Rowan University is expanding its enrollment to 25,000 students by 2024 through new housing, satellite campuses, and academic programs. However, to support this growth and remain competitive, the document argues Rowan needs to refocus on being student-centered, increase student engagement, and improve transparency. The author proposes specific initiatives to achieve these goals, such as emphasizing student services, extracurricular learning, and accountability. Implementing a holistic approach that integrates academics and well-rounded development could energize Rowan's culture and better prepare graduates for careers.

1. Rowan
University,
Along with the hundreds who
apply daily, I want to work at
Rowan University. Instead of
just sending my resume, I
have decided to be proactive
and have analyzed of where
Rowan University needs to
focus to eliminate their
challenges and improve their
weaknesses as outlined in
yourOne Page Strategic Plan.

2. Rowan is Expanding
• Goal of expanding to 25,000 students
by 2024
– Additional Housing: FreshmanVillage
(1400) & Camden (600)
– Gloucester CountyCollege & possible
shared resources
– College of Graduate and Continuing
Education to Global Learning and
Partnerships
– New Buildings and Expansion down
Rowan Boulevard

3. What’s stunting Rowan’s growth?
• Rowan University needs to be more proactive about its challenges
– Identity andVisibility
• 70% commuters (only 4.385 of 14,778 students live on campus)
• Most growth to happen in the graduate and online programs
– Finances
• Currently reactive and leveraged with a dependency on tuition
– Clarity of purpose
• Why do students choose Rowan?What do businesses/alumni think of Rowan?What does
Rowan University care about?

4. Why this matters
• Increased competition
– Students have more colleges to choose
from
• Expansion
– These issues may bloom exponentially as
the school grows if not corrected now
• New costs
– As the University grows, we will need new
sources of revenue
I can fix these challenges.

5. Where to start
• Rowan University should show a renewed focus on Student-
Centeredness
– Add to mission statement: Rowan strives to provide a quality, student-
centered experience through programs, services, and involvement
opportunities which celebrate diversity, promote retention, and foster
leadership and student development.
– New tagline: Where students come first.
– Reevaluate student centered offices’ needs
• Many offices severely understaffed and/or underfunded
• Ex:Volunteerism, Healthy Campus Initiatives,Graduate/Online offices, etc.
• This will fix the lack of clear focus and clarity of priorities

6. Where to start
• Rowan University should show a renewed focus on Student
Engagement
– Redistribute resources more evenly
• Engaging students is more than just weekend programming
– Encourage cosponsored events
• Require offices to collaborate to reach more students
– Incorporate engagement into academics
• Encourage faculty to promote and collaborate with offices on campus
– Engaged students = engaged alumni
• By adding value to a student now, you are encouraging a future alumni donation
• This will fix the financial dependencies, clarity of vision, and
reactive/dependent environment.

7. Where to start
• Rowan University should show a renewed focus onTransparency
and Accountability.
– Research shows knowledge can improve value and opinion
• Example: Parking at Rowan University
– Follow through and follow up on new ideas, concepts, offices, etc.
– Be visible and available for students and faculty
• Top management disconnected from daily operations
• Office visits need to be conducted to see staff and student interactions and needs
• This will fix the culture and clarity of priorities.

8. Will there be challenges?
• Rowan University’s biggest challenge is its current culture
– Apathetic, resistant to change and learned-helplessness
• Solution:The Holistic Student
– Keeps academic focus with a new emphasis on extracurricular activities
• Volunteering, career development, etc. can be integrated into the classroom
– Allows students to get better jobs
• Employers looking for more than just grades (leadership, contentiousness, etc.)
– Reenergizes faculty and staff
• Restores meaning to their job while giving Rowan the opportunity to address issues
such as compensation and employee resources

9. “It’s a great investment for us to pay attention
to the quality of life for students, provide
advising, mentorship and all this support so that
they feel comfortable here, they feel happy
here, and study here and graduate here. That is
a wonderful result for everyone.”
- President Houshmand

10. What Rowan will gain
• Competitive Advantage
– This plan will add value; Rowan University can boast it has the advantages of a large school
(research and academics) with a small school touch (student centeredness and
engagement).
• Innovative Ideas
– Fits stated opportunity of becoming a national model for a vibrant, proactive, reputable
institution; focuses on quality of excellence.
• Stronger Graduates
– Happier and more well-rounded students will be more competitive in the job market; will
encourage more donations and partnerships between Rowan, alumni, and businesses.
• Good Publicity
– Encourage more enrollment of students and partnerships with alumni and businesses.

11. Why I belong at Rowan
• Relatable
– I have been an undergraduate student, graduate
student, and an employee within the past four year.
• Engaging
– I have led campus-wide initiatives aimed at students and
staff.
• Passionate & Committed
– I have embodied the #RowanPROUD spirit throughout
my college career. I believe in Rowan’s potential.
• Driven
– I will work to implement this plan single-handedly if
need be; I am diligent and will put the effort in to do the
job whole-heartedly and correctly.

12. Where I belong at Rowan
• Volunteerism,Community Engagement & Commuter Services
– BringVolunteer Sessions to every Freshman Seminar and Senior Capstone Class
– Run 4 volunteer projects a week (currently run 2 per week)
– Expand commuter programming with monthly forums & collaborations with offices that have trouble reaching the commuter
population
– Enhance Student Learning Outcome Assessments
• Global Learning- Graduate
– Establish a Graduate Senate
– Run focus groups to figure out extent of needs
– Establish a graduate mentor program with tristate businesses
• Alumni Relations
– Foster better relationship with current alumni (more resources and programming)
– Establish an alumni mentor network for currently enrolled students
– Work with student offices to run programming to encourage donations after graduation
• Where ever Rowan sees fit
– I am open to learning new skills and being a part of new and different offices around campus.

13. Key Points
1. If Rowan University can become more student
centered, it can add value, improve its culture,
and be more competitive.
2. More engaged students lead to more engaged
alumni and less dependency on tuition.

14. I’d love to discuss
this plan with you!
Contact me to learn more:
By LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisejo
hnston
By email:
johnst08@students.rowan.edu
By phone:
609-413-2578
Sincerely,
Alexis Johnston
Class of 2015, MBA

15. Sources
• http://www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/main_office/mission/
• http://www.rowan.edu/home/about/leadership
• http://www.rowan.edu/open/usp/onepage/
• http://www.thewhitonline.com/board-of-trustees-discuss-tuition-raise-
approve-12-new-degrees/
• http://www.thewhitonline.com/project-3-opens-office-aims-to-create-social-
change-on-campus/
• http://www.thewhitonline.com/rowan-begins-multimillion-dollar-renovation-
project/
• http://annenberginstitute.org/commentary/2012/11/student-centered-
education-starts-student-led-reform
• http://getinvolved.lbjsc.txstate.edu/about/mission.html
• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/why-
university-students-need-a-well-rounded-education/article4610406/?page=2
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottedinger/2012/08/07/three-cs-of-
implementing-strategy/
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/marketshare/2012/03/25/how-do-you-change-
your-companys-culture-spark-a-movement/