Leading the Way St. Ambrose University Strategic Plan Mission St. Ambrose University—independent, diocesan and Catholic—enables its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others. Vision St. Ambrose University will be recognized as a leading Midwestern university rooted in its diocesan heritage and Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Ambrosians are committed to academic excellence, the liberal arts, social justice and service. Core Values St. Ambrose University’s core values—Catholicity, integrity, liberal arts, life-long learning, and diversity serve as guiding principles in the implementation of the strategic plan. 2 St. Ambrose University Strategic Plan The University St. Ambrose University was founded as St. Ambrose Seminary in 1882 by the Most Reverend John McMullen, first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, Iowa. He named the school after Saint Ambrose, the fourth-century Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church, lawyer, Roman governor, and advisor to several Roman emperors. Saint Ambrose was a renowned orator, thinker and administrator, but he is most well-known as the person responsible for the conversion of St. Augustine to Christianity. Located along the bluffs of the great Mississippi River, St. Ambrose University has come a long way since it began as a seminary and school of commerce for young men in 1882. According to the Seminary’s 1883 catalog, its purpose was “to impart to students a thorough mental culture so as to enable them to fulfill any chosen position in life.” To accomplish this, there were, from the beginning, curricula in the humanities and the arts and sciences, as well as professional studies such as pre-law, pre-medicine and business. From its inception, St. Ambrose welcomed students from all religious faiths, ethnic backgrounds, and economic circumstances—an openness unusual for Catholic schools at that time. This emphasis on programs of career preparation taught in the context of Catholic and liberal arts traditions has remained central to the institution to the present day. Throughout time, traditions like the close connections between faculty and students and personal attention to student goals, safety, commitment to service, and Catholic identity took root and live on today. The campus has grown remarkably in recent decades, and with it the services and support to ensure our students, faculty, and staff have the best environment in which to learn, live, and work. Our work and commitment to excellence in education is on-going. Over more than a century, countless students destined to influence the world have walked across our campus. St. Ambrose students have arrived on campus every year seeking great opportunities and vast experiences. Anchored in Davenport, Iowa, St. Ambrose University thrives as a quiet, secluded campus in a diverse and vibrant urban setting. While there is great opportunity for students to engage in the many living and learning opportunities on campus, they are part of a diverse and economically growing Quad City region located in the heart of the Midwest and home to a variety of health science and manufacturing industries. While grounded in the work ethic and vision of the Midwest, St. Ambrose is a university with relationships across the world. Faculty work diligently to prepare our students with the knowledge, skills, and disposition necessary for a future that is global and well beyond the doorsteps of campus. At St. Ambrose University, our mission, vision, and core values are the ideals guiding our decision-making. These require that we be committed to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, which means learning from founding sources in the natural and social sciences, the arts, philosophy, and theology in order to engage in a conversation between faith and reason. Our intent is to help our students develop holistically (intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically, and physically) as life-long learners so they may be enriched as they strive to enrich the lives of others. Our core values (Catholicity, integrity, the liberal arts, life-long learning, and diversity) guide our daily efforts as a Diocesan university. Our vision calls us to be a leading institution; an institution committed to academic excellence, grounded in the liberal arts, and dedicated to social justice and service. All of this is an expression of how we fulfill our mission. St. Ambrose University Strategic Plan 3 The Plan The purpose of the plan is to provide direction to the university and a lens to focus its resources over the next three to five years. The following plan integrates the mission, vision and core values of St. Ambrose University into three strategically focused themes. The plan brings forward St. Ambrose University’s strongly rooted traditions from its diocesan heritage to serve the region and to lead the region. It also brings forward its evolving understanding of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition through exploring the dialogue between faith and reason. The plan is intentionally nimble in its design as the world changes quickly. As an institution, St. Ambrose University must be able to respond to its challenges and continue to lead in new directions. Over the past twelve months, St. Ambrose University has engaged in the work of drafting its next strategic plan. This work included reflection upon past and present events and traditions, as well as careful consideration of future trends. Such reflection and consideration required the engagement of faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, friends, and community leaders in acknowledging institutional strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, traditions and heritage, as well as the appreciation for changing times and stakeholder expectations for higher education. 4 St. Ambrose University Strategic Plan The Framework The Strategic Plan is organized around three strategic themes that evolved from both direct campus input and the University’s strong vision for the future. Leading the Community The vision of St. Ambrose University is to become recognized as a leading Midwestern university rooted in its diocesan heritage and Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Ambrosians are committed to academic excellence, the liberal arts, social justice and service. As St. Ambrose University embraces its strategic position and influence on both the Quad Cities community and greater Midwestern region, it is essential to lead and to serve our community towards a brighter future. Leading Learning St. Ambrose University has a rich heritage in service for social justice, creating a strong foundation for teaching and learning. As such, St. Ambrose University must lead in areas of teaching and learning that exemplify justice and excellence while also strategically addressing the educational needs of our region. Leading Presence There are more than 130 years of St. Ambrose University history acknowledging its “great and lasting beginning.”1 Strategically planning for the future includes not only sustaining the mission and values of St. Ambrose University, but also its physical presence as a part of the community in a way that can ensure quality teaching and learning, as well as opportunities for growth. 1 Rev. George W. McDaniel, A Great and Lasting Beginning: The First 125 Years of St. Ambrose University, (Davenport: St. Ambrose University, 2006) St. Ambrose University Strategic Plan 5 The Initiatives and Benchmarks Strategic Initiative #1 St. Ambrose University will improve the accessibility of an Ambrose education. What does it mean to improve accessibility of an Ambrose education? First, this strategic initiative focuses on accessibility defined as opening the doors of St. Ambrose University to a more diverse student and employee population representative of our region and ultimately our world. As a University, we believe in the inherent God-given dignity and worth of every person. Therefore, we must not only strive to develop an understanding of human cultures, achievements, and capabilities, but we must also strategically welcome people from a variety of countries and cultures to study, learn, and work at St. Ambrose2. Second, this strategic initiative focuses on accessibility as strategic support and programing for learners of all ages, educational aspirations, and complex lives. To meet the needs of our diverse student body, we must use a variety of delivery systems and collaborate with other organizations to offer further opportunities around the world. Attracting students of diverse backgrounds and ages to access an Ambrose education, however, is not enough if St. Ambrose University is to live up to its vision of becoming a leading Midwestern institution. An education from St. Ambrose University must lead to a more enriching life guided by the skills and knowledge of an education firmly grounded in the liberal arts. Its value must speak clearly and loudly. As such, St. Ambrose University must strategically work to close the gap between those students who begin an education at St. Ambrose University and those who complete an education at St. Ambrose University. To measure its success of Strategic Initiative #1, St. Ambrose University will strive to meet the following institutional benchmarks: BENCHMARK A Increase racial and ethnic diversity of student and employee populations. BENCHMARK B Increase graduation rate and degree obtainment. BENCHMARK C Increase affordability through enhanced revenue and cost controls.