Summary of Changes to Virginia State University (VSU) Six-Year Plan Update

The VSU Six-Year Plan (SYP) objectives underwent minor emendations with the appointment of the University President Makola M. Abdullah, who began his tenure on 1 February 2016. Dr. Abdullah’s immediately articulated the following five major foci for the 2016-17 fiscal/academic year during which time a new strategic plan will be developed:

  1. Providingtransformative experiencesstudents
  2. Strategically investing inacademic programs
  3. Emphasizing the University’s position as atop Land-Grant University
  4. Embracing VSU asVirginia’sOpportunity University
  5. Collectively telling the VSU story

The original SYPcomprised 10 strategies, all of which remain in place. Per the following summary, largely editorial changes were made.

  1. Out-in-Four Program. In addition to the reduction of funding, the strategies were expanded to include a major initiative germane to the ‘transformative-experience’ focus above, namely, the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) by which academic support is transformed and centralized under the former Office of Student Affairs (now the Office of Student Success and Engagement [OSSE]). The strategies originally listed in the “Short Title” column were moved to the right-most “Strategies” columns of the Academic-Financial spreadsheet. Strategies were added as part of the ACE plan (funded by Title III, part [b]), specifically, the following:

Establish lower enrollments in high-risk courses.(a) Online summer school to yield enrollment of at least 1,500

Expand winter term offerings to yield enrollment of at least 500

The VSU Office of Student Affairs will be recast as the Office of Student Success and Engagement (OSSE) housing the Academic Center for Excellence.

The main aims of this formidable paradigm shift are to

Create a comprehensive ‘one-stop’ entity which is comprised of the University’s primary student service and academic support entities.

OSSE will be physically relocated to the center of campus (at the University Library) to create a hub that supports the teaching/learning dialogue beyond the classroom in a highly active, participatory environment.

Provide comprehensive analysis of each student’s high school transcript to determine course placement which best suits the student’s strengths;

Implement Project Knowledge (a cognitive-reasoning based program that employs network mentoring;

Redesign and require the Freshman Studies course.

  1. Distance Education. The strategy was made a short title and the strategies originally listed in the “Short Title” column were moved to the right-most “Strategies” columns of the Academic-Financial spreadsheet.
  1. MS in Mathematics Education Continuation (unchanged)
  1. Workforce Certificate Programs. The strategy was made a short title and the strategies originally listed in the “Short Title” column were moved to the right-most “Strategies” columns of the Academic-Financial spreadsheet.
  1. Military Affairs. Out-year strategies and funding reduced as only on position (formerly three) will be reallocated to the initiative.
  1. Experiential Learning Program. Funding removed; responsibility for the initiative will rest with academic disciplines/departments.
  1. New Graduate and Professional Programs. Funding reduced; may be included in the subsequent biennial plans.
  1. Develop New Baccalaureate Degree Programs. The strategy was made a short title and the strategies originally listed in the “Short Title” column were moved to the right-most “Strategies” columns of the Academic-Financial spreadsheet. Additionally, funding was reduced to include only the RN-to-BSN initiative for 2016-17.
  1. Establish a Language Institute (unchanged)
  1. Operational Efficiency (unchanged)