Preface:

In the next ten years, The Citadel will ensure and enhance the quality of the academic programs and educational experiences offered to its students (both in the Corps of Cadets and in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies) through the following seven strategic priorities, each supported by appropriate goals or objectives. These goals or objectives are intended to identify strategic directions rather than to specify detailed actions. New activities, programs, and pursuits will be considered carefully at all levels in order to ensure the continuing quality of existing programs and activities that are central to the accomplishment of the mission of The Citadel.

A. Develop and formalize leadership programs, activities, and curricula.

•   Integrate and coordinate the various leadership activities on campus.

•   Encourage the introduction of specific courses and programs (graduate and undergraduate) that address the issues of principled leadership within the context of sound academic practice.

•   Maintain staffing levels required to provide the leadership programs and activities necessary to achieve excellence in the education of principled leaders.

[Comment: Inasmuch as The Citadel is committed to promoting leadership and to creating significant opportunities for the exercise of leadership, the College in pursuing this goal might develop a comprehensive concept of leadership and integrate and coordinate all leadership programs, activities, and opportunities.]

B. Make character development and ethics education fundamental components of The Citadel experience.

•   Emphasize character development by promoting formal and informal discussion of ethical principles and of approaches to moral dilemmas in all contexts-academic, athletic, military, and extracurricular.

•   Recognize the achievement of cadets who contribute significantly to the development of character within the Corps.

[Comment: Inasmuch as character, integrity, honesty, and ethics are all closely related to leadership development, the College in pursuing this goal might work to formally integrate character development and ethics into its leadership concept as well as to work to thread character and ethics education into the curriculum and into other programs and activities.]

C. Successfully complete a comprehensive fund-raising program in support of academics, athletics, and student life.

•   Acquire sufficient unrestricted and restricted private funding to allow The Citadel to operate with a stable funding base and to limit annual student tuition and fee increases to the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI).

[Comment: A successful fundraising program is essential to maintaining and enhancing the quality of all of the College's programs and activities. Such funding will permit The Citadel to mitigate reductions in, or inadequate levels of, state higher education appropriations; to address recurring accreditation issues, science and technology obsolescence, and faculty and staff recruiting and retention; to address requirements for construction and maintenance of physical facilities; and to limit student tuition and fee increases.]

D. Significantly enhance the facilities and technological support for students.

•   Continue construction and maintenance in accordance with priorities established in the Comprehensive Permanent Improvement Plan.

•   Reduce deferred maintenance at an acceptable annual rate.

•   Develop and support enhancements in technology that improve the teaching/learning environment and promote effective communication among The Citadel's various constituents.

•   Develop an automated interactive system for cadet accountability to encompass all major aspects of cadet life.

[Comment: Optimal facilities and current technology are two crucial parts of the infrastructure necessary for the success of all our programs. Among other needs, the College in pursuing this goal might make a high priority of the following: reduction in deferred maintenance; construction of a new Law Barracks and specified new academic buildings (Capers Hall and Daniel Library); development of new internet communications with students, alumni, and the public; upgrading computer networks and programs as new technology requires and resources permit; and construction and renovation of athletic facilities.]

E. Enhance the development of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

•   Develop and expand marketing activities in order to optimize program enrollment.

•   Ascertain the feasibility of additional off campus course offerings to include distance learning capabilities.

•   Continually monitor the need for new degree programs and implement them as studies demonstrate that they can be initiated and sustained.

[Comment: The College of Graduate and Professional Studies offers The Citadel opportunities for increasing enrollment. Aside from enhancing marketing efforts, the College in pursuing this goal might study the feasibility of new CGPS degree programs, such as the following: Ed.D. in Administration, M.S. In Electrical and Computer Engineering, M.S. In Leadership, M.S. In Engineering Management, M.S. In Civil and Environmental Engineering, B.S. In Interdisciplinary Studies, and M.S. In Criminal Justice.]

F. Enhance the intellectual and academic learning environment for students and faculty.

•   Maintain accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and gain or maintain accreditation for each accreditable academic program.

•   Develop and implement a Quality Enhancement Plan to improve student learning.

•   Provide scholarship funding sufficient to meet established enrollment goals for academic and athletic programs.

•   Provide resources (equipment, travel, tutors, recruiting, etc.) to enable student athletes to perform at high levels both academically and athletically.

•   Develop and implement a comprehensive plan to integrate academic support programs and to augment them as necessary to meet the goals of the institution.

•   Develop and implement a comprehensive plan to attract, select, and retain graduate and undergraduate students with high academic potential.

[Comment: the recruitment of undergraduate and graduate students of high academic potential is central to the College's efforts to enhance the academic and learning environment. The specific actions identified above will enable the College to accomplish this as well as to retain and challenge these students.]

G. Ensure that the college has the leadership and talent necessary to accomplish these goals.

•   Ensure that The Citadel recruits, develops, and retains the faculty, staff, and administration necessary to accomplish the goals of the institution.

•   Ensure competitive salaries for faculty and staff as compared to our peer institutions.

[Comment: This priority recognizes that, just as students of high academic potential are central to the learning environment, so too are a talented and effective faculty and staff.]

Adopted November 2002