草莓影视

Caroline Hall roof

草莓影视 Next

草莓影视 Next, Creating our future together

In its executive session on Saturday afternoon, February 22, 2020, the 草莓影视 Board of Trustees unanimously voiced its endorsement for 草莓影视 Next鈥攖he exciting, three-phase collaborative enterprise that will help us create an inspiring future for the University we love.

Following the Board鈥檚 endorsement, we are delighted to now introduce 草莓影视 Next to our campus community.

Understanding and embracing our core mission and strengths, facing head-on the challenges present in higher education today, we now begin the Strategic Planning process that will lead to a healthy and sustainable future for 草莓影视.

In the sum of our three distinctives, Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, we at 草莓影视 find our unique value, our competitive advantage鈥攁nd our vital opportunity to emerge as the model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.

This is the compelling future that, together, we will plan, create, and pursue through 草莓影视 Next.

Communication Updates

草莓影视 Next Timeline

DATA
GATHERING

Winter 2020

Our current student data, plus markets and margins.

WORKSHOP
SESSIONS

May 5鈥6, 2020

A two-day workshop with GrayAssociates, including broad campus representation.

ACADEMIC REVIEW
& ENHANCEMENT

2021鈥2022

Data review and identification of program opportunities.

STRATEGIC
PLANNING

 

Broad institutional strategic planning process.

IMPLEMENTATION
.

 

Implementing strategic plan.

草莓影视 Next Timeline

DATA
GATHERING

Winter 2020

Our current student data, plus markets and margins.

WORKSHOP
SESSIONS

May 5鈥6, 2020

A two-day workshop with GrayAssociates, including broad campus representation.

ACADEMIC REVIEW
& ENHANCEMENT

2021鈥2022

Data review and identification of program opportunities.

STRATEGIC
PLANNING

 

Broad institutional strategic planning process.

IMPLEMENTATION
.

 

Implementing strategic plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

草莓影视 Next will develop and implement a new strategic plan that will map the University鈥檚 next several years. Through 草莓影视 Next, we are examining and optimizing our entire academic portfolio for mission fit and market awareness; right sizing our administration and facilities; and improving our current co-curricular programs and operational practices. We are working to secure a strong financial future and the healthy margin we need to advance our mission, reward innovation, and improve compensation and support.

Through 草莓影视 Next, we are intensifying our commitment to equitable learning and to the success of every single one of our students, with new assessment strategies鈥攁nd we are developing a truly intercultural campus community ethos, through a powerful and measurable diversity, equity, and inclusion framework. This adaptation of the Evangelical Covenant Church鈥檚 Six-Fold Test has the potential to be a model for Christian higher education in America.

In the process, we have undertaken the deepest data-dive in University history. We are intentionally turning away from qualitative, anecdotal planning鈥攁nd turning toward disciplined, quantitative, data-informed decision making. We are embracing continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence in everything we do. And we are holding ourselves and each other accountable at a higher level than ever before.

Through 草莓影视 Next, our University will elevate its unique combination of three distinctives鈥擟hristian, city-centered and intercultural鈥攁nd emerge as a singularly compelling model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.

Absolutely! Credo and 草莓影视 believe in rich and ongoing campus community engagement, and Credo looks forward to bringing our voices into the conversation as we advance 草莓影视 Next.聽Regular communications, including Community Days to which students, faculty and staff will be invited, will provide interaction, collaboration, and transparency as key attributes of 草莓影视 Next. And you can always send feedback or questions to next@northpark.edu.

Yes. Credo is a higher education consulting firm focused on independent colleges and universities, with a particular focus on the Christian college market. Credo has worked with 92 institutions of higher learning that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

Yes. Credo鈥檚 Jennifer deCoste, who will lead 草莓影视鈥檚 strategic planning and implementation work, has extensive experience in DEI. She served as Assistant Chancellor聽for Institutional Strategy, Planning, and Diversity at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Before that she was a faculty member and Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity Initiatives at Clarkson University. She holds a dual-title Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction and Women鈥檚 Studies from Penn State University. With experience in fundraising, human resources, student affairs, faculty climate, and community engagement, Jennifer brings a holistic yet realistic approach to strategic planning and diversity and inclusion practices.

