Divisional Mission Statement

The mission of the Division of Academic Affairs is to achieve excellence in instruction, research, and public service by securing and retaining a highly qualified and motivated faculty and support staff; maintaining high academic and professional standards for faculty, students, and staff; admitting and retaining qualified and motivated students; and providing essential resources.

1. Implement electronic transcript transfer for graduate students


2. Fully implement electronic textbook order process


3. Establish intellectual property and faculty workload and compensation policies for electronically delivered courses


4. Enhance basic computer orientation for all new faculty


5. Move institutional coordination of electronic instruction activities to the library


6. Double the number of Internet courses and interactive video courses


7. Begin the development of SHSU's first electronic degree program


8. Establish college-based technology development staff in each college and coordinate their activities


9. Evaluate institutional activities to provide computer competency for all incoming students


10. Continue three-year faculty and staff equipment upgrades


11. Work with the computer center to evaluate the number and location of computer labs and other facilities for effectiveness and efficiency


12. Complete revision and upgrade of Office of Research and Sponsored Programs' web page so that the majority of initial searches by faculty for grant information can be done from their offices and that, whenever possible, all necessary forms can be completed through the web page

1. Increase the amount allocated to general scholarships to $300,000 per year


2. Increase the number and amount of graduate student awards


3. Increase the honors program from 117 to 150 students


4. Study the results of the integrated freshman seminar conducted during 1999-2000 and initiate a revised program with learning communities, core curriculum, and freshman orientation


5. Increase the freshman Hispanic enrollment by 1 percent


6. Begin a four-year phased-in increase in admissions standards


7. Continue preparation for university-wide advising center and associated fee


8. Increase the retention of first-time full-time freshmen by 2 percent


9. Conduct the student satisfaction surveys as approved by the President's Task Force on Student Retention


10. Conduct a competitive positioning audit and recruiting and retention audit


11. Increase undergraduate enrollment by 1 percent


12. Increase graduate enrollment by 10 percent


13. Increase the number of international students on campus by 50 percent


14. Establish and enhance articulation agreements with community colleges


15. Undertake a thorough evaluation of the infrastructure supporting graduate studies and make recommendations for change as necessary so as to enhance existing programs

1. Expand existing exchange programs with Mexico and France and formalize an institutional partnership in Puebla


2. Develop or implement new exchange programs or international student feeder programs with institutions


3. Implement restructuring of the International Programs and Activities Committee


4. Establish at least one new study abroad program or develop procedures for increasing foreign faculty exchanges


5. Develop a proposal for a three-way FIPSE NAFTA grant


6. Expand or formalize college-based endowment building activities in all colleges


7. Increase the number and value of external (non-state appropriated) grants for faculty research and development activities


8. Establish at least one new private/public sector partnership utilizing external funding in support of faculty research activity and/or the University's service mission

1. Encourage broader faculty participation in the strategic planning process


2. Revise mission statements flowing from the institutional mission statement


3. Complete integration of the institutional effectiveness process into the strategic planning and budgeting process


4. Conduct activities resulting from Coordinating Board-mandated program review


5. Initiate programs in web authoring, victims studies, and forensic science and begin preparation of an additional doctoral program proposal

1. Increase diversity of faculty and staff


2. Enhance student performance on ExCET exams


3. Enhance faculty and staff understanding of that ExCET is and how student performance on the ExCET is a university-wide responsibility