Texas A&M University System 7 th Annual Military Friendly Symposium Thoughts on Adapting and Evolving Tony Cucolo September 2015

Informal Thoughts Becoming Adaptive Anticipate – Actually dedicate time to look at your environment and near-term trends (do not attempt to predict the future). – “Filter” what you see through the lens of your role or mission…will help you answer “so what?” of what you see. – What is in the way of you accomplishing your mission? Is there a new opportunity? Focus Effort – Talk to others; “IPT” an idea or opportunity; seek buy-in – Challenge the status quo: processes, policies, procedures; confirm/deny assumptions…”Start with ‘why?’” Communicate with and Align the Organization – Explain, reorganize for the adaptation, explain again Learn – How’d that go? This, of course, requires open minded and supportive leadership.

Strategic Assessment Team Process Clarify the Role of the System Identify the “domains” in which the system operates (understand the environment) Assess the domains…current status and trends In the context of the UT System Role and Mission, answer three questions for each domain: – Where are we in this domain? (…who/what we are) These are facts; we will gather and follow the data – Where do we want to be? (…who/what we want to be) These are fact/context-based recommendations for the Chancellor with recommended objectives for the system – What is in the way of getting to where we want to be? These are facts, conditions and perceptions gathered by us Recommend “Lines of Effort” (focused, “binned” actions to achieve desired objectives Chancellor will modify as desired and then seek consensus and buy-in on the objectives and actions to achieve them and then set System priorities. Establish “battle rhythm” of a disciplined process to drive towards the objectives along the lines of effort

On the Strategic Horizon Texas is, relatively, in good shape… – A diverse economy in the State will allow progress even with low oil prices (but prolonged low prices impact tax revenue) – Population on a rapid rise and increasingly diverse; one in six people living in Texas is an immigrant – We have a diversity of institutions and price points; State government appears willing to restore some of the cuts to funding in higher education But it isn’t all good… – A gradual widening of economic disparity in regions of the State continues – Middle skill jobs are rapidly disappearing; high school graduate wages are falling; the earnings gap between those with and those without college degrees is widening rapidly; the number of entry level jobs requiring a master’s degree is on the rise as well – Tuition now outpaces state funding for public colleges; cost of higher education continues to be shifted to the student, families – By most measures, completion rates remain below satisfactory levels – In the last three years, Texas has ranked consistently in the bottom half of States in numbers of population with associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree

My thoughts: -- Higher education has a role to play in in placing well-educated, mature and culturally astute veterans in the workforce and leading at the local, state and national level. -- Therefore, we must get veterans to the finish line in higher education. -- But more than that, at the finish line, we must give them the best possible start at a career, v. a job. -- We must adapt our processes to assume this role.

Paving that Road to a Relevant Degree Bridging That Gap from End of Service to Enrollment Bridging That Gap from Graduation to Career A Way to Think About a System’s Approach to Veteran Support Level of Support Levels of Support Level of Support - Actively recruit - Resource individual outreach to “get left” of degree selection - Go local with support; involve community - Advocate for exception to policy as necessary - Resource campus personnel strength to support - Resource participation in career placement efforts - Resource support that sustains contact and assistance until employed - Establish common picture of population; connect as appropriate - Resource facilities and support based on population - Resource programs that enable transition, deny disconnection and educate faculty - Involve community to set base for next bridge

Thank you for who you are and what you do: you have broken the code on how to supporting a population that does not like to ask for help… you just help.

Texas A&M University System 7 th Annual Military Friendly Symposium Thoughts on Adapting and Evolving Tony Cucolo September 2015