Mission and Core Values

Iowa Wesleyan University is a transformational learning community whose passion is to educate, empower and inspire students to lead meaningful lives and careers.

Learning & Community:

We value a love of learning, a desire for civility, and the release of human potential for the sake of the common good.

Faith & Service:

We honor spiritual values, social justice, and the welfare of the human community through civic engagement and service to one another.

Discovery & Action:

We value the discovery of the self, the other, the broader world, and responsible action in response to those discoveries.

Courage & Passion:

We value learning in community & appreciate that these endeavors require bold risk-taking;  we value & celebrate that these endeavors are fueled by the passions, desires, and aspirations of our members.

Strategic Themes

  • Number 1

    RESPOND TO CHANGE

    Maintain an awareness of significant shifts in the external environment that may impact the University and respond with innovative solutions.

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  • Number 2

    ACADEMIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

    Provide an enriched academic experience that prepares students to achieve their highest aspirations.

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  • Number 3

    HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

    Modernize campus facilities and improve the infrastructure and technology to support the University’s mission. Strengthen financial sustainability through enrollment, development of human resources, and fundraising initiatives.

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  • Number 4

    CAMPUS CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE, SUPPORT, COLLABORATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

    Inspire a campus culture of excellence that empowers employees and students to hold themselves and each other accountable and inspires creativity, innovation, and professional growth.

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Theme One: Respond To Change

Maintain an awareness of significant shifts in the external environment that may impact the University and respond with innovative solutions.
Iowa Wesleyan University

Goal 1: Shifts in the Higher Education Landscape:

Stay well informed of emerging changes in the higher education landscape and implement proactive strategic responses.

  • Initiative 1.1: Foster a culture of University-wide awareness of external changes and establish a process for responding
  • Initiative 1.2: Identify and implement creative teaching and learning pedagogies supported by technological improvements
  • Initiative 1.3: Enhance resources to support underserved students

Goal 2: Strategic Partnerships:

Foster reciprocal and strategic partnerships to prepare for the future.

  • Initiative 2.1: Southeast Iowa Higher Education Alliance (SIHEA)
  • Initiative 2.2: Regional health systems
  • Initiative 2.3: Regional high schools and middle schools
  • Initiative 2.4: Arts and culture partnerships
  • Initiative 2.5: Community organizations and agencies
  • Initiative 2.6: Faith-based organizations

Goal 3: Regional Economic Development:

Take a leadership role in collaborative economic development initiatives in Southeast Iowa.

  • Initiative 3.1: Data collection to support decision making
  • Initiative 3.2: Support regional workforce development efforts
  • Initiative 3.3: Increase undergraduate and graduate degree completion rates
Respond to change

Theme Two: Academic Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Provide an enriched academic experience that prepares students to achieve their highest aspirations.
Iowa Wesleyan University

Goal 4: Academic Program Expansion and Enhancement:

Continue a commitment to offering competitive and academically rigorous programs.

  • Initiative 4.1: Launch new graduate programs in Criminal Justice and Social Work
  • Initiative 4.2: Develop new undergraduate programs in Computer Science, Humanities, Art Education, and Youth Development, and enhance the Agribusiness program
  • Initiative 4.3: Increase course offerings in Diversity, Gender, and Cultural Studies
  • Initiative 4.4: Initiate Honors Program
  • Initiative 4.5: Expand opportunities in the performing arts

Goal 5: Service Learning, Career Development, and Internships:

Enhance service learning, career development, and internship program

  • Initiative 5.1: Establish a Career, Internship and Service Learning Center
  • Initiative 5.2: Commit to an annual service trip
  • Initiative 5.3: Increase ties to academic curriculum

Goal 6: Internationalization:

Further the campus internationalization efforts

  • Initiative 6.1: Create a comprehensive international recruitment plan
  • Initiative 6.2: Develop study abroad and other special programs

Goal 7: Academic Integration and Collaboration (SIHEA):

Expand academic integration and collaboration through the Southeast Iowa Higher Education Alliance.

  • Initiative 7.1: Establish micro-credentialing
  • Initiative 7.2: Implement faculty collaboration and guest lecturing
  • Initiative 7.3: Deepen the partnership with Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC)
  • Initiative 7.4: Enhance face-to-face, online, and hybrid academic options at Keokuk and West Burlington campuses
  • Initiative 7.5: Expand and strengthen academic pathways and articulations
  • Initiative 7.6: Develop degree completion programs in correctional facilities

Goal 8: Colleges and Schools:

Expand the academic structure to include Colleges and Schools.

