Kennesaw State President Daniel S. Papp Releases Draft 2012–2017 Strategic Plan
University striving to become nationally prominent, recognized for excellence Click here to…
Georgia (Aug 15, 2012) —
University striving to become nationally prominent, recognized for excellence
KENNESAW, Ga. (Aug. 15, 2012) —Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp today unveiled the institution’s
Draft 2012–2017 Strategic Plan, outlining ambitions to become a nationally prominent
university recognized for excellence in education, engagement and innovation.
The plan was announced at the annual Opening of School event, presided over by President
Papp, where KSU’s faculty and staff and administrators officially launched the 2012-2013
academic year.
“As we approach our 50th anniversary and prepare to look back at the history of Kennesaw State, today we unveil
a roadmap to our future,” Papp said. “We have a very ambitious agenda, which will
involve the entire campus community moving forward together to achieve our key strategic
goals. Our vision is that this agenda will help our university attain the national
preeminence KSU deserves.”
The draft strategic plan outlines an action-oriented agenda for Kennesaw State, aimed
at: planning for additional growth; improving student-faculty and student-staff ratios;
fostering an environment that embraces inclusiveness and diversity; improving customer
service; enhancing relationships and engagement with alumni and surrounding communities;
and expanding the university’s emphasis on recruiting the best and brightest students,
staff and faculty.
Shaped by KSU’s Strategic Thinking and Planning Committee, the new strategic plan
was nearly two years in the making. In addition to the university’s president, the
33-member committee included the president’s cabinet, faculty members representing
each of KSU’s degree-granting colleges, representatives from the university’s various
governance senates and councils, and two members from the Student Government Association.
The committee solicited input from stakeholders across campus and beyond.
“This is not just the committee’s plan,” Papp said. “We incorporated feedback from
three surveys that were conducted to solicit feedback from our internal and external
constituents.”
Papp envisioned that the STP committee would be a representative, transparent and
collaborative body, and he confirmed that those goals were met. “I was very impressed
with the members of the committee not being territorial, but thinking about the university
as a whole,” Papp said. “There wasn’t a focus on ‘what is the strategic plan going
to do for me?’ Instead, it was ‘what is the strategic plan going to do for the whole
university?’ That was a theme throughout the committee’s discussions.”
After considerable deliberations, the committee established five goals:
- Promote excellence and innovation in education through teaching, supervising and mentoring students; research, creative activity and scholarship; and professional service.
- Improve recruitment, retention, progression and graduation rates in accord with the Complete College Georgia initiative, while continually increasing the quality, breadth and relevance of academic and co-curricular programs.
- Become more engaged and prominent in the local community, Georgia, the nation and the world.
- Enhance the collegiate experience, and foster a welcoming, diverse and inclusive environment.
- Expand resources and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Each of the five goals includes a series of action steps, which will be assigned to
various groups across campus for implementation. According to Papp, he and his administrative
team — along with the STP Committee — will be charged with monitoring progress on
the goals and action steps.
“We’re going to be very intentional about the process of moving the strategic plan
forward,” Papp added. “This entire process is about making Kennesaw State University
the best that it can be.”
In addition to outlining the university’s strategic priorities, the draft strategic
plan also outlines the university’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities
and threats — including higher student-faculty ratios than many peer institutions,
traffic congestion and limited land.
“Kennesaw State University is an institution that has significant strengths and extensive
opportunities,” the plan states. “If it leverages its strengths and takes advantage
of its opportunities to the fullest extent possible, KSU will overcome its weaknesses,
surmount its challenges and succeed in fulfilling its vision of becoming a nationally
prominent university recognized for excellence in education, engagement and innovation.”
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Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering 80
graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business and
nursing, and a new Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the 35-unit
University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution
with a growing population of 24,100 students from more than 130 countries.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 38,000 students. With 13 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status, and one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