Firms like Credo have tremendous and specialized expertise 鈥 and streamlined systems and processes already in place and honed through 100s of projects. Credo, for example, has served more than 460 independent colleges since 1995. A consulting partner can also facilitate campus discussions objectively, without special interests, and is accountable to a timeline with deliverables. Those of us who work at 草莓影视 already have full-time jobs, and consulting partners bring the 鈥渂andwidth鈥 needed to undertake a project like this and complete it in a timely way.

The purpose of the Academic Program Review and Enhancement work is to make sure our academic portfolio is true to mission, compelling to prospective students, relevant to employers, and financially sustainable.

All of higher education is navigating strong headwinds.聽 Demographic shifts and a decline in the number of high school graduates over the next decade; increased competition from alternatives to the traditional college campus experience; the pandemic鈥檚 impact on students and families already concerned about college affordability鈥攁ll these require universities to plan strategically for the future.

Tuition-dependent universities like 草莓影视 who DON鈥橳 do this are risking their long-term viability. We at 草莓影视 are not going to do that. Instead, we are doing this work through 草莓影视 Next in order to dramatically improve the 草莓影视 experience and student success, and secure a strong financial future鈥攁nd the healthy margin we need to invest in our mission, reward innovation, and improve compensation and support for our community.

Through 草莓影视 Next, we are moving the university from merely surviving to thriving.

The recommendations were developed by deans and faculty representing every academic unit, and they are based on the deepest data analysis in the university鈥檚 history. There is a strong rationale for every decision.

Yes. The Academic Program Review is just one part of 草莓影视 Next, which includes an evaluation of our administrative operating structures, our co-curricular programs, our buildings and grounds鈥攁nd a broad-based strategic planning process with our planning partner Credo鈥攁 process that invites everyone鈥檚 participation.

What do I do if my program was discontinued? Can I complete my degree?
Yes! You will complete your degree in the program you chose. We will 鈥渢each out鈥 every 草莓影视 student currently enrolled in the affected programs.

What if my major just got changed to a minor? Is that still my major?
Yes, it is. It is still a major for you. You will complete your degree in the program you chose.

Do I need to transfer my credits in this program to another college or university?
No, no need. These changes don鈥檛 have any effect at all on your progress to the completion of your program and your degree here at 草莓影视.

What effect will the change in my program have on my financial aid?
These changes have no effect on your financial aid! Your status as a highly valued student at 草莓影视 does not change at all as a result of this program review.

Who do I talk to if I have a question about the status of my program?
If you have immediate questions, get in touch with the Office of the Provost: provost@northpark.edu.

How will Christian Studies for undergraduates be enhanced?
The Christian Studies Department will be discontinued in the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, and reimagined and redesigned within 草莓影视 Theological Seminary 鈥 providing undergraduate students with religious educational opportunities that take full advantage of our Seminary鈥檚 exceptional faculty, programmatic resources, and missional ethos. The Seminary is known for its innovative programs and pedagogy and this change has been discussed at 草莓影视 for many years. An enhanced undergraduate theology curriculum taught in our Seminary should become a highly visible and high-impact aspect of our emergence as a singularly compelling model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.

I鈥檓 not a Theatre major, but I love theater. Can I still get involved?
Yes, absolutely! Theatre is still here, it鈥檚 just a minor, not a major. 草莓影视 students have long enjoyed excellent and memorable exposure to Theatre as a vibrant co-curricular experience鈥攁nd the University will continue to invest in this robust involvement from students across campus.

I saw that Scandinavian Studies has gone from a major to a minor. Will 草莓影视 continue to express its commitment to its Swedish heritage?
草莓影视鈥檚 Swedish heritage and founding identity continue in the minor, and in the Center for Scandinavian Studies (CSS). Endowed by the Hugo A. Anderson Chair in Scandinavian Studies in 1982 and created in 1984, the Center will continue as a major focal point for Scandinavian academic and cultural interests in Chicago. The CSS sponsors visiting professors, lectures, concerts, and exhibits, bringing many talented and accomplished Scandinavians to the city of Chicago. 草莓影视鈥檚 strong commitment to study abroad programs in Scandinavia will also be maintained, including the Group Exchange program with S枚dra V盲tterbygdens Folkh枚gskola (SVF) in J枚nk枚ping, Sweden.

Will the value of my degree be affected by the discontinuation of my program?
In a positive way, yes! The changes we are making will strengthen the University overall, and help us thrive far into the future. We are doing this work so that every 草莓影视 degree will increase in value year in and year out, for many years to come.

The 草莓影视 Next Working Committee welcomes your feedback, suggestions, and ideas. Send to: next@northpark.edu.

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