Charting the Course:How Far Have We Come?

1999-2008

Charting 10 Years of Progress

… recognizing that we have built on our competencies while moving toward our vision

Clusters of Excellence:Discovery & Innovation

• UARF research, technology transfer, IP management– Initiated collaborative transfer/management with CSU, YSU…– >60% increase in research & grant funding, 1999-2008

• Obtained largest Choose Ohio First grant, 2008– Managing 344 issued & pending patents in 2008 IP portfolio– Spawned 28 start-up companies, 2001-2008

• Collaborative Center in Polymer Photonics (USAF)• Collaborative STEM/critical languages summer

institutes, 3 in 2008 • BioInnovation Institute/ORINEO• Advanced Energy Research Center• Corrosion engineering curriculum

Clusters of Excellence:Cultural Enrichment

• Confucius Institute• College of Creative and Professional Arts• Collaborative STEM/critical languages summer

institutes• The University of Akron Forum Series• Enhanced student programming at E.J. Thomas

Performing Arts Hall• Collaboration in restoring Akron Civic Theatre and

launching Lock 3 Live downtown• Kulas Concert Series, UA JazzFest . . .

Clusters of Excellence:Community Well Being

• New Landscape for Living/University Park Alliance• Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for

both Curricular Engagement and Outreach & Partnerships, 2008

• President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, 2008

• Institute for Health & Social Policy– $13.7 million Wood Foundation grant

• BioInnovation Institute/ORINEO• College of Health Sciences and Human Services• Early College High School, NIHF STEM Middle

School, Growing PSEOP

Clusters of Excellence:Economic Development

• Research, UARF technology transfer, IP portfolio management– >60% increase in research & grant funding, 1999-2008– IP licensing revenue increase from $270,000 to $6.3 million,

2002-2008– UARF returned >$14 million for benefit of University, 2002-08– Spawned 28 start-up companies, 2001-2008

• New Landscape for Living/University Park Alliance– $13 million, Knight Foundation; $200 mill., other external funds

• BioInnovation Institute/ORINEO• Innovation Alliance• Medina County Higher Education Center and

Midpoint Campus with LCCC in Brunswick

• STEM Education• Research and Scholarship

• Workforce Development and Training• Development, Protection, Marketing and Commercialization of New Technologies

Creating the New Materials

for the New Economy

(talent dev.)

Improving Life and Health for

Individuals, Communities, Organizations

Strength and Breadth of Undergraduate Programs

Evolution of Clusters of Excellence-Academic Alignment with USO

Priorities: Student Success

• Successful NCA accreditation visits, 2004 & 2008• Alumni increased from 93k in 1999 to 144k in 2008

– 70% work in Ohio; >3,000 hold CEO, president or VP post– May 2008, largest commencement in 10 years (2009 larger)

• 3.7% increase in first- to second-year retention, Fall 2003-Fall 2007– Efforts include First Year Experience, Learning Communities…

• 84% of UA students now have co-op, internship or clinical learning experience– Since 2003, Career Advantage Network served >40k students

• $10-million, 5-year Academic Investment initiative, 2004-2009

• 1 of 9 universities in Ford Foundation Inclusive Excellence: Diversity Inclusion and Institutional Renewal initiative

Priorities: Information Technology Leadership

• Partnerships with seven I.T. industry leaders began in 2000– including IBM, Cisco Systems, Time Warner and PeopleSoft

• UA ranked third most wireless public campus in U.S., top wireless public campus in Ohio by Intel

• Campus-wide laptop deployments• Proliferation of technology-enhanced classrooms• Exemplary distance-learning facilities & capabilities• PeopleSoft rapid implementations• Innovation Alliance• Shared services leadership; pilot with LCCC

Strategies:Campus Enhancement

• New Landscape for Learning– $500 million investment funded 15 new facilities with more in

progress, 17 major additions or renovations, 2 through streets closed, 34 acres of green space added, greatly enhanced landscaping …

– includes College of Arts & Sciences Building, Polymer Engineering Academic Center, Honors Complex, Gas Turbine Testing Facility, Medina County University Center, Quaker Square,

– as well as “one-stop shop” for student services in new Simmons Hall, new Student Union and Student Recreation & Wellness Center, Bierce Library Learning Commons, Wayne College Building H, Exchange Street Residence Hall

• New Landscape for Living/University Park Alliance

Strategies:Enrollment Management

• 12% student headcount and 20% credit-hour (FTE) increase, 1999-2008– graduate student enrollment up 5% 2006 to 2007,

9% 2007 to 2008– 75% enrollment growth for Medina County Higher Education

Center, spring 2008-spring 2009• 130% growth in entering honors classes, 2002-08

– founding of Honors College – 92% increase in first-time students with SAT/ACT in top 20%,

