Theme Four - Support Enrollment Growth Through Internationalization and New/Existing High Demand Programs

Initiative 1:

Three proposals submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) requesting approval for a new College of Engineering, and departments of Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering were submitted. In addition, a planning team is coordinating the timing of curriculum and facilities work.
Spring 2022 Update: Three proposals requesting a new College of Engineering, and departments of Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering were approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) on March 15, 2022.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Curriculum and Facilities Planning is Ongoing
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Summer 2022 Update: A team of faculty, in conjunction with an external consultant, began working through the summer to develop the curriculum for new engineering courses.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Curriculum and Facilities Planning is Ongoing
Provost Office Points of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 2:

The University has contracted with the search consultant Witt/Kiefer to facilitate a national search for the founding Dean of the College of Engineering. The committee will meet through the fall semester with the goal of hiring a new Dean by Spring 2023.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2023
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 3:

The Mennonite College of Nursing received approval from the Board of Trustees to sublease a customizable space from Memorial Health System in Springfield, Illinois so that the College can offer upper-level undergraduate nursing courses to cohorts at the proposed location in Springfield.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: August 2022.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Aondover Tarhule

Initiative 4:

Due to historically high student demand, the Mennonite College of Nursing received approval from the Board of Trustees to expand their building capacity in order to accommodate more students. Construction began on a new Simulation Building in summer 2022. The building will allow the College to enroll an additional 400 students and will be completed by Fall 2023.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Fall 2023.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Aondover Tarhule

Initiative 1:

The International Studies Advisory Council (ISAC) and the Office of International Engagement are collaborating to align the draft international plan with the internationalization white paper. Anticipated completion of the plan is May 2022. Voting members of ISAC are teaming up to review each of the goals.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: May 2022 draft ready for referral to review bodies
Provost Office Point of Contact: Roopa Rawjee

Initiative 2:

The International Studies Advisory Council (ISAC) and the International Office collaborated to rename the newly formed centralized office for international studies.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: The Office of International Engagement was launched on July 1, 2022 and merged the Office of International Studies and Prorams and the International Pahways units. A new Executive Director was hired and began July 1, 2022.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Perry Schoon

Initiative 3:

Per the international white paper recommendation, the Office of International Studies and Programs was physically moved to Fell Hall to combine with International Pathways. The move was completed prior to the start of classes in August 2021.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Completed Fall 2021.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Perry Schoon

Initiative 4:

Per the international white paper recommendation, modeling was undertaken to establish a robust funding model for the newly combined international office.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Merging of the two office budgets occurred on July 1, 2022.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Perry Schoon

Initiative 1:

A Director of Online Education was hired to help develop an online/distance learning strategy and vision for the university. The Director will provide strategic leadership to focus on quality online courses and online program development and delivery and will lead the Blended and Online Learning Innovations Unit housed at CTLT See 5.2; 5.4
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Ongoing. Dr. Anthony Piña was hired as the Director of Online Education/Chief Online Learning Officer and began his appointment on June 1, 2022. The vision and plan for online and distance education continues to be developed.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Deneca Winfrey Avant

Initiative 1:

Programs approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Received IBHE approval for a new Master's in English Education for Summer 2022 enrollments.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Various.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 2:

Proposed programs with approval from the Illinois State University Board of Trustees and to be submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education:

• New Master's in Marketing Analytics. Anticipated start date FA23.
• New Master's of Public Health. Anticipated start date FA23.
• New STEM Master's in Business Administration. Anticipated start date FA23.

Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Various.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 3:

Sequences and minors approved:

• New BS to Ph.D. in Nursing sequence in Nursing Ph.D. Sequence start date FA22.
• New Post-Masters in Nursing sequence in Nursing Ph.D. Sequence start date FA 22.
• New sequence in Audio and Music Production in Creative Technolgies, B.A., B.S. Sequence start date FA22.
• New Creative Technologies accelerated sequence in Creative Technologies, B.A., B.S., Sequence start date FA22.
• New sequence in Musical Theatre in Theatre, B.A., B.S. and new minor in Stage Combat. Sequence and minor start dates FA22.
• New accelerated sequence in English Education in English, B.S. Sequence start date FA22.
• New Traditional, Corporate, and Panama sequences in M.B.A. Sequences start date FA22.
• New Integrative Health and Wellness sequence in Health Promotion and Education, B.S., B.S.Ed. Sequence start date FA22.
• New Data Science and Computatioinal Mathematics sequence in Mathematics, B.A., B.S. Sequence start date FA22.
• New Biophysics sequence in Physics, B.S. Sequence start date FA22.
• New Liberal Studies sequence in Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A., B.S. Sequence start date FA22.

Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Various.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 4:

Proposed programs, sequences, and minors with Financial Implications Forms approved:

• New Bachelors in Applied Health Sciences. Anticipated start date FA24.
• New sequence in Literary and Cultural Studies in English, B.S. Anticipated start date FA23.
• Advanced Marketing Analytics accelerated sequence in Marketing, B.S. Anticipated start date FA23.
• General Computer Science accelerated sequence in Computer Science, B.S. Anticipated start date FA23.

Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Various.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 5:

Programs in the planning phase:

• New sequence in Healthcare Leadership, in Health Informatics and Management, B.S. Anticipated start date FA23.
• New program in Physics, M.S. Anticipated started date FA24.
• Workgroup exploring the development of an interdisciplinary degree in Data Science. In 2021-22, the structure for the program along with sample plans of study for four sequences were developed in preparation for developing a formal curriculum proposal. Anticipated start date FA24.

Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Various.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Ani Yazedjian and Cooper Cutting

Initiative 1:

Increased Graduate School marketing budget to support programs in recruitment efforts.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Completed Summer 2021. Paid advertisements, social media campaigns, and individual program marketing have been utilized.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Jana Albrecht, Noelle Selkow, and Craig McLauchlan

Initiative 2:

Two new marketers and recruiters added to the Graduate School to support recruitment and retention efforts.
Completed Fall 2021. A total of 3 staff members focused on recruiting and marketing have been divided across every graduate program.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Noelle Selkow and Craig McLauchlan

Initiative 3:

Created a group of Admissions and Graduate school staff to meet with several departments and develop digital marketing strategies.
Actual or Anticipated Completion Date: Individual meetings by the Graduate School on recruitment and marketing strategies were completed in Spring 2022. Work on digital strategies remains ongoing.
Provost Office Point of Contact: Jana Albrecht, Noelle Selkow and Craig McLauchlan