Southwest Baptist University

Annual Objectives 2007-2008

Communication and Service

Communication and a commitment to service will permeate the University through technology, innovative programs and training in order that the entire University family may embrace a servant-leadership approach toward meeting the needs of students, colleagues and other constituents.

  1. Implement a new position on each committee at SBU of "communicator" and to communicate committee work through the use of My SBU and the KwikChek. 
  2. Implement a consistent staff evaluation form and provide supervisors with effective evaluation training. 
  3. Begin a process for collecting, reporting and compiling written information about external engagement and service activities with emphasis on documentation and assessment of each activity and its benefits for the external constituency and the university.
  4. Investigate ways of providing distinctive service for minority students including the possibility of establishing an office or position.

 

Continuous Improvement

A systematic process for continuous improvement to enhance student learning will be implemented and made an integral part of University life through a formal ongoing program evaluation and assessment of academic and administrative units, athletics, facilities, financial and personnel needs.

  1. Utilize the Composite Financial Index (CFI) for developing strategic initiatives and annual objectives.
  2. Design a full-cost accounting system that distributes the cost of administrative overhead and other associated costs to all appropriate cost centers including the off-campus centers.
  3. Develop a five-year financial projection driven by University strategic initiatives (including employee raises) and based on reasonable and realistic assumptions of revenue and expenses.
  4. Take appropriate fiscal actions to begin the process for improving the University's investment grade bond rating by Standard and Poors; from BBB (-) to BBB (stable) no later than 2010. 
  5. Implement strategies to improve academic performance at Mountain View and Salem.

 

Spiritual Development

SBU will pursue a renewed sense of spiritual development through proactive integration of discipline and faith in the classroom, fostering a community of faith that encourages and promotes discipleship and spiritual growth for the University family, committing to spiritual integrity in decision-making, embracing our Christian distinctiveness and Baptist heritage, and developing closer ties with Missouri Baptist churches.

  1. Establish venues that encourage and enable the university community to pray for the SBU family and all the university decisions and activities.

 

Institutional Quality of Life

Institutional quality of life issues will be addressed by establishing new institutional traditions; implementing programs that encourage excellence, build morale, and foster collegiality and collaboration; increasing salaries and wages for employees; and increasing funds and opportunities for professional development.

  1. Initiate a study to examine current and needed professional development opportunities and develop a plan to address the financial requirements needed to implement improvements.
  2. Tie job evaluations for faculty and staff to salary and wage increases.

 

Integrated Marketing

An integrated marketing plan will be implemented that emphasizes our Christian distinctiveness and Baptist heritage; makes necessary changes in organizational infrastructure; researches and examines institutional image and name identity; and includes the development of a coordinated marketing strategy that incorporates advertising, publicity, public relations, promotion and the University's website.

  1. Include the following value proposition in the planning and production of all marketing materials: For college-bound students who can benefit from a distinctively Christian education, Southwest Baptist University is an evangelical Christian institution that offers students a quality, caring, academic community at a price competitive with private and public institutions in the Midwest.

  2. Build and maintain relationships with the local, regional, and national media in order to ensure a smooth communication flow from the university to our target audiences.

 

Enrollment Management


SBU will develop a comprehensive enrollment management plan that aggressively and significantly improves student enrollment and retention and ethnic and racial diversity and which improves the University's presence regionally and nationally, utilizing innovative methods of promotion and course delivery that meet the needs of a changing environment, while maintaining the academic and spiritual integrity of the University's mission.

  1. Investigate methods of increasing enrollment at Mountain View and Salem that are consistent with program review and new program development policies. 
  2. Determine optimum enrollment levels for our current capacity of offering student services. 
  3. Study the feasibility of offering specific academic scholarships for minorities.