MU Strategic Plan

Mansfield University President, Dr. Charles Patterson, convened a new Shared Governance and Organizational Effectiveness model in the Fall of 2019. Within this governance structure, the Executive Cabinet serves as a coordinating point for inclusive communications, development of strategic goals, and assessment of strategic initiatives. As such, the Executive Cabinet assumes the role of the Strategic Planning Council. The Council will convene committees to accomplish strategic planning tasks. Mansfield University’s Executive Cabinet, students, administration, Middle States accreditation working groups, and external constituents will work together to develop a new strategic plan.

Mansfield University embraces the goal, the approach, and the priorities of the PASSHE System Redesign—what the Chancellor calls “systemness” or sharing resources across the system to better serve students by offering more options and to create a sustainable state system—that has emerged to guide its efforts. Along with sister PASSHE institutions, MU’s goal is to transform the State System’s education and business models to provide a more affordable and relevant postsecondary education to all students. The end goal is to create a sharing system and leverage the collective strength of staff, faculty, and programs across the fourteen universities.

As Mansfield University works towards university integration with Bloomsburg University and Lock Haven University, we will increase collaborations across departmental lines and with other state institutions, stabilizing operations financially, working to retain students, attract new students to PASSHE institutions, and partnering with employers to develop educational pathways that satisfy student and workforce needs.

As Mansfield establishes a new Strategic Plan, the University will identify institutional priorities. Thus far, the Executive Cabinet has identified and reviewed the following emerging strategic priorities:

Emerging Strategic Priorities

• Priority 1—Ensuring Student Success
  
  Areas addressed include:
  1. Retention, graduation, and student outcomes
  2. Preparation for graduate studies
  3. Preparation for career goals
  4. Internships and practicum experiences
  5. Research and scholarly activity
  6. Civic engagement, service learning, and co-curricular activities
  7. Workforce integration

• Priority 2—Strengthening the University
  
  Areas addressed include:
  1. Financial strength and resiliency
  2. Alignment of financial resources and institutional priorities
  3. Strategic enrollment growth
  4. Brand identity (marketing and branding)
  5. Campus environment (facilities)
  6. Organizational efficiency
  7. Technology and innovation
  8. Supporting system redesign and university integration

• Priority 3—Supporting a Thriving and Engaged University Community
  
  Areas addressed include:
  1. Faculty and staff development
  2. Economic development and community engagement
  3. Industry-University partnerships
  4. Alumni engagement
  5. Philanthropic giving
  6. Entrepreneurship and business creation
  7. Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Mansfield University Office of the President sent a strategic planning survey to students, alumni, employees, parents, grandparents, retired university employees, board of trustee members, and community members in Spring 2020. Survey participants rated these items as the top ten most important topics for Mansfield University’s next strategic plan:

1. Improving student retention
2. Increasing enrollment
3. Leveraging resources to support financial sustainability
4. Internships and other kinds of experiential learning
5. Developing industry and workforce partnerships:
6. Creating partnerships with local and regional schools and community organizations
7. Student professional development and career services initiatives
8. Aligning academic programs with workforce needs
9. Student wellness and well-being
10. Assessing our undergraduate programs and creating new ones as needed

These items align with the Executive Cabinet’s strategic priorities and focus areas. The Executive cabinet will continue to seek feedback regarding these priorities throughout the fall of 2020. To provide additional feedback regarding these strategic priorities, please contact the Mansfield University Office of the President.