Institutional Effectiveness 

Initiative 1

Engage in a thorough review of University structures and processes and complete an organizational realignment, to be conducted in a way that provides an ownership (or shared understanding) of important University structures while also increasing trust, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Action Steps

• IE 1.1:  Involve the University-wide community with external experts to achieve a streamlined, organizational realignment with emphasis on three areas of critical importance:
  • University Structure and Processes
    • Opportunities to streamline University processes should be sought with the goal of eliminating redundancies and employing strategies that help the various University units work together synergistically rather than competitively.
    • The University administrative structure should be realigned in ways that increase effectiveness and reduce costs.
  • Data Management and Access
    • Data collected by units across campus should be centrally housed and be freely accessible to decision makers and other relevant parties.
    • Data on Academic Programs and Offerings should be collected, managed, and transparently shared, particularly data that can support Academic Program Review and programmatic recruitment and retention.
    • Dedicated support should be provided to those looking to access or collect data for any relevant University decision-making process.
  • University Budget Model
    • A University budget model should be adopted that provides transparency in decision making, rewards innovation and growth, and removes existing budget-based barriers to collaboration and University-wide problem solving.

Signs of Our Success -

• A firm has been selected by Fall 2020.
• The firm has presented findings and recommendations by May 2021.
• The University has begun to implement the realignment plan by Fall 2021.
• A more efficient University structure has resulted in measurable savings that exceed the cost of hiring the firm.
• A new University budget model is adopted.

Progress and Updates -

Initiative 2

Develop a more effective and transparent campus by standardizing and integrating the use of existing campus software and systems.

Action Steps

• IE 2.1:  Create a technology plan that facilitates and encourages the use of existing digital resources (such as the Office 365 suite of applications) to increase engagement across the University-wide community.
• IE 2.2:  Build an integrated student management system that tracks students throughout their relationship to Ferris, from prospective student to alumnus, in one centralized location. 

 Signs of our Success -

• Targeted, ongoing trainings have increased the usage of existing collaborative software systems across campus.
• A campus software solution allows anyone assisting a student, at any stage of their Ferris journey, to both access and capture necessary information required to serve the student well and efficiently.

 Progress and Updates -

• A technology plan is currently being developed led by the Information and Technology department.

Initiative 3

Review systems of funding, planning, and degree auditing to identify barriers for student success, thereby increasing the attainability of a Ferris degree.

• IE 3.1:  Automatically award associate degrees and certificates to every student who earns one, positioning the degree as a midpoint to the baccalaureate.           
• IE 3.2:  Work with departments, colleges, and administration to plan reliable course offerings four years out.
• IE 3.3:  Review tenure lines by department to see where there is a heavy adjunct dependency impacting advising and upper-level course offerings.

Signs of our Success -  

• Degree completion rates increase, with evidence of accompanying decreased time to degree rates.
• A process for automatically auditing and awarding associate degrees is in place by Fall 2020.
• Advisors and students can reliably chart four-year degree completion plans in MyDegree and do so consistently.
• Academic Affairs and the associated colleges can use four-year degree completion plans to better predict budgets, course scheduling, and staffing needs further in advance.

 Progress and Updates -