Results (R)

8R2 Performance Strategies and Actions for the Next 1-3 Years

Western’s strategic planning is a continuous 5-4-1 improvement cycle in which a five-year strategic plan guides the institution, with annual progress reports and a new strategic plan shaped in the fourth year. Western completed its first five-year strategic plan The Western Advantage in 2001. The second five-year strategic plan, Building the New American Regional University, has clearly identified goals and objectives for the next five years, 2007-2012. The strategic planning web page provides regular reports on action items, improvement targets, measures, expected completion dates, and responsible parties. Ongoing unit planning, guided by and aligned with the institution’s Strategic Plan, occurs throughout the system.

Western completed its final updates on its first three AQIP Action Projects in September 2006. Western’s Student Engagement Project contributed to the development of students as learners, persons, and citizens; and developed leadership in the larger community, through partnership and service. The Communicating Quality Action Project moved Western to its goals of “setting the standard for excellence” in the development of students. Western has exceeded its goal for the Applied Learning Project and is now moving to assessing quality. Based upon the development of its Systems Portfolio, Western identified and launched three new Action Projects in 2007: Building Graduate Programs, Enhancing Academic Quality through Critical Thinking, and Using Measurement and Assessment, with an Annual Update in September 2007.