Monmouth’s first Strategic Plan in over 20 years involving both a new University president and provost was recognized on Thursday, Oct. 23 during the Strategic Plan Celebration in Wilson Hall.
During the event, which was inspired by a fall theme, President Paul Brown addressed faculty, board and committee representatives, and other members of the campus community.
“There is no question in my mind, and I know in your mind, this will set the course for Monmouth University over the coming years, and it would not be possible without the handwork of everybody here today,” Brown said to audience during his address.
Keeping in line with the autumn theme and the tree logo, which is the face of the new Strategic Plan, guests were greeted by a selection of fall foods and treats, which included chocolate-dipped cookies made to look like acorns, and given packets of seeds that went in line with the plan’s motto, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” Brown explained that Monmouth wouldn’t have been able to act on any of the plans it had today without the careful planning the University had years ago. In order to illustrate his point, he made references to a tulip tree next to him during his speech, all the while comparing the tree to the University.
Brown also discussed the process behind the Strategic Plan, including the implementation stages and how the plan will shape the future of the University. “I do think of Monmouth University as a relatively young university, but the strides that were made way before me, and actually the strides that will be made way after me, and you, and us, are what really matter. So of course…the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. How many times have you looked at that space and thought “If only I’d put that tree there,” well you know you didn’t. So what’s the next best time? Right now. Absolutely right now. And that’s what this plan is all about,” said Brown.
Specifically, Brown stated that while the Strategic Plan will benefit the University as a whole, the main beneficiaries will be the students. “It’s really about our students. It’s about providing a transformative learning experience for our students […] so our calling is to take our students and nurture them and make them stronger. But we have our students for such a relatively short time […] but it’s a wonderful time,” Brown said. “What we want to do is help our students find their passion, develop that passion, and think about where they want to go with that commitment.”
However, Brown told the audience that the Strategic Plan will go beyond the basic aid of undergraduate students, as plans of the past have. Instead, the new Strategic Plan will also give a fair amount of attention to graduate students in making sure that they are as well-equipped as the undergraduate classes. “So it’s about equally about the growth of our graduate program. This campus will be the heartbeat for undergraduate programs forever. That is what we will do here,” said Brown.
Primarily, Brown said, “[Monmouth’s] growth at the graduate level will take place on, what I love to call as you know, our emerging second campus. We should have a contest on what to call that campus. We know its placeholder is Monmouth Park Corporate Center, and it’s a great location. It is so good for our graduate students. Why is it so good for our graduate students? Fantastic faculty delivering programs that matter to them that they can get to easily and park. It’s brand new; the classrooms are to die for […] it’s about growth in the graduate programs, very carefully chosen.”
In order to promote these ideas and educate the public about the intentions of the Strategic Plan, the University recently updated the main page of its website to include an extensive introduction to the plan. Embedded within the new main page is a new, four minute long video starring the President, Provost Laura Moriarty, and the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee, Dr. Katherine Kloby and Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Director of Enrollment Research and Tech Support.
Within the video some of the aspirations of the plan are discussed, but most importantly the changes that will affect students in their crossover from undergraduate to graduate student are highlighted. “We want to make sure that the experience that the student is having, whether it is in the foundation courses or whether it’s in the major, is rigorous and go beyond the classroom and have a hands-on component to them, and that’s really important this day and age,” said Moriarty. “We want to give students those experiences and those skill sets, so that they can do well, become proud alumni and come back and engage the next set of students.”
Dr. Judy Nye, the Associate VP for Academic Foundations General Education, attended the event and noted that she was in favor of how the entire planning process was handled. “I have had a very positive attitude about the Strategic Plan from the very beginning. It has been a very exciting project; I think we’ve pursued it well […] I just think it has been so incredibly inclusive, and I love that about it,” Nye said.
When it comes to the details of the plan though, she was very glad that all members of the University had an opportunity to become involved. “The process was really inclusive. Everyone at Monmouth had the opportunity to weigh in and weigh in repeatedly, and even contribute anonymously so they could be honest. I know that not everybody did. I still talk to people [and] they’re like “I know it’s going on” and that’s about the level of their engagement with it, but that was their choice. They can always decide not to participate, but they were invited and I think that is lovely. And I don’t know that happens every time,” Nye said.
While, this is the first time that there has been both a new provost and president in 20 years developing a University plan, Nye doesn’t believe that is the only important factor that has played into this particular planning process. “Certainly I think both will be factors but I think it is mostly an issue of Monmouth being in a very different place than the last one [Strategic Plan], and the one prior to that. Monmouth has come a long way in the last 20 plus years […]I get the sense that this one was done a little differently because it’s a different President. And I think this as much just President Brown’s style,” Nye said.
However, despite all of the inclusive and collaborative efforts that the plan has called for, some students are still in the dark when it comes to what exactly the Strategic Plan intends on doing, and how. Michelle Keegler, a junior business major, said that she has heard about the Strategic Plan but nothing more. “I know that they redid the website and put up that [promotional] video that talked a little about the plan. [After] watching the video I still couldn’t figure out what [the plan] was or was going to do exactly,” said Keegler.
According to Nye though, students should take it upon themselves to get informed on the plan, especially since it is such a collaborative plan unlike most others. Nye said, “This is everyone’s future. So I think anyone who plans to be at Monmouth more than this semester has a vested interest in its success. I don’t know necessarily if it would be something a first year student would think about or a second year student, but there comes a point where you want your University to do well because you will be judged for the rest of your life by the University you attended. And maybe if you don’t care now you should take that leap of faith that you will someday, and [when that happens] you will want Monmouth to be as strong as possible because that will be something you carry with you the rest of your profession.”
This article is the first part of a two-part series. The next edition of The Outlook will be publishing the follow-up story.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth University
