2023-2028 STRATEGIC PLAN

These groups will be charged with developing an institution-wide, collaborative student success network where all community members understand their role in supporting student success and have the professional development opportunities to fulfill that role.
Co-leads: 
Robin Fox,  Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Kristin Fillhouer, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

2024-2025 Year End Update
In 2024-25, the Chancellor’s Committee on Student Success hosted Peter Felten, author of “Relationship Rich Education,” as a keynote speaker. Using this text as a common read across the university, units reflected on how they build relationships between students or between students and staff in their work. The team presented their work on the student success framework in a conference presentation. The Student Success Council explored and addressed real-time barriers to student success and retention. 

This resource will provide easy access to student services, particularly those that support progress to academic attainment.
Co-leads: 
Jackie Briggs, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Retention
Katie Patterson, Bursar 

2024-2025 Year End Update
The One Stop opened in the University Center for the Fall 2024 semester. The One Stop offers assistance to students regarding financial aid, financial services, scholarships, advising appointments, course registration, student life, and more - all in one convenient location. In 2025-2026, a review (working title of the review is Phase 2 of the One Stop) will be conducted of the One Stop’s services, space, and usage. This review will help identify opportunities to better serve students by enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of its services. 

These individuals will support our students’ goals of academic and personal success.
Co-leads: 
Paul Waelchli, University Libraries Director
Emma Draper, Campus Tutorial Services Assistant Director
Paige Ringelstetter, Pathway for Success Coordinator 

2024-2025 Year End Update
Two Success Coaches were hired in the Fall 2024 semester. Students were able to schedule one-on-one appointments with the coaches starting in October. The response was incredibly positive, with over 350 appointments held throughout the academic year. To broaden the impact, the action team is exploring success coaching certification models that could be extended to other roles across the university.

We will identify a single individual who, in collaboration with advising coordinators and others on campus, will have clear responsibilities for ensuring our advising model uses shared objectives and processes and ultimately supports student success.
Co-leads: 
Marissa Greuel-Hainstock,  Academic Advising and Success Director
Kristin Plessel, Associate Provost

2024-2025 Year End Update
This action team successfully implemented a comprehensive, college-wide advising communication plan, updated the Major Change form, launched the "Not Enrolled Quick Poll" via Navigate, continued administration of the college-wide advising survey, and led the rollout of Stellic. Looking ahead to the next academic year, the team will collaborate with NACADA to establish a structured advisor onboarding program and begin migrating four-year academic plans to a web-based platform.

Each year, this event will highlight successful initiatives and identify further areas of improvement as we increase opportunities for student success.
Co-leads: 
Jessica Stein, Academic Advising and Exploration Assistant Director
Amanda Krier-Jenkins, University Housing Associate Director

2024-2025 Year End Update
The Warhawk Success Conference is held annually during the spring semester. The third annual Success Conference was held on February 14, 2025, with 35 faculty and staff presenters from across campus, offering sessions mapped to the student success framework. The keynote speaker, Dr. Melissa Lantta, addressed the topic of the impostor phenomenon. There were more than 125 attendees from many types of units across the university.

We will establish a task force to examine specific student success opportunities. Initially, this group will review registration holds and our student debt trends as we work to enhance student social mobility.
Co-leads: 
Sara Deschner, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer
Debbie Reuter, Center for Students with Disabilities Director

2024-2025 Year End Update
In 2024-2025, the action team reviewed student housing and billing processes and was able to identify and address operational and IT challenges. As a result of this review, the housing assignment date was moved one week earlier, improving the overall student experience. The action team also reviewed the scholarship application and awarding process, establishing a goal to proactively match students to scholarships that align with their profiles. This exploration will continue into the 2025-2026 academic year.

We will review and improve pathways for students who transition from other institutions — including the Rock County campus — to UW-Whitewater. One focus will be to help students who are completing their associate degree at Rock County along their pathway to a four-year degree.
Co-leads:
Dave Hahn, Assistant Director of Admissions and Transfer Coordinator
Sarah Harvey, College of Integrated Studies Director of Enrollment and Student Affairs  

2024-2025 Year End Update
The action team partnered with NASH (National Association of System Heads) to ensure that UW-Whitewater aligns with national best practices for transfer students. UW-Whitewater has completed, or is actively making progress towards, several articulation agreements for the benefit of transfer students. The action team is also collecting data to identify opportunities to improve processes for incoming transfer students, which will remain a key focus for next year.

This group will focus on driving growth, innovation, accessibility and a positive student experience for students enrolled in our fully online programs.
Co-leads:
Paul Ambrose, College of Business and Economics Dean
Susan Johnson, College of Letters and Sciences Associate Dean

2024-2025 Year End Update
This year, the online council’s key accomplishments included administering a survey to students in online programs, meeting with advisors who work with online students, and piloting a section of New Student Seminar for students in fully online programs. Over 300 students responded to the survey with 93% of respondents reporting that they were satisfied with their progress in their program.  The positive feedback from the meeting with advisors resulted in the decision to hold twice yearly meetings of this group beginning in fall 2025. Due to the success of the fall 2024 New Student Seminar pilot, a section will be offered in fall 2025.

