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Contact UsCHHS Virtual Training session explores College’s strategic plan
Interim Dean Jess Retrum (bottom right) discussed the CHHS strategic plan’s priorities, current initiatives and how departments can help move the work forward.
In a virtual CHHS training session Oct. 15, Interim Dean Jess Retrum offered a high-level overview of the College of Health and Human Sciences’ strategic plan, including how it was developed and what it means for departments, faculty and staff.
Since stepping into the dean role in February, Retrum said, she and College leaders have reviewed the plan through an iterative process that included at least seven meetings with the dean’s team, department chairs and directors, and other college leaders. The group examined objectives, measures and whether the goals were feasible with available resources.
“A strategic plan … really should be a reflection of who we are, what we value and what we think we can do together,” Retrum said. “It’s something that we all have to own together and work on together”
The plan centers on three priorities: student, academic and professional success; equity, engagement and community impact; and financial and organizational sustainability. Those priorities are organized into five focus areas: enrollment, retention and student success; career readiness and workforce alignment; belonging, collaboration and professional growth; visibility, partnerships and community impact; and innovation, resources and sustainability.
Retrum connected the priorities to work already underway across CHHS. Examples include course-level interventions to support student success, enrollment data made available to department leaders, apprenticeship and employer partnerships, and plans for interprofessional collaboration in the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute Tower. She also encouraged departments to identify student and faculty success stories, share workforce and community partnership opportunities, and communicate the value of their programs.
The plan includes collegewide targets such as an average enrollment growth goal of 7%, professional experiences for 90% of students by the end of 2030, and at least $1.5 million in new grant funding each year. Retrum emphasized that the enrollment target varies by department and that the measures are intended to support broader outcomes.
Questions during the session touched on the new budget model, class-size targets, certificates and stackable credentials, and the role of artificial intelligence in health care and higher education. Retrum described the strategic plan as shared work, shaped by the needs and expertise of departments across the College.
Ultimately, Retrum said, success means more than meeting performance measures.
“Our real goal is to make sure our students are persisting to graduate, they feel supported and that they belong, and that our communities are really benefiting from our work with students.”
Watch the Virtual Training on the CHHS Strategic Plan below. Captions may be toggled on/off via embedded player.