By Steve Keenan
MONTGOMERY — Over the next few months, Dr. Scott Hurst aims to involve the extended WVU Tech community in developing the university’s strategic plan to cover the next five years.
On Tuesday, Hurst, the Tech campus provost, briefed faculty, staff, students and the general public on the process undertaken thus far to set the framework for the strategic plan.
While indicating the work already done by a 15-member cabinet and an outside facilitator to prepare for the community’s involvement in the process, Hurst stressed two main components in seeing the plan to its fruition: transparency and collaboration. “That’s two key things,” he stressed. “It’s important for it to be transparent and collaborative.”
Calling the plan “somewhat of a living process,” Hurst said it will take contributions from a variety of sectors for the plan to be a success.
“We’re not rolling out the answers,” he said. “We’re trying to outline what we’ve done so far.”
“This is a process of getting you involved,” added Hurst, who said there will be “ample opportunities to participate. We want to enlist your support. It’s very important that students, faculty, staff and the greater community are involved.”
The provost said a target of this May has been set to complete the written plan.
In a recent two-day retreat, cabinet members discussed a vision statement, which Hurst said is expected to soon be placed on the school’s Web site. In addition, they articulated seven strategic areas of focus, including recruitment and retention of a diverse student body, enhancing academic life and the school’s resources, and improvement of campus facilities. Hurst said a “candid and free flow of ideas” will allow the development of action plans in support of those focus areas.
One of the action plans in which he’s personally involved is the possible reinstatement of a task force exploring the relationship between WVU and WVU Tech and “how we can collaborate for the benefit of Tech (a division of WVU).”
The cabinet is slated to meet today to finalize the initial work it began in December, Hurst said.
As the process evolves, Hurst said it will also be imperative to involve members of the local legislative body, local municipalities and Tech alumni.
— E-mail:
skeenan@register-herald.com
