The Provost’s Office is pleased to announce a set of initiatives as we begin the 2018-19 academic year. These projects are intended to advance our new strategic plan, Pathways to Excellence, to strengthen our efforts across the Division of Academic Affairs, and to provide new opportunities for faculty, staff and students.

Projects will be updated throughout the year and we invite you to check back on this site to find current information.

Center for Teaching & Learning
This initiative is a key strategy outlined in our new strategic plan Pathways to Excellence. The Center will facilitate professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

Coffee with the Provost
Beginning this fall, Academic Affairs will host a monthly coffee with Interim Provost Davenport. These events will be opportunities for conversations with faculty and staff to share what is on their mind and ask questions, and learn more about on-going initiatives.

Diversity in Hiring Practices
As outlined in Pathways to Excellence, we will use best practices to recruit a diverse workforce. This initiative focuses upon use of appropriate EEO language in position descriptions, strategic placement of recruiting materials, and ensuring that selection processes are bias free.

Institutional Research Enhancement
The goal of this initiative is to develop an enhanced, robust institutional research function that serves the needs of institutional and external constituencies effectively and efficiently.

Leadership Development
It is vital that we equip leaders in Academic Affairs to face the challenges of their roles and to lead even more effectively amidst the shifting landscape of higher education. This initiative addresses that need by providing workshops, readings, and conversations focused upon the knowledge and skills of effective leadership in a university setting.

Local Records Project
This is a collaborative project with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Local Records Preservation Program. Missouri Western will provide space on campus for a state archivist to use to prepare documents for transmittal to the conservation laboratory in Jefferson City. It also provides a unique applied learning opportunity for students through internships as they learn about preservation and records management.

Provost’s Fellows Program
This initiative will provide leadership development opportunities for faculty and staff. The inaugural Fellow will work with Dr. Yen To, Director of Assessment and Accreditation, to support our assessment efforts.

Data Analytics
In order to advance student success as outlined in Pathways to Excellence, Missouri Western will explore how best to employ real-time data analytics and use that evidence to more effectively provide services supporting student achievement.