Executive Summary

A listing of selected achievements within the Engaged, Integrated, and Global plan themes over the 2017-2018 calendar year:

Significant Outcomes: Engaged

  • In 2017-18, the Division of Student Life launched a new four-part Leadership Academy training program, with over 200 students participating in the inaugural year. Strategic Initiatives (SI) funding provided additional support for the development of a Student Leadership Capstone Program for undergraduate students.
  • In fall 2018, the University announced a regional partnership to help address service gaps for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. The new Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence program will bring together representatives from health care, education, and philanthropic entities to build a sustainable framework and national model for addressing ASD care.

 Significant Outcomes: Integrated

  • With the support of generous donors and SI Funding, a faculty-led Humanities initiative launched in 2017. This interdisciplinary initiative - exploring the study of culture, history, language, literature, philosophy, religion – coordinates a Humanities Forum, Artist in Residence Program, is a pathway for students to participate in the Research as a High Impact Practice
  • New academic offerings, including new majors in Social Media Strategies, Business Communication, and Physiology.
  • New Signature Programming: Business Honors Program, STEM Royal Scholars program, and Magis Honors Program in STEM.
  • The summer 2017 launch of the Business High School Scholars Program, engaging cohorts of sophomore and junior high school students interested in pursuing a business degree at Scranton. The program offers financial support to participants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • In 2017, the University revised its academic development (ADP) program to form the new cohort-based Gonzaga Program, in which students pursue their first 2 semesters with required courses in reading, research, and writing. The Program is named for Saint Aloysius de Gonzaga, S.J., Patron Saint of All Students.

Significant Outcomes: GLOBAL

  • Launched in 2017, the University's Ignatian Global Citizenship Program engages faculty, staff and students in a variety of experiential learning and immersion opportunities that provide a historical perspective while fostering a culture of civic engagement and global awareness.
  • In July 2018, the University of Scranton joined with presidents and administrators of more than 200 Jesuit institutions and organizations from across the world attended the signing of a charter that established the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU).
  • Also in 2018, the University was selected to join the Magna Charta Universitatum, developed by European Universities in 1988 to protect the fundamental values that are inherent in academic work including teaching and scholarship.

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What are HIPs?

Throughout the strategic plan progress report, several High Impact Practices, or “HIPs.” HIPs are learning activities that are known to have a significant impact on student success, including retention and engagement. The University actively tracks student participation in selected HIPs – click here to view some recent data for graduating seniors, and here for a more comprehensive look at HIPs offerings and participation.   One of our strategic metrics tracks the percent of undergraduate students who complete two, and three or more, HIPs before graduation. 

What is the NSSE?

Several strategic metrics are selected from the National Survey of Student Engagement, or NSSE. Developed by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research, the NSSE asks undergraduate students questions about their participation in and satisfaction with a variety of curricular and co-curricular activities. The University of Scranton administers the NSSE survey to first-year and senior students annually. In 2017, the University included a supplemental series of mission-focused questions prepared by the Association of Jesuit College and Universities (AJCU) Consortium. See recent NSSE survey results here.

Strategic Initiatives (SI) Funding

Linking planning to resource allocation is an important part of putting our plan into action. Beginning in spring 2016, the University has set aside a pool of funds to support innovative projects that support an engaged, integrated, or global experience. Led by the University Planning Committee, faculty, staff, and students were invited to apply for grant funding. Allocations total over $430,000 to date.  Read more about the Strategic Initiatives Fund, and the projects underway.

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