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