D23 - Lead

Guiding Principles for D23

• Follow NSU's Academic Prioritization Plan
• Establish college and academic department enrollment goals
• Apply precision marketing and recruitment techniques for academic signature programs
• Continuously improve the university-wide academic advising model
• Expand international student recruitment strategies
• Eliminate barriers to learning by focusing on academic preparation, achievement, financial assistance, cultural inclusion and support services, engagement and leadership development

Each university division is charged with making positive contributions to the university culture, fulfilling the university's mission and providing leadership in the achievement of the goals of D23.

Academic Affairs

NSU's Academic Affairs division consists of the College of Business & Technology, College of Education, College of Extended Learning, College of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts, Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions and the Oklahoma College of Optometry. In addition to the colleges, Academic Affairs includes several support units including Assessment and Institutional Research, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Center for Tribal Studies, Institutional Effectiveness, the John Vaughan Libraries, the Office of International Programs and the Registrar's Office. The mission of Academic Affairs is to create and maintain a supportive learning environment that promotes the university's academic endeavors in undergraduate, graduate and professional education.

The division supports the D23 Plan in the following specific ways:

• Providing students up-to-date learning opportunities through the selection and support of qualified, committed and caring faculty
• Utilizing Academic Program Prioritization and other resources as a catalyst for maintaining and developing foundation and signature academic programs
• Establishing academic program baseline enrollment standards and projected growth goals
• Establishing and embracing retention goals that are set for each college and department at NSU
• Enhancing and leveraging the effectiveness of remediation efforts by investigating, evaluating and implementing curricular models such as co-requisite models, supplemental instruction and bridge courses
• Expanding the online delivery of academic programs by embracing and utilizing available and advanced technologies
• Supporting veterans to facilitate a seamless transition from their military services to enrollment in higher education

Administration and Finance

The Administration and Finance division consists of Accounting and Payroll, Budgeting, Business Affairs (Accounts Payable, Bursar & Student Accounts Receivable, Purchasing and Scholarships), Facilities Management, Grants Administration, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Research Administration and Planning.

The division supports the D23 Plan in the following specific ways:

• Providing excellent customer service to our students, giving them a positive experience when managing their financial obligations, and interacting with technology in the classroom
• Supporting the use of technology in instruction and student support services by providing dependable and secure infrastructure and technical support services
• Providing an environment conducive to quality co-curricular, extra-curricular and support services that elevate the learning and teaching environment, research and scholarly activity, a holistic student experience and local community relationships
• Ensuring an optimal residential community experience
• Fostering a culture of respect, collaboration and performance among faculty, staff and students
• Allowing faculty to maximize their focus on classroom instruction by providing effective and efficient business and operating services
• Ensuring a sound financial position for the university, minimizing student costs and ensuring that limited resources are supporting the strategic plan of the university
• Identifying and implementing cost containment and cost avoidance strategies
• Investing in and maintaining facilities that enable customer-driven programs and services

Development and Alumni Services

The Development and Alumni Services Division oversees donor development, fundraising and alumni cultivation. The NSU Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, wholly independent from the university, but existing solely to support the university. Its function is to acquire, manage and distribute financial resources supporting university scholarship, capital and endowed fund needs. The NSU Alumni Association is an interdependent organization operating in conjunction with the university but self-funded entirely through third-party revenue sources including membership dues, corporate support and event and merchandise receipts.

Development and Alumni Services, under the auspices of the NSU Foundation and the NSU Alumni Association, supports the D23 Plan in the following ways:

• Easing the financial burden of students through the acquisition and distribution of scholarship support, allowing students to focus more on academic excellence and career preparation and less on funding their college education
• Promoting student development, research and other real-world immersive learning opportunities through the acquisition of discretionary and in-kind support resources
• Acquiring capital funding resources for the construction and renovation of facilities that attract and retain students
• Recruiting and engaging alumni to participate in local recruiting efforts and general community-based awareness efforts through collaborations with the offices of Admissions and Recruitment and Communications and Marketing
• Developing programs and services and supporting other efforts, which provide meaningful interactions between students and alumni through collaborations with Career Services, colleges and faculty, and illustrating a pathway to successful career opportunities

Recent initiatives have included the establishment of the Lighting the Way Emergency Fund, established in 2014 by President Steve Turner to create an emergency fund for NSU students in need. This new funding source is designed to assist students (undergraduate and graduate) during times of crisis in order for them to maintain their enrollment.

Just three years into our $25.075 million Preserve our past. ENSUre Our Future campaign, NSU already has commitments totaling over $22.1 million. This includes the largest amount ever contributed to NSU, $4 million by Chief Bill John Baker and the Cherokee Nation, for the purpose of renovating Seminary Hall. The campaign total also includes the largest private donation in our history, from NSU alumnus Gregg Wadley and his wife, Dr. Betsy Brackett. The $2.5 million gift was honored with the official designation of the Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions. This is the first named college in NSU history.

It is worthy of noting that, as of December 2017, the NSU Foundation's financial assets were the highest in our history, as were the number and value of scholarships awarded.

Student Affairs

The Student Affairs Division includes Admissions and Recruitment, Auxiliary Services, Career Services, Conduct and Development, Educational Talent Search, Gear Up, Housing and Residence Life, ID Services, Motorpool, RiverHawks Wellness Center, Student Counseling Services (HawkReach Services), Student Disability Services, Student Engagement, Student Financial Services, Student Health Services, Student Support Services, University Advising Center, University Center Administration, Upward Bound and Violence Prevention.

Student Affairs is committed to contributing to NSU's achievement of D23 in the following ways:

• Continuously improving Student Affairs services and programs to meet student needs
• Working collaboratively with all university departments to maximize student recruitment and retention effectiveness
• Strategically enhancing student services to assist students in overcoming obstacles in order to achieve education and career goals
• Fostering a dynamic environment for students to grow through co-curricular experiences
• Providing support for returning adult students to meet their educational goals
• Partnering with university constituents to ensure students have a seamless, positive experience achieving their academic goals
• Providing support and response services through counseling, disability services, student conduct and development and the Behavior Intervention Team
• Working with Academic Affairs and others to facilitate a smooth transition for transfer students
• Implementing relevant components of first-year experience best practices to enhance opportunities for success for transfer students and first-time freshmen students
• Work with other divisions to continually improve facilities and services for students

University Relations

The University Relations Division consists of Communications & Marketing and Government & Community Relations. The division provides the university a full range of government and community relations services and marketing and communications services, including graphic design, copywriting, photography, web management, video services, digital media, recruitment advertising and media relations services.

The University Relations Division supports the D23 plan in the following ways:

• Working with key partners to develop and implement annual strategic communication and marketing plans to increase the number of applications for admittance
• Working with key partners to develop and implement annual strategic communication and marketing plans to increase student retention and graduation
• Working with the cabinet to implement a communication plan for internal audiences to encourage an understanding of the D23 goals and their specific role in achieving those goals
• Informing public officials, the business community, and the broader public regarding key messages that reflect common values and reinforce the overall goals of D23; these messages include: the public and private benefit of higher education, accountability (inherent in performance funding), efficiencies and cost savings, workforce-focused programs, affordability, return on investment, faculty productivity and community support
• Utilizing appropriate social media and other online resources and electronic platforms to reach potential students and encourage graduation and retention of existing students; this will be done while maintaining the appropriate level of non-digital communication techniques
• Developing and implementing marketing and advertising campaigns across various mediums to increase inquiries of potential students