Page 19 - MGATODAY-Spring2019

Middle Georgia State’s New Strategic Plan
Targets Purpose-Driven Enrollment Growth,
Greater Student Success, and More

Growing enrollment, enriching • Own student success. One strategy to
achieve this goal includes developing obstacle-
student experiences, and expanding free pathways for students to progress from
prospective students to engaged and employed
online degree programs into new alumni. Another strategy is to expand student
involvement in community service and learning-
markets are among the top goals as through-experience opportunities.

Middle Georgia State University • Build shared culture. Strategies to achieve
this goal are to attract, retain and nurture faculty
plans for the next five years. and staff talent; sustain the University’s financial
health and increase need-based aid for students;
The University recently released “Elevating and to cultivate engagement to elevate the
Middle Georgia,” a five-year strategic plan that institution and the region.
maps out a vision of where the institution wants
to be by 2023 and how to get there.“Elevating In practical measurements over the five-year
Middle Georgia speaks to our service to the public period, the University plans to grow enrollment
and our mission of graduating students with to 8,900, boost annual campaign giving from
credentials that will enrich their lives and the $850,000 to $1.25 million, increase the number
communities in which they live and work,” said of degrees awarded annually from about 800
Dr. Christopher Blake, University president. to 1,200 (bachelor’s and master’s degrees), and
“In developing this strategic plan, we con- grow needs-based aid awarded to students from
sidered Middle Georgia State’s unique features $330,000 to $750,000 per year.
and challenges,” said Dr. Jon Anderson, Middle
Georgia State’s provost and vice president for More details about the
Academic Affairs. “We have a blended function “Elevating Middle Georgia”
– remaining accessible to first-generation col- strategic plan are at mga.
lege students and also fulfilling the mission of a edu/strategic-plan.The
traditional state university. Middle Georgia State webpage will be updated
is spread out over five physical campuses yet has regularly to reflect the
a growing online presence. We are the only public University’s progress.
institution in Georgia with a School of Aviation. Questions and
“Our strategy outlines a path that will help comments are welcome
the University manage those different assets in and can be emailed to
ways that strengthen student and alumni success strategicplan@mga.edu.
and contribute to the vitality of the region and
the state.”
The plan includes three strategic essentials:

• Grow enrollment with purpose.
Strategies to achieve this goal include expanding
and enriching the face-to-face student
experience; and expanding and enriching online
degree programs in new markets.

By Sheron Smith

Spring 2019 MGA TODAY 19