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ۿ۴ýUniversity2021-2026Strategic Plan

"Embracing the Legacy, Transforming the Future"

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Executive Summary

ۿ۴ýUniversity was founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington as the ۿ۴ýNormal School. The school’s name transitioned to ۿ۴ýInstitute, attaining University status and becoming ۿ۴ýUniversity in 1985. ۿ۴ýUniversity is an independent, state-related institution – one of two designated land-grant universities in Alabama – and a recognized Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

ۿ۴ýNormal, Institute, and now University has a proud legacy of innovation and accomplishments through its 140-year history. TuskegeeUniversity is ranked number three in U.S. News World Report’s 2022annual rankings of the Best HBCUs in the country. The spirit, heritage, andconnection to “Mother Tuskegee” is vividly and passionately communicated by alumni, faculty, staff, and ۿ۴ý;and the community,the Boardof Trustees, school administration, and faculty and staff are proud of the school’s high academic standards, STEM programs, research programs, andVeterinary school.

A shift in higher education is anticipated to occur over the coming years, and the changes impacting all higher education institutions will also impact Tuskegee. HBCUs in general are facing growing competition in the recruitment of high-achieving ۿ۴ý, and the daunting challenges associated with recruiting, retaining, and preparing ۿ۴ý for leadership roles should be appropriately addressed. Furthermore, academic learning has increasingly shifted to online platforms, which has been particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding access for all ۿ۴ý; therefore, offering enhanced, highly efficient technology will be critically important for all higher education institutions. ۿ۴ýhas delayed upgrading its infrastructure technology to enable enriched classroom instruction and state-of-the-art research laboratories. Upgrading and enhancing infrastructure to increase student engagement and retain Tuskegee’s world-class faculty and staff has been identified as a priority in this five-year strategic plan.

At the beginning of the strategic planning process, the Board of Trustees reviewed the current ۿ۴ýmission and vision statements. ۿ۴ýUniversity’s mission and vision are the foundation from which the institutional effectiveness framework is established. All planning units align their planning unit goals with those of the mission of the University. The mission and vision statements provide the foundation for the development of strategic priorities to move the organization forward, and the Board decided both the mission and vision needed to be revised. The revisedstatements are:

Mission: ۿ۴ýUniversity advances knowledge, leadership and service through teaching, research, and outreach programs. Uniquely positionedas a historically black, private, state-related, land-grant University, ۿ۴ýfaculty, staff and ۿ۴ý transfer knowledge and transform ourcommunities, state, nation, and world.
Vision: ۿ۴ýUniversity is a pre-eminent educational and research institution that develops innovative and transformative leaders who solve theworld’s most complex problems.


Overarching Strategic Pillars

Strategic pillars are the primary areas of focus that define the organization’s high-level strategy, break down the mission and vision into action, and focus energy on desired results. The following key strategic pillars have been identified through the planning and data collection activities as key organization-wide issues for the University to consider in developing the strategic plan.

Student Experience

ۿ۴ýhas identified key performance metrics for increasing student enrollment, student retention, and graduation rates. Improving student engagement is developed through an emphasis on student “customer service” – ensuring that ۿ۴ý have attractive and environmentally safe living accommodations and classrooms for learning – and delivering diversified learning opportunities.

Academic Excellence

Tuskegee’s mission is to advance knowledge, leadership and service through teaching, research, and outreach programs. Continuously evaluating and enhancing the academic programs that are offered will prepare ۿ۴ý to compete and be leaders in the global community. This goal will be achieved through the delivery of highly marketable programs, more online and distance education programs, multi-disciplinary teaching, and an expansion of graduate-level programs.

Operational and Organizational Efficiency

Pursuing and achieving operational excellence is the foundation for completing the goals, objectives and initiatives identified in the strategic plan. Operational excellence for ۿ۴ýis achieved by improving internal processes and operations and upgrading campus facilities and infrastructure.

