1. Giving Flight to Imagination: 2016-2017 Strategic Plan for Graduate School and Research

2. Background UNCW Strategic Plan for 2016-2021 completed in June 2016
Academic Affairs Strategic Plan developed a one-year plan as a subset of the UNCW Strategic Plan to focus on in
In Fall 2016, the Graduate School and Research Offices conducted a two- day strategic planning workshop using a professional facilitator to develop a one-year plan as a subset of the Academic Affairs Strategic Plan to focus on in
The final page in this report is the INNOVATE SENC Five Year Strategic Plan which is focused on fostering the growth of the Marine and Life Sciences sectors and is key to the on-going development of UNCW’s activities in the Marine Biotechnology in North Carolina (MARBIONC) program

3. VISION MISSION VALUES STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
UNCW will be recognized for excellence in everything it does,
for its global mindset, and for its community engagement.
MISSION
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. Our commitment to student engagement, creative inquiry, critical thinking, thoughtful expression and responsible citizenship is expressed in our baccalaureate and master’s programs, as well as doctoral programs in areas of expertise that serve the state needs. Our culture reflects our values of diversity and globalization, ethics and integrity, and excellence and innovation.
VALUES
EXCELLENCE
INTEGRITY
DIVERSITY
INNOVATION
STUDENT-CENTERED FOCUS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
ATTRACT/RETAIN
EDUCATE/ADVANCE RESEARCH
ENABLE/PLACE
ORGANIZE/ENGAGE
FUND/BUILD

4. OVERVIEW OF UNCW STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND GOALS
ATTRACT/
RETAIN
EDUCATE/ADV. RESEARCH
ENABLE/PLACE
ORGANIZE/ENGAGE
FUND/BUILD
1. Advance university academic programming
2. Enhance applied learning
3. Advance research and scholarly activities
4. Foster global learning and research
5. Pursue excellence in everything we do – teaching, research, and service
1. Foster collaborative campus partnerships to enhance advising and student support
2. Prepare students for post-graduation success
3. Increase post-graduation career placement and graduate school admission rates
1. Ensure effective introduction, implementation, monitoring and long-term success of the Strategic Plan
2. Conduct university image study and, in line with the Strategic Plan, develop and implement branding of the university
3. Organize and capitalize on key partnerships, campus strengths and employee interests to increase community, regional and global impact and enrich the student experience
4. Incentivize, support, recognize and reward community/scholarly engagement activities by students, faculty and staff
5. Annually capture UNCW’s economic impact and share it to advocate for the university, to inform the general public and the government on policy, and to engage the community
1. Ensure the state continues to support the institution for its educational outcomes and economic impact
2. Strategically grow enrollment without sacrificing quality and access
3. Ensure auxiliary services
provide value to students and the university
4. Ensure Athletics is academically and financially sound and in full compliance
5. Maximize opportuni3es for fiscal sustainability and
institutional efficiencies and
reinvest strategically
6. Increase extramural research funding
7. Fundraise for a great university: comprehensive campaign, best practices and alignment of donor support
1. Attract retain high-quality, diverse students, faculty and staff
2. Ensure a UNCW education is accessible and affordable to the sons and daughters of North Carolina
3. Promote a diverse and inclusive culture and a global mindset throughout the university
4. Increase retention and graduation rates ensuring student success
5. Retain diverse high-quality faculty and staff
* UNC System Themes

5. ATTRACT / RETAIN GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
1. Attract High Quality, Diverse Students, Faculty, and Staff
Graduate Students
Seek more tuition waivers, assistantships, and other financial support
Build support structures for graduate students
Leverage distinctive and new graduate programs to attract quality graduate enrollment
Work with academic deans and provost to establish funding based on enrollment
Develop virtual open house and graduate orientation
Share best practices with departments/programs and serve as a catalyst/facilitator
Dean of the Graduate School
Graduate Admissions
Ongoing
State
University
CITI

6. ATTRACT / RETAIN GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
1. Attract High Quality, Diverse Students, Faculty, and Staff
Staff
Offer competitive salaries (80% to 100% of market) and opportunities for growth
Attend training sessions and professional meetings and conferences whenever possible
Implement full performance appraisal system
Staff
Dean of the Graduate School
All Supervisory Staff
Ongoing
State
University

7. ATTRACT / RETAIN GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
3. Promote a Diverse, Inclusive Culture and a Global Mindset Throughout the University
Students
Increase scholarships for underrepresented groups
Enlist support of other offices/centers for recruitment
Coordinate with OIDI and Military Support Center to assist with outreach
Purchase GRE database
Outreach to other NC colleges with underrepresented students and the military
Dean of the Graduate School
Graduate Admissions
Ongoing
State
University
CITI

8. ATTRACT / RETAIN GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
3. Promote a Diverse, Inclusive Culture and a Global Mindset Throughout the University
International Students
Dedicated recruiting structure/student fairs
Focus on G20 countries
Partnerships
Selective use of agents
Expand ESL
Engage national funding programs
Hosting infrastructure
Coordinate with Office of International Programs
Work with UNCW Graduate Council to align policies and ensure fairness & equity of policies
Expand MOUs with other international programs like marine science institutes
Dean of the Graduate School
Office of International Programs
Ongoing
State
University