2002-2008 • 68% PSEOP enrollment increase, 1999-2008• Early College High School

– now serving >200 students in second year of operation– both cohorts on track to graduate with high school degrees

plus 30-60 hours of college credit

Strategies: Revenue Enhancement and Diversification

• 20% credit-hour (FTE) growth, 1999-2008• 13% state operating funds increase, 1999-2008

– 8% growth in state capital funding, 1998-2009• $15 million total in new federal earmarks, 1999-2008• >60% increase in research and grant funding,

1999-2008• IP licensing revenue $270,000 to $6.3 million,

2002-2008– 344 issued & pending patents in 2008 IP portfolio

• UARF spawned 28 start-up companies, 2001-2008• UARF returned >$14 million for UA benefit, 2002-08• 173% increase in annual private donations,

1998-2008 (from $15 million to $41 million)

Strategies:Telling the Story

• Market research shows gains, 1998-2005 studies– 85.7% positive impression of UA (up from 72.1%)– 94.2% aware of UA (up from 88.6%)– top three descriptors of UA now “prestigious, challenging,

comfortable” (before “large, friendly, other”)• 91% increase in applications, 1999-2008

– more instances of being students’ “first choice” or “in top three”• 117% growth in attendance at prospect events,

2004-2007• Enhanced visibility in national policy arena

– NASULGC, PCAST, Council on Competitiveness, “Thought Leadership” Ad Series . . .

• Princeton Review ranks UA among its “Best in the Midwest”

Strategies:Focused Differentiation

• Research, UARF technology transfer and IP portfolio management

• BioInnovation Institute/ORINEO• College of Health Sciences and Human Services• Advanced Energy Research Center• STEM/critical languages summer institutes • NIHF STEM Middle School • Innovation Alliance• Carnegie Academy Campus Program Cluster

co-leader; establishment and success of I.T.L.• Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

for both Curricular Engagement and Outreach & Partnerships

10 Years of Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking

exercises

Draft statement of focused

differentiation

Charting the Course, 1999-2000

Design for Our Future, 2005-06

Academic Alignment Project, 2007-08

Strategic thinking

summaries

Design Principles

1. Leadership 2. Engagement3. Innovation4. Inclusive Excellence 5. Assessment

(from 2008 State of the University Address)

As a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (or STEMM) intensive institution, The University of Akron shall drive economic competitiveness of the region and shall have a unique mission as a center of excellence for the development, protection, marketing and commercialization of new technologies.

. . .

Proposed Statement of Focused Differentiation

. . . It shall do so through purposeful integration of basic and applied research in chemical sciences and engineering, intellectual property law and technology transfer expertise.

The University shall provide competitive and innovative “Access to Excellence” educational, co-operative and cultural experiences, designed in conjunction with business and community partners to engage and prepare graduates for success in the 21st Century global economy. . . .

Proposed Statement of Focused Differentiation

Prime among the innovative educational experiences will be the embedding of entrepreneurial education within a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum.

(from 2008 State of the University Address)

Proposed Statement of Focused Differentiation

ProposedStrategic

Goals

1. Attain $200 million in annual sponsored research activities.

2. Achieve world-class recognition in distinctive technologies in fields such as advanced energy technologies, bio-innovation, advanced materials and health care, and other areas of strategic concern for the region and state.

3. Move to the top 10% in U. S. annual Ph.D. production in the chemical sciences.

. . .

Proposed Strategic Goals

4. Build on our unique mission as a center of excellence for the development, protection, marketing and commercialization of new technologies.

5. Become a regional economic driver for Northeast Ohio.

6. Achieve regional recognition for implementing a unique enriched and engaged undergraduate curriculum in which entrepreneurship and 21st Century global competitiveness skills are embedded comprehensively.

Proposed Strategic Goals

• STEM Education• Research and Scholarship

• Workforce Development and Training• Development, Protection, Marketing and Commercialization of New Technologies

Creating the New Materials

for the New Economy

(talent dev.)

Improving Life and Health for

Individuals, Communities, Organizations

Strength and Breadth of Undergraduate Programs

Evolution of Clusters of Excellence-Academic Alignment with USO

Design Principlesfrom Design for Our Future Academic Plan, 2005-2006

1. Leadership

2. Engagement

3. Innovation

4. Inclusive Excellence

5. Assessment

Harold T. Shapiro, former president of Princeton University and the University of Michigan, was recently elected chairman of the board of DeVry Inc., the publicly traded higher education company that owns DeVry University, Ross University and the Keller Graduate School of Management, among others.

. . .The original story and user comments can be viewed online at http://insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/07/devry.

From Princeton to DeVry

Jan. 7, 2009

“I look forward to working with senior management as we help meet society’s need for career-oriented education in

healthcare, business and technology fields.”Nov. 13, 2008 DeVry News Release