By LaRae Donellan | FAMU Forward writer Domonique Davis contributed to this story
Part 1 of a 7-part series
In its recently proposed strategic plan, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is asking its stakeholders to go on a journey to certain “destinations” rather than to accomplish a set of goals, which is typical management lingo.
“We want our faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and other stakeholders to know the important role they play in strategic planning and our future plans for the University,” said President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D. “Using destinations to guide our planning is something we believe everyone can relate to. When you think about reaching a destination, you naturally think about basic requirements such as planning, timing, responsibilities and forward movement,” Mangum added.
Mangum and Provost Marcella David presented a proposed strategic plan, titled “FAMU Forever Forward,” or F3, to the FAMU Board of Trustees at its meeting last month. The plan outlines five destinations (or goals) and 15 objectives the University will reach by 2021:
Destination No. 1:Exceptional student experience
Students will report that their interactions with administration, faculty, and staff at FAMU have been excellent as a result of such things as top-notch mentoring, tutoring, counseling, financial aid, career development, and study-skills support, among other things.
Destination No. 2:High-impact research
FAMU will continue its journey to becoming a topnotch research institution, building upon its recent elevation to an R-2 Research University or institution with “High Research Activity,” which is the second highest research category in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education System. FAMU is now in the same research productivity category as Auburn and Old Dominion universities.
Destination No. 3:Excellent and renowned faculty
To achieve FAMU’s first two destinations, it is imperative that the University recruit, hire, support, and retain excellent and renowned faculty. This will require continued evaluation of program needs, plus an allocation of sufficient financial and other resources to entice the best faculty to stay at FAMU and thrive.
Following months of interactions with key stakeholders in focus groups and town hall meetings, the FAMU Strategic Planning Task Force offered input that helped shape the five destinations, Mangum said. The task force’s data-driven report is titled “Performing Boldly Beyond Measure.”
“Our report will guide the efforts of the entire University community in moving FAMU forward,” said Maurice Edington, dean of the College of Science and Technology and a member of the task force. “The destinations identified in the strategic plan will help shape and guide our collective efforts to elevate FAMU to new levels of excellence,” Edington added.
The administration is currently soliciting stakeholders’ feedback on the proposed destinations and objectives through an online survey, which is available at www.famu.edu/StrategicPlanSurvey. Regular updates will be posted at www.famunews.com.
We want our faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and other stakeholders to know the important role they play in strategic planning and our future plans for the University…