REPORT ON PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS

2/14/2011

Where We’ve Been …

Setting the StageOwning Our Signature Experience

We know who we are … Our mission at Texas Wesleyan University is to develop students to their

full potential as individuals and as members of the world community.

We are committed to the principles that each student deserves personal attention

We seek and employ faculty and staff with commitment and dedication to

teaching, inspiring, and serving students. What we do more of than anyone else …” enable student

performance by eliminating barriers to performance”

We understand our target students (current and future)… We serve two distinct undergraduate populations ….those

that enter as freshman and those who enter as transfers…

We provide a personalized learning environment and unique services that helps

students who are challenged by life circumstances to graduate from college and to find success in a career or graduate school

Setting the Stage Owning Our Signature Experience

We want to communicate who we are vividly, with “stories” of actual practices or events – “signature experiences” … TXWES Signature Stories abound from students, faculty, parents

but …

Our challenge is to “unlock our secrets” and share them

We need to align all elements of the student experience … We have developed core signature processes around freshman … yet we have

opportunities to reinforce and deepen the experience

Our transfers need similar support structures but are currently

underserved

We need to embed everyone deeply into the fabric of execution We have not formalized and aligned the university

community around the student “signature experience” … members engage because they are personally committed

Where we are …About the initiative

Phase 1: Undergradu

ate

Phase 2: Employee

Phase 3: Graduate

Organizing to Move ForwardThe Leadership Team

Signature Experience

Leadership Team

Marie Boisvert

Joe Brown

Chuck Burton

Amy Collier

Stephanie Franks

Marcus Kerr

Holly R. Kiser

Stacia

Neeley

Cindy Potter

Kristi Taylor

Chris

Windsor

DeAwna

Wood

Executive

Sponsors

Pati Alexander

Bill Bleibdrey

Joan Canty

Allen

Henderson

Phase 1: UndergraduatesProgress to Date

Align the University Align “Signature Experiences” with Strategic Plan Communicate …communicate…communicate Recognize extraordinary commitment

Remove Barriers to Student Success Increase services for transfer Students Increase support for international students Increase support for Career Services

Make our Spaces Count Neutralize student “dissatisfiers” Enhance sense of community Plan for the future

Using student, faculty and staff feedback, the Executive Team and the SELT identified the our priorities for enhancing the undergraduate experience …

Align the UniversityOur areas of focus… Align to Strategy and Communicate

Align the UniversityOur areas of focus… Recognize Commitment

Lighthouse faculty and staff invited to join the SELT for identification of quick hit projects which could have a significant impact on the student signature experience …

• Address campus spirit with renewed efforts at homecoming

• Address visibility with “lighting up” the roofline of the library

• Address campus beautification with a dedicated campus event

• Address need for informal learning spaces across campus

• Increase communication about Signature Experience

Remove Barriers to SuccessOur areas of focus… Increase Support for International Students

Increased support for International Students, including:

• Added cooking facilities, enabling cuisine options

• Provided transportation off-campus during holidays

• Added staff to International Office

New WayfindersEnhanced SecurityImproved Lighting

Making our Spaces Countour areas of focus … Neutralize dissatisfiers

Making Our Spaces CountOur areas of focus … Neutralize dissatisfiers

• Campus-wide wireless networking

• Increased computing and printing capabilities

• Multimedia Center renovation & Experimental Media Labs

Making Our Spaces CountOur Areas of Focus … Increase sense of community

Increasing the number of attractive & meaningful community gathering spaces

Making Our Spaces CountOur Areas of Focus… Plan for the future

Developing a Facilities Master Plan

Where We Are Going …

Role of the Executive Team & SELTGoing forward… Near term, the Executive Sponsors will take an active role in

stewarding, with the help of volunteers, (4) chartered Signature Experience projects

The Signature Experience Leadership Team (SELT) is formally charged with: Helping to bring the initiative to life and institutionalizing

the approach Acting as ambassadors within their functional areas Acting as advocates by identifying actionable ways in

which we can improve the undergraduate student experience

Sponsoring the “quick hit” lighthouse projects

Understanding Our Streams of WorkOur Areas of Focus

Chartered Projects Lighthouse Projects

Sponsorship

Executive Team SELT

Participation

• Opportunity to engage limited number of campus community volunteers

• Requires a sustained commitment

• Opportunity to engage broad campus community in a volunteer activities

• Is a short term commitment

Focus

• Process based

• Aligned to “Signature Experience” priorities

• Selected based on design principles

• Activity based

• Aligned to “Signature Experience” priorities

• Selected based on design principles

Financial investment

• Budgeted investments • Time and materials

Timeline• Long term

• Refreshed upon completion of charter

• Quick hit

• Refreshed on a semester basis

Enhancing Transfer Student EngagementArea of Focus

ScopeDevelop an intentional community driven process by which transfer students become engaged and successful members of the Wesleyan community. This process begins at the students time of acceptance and continues through the time at which the student identifies sufficient campus resources and engenders a sense of shared belonging to the Wesleyan campus.

