The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) started the strategic planning process in October 2019, culminating with the implementation of a three-year plan that will contribute to the institution’s vision of being a student-ready university providing transformative learning experiences for all Kent State students. The DSA Strategic Planning Committee, led by co-chairs, Valerie Samuels, Joshua Rider, and Julie Volcheck, presented the plan to the division on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.
To ensure an inclusive process, the DSA Strategic Planning Committee consisted of students, faculty, and staff representing various departments across campus.
“The collaborative work of our committee has been the cornerstone of our strategic plan development,” said Vice President Lamar Hylton. “As the landscape of higher education evolves, this data-informed plan provides a roadmap for our work in supporting student success and designing a co-curricular experience that contributes to student learning and development.”
Defining values, goals, data, and process contributed to the overall development of the strategic plan, with a priority focus on:
- Promoting student success through a comprehensive student experience
- Increasing collaboration and innovation to address issues of inclusion and sense of belonging
- Maximizing academic partnerships for student learning and development
- Implementing intentional assessment and responsible fiscal and organizational stewardship
The strategic plan allows the Division of Student Affairs to pivot when necessary, taking into account the fluctuating demands of an ever-changing campus environment.
“I am wildly excited,” said Hylton of the plan. “I have had the benefit to see this at various stages of its production and every time we start talking about this I get so energized about our future.”