Discovering the Liberal Arts and Sciences
DOANE COLLEGE FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN : 2006-2011
Levels IV - VII
IV. Undergraduate Program for Nontraditional Students (Lincoln and Grand Island)
For 26 years, we have offered an undergraduate education to nontraditional students in Lincoln and now Grand Island. These programs continue to meet a growing need in both of these communities. This part of the plan contemplates changes in the curriculum that reflect our liberal arts and sciences background but also address the changing needs and wants of our nontraditional students.
The Doane College degree programs for nontraditional students were developed for individuals who can benefit from a combination of college classroom learning experiences, the learning outcomes of previous formal education, and knowledge gained from work and life experiences. This style of higher education creates opportunities for people to make connections with life and work through a degree program and develops knowledge and skills for living and working with self-confidence. Read more about our particular philosophy of education for nontraditional students.
We must also pay attention to retaining the best faculty possible to teach in this program. The Doane Lincoln facility is in need of modernization and this plan includes a renovation to this building, which will ultimately help all programs housed there.
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
- Better prepare our returning students for the academic expectations of Doane College, and strengthen their academic experience
- Offer an orientation course for all entering students
- Add a new emphasis to the Professional Studies in Business major
- Add criminal justice undergraduate major
- Hire full-time undergraduate advisor (likely in Years 2-4 of this Plan)
V. Master of Education (MEd)
The MEd program is considered one of the best in the State of Nebraska and has also gained national recognition. We need to maintain, and even, enhance the success of this program. To that end, this part of the plan pays more attention to helping our adjunct faculty in their teaching preparation and also seeks to make a Doane education more affordable for those who are interested in seeking a MEd degree from Doane.
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
- Invest more in professional development for adjunct faculty
- Expand the involvement of adjunct faculty in professional development activities
- Expand the scope and reach of the MEd program as appropriate to increase enrollment
- Expand the regional scope of the academic program
- Expand the reach of the program through new sites in Nebraska and Iowa (or where there is a stated need such as in the Navajo Nation)
- Explore additional endorsements/degree programs
- Assist MEd students in securing federal financial aid
- Expand the marketing reach of the MEd program to enhance the ubiquity of the program’s strong reputation
- Increase the distribution of promotional materials
- Support publications or presentations which highlight initiatives or programs developed by the Education faculty
- Demonstrate commitment to diversity
- Provide diversity training to adjunct faculty
- Seek additional faculty of color as faculty lines become available
- Actively market in areas with the highest rates of teachers of color
- Continue the Navajo Nation program
MEASUREMENTS
We will measure success in implementing this plan by evaluating our graduates’ satisfaction with our program as well as collecting data on the number of students who go on and remain in positions in Education. We will also have succeeded at implementing this plan if the number of credit hours offered grows 2.5% per year.
VI. Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC)
Much like our MEd program, we continue to experience growth in our MAC program and this plan contemplates steps to maintain that healthy growth. This part of the plan explores the interconnections between counseling and the liberal arts. It also invests more in our adjunct faculty, as with our other programs.
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
- Maintain a leadership position in the mental health and allied behavioral sciences professional community
- Focus on the liberal arts orientation to behavioral science while maintaining a comprehensive practitioner-focused, activity-based curriculum
- Invest more in adjunct faculty development
- Assist with scholarly activities
- Maintain competitive compensation packages
- Encourage more inter-faculty interactions
- Expand the marketing reach of the MAC program to retain competitive edge
- Increase the distribution of promotional materials by first identifying optimal target markets
- Develop marketing strategy for the MAC program
MEASUREMENTS
We will measure our success at implementing this plan through growth of enrollment in this program and through qualitative analysis of our graduates. As the goals identified in the plan are achieved, we will increase from the 2,530 credit hours delivered in the 2005-06 academic year to 3,000 credit hours in the 2010-11 academic year. We will also measure success by the satisfaction ratings by graduates and by the number of graduates who remain in positions in the counseling field.
VII. Master of Arts in Management (MAM)
The MAM program has been growing steadily for several years, a trend that we need to continue. This plan contemplates a greater focus on the liberal arts, including core communication skills such as writing. It also recognizes that we must continue to attract great faculty in order to provide an excellent program.
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
- Develop a curricular plan that meets the needs of our students in the area of management, while encouraging leadership and innovation
- Explore new and appropriate areas of emphasis
- Complete development of the Leading Edge: Leadership Institute as one of the culminating experience alternatives
- Develop an enhanced liberal arts orientation for the MAM program
- Focus more on writing skills
- Invest more in professional development for adjunct faculty
- Offer annual workshops for adjunct faculty to focus on various elements of teaching at Doane College
- Encourage adjunct faculty to attend appropriate conferences and continuing education events
- Increase faculty salaries incrementally to ensure that they are on par with peer institutions
- Invest in programs that will help our graduates succeed after leaving Doane
- Establish a career services center, with a director (likely in Years 3-5 of this Plan), in conjunction with our undergraduate program in Lincoln
- Demonstrate commitment to diversity
- Consider how Doane can better integrate diversity-related issues into the curriculum
- Develop strategic marketing geared to diverse groups
- Explore how Doane can do a better job recruiting, supporting, and serving diverse students
- Expand the marketing reach of the MAM program
- Develop a marketing plan to raise the profi le of the MAM program
- Create a public forum for the MAM faculty, students, and staff to share their accomplishments and research
MEASUREMENTS
We will measure our success at implementing this plan through growth of enrollment in this program and through qualitative analysis of our graduates. As the goals identifi ed in the plan are achieved, we will increase from the 1534 credit hours delivered in the 2005-06 academic year to 1825 credit hours in the 2010-11 academic year. We will also endeavor to increase the number of new students from 45 in the 2005-06 academic year to 65 in the 2010-11 academic year. We will also measure success by the satisfaction ratings by graduates and by the number of graduates who remain in management positions.