Rowan University,Along with the hundreds who apply daily, I want to work at Rowan University. Instead of just sending my resume, I have decided to be proactive and have analyzed of where Rowan University needs to focus to eliminate their challenges and improve their weaknesses as outlined in your One Page Strategic Plan.

Rowan is Expanding

• Goal of expanding to 25,000 students by 2024– Additional Housing: Freshman

Village (1400) & Camden (600)– Gloucester County College &

possible shared resources– College of Graduate and

Continuing Education to Global Learning and Partnerships

– New Buildings and Expansion down Rowan Boulevard

What’s stunting Rowan’s growth?

• Rowan University needs to be more proactive about its challenges– Identity and Visibility

• 70% commuters (only 4.385 of 14,778 students live on campus)• Most growth to happen in the graduate and online programs

– Finances• Currently reactive and leveraged with a dependency on tuition

– Clarity of purpose• Why do students choose Rowan? What do businesses/alumni think of

Rowan? What does Rowan University care about?

Why this matters

• Increased competition– Students have more colleges to choose

from• Expansion

– These issues may bloom exponentially as the school grows if not corrected now

• New costs– As the University grows, we will need new

sources of revenue

I can fix these challenges.

Where to start

• Rowan University should show a renewed focus on Student-Centeredness– Add to mission statement: Rowan strives to provide a quality,

student-centered experience through programs, services, and involvement opportunities which celebrate diversity, promote retention, and foster leadership and student development.

– New tagline: Where students come first. – Reevaluate student centered offices’ needs

• Many offices severely understaffed and/or underfunded• Ex: Volunteerism, Healthy Campus Initiatives, Graduate/Online offices, etc.

• This will fix the lack of clear focus and clarity of priorities

Where to start

• Rowan University should show a renewed focus on Student Engagement – Redistribute resources more evenly

• Engaging students is more than just weekend programming– Encourage cosponsored events

• Require offices to collaborate to reach more students– Incorporate engagement into academics

• Encourage faculty to promote and collaborate with offices on campus– Engaged students = engaged alumni

• By adding value to a student now, you are encouraging a future alumni donation

• This will fix the financial dependencies, clarity of vision, and reactive/dependent environment.

Where to start

• Rowan University should show a renewed focus on Transparency and Accountability.– Research shows knowledge can improve value and opinion

• Example: Parking at Rowan University– Follow through and follow up on new ideas, concepts,

offices, etc.– Be visible and available for students and faculty

• Top management disconnected from daily operations• Office visits need to be conducted to see staff and student interactions

and needs

• This will fix the culture and clarity of priorities.

Will there be challenges?

• Rowan University’s biggest challenge is its current culture– Apathetic, resistant to change and learned-helplessness

• Solution: The Holistic Student– Keeps academic focus with a new emphasis on

extracurricular activities • Volunteering, career development, etc. can be integrated into the

classroom– Allows students to get better jobs

• Employers looking for more than just grades (leadership, contentiousness, etc.)

– Reenergizes faculty and staff• Restores meaning to their job while giving Rowan the opportunity to

address issues such as compensation and employee resources

“It’s a great investment for us to pay attention to the quality of life for students, provide advising, mentorship and all this support so that they feel comfortable here, they feel happy here, and study here and graduate here. That is a wonderful result for everyone.”- President Houshmand

What Rowan will gain

• Competitive Advantage– This plan will add value; Rowan University can boast it has the advantages of a

large school (research and academics) with a small school touch (student centeredness and engagement).

• Innovative Ideas– Fits stated opportunity of becoming a national model for a vibrant, proactive,

reputable institution; focuses on quality of excellence. • Stronger Graduates

– Happier and more well-rounded students will be more competitive in the job market; will encourage more donations and partnerships between Rowan, alumni, and businesses.

• Good Publicity– Encourage more enrollment of students and partnerships with alumni and

businesses.

Why I belong at Rowan

• Relatable– I have been an undergraduate student, graduate

student, and an employee within the past four year.• Engaging

– I have led campus-wide initiatives aimed at students and staff.

• Passionate & Committed– I have embodied the #RowanPROUD spirit throughout

my college career. I believe in Rowan’s potential.• Driven

– I will work to implement this plan single-handedly if need be; I am diligent and will put the effort in to do the job whole-heartedly and correctly.

Where I belong at Rowan

• Volunteerism, Community Engagement & Commuter Services– Bring Volunteer Sessions to every Freshman Seminar and Senior Capstone Class– Run 4 volunteer projects a week (currently run 2 per week)– Expand commuter programming with monthly forums & collaborations with offices that have trouble reaching

the commuter population– Enhance Student Learning Outcome Assessments

• Global Learning- Graduate– Establish a Graduate Senate– Run focus groups to figure out extent of needs– Establish a graduate mentor program with tristate businesses

• Alumni Relations– Foster better relationship with current alumni (more resources and programming)– Establish an alumni mentor network for currently enrolled students– Work with student offices to run programming to encourage donations after graduation

• Where ever Rowan sees fit– I am open to learning new skills and being a part of new and different offices around campus.

Key Points

1. If Rowan University can become more student centered, it can add value, improve its culture, and be more competitive.

2. More engaged students lead to more engaged alumni and less dependency on tuition.

I’d love to discuss this plan with you!Contact me to learn more:

By LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisejohnston

By email:johnst08@students.rowan.edu

By phone: 609-413-2578

Sincerely,Alexis JohnstonClass of 2015, MBA

Sources

• http://www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/main_office/mission/• http://www.rowan.edu/home/about/leadership• http://www.rowan.edu/open/usp/onepage/• http://www.thewhitonline.com/board-of-trustees-discuss-tui

tion-raise-approve-12-new-degrees/

• http://www.thewhitonline.com/project-3-opens-office-aims-to-create-social-change-on-campus/

• http://www.thewhitonline.com/rowan-begins-multimillion-dollar-renovation-project/

• http://annenberginstitute.org/commentary/2012/11/student-centered-education-starts-student-led-reform

• http://getinvolved.lbjsc.txstate.edu/about/mission.html• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-le

ad/why-university-students-need-a-well-rounded-education/article4610406/?page=2

• http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottedinger/2012/08/07/three-cs-of-implementing-strategy/

• http://www.forbes.com/sites/marketshare/2012/03/25/how-do-you-change-your-companys-culture-spark-a-movement/