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Show THE FORUM - FEBRUARY 6, The Ten Ifear Strategic Plan the strategic plans jen forums. I hope it aportant role in what i ith the college. Westminster College is currently in the process of creating a ten-ye- ar strategic plan. The ten-yeplan outlines Westminster Colleges future plans in terms of financial, academic and goals that the college wants to complete in the next ten years. Westminster goes through a six-stprocess to create the strategic hockey Player Westminster students d about the new 9 2013 ar on, pres-lugurati- especially its on the recendy Westminster Hockey ep hockey has epresented in his life huge advocate for it, vas able to get a rink ission for plan: 1. Vision Development 2. SWOT(Strengths Weaknesses , Opportunities and Threats) Analysis nother college, said Devine, a student and er. The hockey team have someone in ap- -r power at Westmin-tinfor our sport. it 3. Town Hall Meeting 4. Goal and Objective Development 5. Complete Strategic Plan Development 6. Plan , Feedback Revision, andAp- - g Levin-Stankevi- ch ing hockey as a boy. up in Buffalo, New le continues to occa-- y in the adult leagues. z lists him as the for-- of the Florida Gold k A quote from the strategic planning website on the plans development process, The process aims to help the college focus on what it does best, innovate where we have expertise, and leave behind those practices that do not help strengthen the colleges core focus on learning. Students are encouraged to be a part of the planning process and can do so through the strategic planning website found on the schools webpage. Here is what president had to say about the plan: Its something the campus constructs as a collective, its an opportunity for faculty, staff, trustees, student, and alumni in Levin-Stankevi- ch volvement, to have a say in shaping how were going to meet the challenges of the next 10 years. Because the plan is a work in progress, president had little information to give, but he did mention what direction he would like to see the plan take. Tire bottom line is weve got to continue to improve the quality of our student experience and continue to improve our graduation rates and the time it takes to get a degree. All of these factors affect loan indebtedness and job competitiveness. We also want to make sure we protect those things most valuable to us in the past, primarily the Levin-Stankevi- ch close relationships people create at Westminster. Those sorts of things are coming in loud and clear in the early discussions that weve had. I look forward to some of the challenges that weve had, figuring out how to maintain the smallness of our institution and still provide educational opportunities for people beyond the campus adults coming back to school, graduate programs. ?V-- ' lor Hockey League, ne Americans Youth and the Association, University lub. He was also the risor of the Florida diversity Ice Hockey shington ake Boudreau What do you hope to improve on at Westminster in the coming year? found-Vestmins- ter a continuous improvement that Im really looking at. What Im looking at really is that we have a number of really wonderful assets a Its Hockey ebruaiy 2012. Since g, the club has grown lly and includes 25 - ibers. y club was started give students at the opportunity to learn sport of ice hockey, to promote the game us tiiat has never had ce hockey, said Bou- - i u c 0 : club is not yet their goal is to fin-opi- ng grow into an inter-tockclub team that te with other schools ey an has been a big sup-- e day one. He has of--lt and advice on how :complish our goals. rs. :ome to watch us play Levin-Stankevi- ch 2AL games on ecendy, Dr. Sun-Boudre- Levin-show- au. ed his support n and of the West-ide- nt body by bring- -i moves to the rink. e that he comes out th us. The more the 1 we are just out there said Devine, Presi-i- s really encouraging and its nice to chat after a game to hear ters here and there, nor is competitive but he even let us talk a : on the ice to him. I I I t t sustainability center, a building that is dedicated in which we are to students here, the years and years ahead of most other institutions like us. Weve got die community engagement center. Weve got a lot of centers. What Id like to do is make sure that students are aware of them, accessing them, and taking full advantage of them and incorporating those centers into the full life of the center. Engaging students and really purposlyworking on community engagement, How that really connects with what Im studying in die classroom how can I put that in a portfolio that is going to translate to a future employer or grad school how that has made me person I am today. - What lias been your most rewarding moment since becoming President? Whenever I am introduced to people or run into people, they usually ask what I do and when I tell diem drat I work at Westminster College 1 they ask me what I do there and tell them that I am the President and then they usually go into this really long thing about how much they low the school and how it is diis incredible place and someone they know when to Westminster. That makes me feel good because I know that someone got something positive from your school. What are your favorite memories as an undergraduate at your own alma mater? I was in a rock band and so my favorite memories were with people in the band making music and playing, My longest lasting relationship was with my mentor. He was at my inauguration and now works at John Hopkins, I took my first course from him in 1970 - 42 years ago - and w'ere still in regular communication. I see him whenever I go to DC. He felt enough about our relationship to come out for the inauguration. That was very flattering for me. He was the professor that really got me excited about studying Russia and all things Russian because he was so excited about. Well prepared. They enjoy a challenging academic environment They are very engaged with many things. They know how to multitask; they are curious, bright, very active, and friendly. Most students have some kind of jobs, often times they are in theatre or music or athletics. Im just amazed when people are introduced to me at events at how many things they are doing. Im thinking back to my own college dap I had a hard time getting to class. - What is your view on leadership? More servant leadership than anything. Our students and our faculty do some pretty fascinating things when they get together. I think the role for the rest of us is to preserve that and ensure that is the most important thing it can be. I try to listen to people, to not be overly directive. People who build teams are more successful dr an people who try to build them on their own. There are a lot of leadership books and things you can read but I think the people I most admire are the people who are in it for die right reason. Those who are focused on what they can leave behind, how they can steward the cm konmentinststution for which they are responsible to make sure it is still thriving 50 years from now'. What is the most important piece of adrice you have been given? The most important advice Ive been given How would you describe a Westminster College student? is just to do die rig) it thing. Because at the end of the day its not about whether or not you hate a particular job, youve got to live with yourself at the end of the day. Often, doing the right thing will mean youre going to get some people angry with. ou, but it really is about w hat's right for the institution, what's right for the people we serve, whats right for our community, as opposed to whats right for Brian at Tuesday at 5 pm. Are you interested in expanding the Westminster College Athletic Program? I dont know if its about expanding our athletic programs or if it is more about having our students compete at the highest level they can in an environment that gets die word out about the college in areas of the country that we recruit from. Thats the critical aspect of any college. It gives them a visibility'' in those markets for donors and research. A lot of these conference realignments are at the division 1 level, not at our level mostly. Its more about: where do our students come from? Where would we like to get students? How can we build a reputation in those areas? I consider athletics to be one of the high impact practices in higher education - 1 think die students who participate in intercollegiate athletics gain the same outcomes of intensity as those involved with study abroad or other academic extracuixicuLir. Athletes are able to work with adults who arent just coaches but who have a role that goes beyond teaching the sport Being a leader, being a follower, contributing to something thats bigger than you. ? d |