Campbellsville University unveils new five-year strategic plan

by Gerard Flanagan, news writer and photographer, Office of University Communications

Campbellsville, KY (07/06/2023) — Campbellsville University has announced its new five-year strategic plan, titled "Foundations for the Future."

The strategic plan, approved by the university's Board of Trustees at its April meeting, takes effect July 1, 2023 and runs through Dec. 31, 2028.

The plan was finalized following input from several stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees, university administration, faculty, staff, students, donors and community leaders.

"In August 2022, the Board of Trustees had a vision, which was developed into a realistic and ambitious plan by the administration, faculty, and staff through hard work," Henry Lee, chair of the Board of Trustees, said.

"The Board has adopted the plan, and I am excited about the success that will come with its implementation."

The plan centers on five goals to guide Campbellsville University's operations and decision-making over the five next years:

"I could not be more proud of this community and their collaborative work shaping this ambitious plan," Dr. Joseph Hopkins, president of Campbellsville University, said. "This work represents the creative force of hundreds of stakeholders working, dreaming and committing together."

The strategic plan further lays out a series of objectives and initiatives to accomplish each goal.

According to the plan, academic accomplishment "is at the heart" of Campbellsville University, so high achievement, quality and student success are central to advancing academic distinction.

The university will establish academic distinction by launching advanced programs at the master's and doctoral levels, implementing curricula that embed workforce training in undergraduate degrees and creating Faculty Learning Communities.

"Campbellsville University has a strong legacy of academic success," Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said. "It is integral to the growth and commitment of CU to focus on academic distinction not only through the development of new and innovative programming, but also through the elevation and relevance of existing programs.

This is achieved through quality faculty, funding and, most especially, the students who drive the heart of CU's mission."

The plan notes Campbellsville University, as a university that "celebrates every individual as created in God's image," will make diversity and belonging a university-wide priority.

Diversity and belonging will be improved through training for faculty and staff, hiring a cabinet-level position for diversity and community, creating liaison positions across the university and incorporating diversity and belonging into departmental planning, policies and practices.

Noting shifting demographics and a challenging horizon for higher education, the plan emphasized Campbellsville University's need to leverage every strength available to increase financial stability.

The university will enhance financial security through improvements to the competitiveness of employee salaries as well as implementing a deferred maintenance plan in the budget and creating new spaces for the Department of Art and Design, School of Business, Economics and Technology, Athletics and quality instruction.

Additionally, the strategic plan includes a new fundraising campaign to be unveiled later this year with a goal to grow the university's endowment.

To amplify community engagement, Campbellsville University will undertake a series of efforts to strengthen community relations and extend the university's Christian mission.

The university will increase community engagement by establishing a Servant Leadership Center to encourage, facilitate and recognize engagement.

Community engagement will also be bolstered through the development of championship-level athletics that extend the university's Christian mission and image, improve employee health, professional growth and university care and embed meaningful experience-based learning into all academic programs.

"Foundations for the Future" aims to increase quality enrollment by improving the university's ability to meet student needs in counseling, academic success and connections to athletes.

Increases in quality enrollment will also come through addressing persistent, non-academic causes of low graduation rates, establishing living-learning communities that deepen engagement with community and academics and enhancing space for student life and activities.

"The future of CU is bright," Hopkins said, "This plan gives direction and priority for the next five years, and as we enter into this season with confidence that with God's blessing, we will see these goals through to successful completion."

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.

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