Pride and Community 

Initiative 1

Share our founders’ emphasis on opportunity and excellence.

Action Steps

• PC 1-1:  Identify key initiatives that have the greatest impact on improving our overall brand and reputation.
• PC 1-2:  Develop and initiate an awareness campaign that informs a diverse array of students and community members on the benefits of a Ferris education.
• PC 1-3:  Develop a sustainable program to ignite pride and excitement among internal (students, alumni, faculty, and staff) and external (community, prospective students) communities.

Signs of Our Success -

• In partnership with the national agency, a comprehensive brand campaign is launched in Fall 2019.
• A unifying and sustainable Ferris Pride Campaign has been developed by Fall 2020.

Progress and Updates -

Initiative 2

Better utilize alumni as ambassadors to our constituents, partners, and the world.

Action Steps

• PC 2-1:  Dedicate physical and virtual space to highlight accomplishments of alumni.
• PC 2-2:  Coordinate an Alumni Speaker Series for both University-wide and program-specific initiatives.
• PC 2-3:  Adopt a comprehensive alumni relations strategy that facilitates the relationships between alumni and their key University homes, including programs, colleges, athletic teams, and student organizations, and empowers our alumni to serve as recruiters, leveraging their geographic reach.

Signs of our Success -

• Prominent recognition of alumni is in development, both virtually and in at least one physical campus space, by Fall 2019.
• Develop an annual alumni speaking series by Fall 2020.
• Alumni become more visible and active in campus life, participating more widely on campus and in recruitment activities.

Progress and Updates -

• Physical space in the University Center is being evaluated to highlight accomplishments of Ferris Institute alumni.

Initiative 3

Identify, create, and pursue opportunities that strengthen student-focused partnerships with local communities.

• PC 3-1:  Create a team to identify opportunities to support Ferris-linked educational opportunities for students in high school and other institutions. 
• PC 3-2:  Assign regional liaisons to help strengthen local partnerships and University growth opportunities.
• PC 3.3:  Build on civic and social engagement opportunities throughout Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and West Michigan, including open dialogues with community leaders and organizations on issues that will strengthen and build relationships between students, local governments, businesses, educational affiliates, and civic organizations.
• PC 3.4:  Deepen internship collaborations with surrounding communities and professional organizations that create meaningful opportunities for students, including those with international status.
• PC 3.5:  Create a Community/Student Leader Roundtable.

Signs of our Success -  

• Regional liaisons have been identified by Fall 2020.
• A list of current and potential community and educational partnerships is completed and in use for planning by Fall 2020.
• The Ferris component of Plaza Roosevelt is completed and operational by Fall 2023.
• New community internship collaborations have been developed by Spring 2020.
• A Community/Student Leader Roundtable is in operation by Fall 2020.