School of Education & Human Sciences - Strategic Plan


aerial view of KU Lawrence campus featuring the campanile

School of Education & Human Sciences - Strategic Plan

April 2024



1. Strengthen Service to Local & Global Communities

Goal 1.1 - Monitor service activities by faculty for local, state, national and global communities

Actions

  • Appoint a committee to annually compile service contributions being provided by SOEHS faculty, staff, and researchers
  • Committee assigned by Dean’s Office composed of representative from each department

Metrics

  • Service activities collated into a schoolwide document

Goal 1.2 – Identify state and regional needs for professional service and support

Actions

  • Poll Superintendents’ Circle members
  • Appoint committee of faculty and staff to conduct needs assessment regarding professional development needs for local educators and other professional communities
  • Monitor and develop lists of needs for global communities (Global Education Academy)
  • Plan strategies through Dean’s office for addressing needs

Metrics

  • Compile document of professional service and support needs for communities we serve

Goal 1.3 – Provide formal vehicle for providing service support to schools, school districts and other educational entities

Actions

  • Support implementation of Center for Educational Evaluation and Leadership (CEEL) activities across the state and region

Metrics

  • Yearly analyze performance of CEEL’s work addressing schools’ educational and other needs

Goal 1.4 - Increase faculty engagement with service learning and community engaged scholarship

Actions

  • Create schoolwide liaison with Center for Service Learning
  • Annually assess service-learning activity of faculty

Metrics

  • Faculty member and student engagement with Service Learning

2. Improve Culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

Goal 2.1 - Increase awareness of SOEHS student/faculty/staff diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging issues.

Actions

  • Analyze and share diversity toolbox data to assess how SOEHS is doing on selected metrics
    • Conduct an internal review to examine how diversity is addressed in various academic programs (including course offerings, curricular materials, field-based experiences, etc.).
  • Provide quarterly equity/diversity related events for students, faculty, and staff
    • Provide seminars and other events that promote deep understanding and encourage difficult conversations in addition to those focused on more basic-level understanding
      • Encourage faculty and staff to participate in programs that allow for reflection on issues of equity and diversity beyond SOEHS offerings (e.g., Colors of KU, Safe Zone Training)
      • Create opportunities for difficult conversations for various groups
    • Encourage departments to consider recognizing participation in diversity-related activities in faculty/staff evaluations (e.g., adding an item about research/teaching/service related to diversity and equity to faculty annual evaluation and P&T documents)
    • Provide opportunities for students to work in diverse settings (urban, rural, inclusive environments, ESL, etc.) through field experience, student teaching, internship, and practicum

Metrics

  • Prepare an annual report on SOEHS faculty, staff and student awareness activities for presentation at end of academic year

Goal 2.2 - Promote a climate that respects and celebrates DEIB

Actions

  • Strengthen representation of diversity-related research and activities on the SOEHS Diversity website
  • Have departments examine if there are issues of inequity in promotion, salary, etc. among faculty and staff based on race, gender, or other demographic characteristics
    • SOEHS DEIB committee to establish guidelines for these reviews
  • DEIB committee (with support of Dean’s office) to host professional development events and schoolwide conversations related to DEIB issues

Metrics

  • Dean’s office – Assistant Dean for DEIB – to assess diversity related efforts annually
  • Assistant Dean of DEIB to compile an annual report documenting diversity and SOEHS climate related outcomes

Goal 2.3 - Increase diversity of SOEHS faculty and staff

  • Analyze data on our current faculty / staff populations and compare to that of our aspirational peers
  • Develop guidelines for assessing diversity statements for candidates for faculty and staff positions
  • Specify ways to increase diversity in candidate pools for all searches
  • DEIB committee to assess retention supports provided for diverse faculty and staff

Metrics

  • Monitor trends longitudinally of diversity of faculty, staff in SOEHS identifying specific areas for further development with goal of increasing faculty of color and number of underrepresented minorities

