BEMIDJI — BSU leaders released Wednesday the school’s completed five-year strategic plan.<\/p>\n
The plan puts a premium on “distinguishing themes of place”; engaging more with American Indian students and communities; getting more students involved in campus life; embracing diversity and welcoming all people; and “infusing” civic engagement, multicultural understanding, commitment to liberal arts and environmental stewardship into all academic programs.<\/p>\n
Those priorities are identical to the five presented in a draft plan circulated among university leaders in the fall, and BSU spokesperson Scott Faust said the final plan doesn’t differ in any substantive way from the draft.<\/p>\n
Under the strategic plan, university leaders hope to create new programs and initiatives that emphasize the school’s physical location, character and culture.<\/p>\n
They’ll also aim to double the number of chances students have to learn in nearby tribal communities and add hundreds of new non-white — particularly American Indian — and international students. Less lofty goals include bumping student attendance at art exhibits and plays; adding weekly art or social activities; scheduling at least one talk or event for students per semester per academic department; seeing more positive responses on the school’s campus climate surveys; and opening a diversity center on campus by the coming fall.<\/p>\n
The strategic plan was finalized in mid-December and presented to BSU faculty and staff Wednesday morning. It went into effect two days before, on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
“This is not a plan that will sit on a shelf,” BSU President Faith Hensrud said in a press release. “It will be reviewed regularly for progress and adjusted should external factors require us to make changes.”<\/p>\n
What has been added in the final document: financial projections for the plan, which covers 2018-2023. BSU leaders estimate they’ll spend nearly $1.5 million implementing it over the next five years. $400,000 of that would go to a “comprehensive brand assessment” and “brand-oriented advertising campaign, primarily in digital media.” Starting in 2020, $75,000 is budgeted annually for an outreach and recruitment position under the school’s American Indian student recruitment plan.<\/p>\n
The plan also calls for nearly $450,000 to recruit “underserved” students and create programming to retain them, which includes hiring a recruiter this fall.<\/p>\n
And a few miles south of the university, staff at Northwest Technical College are working on a new strategic plan of their own that could reshape their programming for years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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