Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s Strategic Planning Committee is busy drafting the first strategic plan, and will present their drafts April 21 at the second town hall meeting.
A&M-San Antonio hired a consultant group though American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Penson Center for Professional Development, to design and streamline an effective 5-year strategic plan. The Penson Center offers new universities, such as A&M-San Antonio, leadership guidance.
The university hired the consultants to help provide support and guidance for the Strategic Planning Committee, as well as guide them throughout the planning process, said John Welty, one of the consultants hired.
The first strategic planning town hall meetings took place the first week of March. PresidentCynthia Teniente-Matson encouraged the university community to offer ideas to help shape the future of A&M-San Antonio. More than 120 attendees from students, faculty and staff attended the town hall.
From starting modern traditions, educating the most marketable graduates in the state, to creating a legacy, the conversation introduced university priorities.
Jolene Koester, and John Welty, both former Presidents of California State University, facilitated the discussion. Participants worked with their tablemates forming small groups to give feedback on a number of questions regarding the future of A&M-San Antonio.
During opening remarks, President Matson challenged every person in the room to not only shape their own thinking, but to “think audacious, think bigger.”
“Every area of the university will have to contribute, some more than others, but everyone will need to contribute to the success of our campus,” Welty said.
At one table, the discussion focused on the struggles of single parents and the importance of childcare on campus.
“Times have changed. Less and less people are getting married,” said Vicki Elias, assistant professor of sociology.
“A majority of our students are single parents, who could benefit greatly from an on-site child care facility,” said Richard Green, assistant professor of accounting.
Other tables focused on academics.
Lloyd A. Butler, director of payroll services, discussed increasing graduation rates without sacrificing academic quality.
The university created the Strategic Planning Committee to represent a wide voice across the university community, which includes faculty, staff and student body leadership. The committee will work together over the next several months implementing the plan until Dec. 31 when it becomes fully adopted.
The Strategic Planning Committee’s goal is to facilitate a process that builds from areas of strength, promise, and opportunity to create a strategic plan for A&M-San Antonio. The committee will work together to create our university vision, mission and future.
The committee will not be able to come up with the university mission until they are able to answer these four questions:
- Who are we?
- What do we do?
- Who do we serve?
- How are we different?
A website to track the progress of the committee is available on the university website. The Strategic Plan Intranet site is a feature that will give the campus community the opportunity to voice their opinion online throughout the planning process.
The ideas and information collected in the town hall meetings are given to the Strategic Planning Committee, Welty said. AASCU will summarize some of the data for the committee to review.
