The USM in 2010: 

Responding to the Challenges that Lie Ahead

Salisbury University

Mission: Salisbury University is a regional institution of higher education emphasizing undergraduate liberal arts, sciences, pre-professional and professional programs and select, mostly applied, graduate programs. Students are recruited primarily from Maryland, but represent other states and nations as well. The university unites highly qualified faculty, staff and students to create a student-centered, learning-focused community. Salisbury University is increasingly internationally-oriented, cosmopolitan in character, and accepts responsibility for preparing its graduates to pursue careers in a global economy and diverse workforce. In recognition of its regional service commitment, the university promotes and supports applied research, targeted outreach programs, K-16 partnerships, cultural events and active engagement of faculty, staff and students in all aspects of community life.

Goal I

USM academic programs will evolve to meet the changing educational needs of a growing and increasingly diverse undergraduate and graduate student population and will enhance the quality of life for all Maryland citizens.

Minority Achievement

• Increase the enrollment of minority students to more accurately reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the State.
• Develop and refine a multi-criteria admissions profile that will enhance recruitment of a richly diverse student body while maintaining standards of high quality.
• Maintain/expand current Partnership Programs which focus on early contact with and support of minority high school students to encourage them to attend SU.
• Pro-actively engage with the community in the preparation of under-served and under-represented students for college.
• Ensure that admitted minority students are retained and graduate.
• Support and enhance programs focusing on student advising.
• Assure that minority students have access to and utilize an array of services aimed at ensuring student success.
• Increase opportunities and experiences for minority students that will encourage them to continue their education at the graduate school/professional level.

Baby Boom Echo

• Continue to seek opportunities to expand enrollment through distance and off-site courses and through collaboration with community colleges.
• Continue participation with the Eastern Shore Association of College Presidents in the development of a higher education center at Chesapeake College to provide upper level programs to the Upper Eastern Shore region.
• Continue collaborating with the town of Ocean City and the USM to provide summer courses in Ocean City.
• Continue to collaborate with Wor-Wic Community College in offering connected (2+2) programs.
• Participate in Maryland OnLine in areas where the university has the expertise.

Undergraduate Education

• Produce the highest quality of undergraduate education.
• Assure that all professional and other academic programs eligible for accreditation are accredited.
• Ensure that the vast majority of undergraduate student credit hours are taught by full-time faculty.
• Maintain a nearly perfect pass rate on licensure and professional exams.
• Produce a broadly educated citizenry .
• Provide a focus on applied learning as part of the undergraduate educational experience that assures that the majority of students experience undergraduate research, internships, and service learning.
• Build upon existing academic research strengths to develop institutional areas of excellence.
• Focus research on the development of excellence in undergraduate research.
• Develop a reputation for excellence in teacher education.
• Integrate existing material culture and historical research resources to become a State leader in Chesapeake Bay history and culture.

Online Learning

• Encourage the use of technology, as appropriate, to improve learning and curricula.
• Set clear expectations for faculty concerning use of new technologies to enhance learning.
• Expand and support university instructional technology programs for faculty.
• Gradually increase participation in online courses focusing on areas of need and university faculty expertise.

Competition and Program Development

• Continue/expand collaborative programs with UMES as well as with other USM institutions.

Technologically Competent Workforce

• Assure that all graduates of SU are technologically competent in their disciplines.
• Encourage each academic program to define technological competence.
• for their disciplines and how it can best be assured and assessed.

Workforce Shortages

• Expand the number of teacher education graduates.
• Collaborate with local community colleges to provide seamless 2+2 programs.
• Increase teacher education offerings to include certification programs in high need areas.
• Increase the number of computer science/ISMN graduates.
• Implement the new computer science major.
• Develop connected programs in computer science and ISMN with local community colleges.
• Collaborate with the State-wide commission to examine the nursing shortage and implement appropriate recommendations.

Goal II

USM research and scholarship will position Maryland as a national leader in science, technology and other key areas, providing the knowledge and infrastructure to ensure the State's continued economic growth, sustainable development and international competitiveness.

Competition for Faculty

• Attract and retain the finest faculty.
• Achieve and maintain highly competitive faculty salaries.
• Focus recruitment strategies to ensure a broadly diversified faculty.
• Reward outstanding performance.

Libraries

• Make electronic library services and materials to faculty and students in a cost-effective manner.
• Participate in USM and State-wide electronic library enhancements.
• Continue to plan for construction of a state-of-the-art library/learning center.

Research and Economic Development

• Employ existing and emerging applied research to address societal problems.
• Expand research endeavors to address community problems.
• More closely link research and the learning process.
• Continue/expand current emphasis on undergraduate research.
• Expand use of rich material culture resources and primary historical documents of university for undergraduate research.

Goal III

The USM will achieve its legislative mandate of national eminence and its fundamental mission to serve the public good while carefully managing growth and developing System resources.

Community Service

• Continue SU's emphasis on community outreach and public service.
• Expand program offerings on the university's public access TV channel.
• Assure that the general education curriculum provides opportunities for students to integrate preparation for civic life with career preparation.
• Enhance the learning, research and service potential provided by the university's Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement.

Faculty Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive faculty development program.
• Expand faculty mentor program in instructional technology.
• Provide opportunities for faculty to work in administration.
• Coordinate Foundation and university faculty development funding.

Staff Development

• Support for university staff will be enhanced.
• Increase professional development opportunities.
• Develop and implement a staff incentive and reward system.

Reallocation of Resources

• Contribute to the overall efficiency of institutional operations through continuing design and use of cost containment measures.
• Increase the net university fund balance to provide more funds for special initiatives.
• Develop a rotating technology fund to support ongoing maintenance and renewal of technology resources.

Management/Effectiveness Strategies

• Embrace a comprehensive system of accountability.
• Develop a comprehensive university assessment plan that accurately reflects SU's mission and goals and meets external reporting requirements
• Seek to create a campus-wide environment that is conversant in assessment issues and creative in its understanding and application of assessment.

Philanthropy and Entrepreneurial Partnerships

• Increase the net assets of the SU Foundation to provide additional support for university programs.
• Increase SU Foundation annual fundraising goal.
• Meet or exceed SU Foundation capital campaign goal.