PRELIMINARY GOALS and STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION
December 2015
Community
Strategy 1: Develop programs, services, and initiatives that emphasize Northern’s strong “sense of place and community.”
Strategy 2: Be a leading provider of high-quality, highly desirable, affordable, convenient online, off-campus, and extended learning opportunities.
Strategy 3: Actively engage alumni, community and donors in the life of the university, and promote the mutual benefits of this engagement. In particular, increase engagement in recruitment, academic service learning, leadership development, student internships, networking, mentoring and job placement.
Opportunity
Strategy 1: Develop and implement comprehensive initiatives that address access, retention, timely graduation and opportunity through an affordable education. Strategy 2: Execute a comprehensive, targeted and segmented marketing and communications strategy, one that demonstrates NMU’s high-quality education in a distinctive natural and learning environment.
Strategy 3: Recognize excellence in teaching, learning and service; improve talent development and increase professional qualifications.
Rigor
Strategy 1: Support teaching and scholarship that encourage faculty members to partner with students, encouraging critical and creative inquiry.
Strategy 2: Propel development of diverse skills, inquiry and knowledge through the newly revised General Education/Liberal Studies program.
Strategy 3: Expand and customize curricular and co-curricular activities that engage students in experiential learning, leadership, internships, service learning, undergraduate research, diversity awareness and international experience.
Environment
Strategy 1: Emphasize the unique assets of the Upper Peninsula and its natural environment.
Strategy 2: Develop programs and initiatives that expand Northern’s performance as a leader in sustainability.
Strategy 3: Create living, learning and teaching opportunities that expand environmentally focused academic programs and enhance individual environmental literacy.
Inclusion
Strategy 1: Provide opportunities to develop contact with and knowledge of all types of diversity and diverse points of view on campus, within the United States and globally.
Strategy 2: Attract and retain diverse, exemplary faculty and staff by valuing each person’s unique identity, strengths and contributions.
Strategy 3: Identify and address the infrastructure necessary to support diverse campus populations.
Connection
Strategy 1: Be on the cutting edge of technology in higher education through high-level infrastructure and resource access for students, faculty and staff.
Strategy 2: Expand economic development and collaborative learning opportunities through new relationships with other universities, colleges and other entities. Strategy 3: Strengthen Northern’s regional and global positioning through strategic partnerships at the corporate, state, national and international levels.
Innovation
Strategy 1: Enhance the culture of academic innovation and student success through calculated risk-taking, interdisciplinary collaboration and trend-setting delivery. Strategy 2: Develop innovative high-growth programs that align with academic, market and workforce trends, and community needs.
Strategy 3: Reshape the academic budget model to provide incentives and direct resources that support quality services and streamlined operations.