  • Initiative 8.1: Employ Deans over respective Colleges and Schools on 12-month contracts
  • Initiative 8.2: Create a culture of student recruitment by Deans and faculty members
  • Initiative 8.3: Increase adjunct faculty support

Theme Three: Human and Financial Resources

Modernize campus facilities and improve the infrastructure and technology to support the University’s mission. Strengthen financial sustainability through enrollment, development of human resources, and fundraising initiatives.
Iowa Wesleyan University

Goal 9: Infrastructure:

Modernize and expand facilities to support the University’s mission and continued growth.

  • Initiative 9.1: Acquire new campus housing
  • Initiative 9.2: Develop a plan for addressing deferred maintenance
  • Initiative 9.3: Enhance campus security

Goal 10: Enrollment Growth:

Work towards an enrollment level that will support financially sustainable operations.

  • Initiative 10.1: Reach undergraduate student enrollment of 1,000
  • Initiative 10.2: Increase online and graduate enrollment

Goal 11: Human Resources:

Foster an inclusive, ethical, equitable, and compassionate work environment characterized by trust, accountability, and mutual respect.

  • Initiative 11.1: Assess employee compensation package for adequacy and equity
  • Initiative 11.2: Foster employee engagement and retention
  • Initiative 11.3: Assess faculty teaching loads and full-time/adjunct ratio
  • Initiative 11:4: Campus-wide employee culture survey

Goal 12: Philanthropic Growth:

Maximize resources through meaningful relationships with alumni and key stakeholders.

  • Initiative 12.1: Leverage new grant opportunities and partnerships
  • Initiative 12.2: Initiate campaign planning
  • Initiative 12.3: Expand the Alumni Association and increase alumni engagement
  • Initiative 12.4: Grow the donor base

Goal 13: Financial and Operations:

Manage fiscal resources responsibly to fulfill the University’s mission while minimizing risk and preparing for the future.

  • Initiative 13.1: Debt management
  • Initiative 13.2: Risk management
human financial resources

Theme Four: Campus Culture of Excellence, Support, Collaboration, and Accountability

Inspire a campus culture of excellence that empowers employees and students to hold themselves and each other accountable and inspires creativity, innovation, and professional growth.
Iowa Wesleyan University

Goal 14: Faculty Workplace Culture:

Cultivate a collaborative and innovative workplace culture

  • Initiative 14.1: Professional development
  • Initiative 14.2: Improve and enhance transparent lines of communication, faculty involvement, and co-curricular collaboration
  • Initiative 14.3: Institute an incubator for innovative ideas
  • Initiative 14.4: Enhance faculty workplace culture in clear, planned, and meaningful ways

Goal 15: Co-Curricular Engagement:

Expand co-curricular engagement

  • Initiative 15.1: Student activities that build campus culture and spirit
  • Initiative 15.2: Intramurals

Goal 16: Intercollegiate Athletics:

Evaluate current athletic support systems to improve the student-athlete experience and attract top-quality student-athletes

  • Initiative 16.1: Assess the student-athlete support system for athletic training and a strength and conditioning program
  • Initiative 16.2: Expand and upgrade athletic facilities
  • Initiative 16.3: Expand transportation for growing varsity and varsity- reserve rosters
  • Initiative 16.4: Evaluate opportunities for continued expansion of intercollegiate athletics

Goal 17: Diversity & Inclusion:

Create, implement, and maintain a welcoming and nurturing environment for all campus community member.

  • Initiative 17.1: Foster an environment where every person feels responsible for advancing diversity and inclusion excellence Initiative
  • 17.2: Evaluate current institutional barriers to inclusion Initiative
  • 17.3: Ensure a safe campus environment, free from exclusion, intimidation, offensive, or violent conduct Initiative
  • 17.4: Sponsor communities of belonging

Goal 18: Service and Social Responsibility:

Strengthen campus culture of service and social responsibility.

  • Initiative 18.1: Increase campus club and organization service projects
  • Initiative 18.2: Identify student leadership opportunities

Goal 19: Summer Programming:

Expand summer programming.

  • Initiative 19.1: Athletic camps
  • Initiative 19.2: Academic offerings
2021-2025 Strategic Plan