DuBois chancellor shares strategic plan for campus

DuBois chancellor shares strategic plan for campus

Credit: Penn State Public Information Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald

DuBois, Pa. -- On Friday, July 9, Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald gave Penn State Board of Trustees members a quick overview of the campus strategic plan when the board met at the campus for its meeting. Each year, the July board meeting is held at one of the other 23 Penn State locations to give Trustees a first-hand view of life and operations on various Penn State campuses. With this meeting taking place at DuBois during the 75th anniversary of the campus, McDonald seized the opportunity to showcase the best that Penn State DuBois has to offer and to highlight future plans.

"In our 2009–13 Strategic Plan we organized our key goals into five themes," McDonald said. "They are access, operational excellence, quality and reputation, growth, and transformation. Doing so allowed all campus units to contribute to each theme and therefore the entire plan."
Under the access category, McDonald explained that she is always looking for new ways to make it convenient for students to attend, noting that many of them must travel long distances.

"Today, the service area for the campus is nine counties, representing the largest geographic region of any campus outside of University Park. Students come from as far north as the New York border and as far south as north Indiana County," she said. "These miles are not on highways, but rural, two-lane roads." She explained that forming good relationships with area landlords was one goal of the strategic plan, to provide students opportunities to move closer to campus.

In terms of operational excellence on campus, McDonald said she strives for cross training of staff so that they have the ability to easily take over in the absence of a colleague, creating no disruption in service to students.

"Quality and reputation begin with our faculty and this has been another banner year for them," McDonald said. The chancellor outlined faculty members who had made significant accomplishments in the past year, as well as those recognized by the University for their work.

McDonald also noted the success the campus has had in securing funding for research. In 2008-09, the campus received almost $1.8 million dollars and in 2009-10, faculty garnered about $1.3 million.

The strategic goal of growth, McDonald said, will be realized through the addition of programs that match the needs of area industry and students. The chancellor said the campus plans to add program options that have a demand, with an eye toward collaborating across campuses. Alternative delivery methods, such as Penn State's World Campus, the new Video Learning Network and more online classes should help boost opportunities for students.

To bring to life the goal of transformation, McDonald said that offering new and alternative services, and expanding diversity are key elements. Recruitment has reached far beyond the campus' traditional service area, she said. This has brought international students to campus, as well as students from varied ethnic backgrounds.

In terms of new services, McDonald spoke of the Office of Technology Transfer at Penn State DuBois. Established to help small businesses and inventors secure funding and research opportunities, the office has developed a model that fosters entrepreneurship and innovation.

"We have been able to create this office with grant and internal funding and it is an exciting initiative," she said. "It demonstrates our ability to serve our area industries and creative individuals, while also giving our students real life issues to solve, interaction with local employers and research projects guided by their faculty."