PLANNING FOR EXCELLENCEArmstrong’s Strategic Plan Update

FALL 2014

OUR MISSIONArmstrong is teaching-centered and student-focused, providing diverse learning experiences and professional programs grounded in the liberal arts.

OUR VISIONArmstrong strives to be an academically selective institution of first choice, recognized nationally for undergraduate, graduate and professional education.

OUR VALUESArmstrong embraces these core values:

• Wevalueeducationthatisstudent–focused,transformative,experiential, rigorous and leading to student success.

• Wevaluebalanceamongteaching,mentoringandscholarship.

• Wevalueanenvironmentofmutualtrustandcollegialitythatbuilds an inclusive community.

• Wevaluetransparencythatfosterssharedgovernance.• Wevalueandrespectdiversity.• Wevalueethicalbehaviorandaccountabilitythatsupport

high standards of performance.• Wevaluecivicengagementthroughoutreachandservice.• WevalueourrelationshipwithSavannah,itsunique

geographic location, rich history and abundant opportunities.

ARMSTRONG’S STRATEGIC PLANWiththeintroductionofourstrategicplancamethepromisethatitwouldnotbejustabookletontheshelf.Instead,theplanwouldbeadrivingforce;athreadthatweaveseveryactivityandinitiativeatArmstrongtogether;alensthroughwhichweviewourroles,responsibilitiesandaccomplishments;andafoundationalcommitmentweshareeveryday—Armstrong’s Strategic Plan is commitment to student success.

Nomatterwhichofthegoalsourpersonalactivitiessupport,wealljointogethertoprovidealearningenvironmentthatischallenging, engaging and transformative for our students as wepreparethemfortheirfuturebeyondArmstrong.

Itiswithpridethatwechartourprogresstowardthesegoals,includingafewhighlightsfromthe2013-2014academicyear.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1Armstrong will impart the skills and habits of mind to motivated students that help them realize their potential as productive citizens of the world.

• ArmstrongsecuredUSGBoardofRegentsapprovalforanewB.S.inBusinessEconomicsandanewB.S.inBiochemistry.Bothdegreeprogramswerecreatedinresponsetostudentdemandandwilllaunchinthefallof2014.

• Armstronglaunchedanonlinemaster’sdegreeinCriminalJustice,aswellasagraduatecertificateinCyberSecurity.

• ArmstrongearnedthePeachBeltConference’sCommissioner’sCupforthethirdconsecutiveyearandthePeachBeltConference’sPresident’sAcademicAwardforthesecond consecutive year.

• TheMasterofPublicHealthprogramwasreaccreditedthrough 2021, ensuring continued standards of excellence forteachinggraduatestudentsacredible,high-qualitycurriculum.

• TheCollegeofEducationpassrateontheGeorgiaAssessmentforCertificateofEducatorswas100%.

• TheMedicalLaboratoryScienceprogramhada95%passrate on the national certification examination.

• Armstrongwaivedallstudentfeesforactivedutysoldiers.• EnrollmentintheProfessionalCommunicationandLeadershipgraduateprogramexpandedfrom10to50students.

• Armstrong’ssecondannualClothingClosetoutfittedmorethan200studentswithprofessionaloutfitsforjobinterviews.

• On-campusCareerFairsattracted106employersand 490students.

• HealthSciencesgraduatesrecentlyservedasprivatesectoradvisorsontheU.S.delegationtothe67thWorldHealthOrganizationAssemblyinGeneva,Switzerland.

• Armstrong’sstudentathletesmaintainedanoverallGPAof3.0.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2Armstrong will build upon and strengthen its foundational commitment to teaching, ensuring that transformative student learning occurs inside and outside the classroom.

• ArmstronglaunchedanewGreenZoneprogramtosupportactivedutymilitarystudentsandveteransoncampusandwasnamedaYellowRibbonProgramschool.

