Email from the Chancellor

originally sent Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 11:15 AM

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As you know from the State of the University Address, updates in the OOC, and announcements at CEA and Faculty Assembly, the Leading Forward Strategic Plan has been endorsed by USC Aiken’s staff, faculty and students through votes of our representative bodies. It is now time to begin the task of planning how we will accomplish our new goals and meet our objectives by working on the actions that will propel us toward the future we’ve set through our strategic planning process.

I was proud of the way we approached the creation of action steps in the Forward Together plan and we will use the same process for Leading Forward. Toward that end, I’m announcing  the creation of several topical task forces. The purpose of these task forces is to dive more deeply into one of the strategic objectives to clearly identify the tasks at hand and to suggest specific ways to move forward. The task force will create a report that will be shared with the campus and used to help steer our collective work. Unlike a standing committee, the work of the Task Force is more highly focused, compressed into a shorter timeline. Additionally, unlike a standing committee, once the Taskforce report is submitted the taskforce disbands. 

You have plenty of time to consider joining the task forces, for we hope they will begin working toward the end of January. You may volunteer for one or several task forces, or you can opt-out of serving on any of them. The choice is yours based on your personal interests and availability. Sign up will begin before the winter break. To sign up for one or more of the new Leading Forward Task Forces, visit: 

https://intranet.usca.edu/strategic-plan/2018-2023/task-force-sign-up.dot (Note: this is an intranet site, so you’ll need your password to log in). 

Leading Forward Strategic Plan Task Forces:

QEP Planning

Once the final decision is made on the QEP topic, the task force will determine the steps needed and options available to advance the QEP over the next five years.

Integrated, 360 Student Support

A new generation of students requires that we pause and review how we are supporting our students as they progress through their curriculum. This task force will review our student support processes and identify those places where systemic processes, habits, or scheduling create stumbling blocks that impede student success. The task force will also make recommendations related to enhancing a link between student advising, student support and student mentoring.        

Faculty & Staff Development

Our university’s greatest asset is our talented and committed faculty and staff. From part time employees and adjuncts to our most experienced and tenured professors, the university needs to develop the next five year plan to provide professional and leadership development to encourage retention and job satisfaction. Included in the charge for this taskforce is a recommendation for “Round 2” of our Fair Wage Plan.

Advancing Inclusion and Belonging

While the Office of Diversity Initiatives successfully works to educate the college community about diversity and inclusion, the creation of a campus culture of inclusion is a shared responsibility. This task force will build on the work of the Task Force on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and delve into how the university can acknowledge our differences along with our shared human dignity by fostering greater respect for one another as members of an academic community.

Expanding the Student Experience through Internationalizing the Campus

How do we intentionally expand our students’ world perspective and enhance their global opportunities? This task force will focus on enhancing international faculty and student exchange, international student enrollment, and study abroad programs as a way to expand student experience and global understanding. This work includes developing strategies to increase development and participation in global, intercultural, and diverse curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities

Campus Communication

Effective communication is frequently a challenge in a complex working environment. This taskforce will identify the challenges on our campus and address what can be done to both enhance effective communication and build a more effective culture of productive and respectful communication.

Campus Sustainability and Safety

What is the next level of achievement we want to set for ourselves in both campus sustainability efforts and campus safety? This task force will survey what is currently being done, seek best practices and recommend both the definition of the “next level” and recommend ways to achieve it.

Enhancing our Liberal Arts Curriculum and Advancing Engaged Teaching/Learning

The university advances its comprehensive university mission through a liberal arts curriculum and advances its reputation through engaged pedagogies. What are the next steps we can take to help students understand why this approach to education is relevant and how the emphasis on the liberal arts enhances their major and their ability to craft a meaningful professional and personal life. Additionally, how can the university expand upon what is currently happening across campus to enhance engaged pedagogies.

If you are interested in the work of the former Forward Together Task forces, you can find those reports online:

https://intranet.usca.edu/strategic-plan/2012-2017

Sincerely, 

Sandra J. Jordan

Chancellor

To learn more about each task force, please click for a full description.