Buena Vista University Engages in Process to Address Higher Education Challenges
Buena Vista University has completed a year-long comprehensive self-assessment of its academic, administrative and co-curricular programs and services, called Prioritization. BVU chose to undertake this evaluation to address growing challenges that are affecting higher education on state and national levels.
Buena Vista University has completed a year-long comprehensive self-assessment of its academic, administrative and co-curricular programs and services, called Prioritization. BVU chose to undertake this evaluation to address growing challenges that are affecting higher education on state and national levels.
The financial, demographic, political and cultural trends in higher education over the past several years call for bold action by higher education institutions. BVU is taking this opportunity to capitalize on its academic effectiveness, leverage its financial strengths, and secure and shape its future. "We face an environment that is shaking the very foundations of higher education. Our Prioritization plan is an effort to respond to this new environment," said BVU President Fred Moore.
BVU approached this process from a position of financial stability as one of the most financially fit colleges in the Midwest. The university ranks in the top 20 percent of the nation's private colleges for financial strength and operational soundness, according to Forbes' 2014 College Financial Health Grades report, which analyzed the balance sheets of 925 private not-for-profit colleges in fiscal year 2010-11.
"Our track record is solid, but we aim to be even more intentional in today's uncertain economic and regulatory era. We're well-positioned to champion reforms and re-imagine ways to deliver the best learning experience for our students," said Moore. "We're constructing new opportunities to help students get the most out of their investment, to graduate on time and lessen potential indebtedness and to be exceptionally well-prepared for their careers."
The most significant outcome of the Prioritization process will be the implementation over the next few years of "Big Ideas" that were proposed during the process. These ideas include a bachelor's plus one master's degree program focused on education, science and business; a student outcomes guarantee regarding internships, jobs or graduate school success within four-years; creating new disciplinary and interdisciplinary bachelor's degrees to meet job market demand; and expansion into new markets.
The university conducted a comprehensive review of all of its programs, and the Board of Trustees made the final decisions. The process included many members of the faculty, staff and leadership from across the university who gathered extensive internal and external data. The information was compiled and evaluated by internal teams, whose evaluations were then used by Moore and the President's Council of senior leaders from the university to develop recommendations for the Board of Trustees, which ultimately approved those recommendations.
Included in the final decisions was some reorganization of administrative and co-curricular programs to leverage departmental collaborations. Also included was discontinuance of these academic programs: Chinese, German and Japanese general education courses and minors; international studies minor; philosophy and religion major/minor (general education courses remain); public administration major/minor (to be integrated into political science); social science major/minor (discontinued Storm Lake only; maintained in Graduate & Professional Studies program); and sociology minor (discontinued Storm Lake only; maintained in Graduate & Professional Studies program). All affected programs will be taught out for current students and incoming Fall 2015 students through their anticipated graduation dates.
"Unfortunately, as part of this process, there are some personnel who will be affected," said Moore. "We are working with those whose positions are being eliminated to ensure they are treated fairly, and they will be receiving severance and additional job transition and employee assistance services."
Future BVU students will benefit from this process with new opportunities, heightened preparation for the existing job market and the possibility of earning a degree in a shorter time.
"The decisions made as a result of this process will enhance BVU in important ways and will play an integral role in helping us achieve the objectives of our strategic plan," said Moore. "The financial resources that are being reallocated will strengthen BVU, as a whole, in the years to come."
Additional details about the Prioritization process, the results and other resources are available at www.bvu.edu/prioritization.