Jabari Ben

The meeting provided a broad update on the university's status, including the launch of a new university college to support student persistence and retention, and the implementation of various living and learning communities. Key discussion topics included the utilization of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) for infrastructure and innovation grants, ongoing partnerships with Phoebe Putney Memorial Health Systems and the Marine Corps Logistics Base, and an update on the faculty and staff compensation and classification study. Additionally, the administration discussed fiscal affairs process improvements, leadership changes in the finance and administration department, and the re-engagement of the staff council.

The meeting covered quarterly updates including progress on the 2025 strategic plan and student success initiatives. Key discussions involved the proposed deactivation of several low-enrolled academic programs with plans to retool them into high-demand areas. The meeting also highlighted ongoing collaborations with IBM in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, and reviewed the campus facilities master plan, focusing on housing, trail construction, and infrastructure improvements.

The town hall meeting served as an introduction for the university's 11th president, Dr. Robert Scott. Key discussion topics included the new president's vision for growth and development, his commitment to social mobility, and his strategy for strengthening the university's endowment through storytelling and strategic fundraising. The discussion also addressed concerns regarding potential federal budget cuts to education programs and the importance of financial efficiency and maximizing impact for students.

The ASU 2025 Strategic Plan is designed to achieve new heights of excellence through four strategic goals. These goals encompass enhancing student access and success, ensuring institutional sustainability and responsible stewardship, fostering partnership and economic competitiveness, and promoting leadership development and employee engagement. Key areas of focus include increasing enrollment, expanding academic programs, optimizing efficiency, securing new funding avenues, building community relationships, and investing in professional development and performance excellence.

This Quality Enhancement Plan Annual Review for the 2021-2022 academic year details the progress of the Guiding Persistence to Success (#GPS) initiative at Albany State University. The plan aims to significantly improve the student learning environment and impact retention, progression, and graduation rates. Key strategies reviewed include implementing progress reports, refining the advising model, establishing study tables, undertaking course redesigns for high-enrollment courses, and utilizing peer mentoring. The plan's goals are to decrease DFW rates in targeted courses, reduce student probation/suspension rates, increase first-year retention, and enhance student awareness of academic resources.