Strategic plan

The IPFW Strategic Plan is centered on a vision of the campus achieving national recognition as an outstanding regional university. The plan also includes a new mission statement for IPFW:

To offer a broad range of high quality undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs that meet regional needs, to support excellence in teaching and learning, to advance and share knowledge through research and creative endeavor, and to work with the community to develop intellectual, cultural, economic and human resources.

What's in the plan?

Five general goals and several specific strategies were identified for achieving the campus mission.

• Goal 1 focuses on providing innovative, relevant and rigorous academic programs.

• Goal 2 commits IPFW to creating an exceptional campus environment for a diverse community of learners.

• Goal 3 identifies strategies for promoting the scholarly and creative achievement of faculty, students and staff.

• Goal 4 addresses ways to advance the quality of life in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.

• Goal 5 emphasizes the ongoing improvement of university operations.

The Strategic Plan also describes ways that IPFW will measure its progress in achieving these goals. In addition to measurements taken over time, the university will compare itself to peer institutions. IPFW peer institutions include: Boise (Idaho) State University, Cleveland (Ohio) State University, Northern Kentucky University, Oakland (Mich.) University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, University of Texas-El Paso, Wright State University (Ohio) and Youngstown (Ohio) State University. The Strategic Plan also includes plans for the funding of several key investment areas, including support for students and faculty, improvements in classrooms and laboratories, and new degree programs. Facilities projects to be pursued during the next five to 10 years include: a Center for the Arts, Helmke Library expansion and renovation, a new health sciences building, Kettler Hall renovation and establishment of student housing.

Progress Reports

IPFW's accomplishments will be reviewed and a progress report will be prepared each year. The Strategic Plan itself will be updated as priorities are accomplished and new needs are identified.

According to Chancellor Michael A. Wartell, the Strategic Plan “provides a framework for expanding IPFW's service to northeast Indiana. We are already seeing growing enrollments and recognition of our accomplishments. We will use the plan to move to higher levels of accomplishment in helping students achieve, improving our degree programs and serving our region.”

IPFW is well positioned to move to the next level of excellence among institutions of higher learning. The student body is looking less like that at a commuter college and more like a traditional university. At the same time, IPFW preserves the accessibility that larger schools lack while still offering a value in higher education.

The IPFW Strategic Plan may be found on the IPFW Web site at:

http://www.ipfw.edu/vcaa/plan

For more information about IPFW, visit:
http://www.ipfw.edu/