Goal 2.4 - increase DEIB related curricular opportunities for our students

Actions

  • Prepare standards for the assessment or select an established model of assessing diversity related materials in academic programs
  • Complete curriculum audits of SOEHS academic programs – identify courses that contain a diversity element and compile an inventory of how courses address diversity (e.g. through curriculum maps)
  • Identify any new courses needed or existing courses that could be included in programs where deficiencies are identified
  • Participate in AACTE Holmes Group to support graduate students interested in careers as faculty members
  • Include syllabi and other course materials from relevant courses in the DEIB data base on the SOEHS server
  • DEIB committee (support from Dean’s Office) to support bringing exerts to campus to specifically work with departments/programs on DEIB identified needs
  • Partner with other departments across KU (e.g. AAAS, social justice minor) to increase DEIB-related course opportunities for SOEHS students

Metrics

  • Annual diversity report from office of Assistant Dean of DEIB to report results of curricular audits and provide assessment of steps taken to address concerns

3. Increase Health & Wellness

Goal 3.1 – Support socio-emotional health and wellness for SOEHS faculty, staff and students

Actions

  • Provide wellness related professional development opportunities for faculty, staff and students in SOEHS to develop stronger sense of community
  • Publicize socio-emotional and wellness supports and opportunities available through KU for the SOEHS community

Metrics

  • Dean to provide year end assessment of socio-emotional activities completed each year with assessment of future needs derived from department chairs

4. Increase Workplace Satisfaction

Goal 4.1 – Build a stronger sense of community across the SOEHS

Actions

  • Strengthen SOEHS mentoring program for new faculty and staff
  • Conduct periodic internal climate surveys – share results, develop plans based on feedback
  • Create opportunities for better collaboration for faculty within and across departments

Metrics

  • Dean’s office to analyze data and report on results of internal climate survey building a longitudinal data base of effort and results
  • Analyze results of university generated survey data on faculty, staff, and student satisfaction

5. Ensure Stewardship of the Institution

Goal 5.1 – Fully implement all funds budget model

Actions

  • Dean to share annual updates regarding budget process and outcomes at School Assembly
  • Prepare annual state of the SOHES finances and financial trends to present to SOEHS
  • Prepare and implement annual fund raising/endowment analysis to share with faculty and staff

Metrics

  • Monitor year-end budget levels in all SOEHS funding accounts.

1. Grow KU Research

Goal 1.1 Increase research productivity

Actions

  • Collaborate with AAI, other research centers, and KU Office of Research to increase the number of faculty in the SOEHS who apply for external funding
  • Provide opportunities that lead to an increase in the overall external grant funding dollars to the SOEHS
  • Offer workshops to support faculty in the SOEHS efforts in gaining external funding
  • Share supports that AAI and other research centers provide for pre-award and post-award administrative assistance
  • Assist faculty in identifying research and granting opportunities that align with their research agendas
  • Create writing groups to support faculty research manuscript preparation and dissemination
  • Provide opportunities to collaborate to increase the number of refereed publications
  • Increase the number of faculty getting awards and assess the impact of the research utilizing the SOEHS research support program

Metrics

  • Number of faculty applying for external funding
  • Number of faculty participating in the SOEHS research support program
  • Grant funded dollars in the SOEHS
  • Number of refereed publications and number presentations given
  • Number of workshops and writing groups in the SOEHS

Goal 1.2 - Strengthen research culture

Actions

  • Support inter-departmental and interdisciplinary collaborative research efforts through the SOEHS research support program
  • Continue research presentations at SOE events – SOEHS research conference
  • Invite noted scholars to give presentations and workshops to the SOEHS
  • Provide more opportunities to support research discussions and writing groups
  • Strengthen mentoring of faculty by implementing a comprehensive mentoring program that includes supporting and training mentors
  • Enhance the research and writing support for mid-career faculty
  • Provide support for teaching faculty to engage in scholarly activities
  • School and departmental revision and clarification of research expectations, including clarifying how to evaluate community engaged scholarship, social media, other nontraditional forms of scholarship

Metrics

  • Faculty attitudes on research support provided
  • Annual performance and P&T criteria and policies alignment with goal

