect good practice (including IPEDS) for collecting and analyzing information on student retention, persistence, and completion of programs (G5S6)

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Goal Six: Educational Partnerships UA Rich Mountain develops and maintains partnerships with area school districts, colleges, universities, and business and industry to address the educational and work force development needs of the Ouachita Mountain region.

Stategies: 1. Work with area four-year universities to offer programs in cooperation with UA Rich Mountain (G6S1) 2. Continue partnerships with area school districts to enhance K-12 education and college preparation, increase concurrent enrollment, and recruit students for Career Center programs (G6S2) 3. Evaluate and revise Career Center programs to maintain relevance to area work force needs and student recruitment (G6S3) 4. Maintain or initiate articulation agreements with universities to include programs that will provide UA Rich Mountain graduates with career ladder opportunities (G6S4) 5. Maintain or initiate consortium agreements with other institutions to provide cost sharing, information, faculty, or curricula enhancements to meet the needs of area students (G6S5) 6. Continue collaboration with regional and local business and industry partners for customized training (G6S6) 7. Continue offering continuing education and/or community service courses based on area needs assessments (G6S7)

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Goal Seven: Resource Development UA Rich Mountain strives to develop and improve programs and services by seeking additional financial, physical, and human resource opportunities to achieve the mission of the institution.

Strategies:

1. Update and revise mission documents to reflect the priorities of the college, which include an emphasis on learning, workforce training, student development, and community needs and involvement. (G1S5) 2. Explore and expand course delivery methods and assess their effectiveness (G3S5) 3. Design, implement, and maintain current curricula and technology for occupational and technical programs (G3S9) 4. Employ well-qualified faculty and staff who have expertise in their respective fields, including those working in dual credit, contractual, and consortia programs and involve them in appropriate roles (G4S3) 5. Provide appropriate professional development activities based on faculty and staff needs assessments (G4S6) 6. Maintain adequate financial reserves to assure the continuity of operations despite uncertain funding (G7S1) 7. Maintain a systematic decision-making process that uses data analysis and uses institutional data to inform the development of short and long-range budgeting models (G7S2) 8. Evaluate and revise as necessary processes for budgeting and monitoring expenses that are aligned with the Strategic Plan and the college mission (G7S3) 9. Maintain a board that provides oversight of financial and academic policies and practices; and meets it legal and fiduciary duties (G7S4) 10. Maintain practices which include policies and procedures that engage faculty and staff in planning, budgeting, and assessment (G7S5) 11. Allocate resources in alignment with UA Rich Mountain’s mission and priorities (G7S6) 12. Continue responsible stewardship and maintain sustainable fiscal resources entrusted by the state, the UA Rich Mountain foundation, the community, and students (G7S6) 13. Pursue and obtain grant funding opportunities that are appropriate to the college mission. (G7S8) 14. Institutional planning anticipates emerging factors, such as technology, demographic changes, and employer needs (G7S9) 15. Continue developing and implementing measures of institutional effectiveness to include retention, completion, graduation, and student satisfaction as a means of continuous evaluation and improvement of programs (G7S10) 16. Continue to update, plan, and implement improvements to the campus master plan (G7S11) 17. Continue to pursue major gifts/grants from private foundations, corporations, and individual donors for capital projects and scholarships (G7S12) Page 10 | UA Rich Mountain 2016-2017 Strategic Plan