From IWU Magazine, Fall 2014
IWU 2020
Summary of Strategic Goals
The IWU 2020 strategic plan is a detailed, 30-page document, but its essence is captured in the following goals and objectives that will set priorities for University initiatives over the next six years. To read the plan in its entirety, go to www.iwu.edu/president/Strategic.
- Teaching and Learning: Foster intellectually challenging teaching practices that actively engage students’ critical and creative faculties while emphasizing the University’s commitment to the liberal arts and professional programs.
- Cultivating an Enriched Campus Community: Create and support a dynamic, inclusive campus community that provides high-quality, student-centered, out-of-class learning experiences to prepare students for academic success, democratic citizenship, life in a global society and a lifelong affinity with Illinois Wesleyan.
- Diversity: Develop and sustain a dynamic, inclusive campus community that actively and visibly supports and educates for social justice, diversity and human rights. Continuously shape and support this diverse community of students, faculty, staff and alumni through evaluation, recruitment, mentoring and retention efforts.
- Communications and Engagement: Engage University stakeholders and key external audiences via an integrated program of communications and experiences that tell and demonstrate the Illinois Wesleyan story.
- Human Resources: Allocate, compensate and provide professional development as part of ongoing efforts to recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff and to enhance morale across campus.
- Financial Resources: Maximize IWU’s financial base and focus the use of financial resources on supporting strategic goals.
Illinois Wesleyan's Guiding Principles
The University drafted and adopted new mission and vision statements in 2003. Both received very minor revisions prior to launching IWU 2020 and were referenced by the plan’s work groups in determining priorities for the new strategic plan. The revised mission statement follows:
Illinois Wesleyan University, an independent, residential, liberal arts university founded in 1850, strives to attain the ideal of a liberal education while providing unique opportunities with distinctive curricula and programs. A liberal education at Illinois Wesleyan fosters creativity, critical thinking, effective communication, strength of character and a spirit of inquiry. Our curriculum deepens the specialized knowledge of a discipline with a comprehensive world view. The Illinois Wesleyan experience affords the greatest possibilities for realizing individual potential while preparing students for democratic citizenship and life in a global society. As the University pursues this ideal for all of our students, we help students to follow a wide range of career and life paths, offering diverse curricula in liberal arts, fine arts and professional programs as well as opportunities for interdisciplinary study and off-campus learning. The University, through our policies, programs and practices, is committed to diversity, social justice and environmental sustainability. A tightly knit, supportive university community, together with a variety of opportunities for close interaction with excellent faculty, both challenges and supports students in their personal and intellectual development.