9. EDUCATE/ADVANCE RESEARCH
GOALS
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
1. Advance University Academic Programming
Develop and launch new degree programs that enhance the education experience of students and meet market needs
Ensure current and future doctoral programs meet or exceed expectations for enrollment, quality, and placement
Pursue cross-campus and cross-system joint programs that enhance student career opportunities
Strategically enhance and expand online programs at the graduate level
Improve communications with departments/programs
Review processes for new program implementation
Develop internal checklist for new program implementation
Provide oversight and assist in developing standards for doctoral programs and hold the programs to the standards
Develop policies for new dual degree programs
Implement joint PhD program with ECU
Work with departments to move existing programs or new programs online
Develop outreach and marketing imitative for online programs
Dean of the Graduate School
Graduate Admissions
Graduate program coordinators in departments
UNCW Graduate Council
AVC for Distance Education
Ongoing
State
University

10. EDUCATE/ADVANCE RESEARCH
GOALS
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
1. Advance University Academic Programming
Ensure existing and new centers/institutes expand quality educational opportunities, enhance academic reputation, promote community engagement and are financially sound
Increase awareness of the sponsored programs and research compliance (SPARC) office by marketing and outreach to faculty and staff and the UNCW community (e.g., Research Magazine)
Conduct training for faculty and staff on innovation and commercialization polices and procedures
AP for Research
SPARC Staff
OIC staff
Ongoing
State
University

11. EDUCATE/ADVANCE RESEARCH
GOALS
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
3. Advance Research and Scholarly Activities
Ensure appropriate staffing of support in the units for sponsored research and scholarship across campus
Increase extramural funding through greater grant seeking, new areas of focus, and use of alternative sources of funding
Identify areas of excellence to the state and invest to create “waves of excellence” and “game-changing research” (e.g., in the coastal and marine sciences and data analytics)
Update policies and procedures in all areas with emphasis on a plan for decentralization
Fully staff the SPARC office
Add SPARC staff dedicated to grant seeking and grant writing
Embed SPARC into academic program development process so that research requirements can be defined
Incentivize F&A distribution to faculty/units/SPARC to increase sponsored programs
Sponsor faculty and staff to interact with national sponsor entities and events
AP for Research
SPARC Staff
OIC Staff
Ongoing
State
University

12. EDUCATE/ADVANCE RESEARCH
GOALS
Objectives / Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
3. Advance Research and Scholarly Activities
Increase technology transfer activities on-campus
Ensure the full integration of process and mechanisms to identify and support innovation to commercialization within the UNCW community
Initiate formal licensee solicitation process for patent portfolios owned by UNCW
Develop approval protocols and templates for all OIC commercialization actions
Develop a strategic alliance with select local firms to assist commercialization activities
Apply for additional grants to support OIC activities
Initiate a formal technology scouting program to identify and support UNCW technologies
Support the UNCW shellfish hatchery with a) identify potential technologies that could be used to increase productivity, b) assist in the development of selected technologies, c) perform a market study to validate the criteria used for selective breeding strategies
AP for Research
OIC Staff
Ongoing
State
University
Gifts/Grants

13. ENABLE/PLACE GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING
Objectives/Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
1. Foster Collaborative Campus Partnerships to Enhance Advising and Student Support
Implement a new degree audit system
Build stronger relationships with Career Center and Financial Aid to create an inventory of graduate student services
Graduate School Staff
Career Center
Financial Aid
Deans
Faculty
Pre-Professional Advisors
Ongoing
State
University
Enhance collaborative advising/support structures between UC, professional advisors, housing/residential life staff, faculty and all administrative offices
Enhance/incentivize academic advising and improve training

14. ORGANIZE/ENGAGE GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING FUNDING
Objectives/Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
3. Organize & Capitalize on Key Community Partnerships, Campus Strengths, & Employee Interests to Increase Community/Regional/Global Impact & Enrich Student Experience
Partner UNCW knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sector to:
Enrich scholarship, research and creative activity
Enhance curriculum, teaching and learning
Prepare educated, engaged citizens
Address critical societal issues as identified by the community
Strengthen students’ democratic and civic responsibilities
Contribute to the public good
Educate faculty on contracts as an alternative source of funds
Reorganize and/or hire contract expertise
Continue to support OIC/CIE in the integration of innovation and commercialization
AP for Research
SPARC Staff
OIC Staff
CIE Staff
Ongoing
State
University
Gifts/Grants

15. FUND/BUILD GOALS STRATEGY OWNER(S) TIMING
Objectives/Drivers
STRATEGY
OWNER(S)
TIMING
FUNDING
2. Strategically grow enrollment without sacrificing quality and access
Continue to fund and grow scholarships to attract and retain diverse and high quality students and fund high impact practices
Advocate with Deans; Advancement and other units for scholarships for diverse students
Dean of the Graduate School
Deans of Colleges/School
Advancement
Ongoing
State
University
Gifts/Grants