Strategic Goals

GOAL ONE

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
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Enhance academic profile, enterprise, and reputation through continuous assessment and strengthening of academic programs.

Tuskegee’s mission is to advance knowledge, leadership and service through teaching, research, and outreach programs. Continuously evaluating and enhancing the academic programs that are offered will prepare ۿ۴ý to compete and be leaders in the global community. This goal will be achieved through the delivery of highly marketable programs, more online and distance education programs, multi-disciplinary teaching, and an expansion of graduate level programs.

GOAL TWO

OPERATIONALEFFICIENCY
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Develop and implement transparent, efficient, and effective operational practices, policies, and procedures to ensure operational viability and sustainability.

To be a leader in academic excellence, ۿ۴ýmust ensure all internal processes and practices are aligned for operational efficiencies and effectiveness. Establishing a culture that expects operational excellence from all faculty, staff, and ۿ۴ý builds transparency, trust, and accountability throughout the University.

GOAL THREE

STUDENT EXPERIENCE
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Elevate the student experience through ongoing engagement that begins before arrival and continues after graduation.

ۿ۴ýhas identified key performance metrics for increasing student enrollment, student retention, and graduation rates. Improving student engagement is developed through an emphasis on student customer service, ensuring ۿ۴ý have attractive and environmentally safe living accommodations and classrooms for learning, and delivering diversified learning opportunities.


GOAL FOUR

RESEARCH, INNOVATIONAND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Establish innovative solutions for real-world challenges through research, entrepreneurship, and scholarly activities.

The Board of Trustees have established that ۿ۴ýwill be a pre-eminent educational and research institution and the University vision is to become a Carnegie R2 research institution. R2 designation will be achieved through an increase in external grants and contracts for research, and expansion of graduate programs and degrees conferred, and an internal drive for creativity and innovation.

GOAL FIVE

WORLD-CLASS FACULTY
ANDSTAFF

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Promote a culture that attracts, recruits, retains, and supports a world-class and diverse faculty and staff.

ۿ۴ýrecognizes that academic excellence, operational excellence, and student engagement are achieved through a world-class faculty and staff. The University must be able to attract and retain world-class faculty. ۿ۴ýmust provide competitive compensation and benefits to attract and retain faculty and must also support faculty with creative professional development and technologically innovative teaching resources.

GOAL SIX

ADVANCES IN INFRASTRUCTURE
AND RESOURCES

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Position the University for sustainable practices and long-term financial stability through improved institutional infrastructure (physical, digital, and fiscal resources).

Infrastructure is the foundation for achieving academic excellence, operational excellence, and student engagement. An upgrading of technology infrastructure is needed to facilitate online and in-person instruction and distance education programs. Operational efficiency and process improvement will also occur through infrastructure upgrades. Facility improvements to dorms, living accommodations, classrooms, and laboratories are needed to create the student experience expected by ۿ۴ý and families. Enhancement of infrastructure cannot occur without additional financial resources. Developing a philanthropic culture to support fundraising, grants and gifts will raise the financial resources needed.

GOAL SEVEN

ATHLETICS
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Establish a culture that supports the ability for our student athletes to be competitive across our entire sports portfolio.

ۿ۴ýhas a long history and tradition of fielding successful athletic teams. Athletics is a vital support activity for creating student and alumni engagement. Modernizing the athletic facilities and processes and recruiting and retaining top notch coaches and support personnel will provide additional revenue for the programs and increase national recognition and recruitment of athletes.

GOAL EIGHT

COMMUNITY AND STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS

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Improve the quality of life for all Alabamians through programs and services committed to economic growth and the promotion of healthy people, environments, and the world.

ۿ۴ýUniversity historically has been intricately connected to the community. Re-envisioning innovative partnerships with the community will strengthen the communities around ۿ۴ýand provide valuable practical learning experiences for ۿ۴ý and faculty.


Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2021-2026 cover

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