TEXAS TECH UNIVERSIT Y Making it Possible... 2010-2020 Strategic Plan 2013-2014 REPORT CONTENTS Letter from President M. Duane Nellis 2 The 2013 Report Implementing Texas Tech’s 2010-2020 Strategic Plan: “Making it possible...” 4 Background & Report on Progress 4 Progress Toward Goals 5 Priority 1: Increase Enrollment and Promote Student Success 7 Priority 2: Strengthen Academic Quality & Reputation 10 Priority 3: Expand and Enhance Research and Creative Scholarship 12 Priority 4: Further Outreach and Engagement 14 Priority 5: Increase and Maximize Resources 16 Appendices 18 Appendix 1: Priority 1 18 Appendix 2: Priority 2 20 Appendix 3: Priority 3 22 Appendix 4: Priority 4 24 Appendix 5: Priority 5 26 Appendix 6: NSF 28 Appendix 7: Progress Toward AAU Characteristics 29 As Texas Tech University continues its path toward becoming more AAU-like, it is essential we address our goals and strategies to ensure a consistent gradual transition. While an important piece in the early stages of our strategic plan was the distinction of becoming a National Research University (NRU) in the state of Texas, now that we have achieved that status, our focuses must be reviewed to meet the ever-changing climate of higher education and adjusted, if necessary, to accommodate future growth. Within the pages of this strategic plan are alterations–some modest, others more grand–to assist Texas Tech in moving forward. Since receiving NRU status and benefiting nearly $8 million annually from the National Research University Fund, Texas Tech has bolstered its research funding and has dramatically increased its research and academic profiles nationally. Our peers are recognizing Texas Tech’s presence in the research and academic communities. We are accomplishing this through enhanced outreach efforts, including collaborations with other universities, both in the United States and abroad, and through partnerships with industry leaders such as Bayer CropScience The content of this strategic plan presents a road map toward future successes and offers a brief reflection from where we’ve come. Texas Tech’s sights are set firmly on the future as a national research university, while riding and building upon our past successes. M. Duane Nellis President, Texas Tech University 2 TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY 2010-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN 3 The Dr. Lawrence Schovanec Provost and Senior Vice President, 2013-2014 Texas Tech University Report Implementing Texas Tech’s 2010-2020 Strategic Plan: “Making it possible…” BACKGROUND & REPORT ON PROGRESS Texas Tech University (TTU) In 2009, the Legislature not only a distinguished faculty noted for its received official notification in 2012 provided for the creation of the scholarship and creative activity, from the Texas Higher Education NRUF, they also established the and enroll an excellent student Coordinating Board and State Texas Research Incentive Program body. In addition, these schools Auditor’s Office that it had met the (TRIP) to provide additional funding typically appear in the list of top necessary criteria to receive a share for the eight Emerging Research Uni- research universities published by of the state’s National Research Uni- versities (ERU). Since the inception the Center for Measuring University versity Fund (NRUF). Since then the of that program, the legislature has Performance (CMUP), have excellent university has focused on the next set aside $153 million dollars for graduate programs as recognized by phase of Texas Tech’s evolution: use as matching of gifts that support the National Research Council rank- enhancing our position as a great research activities. So far, Texas Tech ings, are characterized as ‘very high teaching and research university University has received over $55 research’ by the Carnegie Foundation while achieving the characteristics million in TRIP matching, more than for the Advancement of Education, of what are generally regarded as any other ERU. and rank well in outlets such as the Tier One universities. U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) Although there is no universally Best Colleges annual rankings. Attaining NRUF status was an agreed-upon set of criteria for what Whereas many institutions regarded extremely important milestone for constitutes a ‘Tier One’ university, as Tier One are not members of the the university. As a result of being this distinction is used to describe Association of American Universities NRUF-certified, TTU now receives schools that award large numbers of (AAU), certainly membership in the approximately $8 million each year doctoral degrees, receive hundreds AAU is a recognized distinction of to enhance the research enterprise. of millions in research dollars, have Tier One institutions. 