All posts by: UMBC News Staff

TO:  The UMBC Community

FROM:  Provost Philip Rous and Faculty Senate President Kathleen Carroll

As co-chairs of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, we have the inspiring opportunity this semester to listen in as more than 30 faculty, staff, student, and alumni groups discuss proposed vision elements and focus areas for the University’s next strategic plan. The sessions held so far have been robust in attendance (nearly 800), insights, and thought-provoking questions. Our colleagues on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee join us in expressing thanks to all participants in this initial stage of the planning process.

Focus Areas for Planning

While there are several more conversations to come, we frequently hear similar views expressed from group to group, particularly the understanding that a focused plan is essential to the University’s progress and that issues and opportunities addressed in planning should be limited in number. The campus discussions have consistently identified three proposed focus areas as essential:

• The Student Experience (academic and co-curricular)
• Advancing Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
• Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy

Many groups also endorse a fourth focus area of Community and Extended Connection, encompassing opportunities for collective impact on campus and beyond in such forms as civic engagement, social responsibility, and economic development. Finally, the importance of infrastructure as a foundation for achievement in each area has been emphasized in all discussions.

During the break between semesters, the Steering Committee will further explore these emerging focus areas, outlining charges and research questions for Strategy Groups that will be appointed to develop goals, objectives, and progress measures in each area. Once focus areas and Strategy Group charges are established by the Steering Committee, co-chairs will be named for each Strategy Group – one a Steering Committee member and the other someone new the planning process.

At the beginning of the spring semester, faculty, staff, students, and alumni will be invited to apply online to serve as volunteers in the next stage of the process. Co-chairs will have the opportunity to draw from this volunteer pool as they build Strategy Groups of eight to 12 members, and all volunteers will be invited to participate in focus groups related to their area of interest. The University Retreat in August will also provide opportunities to discuss and respond to initial reports from the Strategy Groups.

Vision Elements

Campus discussions this semester have affirmed core elements of our current campus vision statement while pressing for new language that is more bold and inspiring. The word “leadership” came up in group after group as an important element for an updated vision statement, while the phrase “the best of our size” was noted in many conversations as an outdated, inadequate descriptor. Many groups also identified “community” and “students” as words currently missing in vision language that are important to include.

Once all feedback from fall semester meetings is analyzed, the Steering Committee will propose draft vision language that reflects these very useful conversations and aligns with the emerging focus areas for planning. We greatly appreciate the thoughtful responses shared by faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the first stage of the planning process and look forward to continued participation from the UMBC community next semester.

REGALIA PICK-UP: Faculty and staff regalia will be ready for pick-up from the Bookstore between December 9 and December 16. Regalia will not be available for pick-up at the RAC.

• The Graduate Commencement procession on December 19 will begin promptly at 9:50 a.m.
• The Undergraduate Commencement procession on December 20 will begin promptly at 9:40 a.m.

LINE UP LOCATION AND PROCESSION: Faculty and Associate Staff who are marching in the procession will line up on court 1, in the multi-purpose gym. Enter the RAC at the main entrance and go directly downstairs, where light refreshments will be available. Please line up at 9:15 a.m. There will be security personnel to monitor coats and jackets.

INFORMATION FOR PhD MENTORS: Faculty members who are mentors to graduating Ph.D. candidates should report to the lower level (basement) of the Sondheim Hall no later than 9:15 a.m. Do not report to the regular line-up area for faculty and staff. Mentors will accompany their students in the procession and will hood them on stage as part of the ceremony.

UMBC has been named one of the nation’s top 100 public universities, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. The ranking, released today, cites four-year schools that deliver a quality education at an affordable price.

UMBC made Kiplinger’s list of Best Values in Public Colleges thanks to its high four-
year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, abundant financial aid, low sticker price, and overall great value. UMBC has appeared on the list multiple
times – a testament to the value the university consistently provides.

“The college landscape today is very different—tuition increases and student debt
dominate the national conversation surrounding higher education,” said Janet Bodnar,
editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “This year’s top 100 schools have made
admirable strides to maintain academic integrity and standards while meeting the
financial needs of their students.”

The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2014 issue and are
also available online now at kiplinger.com/links/college.

UMBC has been named one of The Baltimore Sun 100 Top Workplaces in the Baltimore region. UMBC ranked no. 11 among large employers in the Top Workplaces list, published on Dec. 8 in a special section in the Sunday Sun and online.

The Baltimore area winners included on the list were selected from employee surveys measuring qualities such as company leadership, career opportunities, workplace flexibility, compensation and benefits.

UMBC was recognized by its employees as an organization with strong leadership, vision and direction and one that operates by strong values and ethics. Some comments shared by faculty and staff include:

“I am provided a great deal of flexibility and respected for my efforts.”

“I get the opportunity to grow professionally and I work with great people. ”

“I use my experience and skills to the fullest and feel a sense of accomplishment in my work.”

“Strong sense of community; high motivation to help students/faculty succeed.”

“The people, the projects, and the possibilities.”

During the summer, UMBC was nominated to participate in The Baltimore Sun Top Workplaces program, which identifies and compares top places to work in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, based solely on the opinions of employees. In late August and early September, UMBC faculty and staff responded to a confidential independent survey conducted by research company WorkplaceDynamics, LLC.

For more information about the Top Workplaces lists and WorkplaceDynamics, please visit topworkplaces.com.