Notre Dame of Maryland Strategic Plan 2008-2013
Dedicated to Excellence. Committed to the World.
Vision Statement
Notre Dame is dedicated to transforming the world, one well-educated and empowered student at a time. For over one hundred years, Notre Dame has offered exceptional educational opportunities, with a special commitment to women. In our next decade, we will be a recognized national leader and global partner in advancing the education of women.
We will achieve this vision through the pursuit of four mission-related signatures:
- Be a global citizen
- Learn in centers of excellence
- Engage in a distinctive learning environment
- Drive growth through innovation
Be a global citizen
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Curricula: Cross-cultural competence through courses and experiences |
Partnerships: Global partners for women's education |
Sustainability: Responsible stewards of the environment and community |
| Prepare our students to live and work in a global environment through developing cross-cultural competencies | Expand international exchange programs for staff and faculty | Identify opportunities to combine cost savings with reduction of negative environmental impact |
| Prepare our students to understand that cultural differences can extend to those of diverse age groups, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, etc. | Partner with SSND international initiatives to address peace and global concerns: SSND UN NGO and SSND Shalom Initiative. | Develop new courses, programs, and/or certificates that address sustainability |
| Use existing speaker series to showcase global/local concerns on mission-related issues. | Identify "global neighborhood" projects | Showcase present courses that focus on sustainability, stewardship, and advancing women’s role in this area |
| Expand study abroad across all programs | Develop new affiliations with partner schools | |
| Increase presence of international students on campus | Collaborate with programs (Catholic Relief Services, USAID, e.g.) nationally and internationally to advance women’s education |
Technology for global classrooms, Wiki learning environment, podcasts
Learn in centers of excellence
| Adult Education | Sciences | Education | Liberal Arts/Professional |
| Determine and respond to market demand through innovative and flexible course delivery formats (e.g. on-line and hybrid courses) | Identify next steps in program development with nursing program | Identify infrastructure and funding for developing a school of education | Establish entrepreneurship minor to complement any major |
| Partner to expand access (HCC and US Army, hospitals) | Launch School of Pharmacy | Identify new master’s programs and enhance BA/MAT with four initial certifications | Provide experiential learning for every undergraduate student (developmental career exposure and counseling; undergraduate research, service learning, internships and study abroad) |
| Provide mentoring and career guidance for women coming back to school | Expand and market pre- pharmacy, pre-med, pre-dental, pre-vet | Assess need for international Special Education and Educational leadership opportunities | Expand Alumnae mentoring |
| Develop Honors program for adult part-time students | Begin science/math summer camps for middle-school girls ( e.g. Sally Ride) | Develop an Institute for Leadership in Catholic Schools | Develop Renaissance Institute partnerships |
| Establish articulation agreements with professional schools | Launch a nationally recognized Math Education Center | Showcase programs that blend liberal learning and professional (Pre-law, Digital Media Arts) | |
| Showcase under-graduateresearch through on- and off-campus opportunities | Articulate the value of liberal arts education in ways that translate for today’s college student |
Campus-wide grant and research office (expanded Fulbright, Truman, Marshall, Rhodes etc.)
Partnerships(Community colleges, business, non-profits, hospitals, high schools, international); Technology; Advisory Boards for fundraising; Recruitment and retention goals (particularly in top seven majors)
Engage in a distinctive learning environment
| Values-based education grouded in Catholic tradition | Services to support success |
Living balanced and healthy lives in a vibrant campus community | Programs that showcase women's leadership | Innovative and student-centered pedagogy |
| Enhance emphasis on Catholic social teaching in curricular and co-curricular learning environment | Assess need for childcare services | Create dynamic space for living, learning and recreation | Build and grow the newly established Transformational leaders and Renaissance Scholars | Develop a Center for Teaching Innovation to provide faculty development in all areas related to student-centered pedagogy |
| Enhance integration of Catholic tradition into the curricular and co-curricular learning environment | Develop an Academic and Career enhancement center (Tutoring: online and face-to-face, Writing Center, Counseling, and Service Learning) | Enhance athletic facilities including fitness center, playing fields and swimming pool | Build on success of Morrissy Honors Program | Develop a focused integrated undergraduate research program |
| Identify curricular and co-curricular programming to create an inclusive spiritual community | Expand Web communication for students: Create an online environment where students can access for a full range of services; Create ways for students to build community and network socially in a Web environment | Integrate students across all divisions into campus community | Develop other “pathway” programs (e.g. international, sustainability) | Deepen and broaden assessment of learning outcomes, particularly of liberal arts skills |
| Use an ethics-based personal and professional model in preparing our students | Provide public health education for campus and community with special focus on women’s health | Showcase the number and quality of our Scholar/Athletes | ||
| Assess campus initiatives that expose students to the arts (theater, music, dance, art, etc.) to determine needs and satisfaction | Develop learning communities that highlight mission/values |
Drive growth through innovation
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Examine boundaries between disciplines to create innovative, integrated and interdisciplinary programs |
| Be nimble and proactive in exploring new programs that align with mission and market demands |
| Reorganize structure to promote innovation |
| Ensure that time, personnel and resources be devoted to encouraging innovation for growth in a knowledge economy |
| Establish partnership with businesses, educational institutions, and government to enhance and build our strategic signatures |
| Monitor accountability measures and promote overall institutional effectiveness |
Values and mission
- Student Success
- Faith and Spirituality
- Leadership
- Women’s Education
- Global solidarity