4 TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS This 2013-2014 update of “Making » Move higher in the National Sci- • Phase II indicators include it possible…” contains tables that ence Foundation’s (NSF) ranking assessment of competitive document the university’s progress of research universities. The most funding from the United States toward its goal of enhancing our recent available data indicates TTU Department of Agriculture, stature as a great national research ranks 64th in earned doctorates state and industrial research university. In addition to these tables (415 institutions ranked); 77th in partners; characteristics of are sets of key strategies and key full time graduate students (among challenges, along with any adjust- 554 institutions); 125th in total advanced doctoral education ments to goals and/or targets. The R&D expenditures (653 ranked) efforts, including number of appendices contain benchmark data and 162 in total federal obligations Ph.D. degrees awarded by comparing TTU to 56 of its national (1,128 ranked). (See Appendix 7.) discipline; number of postdoc- peers and the other seven Emerging toral appointees; and quality Research Universities in Texas, TTU’s » Show improvement in the Asso- and diversity of undergradu- performance in areas monitored by ciation of American Universities’ the National Science Foundation, ate programs. (AAU) performance indices. and CMUP data that provides a comparison with AAU members. » Improve the scope and quality of • Membership in the AAU is graduate programs ranked by the based on a set of indicators As TTU continues to move toward National Research Council. used to assess current and Tier One status, we will be especially potential new members. focused on the following priorities: What are known membership » Move upward in U.S. News and indicators (Phase I and Phase World Report annual rankings » Maintain our designation as a Com- II) constitute the first stage of national universities. In 2014, munity Engaged University, as clas- of membership assessment. sified by the Carnegie Foundation Texas Tech was ranked 88th among Phase I includes assessment for the Advancement of Teaching. public institutions, while ranking of competitively funded 161st overall. federal research support as » Continue efforts that will position defined through the National Texas Tech as a national exem- » Grow National Academy member- Science Foundation (NSF), plar of retention, persistence, ship among faculty. Following the and graduation of students. United States Department addition of three National Academy of Agriculture funding that of Engineering hires in 2013, we » Maintain our national recogni- can be separately identified now have four faculty in a National tion as an institution of higher and reported, and Higher education with an ethnically Education Research and Academy. This would rank TTU diverse student body. Development (HERD) survey 60th among public universities in data system. Also important the latest CMUP figures (2012). » Improve Texas Tech’s current are faculty memberships in the national academies: designation as a High Research » Continue to increase in the number National Academy of Science University by the Carnegie Founda- of doctoral degrees awarded. In tion for the Advancement of Educa- (NAS), National Academy of 2013, 306 doctoral degrees were tion. The institution’s classification Engineering (NAE), Institute conferred, which would rank TTU will be renewed in 2016, when it of Medicine (IOM), and the is anticipated that Texas Tech will National Academies’ National in the top 60 universities for doc- move into the foundation’s highest Research Council (NRC) fac- torates awarded in the 2012 CMUP classification – Very High Research. ulty quality ranking. report figures (2011). 2010-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN 5 In addition to the above bench- rate to 90%, through an aggressive The university continues to pro- marks, Texas Tech University would retention and success campaign. mote and encourage a diverse and greatly enhance its national stature multicultural environment. Of the by improving indicators that reflect TTU is in the process of implement- 33,111 students enrolled in fall student success. ing a wide range of strategies to 2013, record numbers of Hispanic enhance student success. These (6,308) and African-American This past fall TTU had 33,111 initiatives include: (2,044) students were enrolled students enrolled with 5,427 at the and made up 25% of the student graduate level. TTU’s fall freshman » Participating in the nationally rec- population. Additionally, Hispanic student class was one of the most ognized Education Advisory Board’s enrollment accounted for 19% of the total enrollment. academically talented ever, based Student Success Collaborative. upon an average SAT score of 1115 Diversity awards and recognitions