To reinvigorate our curricular pipeline and create opportunities for interdisciplinary thought, we will hold an annual session to discuss new academic program ideas directly from faculty, students, and community and business leaders. Recommendations from this session will flow through our established academic processes, recognizing this as a key responsibility of the faculty.
Co-leads:
Zach Oster, Associate Professor
Matthew Vick, School of Graduate Studies Dean

2024-2025 Year End Update
The action team conducted the second Curriculum Innovation Workshop on November 8, 2024. The focus was artificial intelligence in the workforce and curriculum, and centered on an industry panel discussion. Students were also invited to share perspectives in the tabletop discussions and whole group dialogue. The 2025-26 workshop is planned for October 31, 2025 with a focus on pathways for students, such as articulation agreements or dual enrollment.

The General Education Review Committee, Office of Academic Assessment and faculty teaching courses in the general education program will meet to establish a clear process for assessing the achievement of learning outcomes of the program, so we can more clearly articulate the educational value of the UW-Whitewater experience (both the Whitewater and Rock County degree programs).
Co-leads:
Jessica Bonjour, General Education Coordinator
Katy Casey, Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning Director

2024-2025 Year End Update
In Fall 2024, the team tested the functionality of embedding course rubrics and compiled the resulting data. Core-course coordinators incorporated relevant General Education rubric lines, collecting data on five of the seven GELOs. Results were summarized and shared with the General Education Review Committee in early Spring 2025. Data collection expanded in Spring 2025, yielding a more robust dataset for analysis in summer 2025. The General Education program will incorporate this progress into its program self-study during the 2025–2026 academic year.

This new group will have appropriate representation across employment categories and will work with the Faculty Compensation Committee to help us achieve our goals related to employee compensation.
Co-leads:
Connie Putland, Chief Human Resources Officer
Kelly Delaney-Klinger, College of Business and Economics Associate Dean

2024-2025 Year End Update
The University Compensation and Benefits Committee (UCBC) was restructured to include Faculty Senate, University Staff Council, and Academic Staff Assembly governance leaders along with the chair of their respective compensation committee. This reformation reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to enhancing compensation and benefits, ensuring that shared governance priorities are integrated into long-term planning. Chaired by Vice Chancellor Brenda Jones, the UCBC will continue to review and guide progress on these priorities to align with the institution’s strategic goals.

We will re-envision “student employment” as internship experiences with clear objectives and appropriate mentoring — and articulate the value of these experiences. We will review the student employee pay structure to ensure appropriate compensation.
Lead: TBD

2024-2025 Year End Update
With the support of a Universities of Wisconsin grant, work has begun to provide a campus-wide framework to elevate student employment as a recognized high impact practice. As an initial step, the action team will be establishing two Canvas courses, one for student employee supervisors and one for student employees. The Canvas courses will aim to establish campus-wide standards, provide resources and training, and align on-campus jobs with meaningful outcomes. 

With transparency and shared purpose, the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee, the Faculty Budget Committee, as well as key faculty experts, will work together to help us achieve a balanced university budget that achieves strategic goals.
Co-leads: 
Trisha Barber, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Financial Services 
Mohammad Jafarinejad, Budget Committee Faculty Representative

2024-2025 Year End Update
Collaborative efforts continued across all divisions to address the structural deficit. As a result, the campus successfully submitted its FY26 budget with a planned surplus. Throughout the year, communication with the University Strategic Planning and Budget Committee included regular updates on the current budget, forecasts, and the FY26 budget. Additionally, key metrics were identified and incorporated into the campus strategic plan website to enhance transparency and shared purpose.

The Chancellor’s Leadership Council will provide a university-wide collaborative forum for strategic discussions, civil discourse, and critical conversations in advancing the institutional mission and core values.
Co-leads:
Mike Dugan, College of Arts and Communication Dean
Chancellor's Office 

2024-2025 Year End Update
In 2024-2025, the Chancellor’s Leadership Council shifted its focus to change management strategies. By leveraging institutional leaders and subgroups within the council, the group explored effective and sustainable approaches to navigating institutional change. This group met three times throughout the academic year, and a July Retreat has been planned to launch the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Students, employees, alumni, and the UW-Whitewater Foundation will work together to support the long-term success of our alumni and attract resources that support our mission and the goals of this strategic plan.
Katie Kuznacic, Vice Chancellor for University Relations
Ryan Callahan, Assistant Chancellor and Intercollegiate Athletics Director

2024-2025 Year End Update
Listening sessions were held with 107 alumni who are employees at the university, seeking feedback and to understand the importance and impact of UW-Whitewater. Next year, listening sessions will be held for emeriti members of the Warhawk community. The 2024-2025 academic year concluded on a high note with the exciting launch of a $50 million fundraising campaign, Our Stories, Our Future: A Campaign for UW-Whitewater.