The strategic planning update provides an overview of the Budget, Efficiency, and Infrastructure working group's process and recommendations. The group is focused on creating an efficient and student-centered university. They began by defining key terms and identifying core areas of focus: engaged people, engaging learning spaces, innovative policies, student support services, and success programs. Going forward, their vision places students at the center, funneling resources toward student success. They provide initial recommendations in the areas of engaged workforce development, learning environment innovation, reward structures for efficiency and innovation, student navigation services, and ongoing program assessment. The update concludes by inviting questions from stakeholders.

1. Strategic Planning Update
12.6.17
Budget, Efficiency, and Infrastructure
working group

2. Definitions of terms
There are other budget committees on campus.
We are investigating the long-term picture. For
the purpose of this effort, the working group
interprets “Budget” as fiscal stewardship.
The working group considers “Infrastructure” to
include: physical spaces and systems,
organizational structures, and virtual spaces and
programs.

3. Our process has and continues to be
guided by two questions:
What does an efficient university look like?
What does a student centered university look like?

4. What we started with…

6. Student
success
Places that
are engaging
and learner
centered
People that
are engaged
and student
centered
Pathways for
successful
navigation of
the college
experience
Policies and
procedures to
model
innovation
and efficiency
Programs that
enhance
student
success

7. In terms of both efficiency and student success,
this model reflects our vision looking forward.
Placing students at the center:
– Reflects our values
– Funnels those resources entrusted to us to
student success (every decision regarding use of resources is
measured by the degree to which it will contribute to student success)
– Flattens the organizational structure, eliminating
layers and silos (improving idea and communication flow,
reducing redundancies, and improving efficiency)

8. People: Invest resources to create an engaged and
student centered workforce.
BUDGET
• Prioritize budget resources for faculty/staff compensation and benefits
and develop a framework that incentivizes and rewards performance.
• Prioritize budget resources for faculty/staff development.
EFFICIENCY
• Use a Competency Model/Framework which is aligned with the
Institutional Mission to recruit, train and reward excellent (& diverse)
faculty & staff.
• Create a culture of caring.
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the organizational structure of the
University to strategically right size the institution.
People that
are engaged
and student
centered

9. Places: Invest resources to create an innovative and
learner centered environment.
BUDGET/INFRASTRUCTURE
• Develop a financial structure where both maintenance/repairs and capital
renewal can be funded at a level to both address deferred maintenance
and then sustain maintenance of our infrastructure to a level that
supports our overall mission for student success.
INFRASTRUCTURE/EFFICIENCY
• Develop the libraries as the intellectual hub of the university.
BUDGET/INFRASTRUCTURE/EFFICIENCY
• Achieve AASHE STARS Gold rating through innovations in energy and
infrastructure.
Places that
are engaging
and learner
centered

10. Policies and Procedures: Invest resources to model
innovation and efficiency.
BUDGET/INFRASTRUCTURE/EFFICIENCY
• Develop a budget and organizational structure that rewards innovation
and efficiency.
BUDGET
• Allow departments to retain and carry forward unspent budget funds.
Policies and
procedures to
model
innovation
and efficiency

11. Pathways: Invest resources in services that help students
to successfully navigate their college experience.
INFRASTRUCTURE/EFFICIENCY
• Improve awareness of and access to student services by centralizing the
location of student services--creating a one-stop shop for student services
thus reducing the student 'run around'--and employing a shared services
model which would place service providers in academic colleges. (Examples
include Center for Career and Professional Development, Alumni Association,
Counseling and Testing Center, Student Financial Assistance)
INFRASTRUCTURE/EFFICIENCY
• Create a culture of caring on campus by providing cross-training for faculty
and staff, effectively equipping them as general advisers/mentors/college
coaches.
• Assign all students a personal concierge/college coach dedicated to
working with them on an individual basis during their tenure at WKU.
Pathways for
successful
navigation of
the college
experience

12. Programs: Invest resources in programs that
enhance student success.
• Just realize……
This is all a work in progress
Programs that
enhance
student
success

13. Questions?
Feel free to contact any member of our working group with questions or ideas:
Christian Ryan
Susann deVries
Helen Sterk
Todd Stewart
Michelle Dvoskin
Jennifer Tougas
Kari Aikins
Bryan Russell
Breanna Harris
Gil Johnson
James McKinney
Blair Jensen
Brad Wheeler

14. This is us…