Deliverables Use existing student engagement related data, identify what attracts

and engages transfer students to the Wesleyan campus Understand the current process for engaging transfer students and

identify lessons learned from the current Freshman engagement process

Benchmark process from a select number of similarly positioned universities; coordinate potential targets and activities with other streams of work

Recommend opportunities for improvement … identify both “quick hits” and long term needs for program or process developments

Integrate insights and recommendations with on-going work in the career services and facilities areas

Project Steward: Pati Alexander

Organizing to Deliver on the Career PromiseArea of Focus Scope

Develop an integrated approach to career preparation that includes academic programming, career counseling, with opportunities for meaningful career-related experiences and career placement services that support placement in a preferred profession.

DeliverablesShort Term Assess the value and recommend action on the Manpower, Inc.

opportunityLonger term Using 3-4 pathfinder undergraduate majors… understand the current

process for career preparation from point of admission to professional placement

Benchmark the process from a select number of similarly positioned universities; coordinate potential targets and activities with other streams of work

Recommend opportunities for improvement … identify both “quick hits” and long term needs for program, process, and/or structure of services

Integrate insights and recommendations with on-going work on transfer student engagement and facilities areas

Project Stewards: Allen Henderson

Making Our Spaces CountArea of Focus

ScopeUsing student input, make our physical and virtual spaces positively contribute to the overall student experience. This would could include:

Examining the location, layout, and design of physical spaces;

Addressing/improving facilities maintenance, furnishing, fixtures, and displays

Development of virtual spaces

Deliverables Using survey and usage data, identify what elements attract and

engages students Benchmark from a select number of similarly positioned universities;

coordinate potential targets and activities with other streams of work Recommend opportunities for improvement … identify both “quick

hits” and long term needs Integrate insights and recommendations with on-going work and

Master Plan

Project Steward: Bill Bleibdrey

Enhancing Campus CommunicationsArea of Focus

Scope Develop process that coordinates and facilitates the scheduling and

communication of “events based “ information to the campus community. Communicating about the “Signature Experience” to all constituencies

DeliverablesWith regard to events based communications: Using existing student and alumni data, identify what types of information

attracts and engages them along with their preferred methods of communication

Understand the current process for scheduling and communicating events based information

Benchmark process from a select number of similarly positioned universities; coordinate potential targets and activities with other streams of work

Recommend opportunities for improvement.

With regard to Signature Experience communications: Develop communication strategy and tools that can be used with all

stakeholder groups (e.g., students, employees, alumni, board, community partners, and donors)

Make recommendations about content and context for messaging across multiple medium, including advertising, signage, promotions, collateral, and other structured communication

Develop a sustainable model for developing communication materials long term

Project Steward: Joan Canty

Lighthouse ProjectsSpring 2011 … Quick Hits to Enhance Student Experience

Upcoming projects include:

• Address visibility with “lighting up” the roofline of the library

• Address campus beautification with a dedicated campus event

• Address need for informal learning spaces across campus

• Increase communication about “Signature Experience”

Connecting Streams of WorkOur Areas of Focus

Chartered Projects(Longer Term)

Lighthouse Projects(Quick Hit)

Enhancing Transfer Student Engagement

• Address campus spirit with renewed effort at homecoming

Organizing to Deliver on the Career Promise

Making Our Spaces Count

• Address visibility with lighting up the roofline of the library

• Address campus beautification with dedicated campus event

• Address need for informal learning spaces across campus

Enhancing Campus Communications • Increase communication about signature experience

The Payoff …What we’re looking for in the end

Put Wesleyan at the top-of-mind for prospective students

Provide current students with a great college experience

Develop loyal alumni who support Wesleyan …for life

Having a well developed Signature Experience serves to….

Appendix

Phase 1: UndergraduatesProgress-to-Date Timeline

Oct-Dec 2009 I Jan-Mar 2010 I April –June 2010 I July- Sept 2010 I Oct –Dec 2010 I Jan- Mar 2011

T. Erickson presentation of “Next Generation Learners” on Campus

Moxie collects experience data from students and presents findings to Sr. Staff

SE initiative (phase 1) commissioned by Executive Team

Data collected from undergraduate students and key staff

Findings presented to Sr. Staff and key Faculty & Staff

SELT formed to establish grass roots ownership and act as advisory team for sponsors

Additional data on key themes collected from “touch point” employees

SELT and Sponsors identify key initiatives for next 12 months

Signature Experience introduced to University at all employee meeting

Signature Experience introduced to students at kick-off event

Lighthouse employees celebrated for their efforts and asked for their input on SE opportunities … identify opportunities for spring

Signature Experience introduced to President Slabach and commitment to SE confirmed in University event

Phase 1: UndergraduatesSpring ‘11 Timeline

Jan – Mar 2011 I April – May 2011 I

Staffing & Launch of Chartered Signature Experience Projects:• Enhancing Transfer Student Engagement

• Organizing to Deliver on the Career Promise

• Making Our Spaces Count

• Enhancing Campus Communication

SELT to continue working on it’s agenda.

• Continued ongoing campus wide communication on Signature Experience Phase 1 Activities

Spring Lighthouse Signature Projects:• Address campus spirit

• Address campus visibility

• Address campus beautification with dedicated campus event

• Address the new for informal learning spaces across campus