Goal 1.3 - Engage undergraduate and graduate students in research

Actions

  • Encourage faculty to participate in the KU Center for Undergraduate Research
  • Develop research opportunities connected to specific undergraduate courses in the teacher preparation programs and HSES programs
  • Provide more opportunities to increase the research collaborations between faculty and graduate students
  • Improve the publicity of the SOEHS undergraduate and graduate student travel and research support funds
  • Provide financial support to students who participate in faculty research projects
  • Create opportunities for sharing student research

Metrics

  • Number of faculty publications with students
  • Number of students who receive travel and research grants awards
  • Number of faculty who participate in the KU Center for Undergraduate Research

Goal 1.4 - Promote research related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Actions

  • Improve the recruitment of faculty with research interests related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)
  • Encourage departments to consider adding an item about research related to DEIB in faculty evaluation documents
  • Create an interdisciplinary group of SOE faculty with research interests related to DEIB
  • Provide special GRA funding for research focused on DEIB
  • Provide support to bring researchers to campus to give talks on DEIB related research
  • Create a pool of funding to of extra travel money to present at DEIB conferences

Metrics

  • Policy reviews of the SOEHS departments personnel and search committee documents
  • Budget allocations focused on DEIB

2 - Recruit Retain, & Recognize Highly Productive Faculty Researchers

Goal 2.1 Recruit Highly Productive Faculty Researchers

Actions

  • Focus searches to recruit highly productive scholars with external funding and impactful research
  • Revisit the recruitment plan to emphasize increasing the hiring of highly productive faculty
  • Increase SOEHS representation at national, regional, and local conferences and workshops to recruit top faculty researchers
  • Improve attention to recruiting highly productive faculty researchers who have scholarly activities focused on DEIB

Metrics

  • Review departmental search committee documents and processes
  • Number of attendances at national, regional, and local conferences
  • Number of DEIB related publications

Goal 2.2 Retain and Recognize Highly Productive Faculty Researchers

Actions

  • Strengthen research culture and support for research
  • Recognize the work of present highly productive faculty researchers by nominating them for national and local awards
  • Provide greater financial support for the scholarly activities of highly productive faculty researchers
  • Publicize the Research Buy-Out Program

Metrics

  • Number of internal and external research presentations
  • Number of SOEHS awards, research grants, etc.
  • Amount of funding provided to top faculty researchers

3. Expand the Impact of KU Research in KS & Beyond

Goal 3.1 - Engage the SOEHS faculty in state collaborative research activities

Actions

  • Coordinate efforts across programs to strengthen partnerships with state organizations
  • Work with new center on Educational Evaluation and Leadership (CEEL in AAI) to engage in outreach to Kansas School Districts

Metrics

  • Number of faculty involved in state-level research and research-related activities

Goal 3.2 - Engage SOEHS faculty in national and international collaborative research activities

Actions

  • Review tenure and promotion guidelines to promote collaboration within and outside of KU
  • Engage with the Global Education Dean’s Forum to explore opportunities for collaboration and research
  • Continued development of SOEHS Global Academy’s efforts to bring international scholars to work with KU faculty
  • Support the SOEHS Global Academy and their efforts to reach new audiences
  • Provide opportunities for increased faculty involvement in national and international level research through the Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI) and other organizations.
  • Examine P&T and Annual Review guidelines to assess incentives on collaboration

Metrics

  • Number of faculty involved in national and international research activities and collaborations

4. Promote Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Goal 4.1 - Create innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for faculty

Actions

  • Host an Innovation/Entrepreneurship Incubator Camp over the summer to support faculty’s creative ideas
  • Foster collaborative spaces across departments to foster innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Work with Global Education Academy on potential Micro-credentials
  • Explore and follow through with opportunities for innovative certificates and degree programs
  • Work with CB3 on potential competency-based education programs

Metrics

  • Annual assessment by Dean’s office of innovative and entrepreneurial activities underway or initiated

1. Increased Enrollment

Goal 1.1 - Recruit and market for undergraduate programs

Actions

  • Hire an undergraduate recruiter
  • Update program print and online materials
  • Promote programs on social and other media outlets
  • Work with school districts to develop partnerships or “Grow Your Own” teacher
    programs and health and sport programs
  • Determine and put into place supports for diverse applicants including financial support,
    cultural support, tutoring
  • Develop new programs

