JAIMIE FRANKLIN
News Assistant
The University Planning Committee is in the process of finalizing the first university-wide, five-year strategic business plan. Planning began last year and is expected to be completed this fall.
In past years, each of Pepperdine’s five schools was responsible for developing its own strategic plan, which summed up the school’s challenges and goals over a five-year period.
While the plan is only in its rough draft, it contains four main goals the university seeks to achieve in the next five years, including maintaining academic excellence, building community, developing resources and continuing the theme of a Christian university committed to honoring God. Central to this discussion are the concepts of the university’s future and vision.
However, the specifics of the plan are vague and incomplete.
Administrators said it may include plans for a fundraising campaign designed to increase the university endowment and allow for greater student affordability.
Hiring additional faculty and adding another university chaplain may be in the works, as well.
Changes have already been made to university technology, including a BlackBoard upgrade and an increase in university bandwidth, but more improvements are expected.
The process so far has been rigorous and energizing, according to Rebekah Davis Dillingham, assistant vice president for planning, who has spearheaded the effort.
Expert faculty and staff from each of Pepperdine’s schools began by thoroughly researching trends in higher education as a whole, as well as Christian education, the economy, market conditions, legal and regulatory issues, religion, culture and technology.
After researching and discussing trends in these areas, each of Pepperdine’s schools and six other departments, including Athletics, Public Affairs and Information Technology, reported on their most pressing issues and what additional support they may need from the university in coming years.
The university analyzed its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as a whole, and as individual schools and departments. The analysis was intended to identify how the university could use its strengths and opportunities to diminish its weaknesses and threats.
The planning committee, comprised of the university president and vice president, deans of each school, the dean of students, three faculty members selected by President Andrerw K. Benton, and other key decision makers, have been meeting for several months to develop the rough draft.
“In the end, not everyone is happy, but overall, the group endorses the plan,” Dillingham said.
The draft was recently sent to all faculty and staff for revisions and may also be given to SGA to allow for the opportunity for student input.
“We are waiting to see what comes back,” said Nancy Magnusson, senior vice president for planning. “Our intent is to get broad input from students, faculty, alumni, and donors. It’s a living document because the environment will always change, and we have to be responsive to that.”
02-07-2008
