We Are Growing Student Retention, While Enhancing Our Collaborative Workforce

This is an especially challenging time in American higher education in which the traditional business model is no longer viable. Susquehanna University is in a hyper-competitive market, and much like other colleges and universities, faces a geographic redistribution of potential students and an impending national decline in traditional-aged students. To guarantee sustained prosperity, Susquehanna must execute on its strategic plan emphasizing a student-centered experience built on institutional strengths that allows for a barrier-free navigation of the college experience, more meaningful student employment, and better career pathways for staff.

Many of our campus administrative structures were developed 60 and 80 years ago and do not align with the needs and experiences of contemporary students. We must transform how we do our work to respond to our dynamic environment, improve the experience of our students, encourage persistence, and enhance the employment opportunities of our colleagues.

The disruption of the pandemic has forced us to review and revise many campus practices, and the work of the CenSUs task force has also affirmed the necessity of institutional transformation to meet the needs of today’s students. Against this dynamic backdrop, we will work throughout the coming months to review and rethink how we do our work together so that by the Fall of 2021 we will:

• Provide a more integrated, personalized, and efficient student experience using journey mapping, process mapping, and design thinking.
• Incorporate universal design into campus planning, building design, and classroom and work practices.
• Eliminate redundant and unnecessary activities that compete with institutional priorities.
• Implement inclusive campus practices and policies that recognize the unique characteristics and needs of all members of our community.
• Eliminate inclusion barriers that are hidden by traditional cultural practices.

ACADEMIC STEERING COMMITTEE

Committee Chair
Alissa Packer – associate professor of biology

Committee Members

Jennifer Asmuth – associate professor of psychology

Nicholas Clark – associate professor of political science, director of public policy, department head of political science

Emma Fleck – associate professor of management and marketing, department head of management and marketing

Amanda Lenig – assistant professor of art & design

Monica Prince – assistant professor of English & creative writing

David Richard – professor of biology

Laurence Roth – professor of English, co-department head of English & creative writing, director of jewish studies

David Steinau – associate professor of music, department head of music

Kathy Straub – professor of earth & environmental science, department head of earth & environmental science

Shan Yan – associate professor of finance and analytics, department head of finance and analytics

Coleen Zoller – professor of philosophy, department head of philosophy

ADMINISTRATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE

Committee Co-Chairs:

Jennifer Bucher - vice president for human resources

Michael Coyne - executive vice president

Committee Members:

Danielle Brown – assistant provost for institutional effectiveness and strategic initiatives

Reuben Councill – senior associate director of transfer admission

Jill Franklin – assistant director of leadership and engagement / greek life

Sharief Hashim – director of athletics

Virginia Motyka – senior director of the center for academic success

Dale Ovelman – associate director of facilities management

Alison Richard – registrar

Justin Rummel – assistant vice president for student financial services

Jennifer Servedio – chief information officer

Michaeline Shuman – assistant provost and director of career development