Future of Higher Education Research Team Report

Class Agents Strategic Envisioning Session

Mark Caprio

Monday, April 10th, 2017

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 Class Agents
February Conference Call
Friday February 17, 2017
(SPSC members present/facilitators: Keefe)

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 On February 17, Andrea Keefe participated in a monthly conference call for Class Agents. Prior to the call, a pre-survey was issued to Class Agents in order to gage initial thoughts on the four key questions guiding the “discovery phase” of the strategic planning process. The questions posted on the pre-survey are as followed:

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1. If Providence College were to be best known for one thing within the next 10-20 years, what should it be?
2. What should the College be doing in the next 10-20 years that it isn’t doing today?
3. If Providence College had $100M new dollars to spend, how should it be spent?
4. What should be the most important measure or indicator of the College’s success? Why?

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 Following the survey, a focus group via conference call provided an opportunity for the group to discuss each of the questions; 10 Class Agents participated.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 Below please find detailed notes and interpretations of the group discussions around each core question.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 Question 1: If PC could be best known for one thing in the next 10-20 years, what should it be?

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• Premier and cost effective
• Superior academics
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  • “rock star liberal arts degrees”
• Providing growth and perspective for all students upon graduation
• Community

¶ 8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 Question 2: What should the College be doing in the next 10-20 years that it isn’t doing today?

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• Expand post-graduate degree and program opportunities at PC
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  • Work towards the establishment of a law, dental, or medical school
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    • Promote science programs in more concentrated effort
• Provide more funded internship opportunities
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  • Look to alumni base to allow more placement of undergraduates in internships earlier on in their academic career
• Improve financial aid offerings
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  • Focus on cushioning middle class families
• Better incorporate instruction on diverse cultures into existing curriculum

¶ 12 Leave a comment on paragraph 12 0 Question 3: If Providence College had $100M new dollars to spend, how should it be spent?

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• Create new graduate programs
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  • Law, dental, medical
• Improve facilities
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  • Renovate dorms in particular
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    • Too much focus on academic and athletic spaces currently
• Bring down tuition costs
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  • Cost of attendance is far too high
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    • Middle class families struggle with this today, while they used to be the backbone of the institution

¶ 16 Leave a comment on paragraph 16 0 Question 4: What should be the most important measure or indicator of the College’s success?

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• Number/percentage of gainfully employed alumni post-graduation
• Amount of alumni that become well-recognized in their field

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