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HUNTINGTON UNIV MAGAZINE

Dowden unveils Huntington University's strategic plan

FOR RELEASE May 10, 2006 

Dr. G. Blair Dowden

Huntington, Ind.—Change and continuity were recurring themes this morning as Huntington University President Dr. G. Blair Dowden unveiled the institution’s newly adopted strategic plan. Dowden’s remarks were presented before the breakfast meeting of the Huntington University Foundation.

“We have a new name and several new or expanded academic programs, but our mission remains the same,” Dowden said. “As we grow and change through this new Strategic Plan, we will continue to be a Christ-centered, student focused campus characterized by academic excellence.”

The Huntington University Board of Trustees adopted the new strategic plan in late April, Dowden said. The plan is the result of a year-long effort by the University Innovation Task Force, a 24-member group of faculty, staff, students, administrators and trustees.

Dowden explained that the plan is guided by a strategic vision for the future. He announced that the University intends to double in size, increasing enrollment to 2,000 students by 2016.

Other goals include doubling the endowment (currently valued at $21 million), raising the five-year graduation rate, strengthening the academic ethos of the campus, and reaching competitive compensation targets for faculty and staff.

Dr. Ann McPherren

To assist with the coordination, development, implementation and monitoring of the new strategic plan and process, business professor Dr. Ann McPherren has been appointed as vice president for university planning and strategy.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to help Huntington University plan for the future,” said McPherren, who celebrates 25 years of service at the University this year. “We continue to strive to help students develop able minds and loving hearts to serve our local community and the world beyond it. We have been blessed with more than 100 years of service in Christian higher education and want to sow the seeds in planning that will lead to even more effective service in the coming years.”

Dowden explained that a series of university-wide strategies will help the institution achieve the goals laid out in the plan. These include:

1. Implement a continuous planning and assessment process across the University.
2. Foster proposals for enriching and expanding the academic enterprise.
3. Assure an appropriate experiential academic learning component for each student.
4. Collaborate in meaningful ways with strategic partners. 
5. Establish a center for spiritual formation that engages the entire campus, connects with every other program as well as serves as a resource for spiritual formation.
6. Restructure adult and graduate programs to provide excellence in education and to take advantage of opportunities for appropriate growth.
7. Enrich our campus community by engaging persons from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and exposing students, faculty and staff to cross-cultural environments.

Dowden said that these changes will strengthen the University’s ability to fulfill its 109 year-old mission: To provide a high quality, Christ-centered educational program that prepares men and women to impact the world for Christ.

The University anticipates that additional facilities and resources will be needed to accomplish the goals of the Strategic Plan. In 2002, the Christian liberal arts college adopted a long-range Facilities Master Plan to guide campus development and accommodate additional growth. Dowden indicated that the University was beginning to prepare for a multi-million capital campaign.

The text of Huntington University’s newly adopted Strategic Plan is available for review online at http://www.huntington.edu/slrp/lrp0510.

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