• TheExceptionalStudentEducationprogramsintheCollegeofEducationpartneredwithareaagenciestolaunchProjectSEARCH,ajobcoachingandmentorshipprogramforhighschoolstudentswithspecialneeds.

• Morethan125ArmstrongstudentsparticipatedinTeensforLiteracyandmilitaryoutreachprograms,includingEastBroadStreetT4LstudentShadowingDay,SavannahChildren’sBookFestivalandMilitaryFamilyDay.

• TheOutdoorAdventuresprogramthroughtheStudentRecreationCenteraddednewtripssuchasswimmingwithmanatees,overnightcavinginTennessee,whitewaterrafting,skydiving,horsebackridingandkayaking,attractingatotalof 184 students.

• TwentyArmstrongstudentsassistedMemorialUniversityMedicalCenterwithitsregionaldisasterfull-scalehurricaneevacuationexerciseinMarch.

• PatientAdvocatecoursestudentscontributed41hourstohelpSt.Mary’sCommunityHealthMission,GoodSamaritanClinicandothers.

• Dr.AmyPotter,assistantprofessorofhistory,receiveda National Science Foundation grant to study historic plantationsacrosstheSouthandwillincludeArmstrongstudents in her research.

• TheMedicalLaboratorySciencesprogramhasenteredintoapartnershipwithNgeeAnnPolytechnicandTamasekPolytechnic in Singapore to increase international enrollment.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3Armstrong will enhance existing campus technologies, expanding both its technological capabilities and reach, to meet current and emerging needs.

• ITServicesupgradedthewirelessInternetsystem,eliminatingthe login timeout for students.

• TheCollegeofEducationaddedmorethan$90,000ofdepartmental funds in classroom and teaching technology, includingupgradingcomputerlabs,investingina3-DprinterandaddingSMARTBoardtechnologyandsoftware.

• Armstrongreducedtimeforadmissionsacceptancefrom45minutesperstudenttofiveminutesperstudentandautomated the accept/deny letter process.

• TheCyberForensicsLabexpandedtoincludenewsoftwareandhardwareoptionsforCriminalJusticeInternshipsandCriminalJusticeSystemsupport.

• TheuniversityautomatedtheGIBillandVAbenefitprocess,whichenablesfasteraccesstofinancialaidinformation.

• TheDepartmentofNursingpurchased3Gmale,femaleandbaby simulators to increase technology in the simulation lab.

• Armstrongcontinuestoimproveprocessesfortimelyawardsoffinancialaid.Studentsnowbegintheprocessuponapplication rather than admission.

STRATEGIC GOAL 4Armstrong will strengthen its financial base, diversify university resources and wisely invest in initiatives in order to ensure long-term sustainability.

• Theuniversity’sAdvancementOfficestrengthenedArmstrong’s financial base and expanded scholarship opportunitiesforstudentsbyraisingmorethan$1millioninFY14,settingarecordandmarkinga42%increaseovertheFY13totalof$689,055.

• FundingforthenewArmstrong-LibertyCenterandARCbuildingrenovationswasapprovedbytheBoardofRegents,givingbothprojectsthegreenlight.

• Todate,nearly$275,000inCommitmentFundgiftsandpledges have been raised since the fund’s inception in 2012, helping173currentstudentscompletetheirdegrees,despitefinancial hardship.

• Armstronghasreduceditstotalemissionsby9,000MetricTonsofCarbonDioxideEquivalent(MTCDE)since2011.Thisoccurredasspaceoncampusincreased,markingasignificantdecrease in utility emissions.

• Armstronghasreduceditsoverallenergyconsumptionby24%since2010.Improvementsintheenergymanagementsystemhavecontributedtoloweroverallenergycosts.

• Armstronggeneratedcommunity-wideawarenessattheinauguralPainttheTownMarooneventinApril,exceedingfundraisinggoalsby30%.

