Strategy 4 - Actions

1. Ensure the provision of a general education and liberal arts programs of high quality.

• Review the general education program with the goal of improving program quality; develop distinctive alternatives to the delivery of the general education curriculum to place USF at a competitive advantage in recruiting a diverse body of outstanding students, e.g. theme-based clusters, international experiences, service learning opportunities; enhance student awareness of globalization, cultural diversity, and culture and the arts; enhance connections between the general education program and disciplines and professions.
• Increase general education course offerings to match FTIC enrollment growth.
• Strengthen core areas of the general education curriculum to reduce unmet demand for required lab courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and geology and to strengthen fundamental skills in critical thinking, writing, and mathematics.
• Enhance facilities to support undergraduate instruction including expanded facilities for science teaching labs, large auditoria, and an integrated teaching/learning center for information literacy with student study spaces and student support services.
• Increase opportunities for students to attend and understand performances, exhibitions, and concerts, in the arts.
• Support arts and culture programs as collaborative activities with student organizations and events.
• Initiate a Ph.D. in Liberal Studies.

2. Provide a variety of academic enrichment programs to respond student interests and societal needs.

• Increase the number of students participating in national and international exchange, study-abroad programs, and intensive language programs.
• Enhance programs/courses that deal with regional histories and cultures, world languages, and international studies.
• Expand learning options for students by adding new programs in Architecture, Applied Sciences, Washington Intern Program; Leadership Development
• Implement the network portal system, a single-access electronic gateway to support classes, organizations, and services relevant to student academic development.
• Expand the delivery of complete programs and certificates on-line/web-based, e.g., Career and Workforce Education, Instructional Technology, Music Education (MA Plan I), School Principalship, Gifted Education, Health Professions

3. Expand and enhance graduate education programs (see Strategy One: Research and Graduate Education).

4. Expand the number of faculty receiving awards from prominent academies and fellowship programs in the Arts, Humanities, Sciences, Engineering, and Health areas, e.g., Fulbright Scholars, American Council of Learned Society Fellows, National Humanities Fellows, NIH Investigator Awards, NSF CAREER awards, RWJ Policy Fellows.

5. Expand academic support services that foster academic success.

• Expand the Writing Center to assist students develop effective writing skills.
• Expand the Mathematics Center to improve student performance in college math classes and related classes

6. Conduct a systematic review of academic programs to ensure institutional effectiveness in the delivery of instruction.

• Assess student learning outcomes in each academic department and implement strategies to improve performance where appropriate
• Review academic programs to ensure the delivery of high quality programs and implement strategies to improve performance where appropriate, including strategies to increase participation by individuals from underrepresented groups.
• Utilize outcomes of educational research and scholarship to enhance high quality pedagogical delivery of programs to students from diverse backgrounds.

7. Establish a salary enhancement program that rewards highly productive faculty in the areas of teaching, research and community engagement.

• Increase faculty salaries to competitive levels with Research I universities within a five-year period.
• Implement an Academic Enrichment Program to identify and recruit outstanding, diverse faculty members.