=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The Awareness Campaign will be continued into its second year (Phase = II) and will emphasize College-level programmatic offerings while = connecting conceptually to University-wide, Phase I effort that was = implemented in 2005-2006.\
Implementation of the online application process.=C2=A0 Our = hand-driven application process is cumbersome and time consuming.=C2=A0 = This affects our ability to process applications in a timely manner, = which in turn affects each program's abilities to admit students in a = timely manner.
The web presence for Graduate Studies will be renovated to become = more informative and easier to navigate.
Improve our graduate recruitment efforts through the following = actions:

Continue the development and implementation of the Recruitment = Initiatives.
Continue to improve our communication plan and inquiry response = plan.
Develop more effective recruitment events and strategies.

Investigate matters of graduate student retention and timely = completion toward graduation.

For this upcoming year, the goal will be to define the problem, its = severity, and its causes.=C2=A0 Subsequent years will be used to improve = retention and timely completion.

Development of FGCU policies for graduate education.=C2=A0 The = following actions will be taken:

Determine what policies needs are outstanding.
Develop drafts of those policies.
Submit those policies for review through the GAT Graduate Policy and = Appeals Subcommittee and the Faculty = Senate.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The effectiveness of the Awareness Campaign will be assessed = by:

The development of plan and proposal for Phase II, comparable to = what was developed for Phase I.
Acquisition of funds through Academic Affairs with matching funds = from the Colleges to support the marketing initiatives.
If funded, the Phase II marketing plan and the advertising efforts = will be implemented.
Inquiries to the Graduate Studies Office and to the program PR = representatives will be monitored and compiled.
A survey instrument will be developed for graduate students that are = both admitted and entering a program to determine the effectiveness of = the advertising measures.

Change-over to an online application process is somewhat outside = Graduate Studies' control and depends upon the generosity and schedules = of a number of other offices.=C2=A0

Assuming this is not a constraint, the achievement of this goal will = be assessed by the successful implementation and use of the online = application by prospective graduate students next academic year.
The effect this change on our Graduate Admissions Officer use of = time will be measured.

The new web pages will be developed and implemented next academic = year.=C2=A0 Their effectiveness will be assessed by:

Asking a number of internal and external educators and = administrators to critique the web resources.

Our recruitment efforts will be assessed as follows:

Faculty receiving money to support Recruitment Initiatives will be = asked to provide summary reports.
Meetings will be arranged with Program Coordinators and PR = Representatives to discuss the effectiveness of our inquiry response and = communications plans.
Attendance at recruitment events will be monitored = closely.

In order to define the seriousness of our retention and timely = graduation problems, the following measures will be taken:

Data will be compiled concerning attrition rates and = time-to-graduation terms for each of the Graduate Programs.
A series of interviews will be scheduled with Program Coordinators, = Graduate Faculty Mentors, and Graduate Students to assess the = problem.

Graduate policies will be drafted and subjected to the review = process.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

Effectiveness of the Awareness Campaign will be indicated by:

The successful funding and implementation of Phase II of the = marketing plan.
The realization of significant number of resulting inquiries.
An indication that the marketing measures had positive effects upon = applicants as indicated on the survey instrument.

If the switch to an online application, significantly reduces the = time needed to process applications and the time to delivery to the = programs, the measure will be viewed as a success.
The critiques obtained from the web reviewers will determine how = effective the web pages are.
Success concerning our recruitment efforts will be gauged by:

Well used Recruitment Initiative monies.
Positive feedback from Program Coordinators and PR = Representatives.
Improved attendance at recruitment events.

The data compiled concerning retention and the feedback from the = interviews / meetings will illuminate the problem's seriousness.
Policies which survive through the review process are considered = successful.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

The marketing associated with the Awareness Campaign is = expensive.=C2=A0 Results from the assessment will be used to gauge the = relative effectiveness of the different marketing approaches, and = adjustments to future marketing efforts will be made.
The online application process presumably can be improved.=C2=A0 = This will be explored if a time savings doesn't result.
This will be the first time a concerted effort will be undertaken to = improve the web resources for Graduate Studies.=C2=A0 The web pages will = undoubtedly be a work in progress.
All recruitment efforts are adaptive and can be altered to reflect = better practices.
Results concerning the definition of a retention problem will lead = to the development of practices to improve retention that will be = implemented in subsequent years.
Graduate policies may need to be recrafted and subjected to further = review.

=C2=A0

Section B

Resources

=C2=A0

What additional resources have you requested and received a = commitment for during 2006-2007 from your area VP or the President that = is based on your analysis of assessment data for = 2005-2006?

Funding has been requested to support a half-time OPS employee to = help handle the increased number of inquiries we are received, as a = result of the Awareness Campaign, and to help with the processing of = applications.
Two of the Recruitment Initiatives (faculty travel and student = interview travel) will be funded next year at the same levels: $25,000 = for the former; $5,000 for the latter.

=C2=A0

What additional resource needs do you have for fulfillment = of your goals that you wish for consideration from your area VP or the = President that is based on your analysis of assessment data for = 2005-2006?

Graduate Studies requests up to $30,000 to support Phase II of the = Awareness Campaign in 2006-2007.=C2=A0 Colleges will be asked to provide = funds to match this dollar amount, hopefully providing a total of = $60,000 to support Phase II.
Graduate Studies request $5,000 from the University Foundation to = support entertainment expenses associated with our recruitment = events.
A request for GAship needs is out among the Colleges.=C2=A0 Up to = $60,000 will be needed to support service- and = teaching-related=C2=A0GAships.
Additional travel money is requested to support professional meeting = travel and recruitment events.
Monies for 3 societal membership are requested: Council of Graduate = Schools, Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, and National = Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals.
All these requests are reflected in the draft budget submitted to = Academic=C2=A0Affairs.

=C2=A0

Section C

Assessment = Plans

=C2=A0

What assessments are you planning to conduct during = 2006-2007?

Assessments are outlined = above.

=C2=A0

Section D

Coming Year - Strategic Plan = Contributions

=C2=A0