Throughout the year-long strategic planning process, the President's Office engaged a steering committee comprising more than 30 members of the administration, faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate student bodies. Through surveys, small group discussions, and larger open forums, our constituents provided valuable feedback to help the committee prioritize the strategic initiatives the college would pursue over the next five years.
Over the spring 2022 semester, the steering committee divided into workgroups addressing undergraduate academics, graduate academics, the residential experience, student success, resource management, constituent engagement, employee quality and satisfaction, community partnerships, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). Throughout the summer of 2022, staff across campus engaged in the important task of establishing year-one key performance indicators for the strategic plan.
Integration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
The differing perspectives of our diverse community of students, employees, alumni, and friends are what make McDaniel great; and they are what made this plan representative of and an advocate for all members of our community.
“We did not want DEIJ to be a separate element. We wanted the lens of DEIJ applied to every initiative that we have in the plan. We’ve learned that the work is never done, and you have to keep moving forward. Having this integrated into every part of the plan ensures we will remain focused on it.” - Julia Jasken, McDaniel College President
A key part of the discussions in the development of the strategic plan was about the role of DEIJ. Rather than setting just one specific initiative or goal addressing DEIJ, the plan was evaluated through the lens of DEIJ at each phase, with DEIJ integrated throughout. Each of the four initiatives have DEIJ-related goals and objectives.
Looking Forward
The McDaniel College 2022-2027 strategic plan focuses on our future. It belongs to each member of the McDaniel College community who helped us create and refine it. It is up to each of us to meet the milestones laid out in the plan to help McDaniel reach new heights.