Metrics

  • Number of students recruited, admitted, and enrolled (funnel data)

Goal 1.2 - Recruit and market for graduate programs

Actions

  • Develop recruitment and marketing plans for graduate programs.
  • Identify a graduate recruitment team
  • Gather information from departments about graduate programs to individualize
    recruitment strategies
  • Update program print and online materials
  • Promote programs on social and other media outlets
  • Work with relevant agencies/institutions (i.e., school districts, health organizations,
    IHEs, sport organizations) to develop partnerships
  • Determine and put into place supports for diverse applicants including financial support,
    cultural support, tutoring
  • Develop new pathways and programs for enrollment working with SOEHS Global
    Education Academy, C3BE, and Jayhawk Global to develop programs

Metrics

  • Number of students recruited, admitted, and enrolled (funnel data)

Goal 1.3 - Enhance graduate student advising

Actions

  • Survey graduate students to evaluate advising satisfaction
  • Develop graduate advising evaluation model

Metrics

  • Advising satisfaction survey data
  • Advising evaluation model data

Goal 1.4 - Increase diversity enrollment of SOEHS undergraduate and graduate students

Actions

  • Review recruitment materials and consider whether design is welcoming to prospective students from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., individualistic vs. interdependent messages)
  • Create targeted scholarships and assistantships at the graduate and undergraduate levels for underrepresented groups
  • Develop departmental marketing plans targeting our goals for enhancing a diverse student body
  • Establish a better linkage with MSIs (minority serving institutions/Universities) and diverse school districts for recruitment
  • Use existing master’s programs to recruit students from underrepresented groups into doctoral programs

Metrics

  • Number of students currently enrolled compared to aspirational peers
  • Number of students from diverse backgrounds enrolled.

2. Assure Retention & Completion through Student Engagement and Satisfaction

Goal 2.1 - Enhance the pre-service teacher education and HSES undergraduate students’ experience in the School of Education and Human Sciences

Actions

  • Host student-oriented events to increase engagement
  • Encourage and support student participation in action research projects related to their field of study in academic and real-world settings.
  • Highlight volunteer opportunities in students’ field of study.
  • Coordinate with the KU Study Abroad Program to make programmatic changes that enhance the feasibility and access to the program for SOEHS students.

Metrics

  • Participation rates in hosted events, study abroad, research, and volunteer work
  • Longitudinal retention and completion data

Goal 2.2 - Enhance the graduate student experience in the School of Education and Human Sciences

Actions

  • Host student-oriented events to increase engagement
  • Encourage and support student participation in research related to their field of study in academic and real-world settings
  • Highlight volunteer opportunities in students’ field of study
  • Coordinate with the KU Study Abroad Program to make programmatic changes that
    enhance the feasibility and access to the program for SOEHS students

Metrics

  • Participation rates in hosted events, study abroad, research, and volunteer work
  • Longitudinal retention and completion data

3. Improve Placement & Reduce Student Debt

Goal 3.1 - Increase post-graduation placement of graduate and undergraduate students.

Actions:

  • Inform students of scholarship and funding opportunities
  • Encourage students to utilize the resources of the University Career Center.
  • Foster relationships with potential employers of SOEHS graduates

Metric:

  • Placement data from University Career Center (Destination Survey)
  • Debt level trends of undergraduate and graduate students

4. Assure Quality of Academic Programs

Goal 4.1 - Engage in Continuous Improvement of Academic Programs

Actions

  • Develop learning outcomes and identify evidence of student attainment of the learning outcomes for all programs
  • Align learning outcomes—where applicable—to KU’s institutional learning goals
  • Complete curricular mapping with clear degree sequences that ensure scaffolding of learning outcome attainment
  • Develop outcome-based assessment plans that inform continuous improvement

Metric

  • Revisions and improvements of academic programs
  • Outcome-based assessment data

Goal 4.2 - Use emerging technology to support instruction and research

Actions

  • Provide professional development opportunities for faculty to strengthen use of emerging technology and other instructional practices
  • Continue offering technology summer camp for faculty

Metric

  • Number of faculty and instructors participating in training opportunities