Southern Polytechnic State University

Southern Polytechnic State University

Strategic Plan 2006

Strategic Goal : Increase enrollment

Objective 1.1: Increase retention, progression, and graduation rates. Freshman retention rate to 70% by fall 2006 and 71% by fall 2008; Graduation rates to 25% in 2007 and

27% by 2010; Increase progression rates 2%/year so that University system averages are attained in 5 years.

Strategies/Action Plans:

1. Implement the plan for retention and graduation improvement contained within the "Retention, Progression, Graduation" report of November 2005:

a) Review current administrative policies

-commit to class schedule that supports/promotes progression to graduation, i.e., block scheduling for freshmen.

b) Review gateway courses

c) Implement more effective tracking of students

d) integrate students into campus life

e) Provide stronger advising

f) Broaden support services

-increase tutorial services

-provide language support for non-native speakers

g) Explore implementation of recommendations from the "Proposal for

Improvement of Southern Polytechnic State University's First Year Experience”

Responsibility:

a) VPAA, Academic Deans & Department Heads, Registrar.

b) VPAA, Academic Deans & Department Heads

c) VPAA, Department Heads, Student Affairs

d) Student Affairs, Academic Affairs

e) VPAA, Academic Deans & Department Heads, ATTIC, Faculty

f) Academic Affairs, Student Affairs

g) Residence Life Office, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs

Time Frame:

a. Complete Summer ’06 for Fall ’06 implementation

b. Complete Summer ’06 for Fall ’06 implementation

c. Underway—Ongoing

d. Underway—Ongoing

e. Begin Spring, 2006. (see Appendix A—RPG report); Every new student will have an assigned advisor by Journey sessions, Summer 2006.

f. Underway—Ongoing

g. Discuss recommendations Spring 2006; FYRE program returns, Fall 2006

Resources Required: To be determined

Assessment:

Use of Results:

Southern Polytechnic State University	Strategic Plan 2006
Strategic Goal: Increase enrollment
Objective 1.2: Increase new undergraduate enrollment to 1072 (note timeframe for future years)
Strategies/Action Plans: 1. improve visibility and prestige, by increasing PR, marketing, and expanding athletics 2. provide academic programs for which current and future student demand exists 3. provide delivery methods to meet student demand 4. make class scheduling responsive to student needs 5. build relationships with businesses 6. increase faculty involvement in on-campus recruitment activities 7. outreach programs to middle schools with follow-up through high school, especially to reach underserved populations 8. continue to evaluate/assess recruitment practices
Responsibility: 1. Public Relations, Recruitment, Enrollment Services, Athletics 2. Academic Affairs, working with Enrollment Services 3. Academic Affairs and Registrar 4. Academic Affairs and Registrar 5. Career and Counseling Services, Academic Departments 6. Recruitment Office, Academic Affairs 7. Academic Affairs and Recruitment Office 8. Recruitment Office
Time Frame: Fall 2006 (1072), Fall 2007 (1166), Fall 2008 (1276)
Resources Required: To be determined
Assessment: 1. Tracking of “call to action” responses to marketing campaign. # of press releases and media mentions, increased number of campus visits and inquiries, new sports offerings. 2. Enrollment in new programs after two years. 3. Enrollment and student surveys 4. Enrollment and student surveys 5. Participation at Career Fair, survey of HR departments 6. Number of faculty participating in open houses and campus tours. 7. Number of programs and enrollment in such programs. Long-term, tracking of continued student relationship. 8. Tracking of prospects to applied to accepted to enrolled by recruitment activity, surveys at open houses and campus tours, response rate to direct mail, etc.
Use of Results:

Southern Polytechnic State University

Strategic Plan 2006

Strategic Goal: Increase enrollment

Objective 1.3: Increase new graduate enrollment

Strategies/Action Plans:

1. centralize graduate admissions

2. improve visibility and prestige

3. provide academic programs for which current and future student demand exists

4. provide delivery methods to meet student demand

5. make class scheduling responsive to student needs

6. build relationships with businesses using faculty

Responsibility:

1.Academic Vice President/Director of Graduate Studies/Director of Admissions

2. Director of Graduate Studies and Vice President of Enrollment Services

3.Vice President of Academic Affairs and Director of Graduate Studies

4. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Extended University

5. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Department Chairs

6. Graduate Departments Chairs, Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Career

Services

Time Frame

1. 2007

2. On going over three years

3. On going

4. 2008

5. On going

6. 2007

Resources Required:

1.Clerical Support Staff For Director of Graduate Studies $29,000

2. $400,000 each year for a three year Mass Media Marketing Campaign

3. Possible new labs, additional faculty in appropriate areas.

4. Funds for new technology

5. Possibly additional faculty

6. Minimal

Assessment:

1. Survey prospective students, new grad applicants, graduate staff and faculty for feedback. Also, measure application rate increase, application folder completion rate increases and new graduate enrollment increases. Survey Graduate Coordinators to determine if the approach is working.

2. Survey applicants to see if they were influenced by marketing efforts. Also, measure application rate increase. Focus Groups. Determine if more external funding has increased.

3. Survey industry to determine skills/academic program needs.

4. Focus groups, interviews/surveys from faculty and students.

5. Increase in number of grad students taking classes, graduate student surveys

6. More monetary contributions from industry, new program development for specific industry, increase in graduate enrollment

Use of Results:

1.To determine if the Centralized Graduate Processing provides better communications and better customer service to prospective new graduate students.

2. To determine if marketing campaign is creating more visibility

3. To determine needed academic programs that would be in demand

4. To determine ongoing needs/demands

5. To determine scheduling that meet the needs of the graduate student

6. To determine educational needs of industry that will result in possible new grad programs development that are within our mission.

Southern Polytechnic State University	Strategic Plan 2006
Strategic Goal: Increase enrollment
Objective 1.4: Increase resources for maximizing enrollment
Strategies/Action Plans: 1. Make University personnel and budget decisions in a way that applies necessary resources to enrollment growth - ensure that there are resources focused on increasing enrollment: both financial and personnel resources. 2. Raise external funds for scholarships at the undergraduate and graduate level and aggressively promote those scholarships to prospective students.
Responsibility: 1. Senior staff to reallocate funds for marketing budget. 2. Advancement Office for raising funds, Recruitment Office and Financial Aid for promoting.
Time Frame: starting 6/1/2006 through 6/1/2009
Resources Required: To be determined
Assessment: There are several metrics that can be used: - Percentage of enrollment increase (year – to - year) - $ spent on marketing / year - enrollment increase/ extra $ spent by year - Percentage of enrollment increase/ $ spent by year - Longitudinal revenue vs. expense data by program/department for reallocation of current funds
Use of Results: a) use the metric to see if the resource allocation should be modified or not