Northern State University's Strategic Pathway guides our work through five key initiatives:
- 1. Prepare students to be engaged citizens and professionals who think critically, solve problems and lead.
- Increase student access to transformational academic programs and varied credentials.
- Increase student success through engagement, experiential learning in and beyond the classroom, and robust student activities and wraparound support services.
- Study demographic retention and success data and implement actionable interventions.
- Expand student perspectives through student-led research, faculty-led study abroad and community-based projects.
- Increase strong alumni and community networks to create dynamic internships and career opportunities, and post-graduation success.
- 2. Nurture a culture that is inclusive, supportive, civil, friendly and safe that values success for all students and employees.
- Systematize quality student and employee onboarding.
- Invest in student and employee development, technology, wellness and recognition.
- Use regularized student and employee surveys to guide continuous improvement.
- Ensure equitable access to secure and robust technology and services.
- Ensure robust emergency preparations and effective response capability.
- 3. Grow our campus community.
- Drive Strategic Enrollment Management Plan with six-month action plans.
- Deploy compelling four-year branding and marketing initiative.
- Partner with NSU Foundation to increase alumni and community engagement and fundraising.
- Increase residence hall occupancy with attractive programming and meal options.
- Annually evaluate efficiencies and invest in priorities aligned with projected revenues.
- 4. Grow collaborative public/private partnerships to advance academic, cultural, health, recreational and economic opportunities that produce value for Aberdeen and the region.
- Engage the community, NSU Foundation and alumni to enhance programs and student career readiness.
- Expand academic program delivery and attainment through expertise in HyFlex delivery and collaborative partnerships.
- Increase community engagement through the arts, athletics and programming.
- Increase civic engagement, innovation and startups, health and wellness, teaching excellence, and future visioning through NSU's Centers.
- Increase grant-funded and community partnerships consistent with mission and priorities.
- 5. Provide an outstanding regional, comprehensive liberal arts and professional studies college experience focused on experiential learning and supported by broad community cooperative opportunities.
- Courses designed with active learning components that invite students to create, circulate, and apply scholarly work both on the campus and beyond.
- Provide students with a wide variety of field experiences such as undergraduate research and artistic creation opportunities with faculty, service learning, study abroad, internships, and other field experiences that support and enhance classroom instruction.
- Institutional tracking of experiential learning opportunities to promote ongoing improvement of the learning experience.