More than 50 administrators, staff, faculty and Board of Trustees members from Tusculum College recently spent two days in strategic planning sessions, reviewing the past year’s successes and challenges and optimistically planning for the future.
The group met at First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville on Monday and Tuesday, July 19-20, and spent the time developing the college’s next five-year strategic plan for 2010-2015.
“There was tremendous energy in the room as this group looked at the next five years for Tusculum College,” said Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody. “There will continue to be challenges, but the future for the unique education, career and life preparation offered on the Tusculum College campus is vibrant.”
The group reviewed the existing plan and reports were made on strategic initiatives for 2009-2010. Several key items included the beginning of a band program and the addition of a theater minor at the residential college. Also added were a master’s of arts degree in teaching, a bachelor of science in business administration and concentrations in financial management and information technology in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.
“We were able to add several new offerings while utilizing existing resources and personnel,” said Dr. Estep, academic vice president and provost of the college. Marilyn duBrisk, artist-in-residence and director of the Arts Outreach program, reported that to date, eight students have enrolled in the theater minor program.
Other achievements included the completion of the Quality Enhancement Plan on Problem-solving with Reflective Judgment which was reviewed during the recent Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on College visit. Steps are already underway to begin the implementation phase of the QEP, according to Dr. Bill Garris, QEP director and assistant professor of psychology.
Additional steps were taken to further support financial stability despite a still shaky economy.
After reviewing the existing plan, the group, which was composed of campus leadership from all sectors and programs of the college, agreed to work on four overarching goals for the next five years.
Those goals included enhancing academic quality, preparing students for success, sustaining optimal institutional resources and monitoring and managing risk and compliance.
Participants broke into several smaller groups to discuss specific objectives to be considered for inclusion in the revised plan.
“The recommendations from the small groups will be reviewed again by the President’s Cabinet, and others will have additional opportunities for input,” Moody said. “Once we have refined our ideas, the final revision request will be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration and adoption, most likely at the October meeting.”