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President Ronald Mason Jr.
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(JACKSON, Miss.) - Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr. led a town hall meeting April 28 in the Jacob L. Reddix Building to provide an overview of the first phase of the university's strategic plan, called "Gearing up for Greatness."
Initiated in January 2008, the overall strategic plan will map the steps for Jackson State's transition to a future learning system that will empower JSU graduates to compete and become leaders in an increasingly technological and dynamic global marketplace.
"Ultimately, the goal is to produce the kinds of graduates the world will need in the coming decades," Mason said. "Is it ambitious? Yes. Is it something we have to engage in? Absolutely."
More than 150 people attended the meeting, during which university leaders presented reports from strategic planning working groups that focused on academics, technology, finance and resources, and an overall assessment of Jackson State's progress over the past five years.
The next phase of JSU's strategic plan is called "Planning for Greatness." It seeks to move the university toward a future learning system that will strengthen Jackson State's focus on technology and the global economy while operating in a more cost effective manner. Dubbed the "New Academy," the new learning system will be created with input from JSU faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni and the Detroit-based consulting firm the Barthwell Group, which is helping to guide the university through its strategic plan.
One of the next steps in the process is for all department chairs to submit "inclusion reports" to the Office of Academic Affairs and Student Life detailing why their programs should be part of the New Academy. Members of the strategic planning team will evaluate the reports over the summer and the fall and make recommendations in January 2010 about the design of the New Academy.
"My hope is that many of the programs will not go away but will take different shapes and forms," Mason said.
The next steps in the transition to the New Academy include:
" May 29 - Department chairs will submit their "inclusion reports" to the Office of Academic Affairs and Student Life.
" August - University planning leaders will meet with various departments through the summer and submit preliminary recommendations.
" Fall 2009 - Departments will make additional presentations.
" January 2010 - Final recommendations regarding the transition to the future learning system will be announced. For more information, visit http://www.jsums.edu/strategicplanning/.
- JSU -
About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State's nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi's Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.