• Allcampustemperatureset-pointshavebeenadjustedfromarangeof68-74degreesto72-76degrees.Foreverydegreeathermostatisraisedinthesummerorloweredinthewinterthereis,onaverage,a5%savingsinenergycostsandconsumption.

• Thenumberofnewdonorsincreasedby30%andrepeatdonorsincreasedby15%overFY13.

• Theuniversitymadeanumberofstrategiccampusbuildingimprovements to maximize resources, including re-purposing theArmstrongCenterfortheCollegeofHealthProfessionsexpansion,creatinganewAlumniCenterinBurnettHall,extendingtheexistingBikePath,improvingsoccerfielddrainage,renovatingCompassPointapartmentsandrenovatingGambleHall.

STRATEGIC GOAL 5Armstrong will increase its visibility across the state and region by transforming its most compelling strengths, values and offerings into resonant messaging that inspires loyalty among internal stakeholders and alumni and builds lasting relationships with the local community.

• InJanuary2014,ArmstrongDayattheCapitolinAtlantaofferedahigh-profileopportunitytoshowcasetheuniversity’sCollegeofHealthProfessionstolegislatorsfromacrossthestate.

• TheinauguralMoveableFeastlectureseriesfeaturedArmstrongprofessorsspeakingandperforminginhistoricvenuesacrossdowntownSavannah,attractingmembersofthe community and earning significant media coverage.

• TheCollegeofHealthProfessionshostedtheInterProfessionalHealthCareSummit,acollaborativegathering of professionals from academia and healthcare practice.Armstrong’sInterProfessionalCollaborativePracticeProjectisfundedbytheHealthResourcesandServicesAdministrationNurseEducation,Practice,QualityandRetention.

• “TheMetalArtistryofWestAfrica:FromtheKoleCollection”attracted significant attendance and media exposure.

• TheStartStrongbrandingcampaignofficiallylaunched,expanding the university’s profile in the external community.

• Extensivelocal,regionalandnationalmediacoverageincludedkeymediaplacementsintheChronicle of Higher Education, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USA Today and Atlanta Magazine.

• Armstrongenjoyedunprecedentedlevelsofsocialmediaengagement,including13,527followersonFacebook,1,187followersonTwitter,815followersonInstagramand11,739followersonLinkedIn.

• TreasureSavannahunitedmorethan500students,facultyand staff to volunteer at non-profit organizations across the area in the spring and the fall.

• ActivealumninearlydoubledbetweenFY2013andFY2014.• TheCyberForensicsLabbecamethelargestdigitalforensicsoperationintheStateofGeorgia,providingdigitalforensicsinvestigation/analysistomorethan50criminaljusticeagencies across the region.

• TheCollegeofEducationreachedmorethan450areateachersthroughtheCoastalSavannahWritingProjectwithaFallWritingInstitute,SaturdayWritingStrategyWorkshops,SpringLiteracyConferenceandSummerWritingInstitute.

• HealthSciencesstudentsandfacultyplayedaleadershiprolewithintheUSGtohelppublicuniversitiesbecometobacco-freebyOctober2014,usingArmstrong’sexperiencetohelpotheruniversitiescomplywithnewpolicy.

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND RESOURCE COUNCIL MEMBERS 2014-15

PeteHoffman,co-chair,LibertyCenter-HinesvilleCampus

NashiaWhittenburg,co-chair,MulticulturalAffairs

Dr.JasonBeck,Economics

Dr.KatherineBennett,CriminalJustice

Dr.AmyHeaston,ex-officiomember,President’sOffice

RobertHoward,ITS

Dr.HeatherJoesting,Biology

Dr.FloydJosephat,MedicalLaboratoryScience

Dr.AnneKatz,ChildhoodandExceptionalStudentEducation

Dr.NandiMarshall,HealthSciences

Dr.BrandonQuillian,ChemistryandPhysics

JenniferRushton,Athletics

JacquelineStepherson,HumanResources

McKenzieWilliams,AdolescentandAdultEducation