Update on Strategic Compass, calls for input on Signature Salve Experience

salvetoday Posted On February 8, 2022
0


Salve Regina’s Strategic Compass continues to develop, and an update has been issued below to keep the wider University community aware of the progress that is being made in this endeavor. Salve Regina is also asking for the University community to give valuable feedback on the Signature Salve Experience through open office hours during the spring 2022 semester. These open hours are listed at the end of the article.

Progress of the Strategic Compass in 2021

In the development of the Strategic Compass, the University — led by the Strategic Compass Steering Committee — identified four outcomes every Salve Regina student should have by the time they graduate: a Rigorous Transformative Education, an Inclusive Community, Adaptive Resilience and Compassionate Mercy Leadership.

Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, Salve Regina’s president, convened two preliminary retreats with University stakeholders during the summer of 2021 to map the creation of a Signature Salve Experience.

Dr. Armstrong also appointed two Compass Design Working Groups to carry forward the commitments of the Strategic Compass for all students. In order to ensure that the development of the Signature Salve Experience included all dimensions of the student experience, Dr. Armstrong intentionally brought together leadership from student affairs, academic affairs and mission integration to lead this effort.

The co-chairs of these Compass Design Working Groups are Kathleen Farley, associate vice president for student life and dean of students; Dr. Steven Rodenborn, dean of undergraduate studies; and Dr. Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley, vice president for mission integration.

The two Compass Design Working Groups were named to develop intentional, developmental and distinctive pilot programs for the Signature Salve Experience. The first working group focuses on First-Year Foundations, and the second working group focuses on Sophomore Explorations/Junior Immersions.

The First-Year Foundations Working Group is comprised of the following members:

  • Rose Albert, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention
  • Amy Cady, assistant director of the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life
  • Hannah Cazzetta, academic advising coordinator, exploratory and transfer student advisor
  • Daniel Cowdin, professor and chair of the Department of Religious and Theological Studies
  • Santiago Durango, assistant director for programming in the Office of Student Engagement
  • Elizabeth Fitzgibbon, associate professor of the Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • Erin Harte, executive director of student academic success services and affiliate professor
  • Holly Moore, assistant professor in the Department of Education
  • Dyanna Moreira, director of the Office of Student Engagement
  • Kelly Powers, director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service

The Sophomore Explorations/Junior Immersions Working Group is comprised of the following members:

  • Caitlin Bailey, associate director of the Office of Career Development
  • Stacey Carter, strategic partnership officer in the Center for Business Outreach
  • Jameson Chace, professor and chair of the Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies; professor in biology and biomedical sciences; and director of community-engaged learning
  • MaryAnne Davey, director of the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life
  • Erin Fitzgerald, director of the Center for Global Education and Fellowships
  • Aïda Neary, director of community educational partnerships
  • Heather Rockwell, assistant professor in cultural and historic preservation; art and art history; and cultural, environmental and global studies
  • Kay Scanlan, assistant director of the Office of Admissions
  • Steven Symington, professor and chair of the Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences; director of undergraduate research and creative inquiry
  • Missy Varao, director and chair of the Department of Business and Economics

At the community town hall in December 2021, Dr. Armstrong shared a process and plan for implementation the work of the Strategic Compass through the development of a Signature Salve Experience for every Salve Regina student.

At the December town hall, these Compass Design Working Groups were introduced, and Dr. Armstrong also provided some early findings on the art and science positioning study to support this effort. This positioning study works to identify key factors influencing prospective students’ decisions to apply and matriculate to Salve Regina.

Town hall participants, virtual and in-person, were then led through an activity to generate ideas for the development and design of the Signature Salve Experience. Ideas were collectively scored and shared with the newly-formed Compass Design Working Groups.

Progress in January 2022

In early January 2022, the Compass Design Working Groups came together for a two-day retreat with the goal of envisioning pilot programmatic components of the Salve Signature Experience. Due to the recent arrival of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the retreat was held virtually, but the group made remarkable progress.

Members discussed the experience of current and prospective Salve Regina students, reviewed the creative ideas generated through the town hall held in December and brainstormed additional creative components for potential programs. Dozens of pilot programs were proposed and considered.

At the end of the two-day event, the group shared the top three initiatives for the First-Year Foundations pilots and the top three initiatives for the Sophomore Explorations/Junior Immersions pilots with Dr. Armstrong.

Open office hours to discuss program proposals

Over the spring 2022 semester, these Compass Design Working Groups will continue to meet to refine these First-Year Foundations and Sophomore Explorations/Junior Immersions proposals, and they will be consulting with the campus community in their development.

One ongoing opportunity designed to facilitate the open input of the entire University community is the hosting of monthly open office hours by the co-chairs of the Compass Design Working Groups: Farley, Rodenborn and Ladrigan-Whelpley.

Salve Regina faculty, staff and students are invited to come by and share input, questions and ideas at the following times in McAuley 109:

  • Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 10-11 a.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 25, from 1-2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 9, from 10-11 a.m.
  • Friday, April 1, from 1-2 p.m.

The University has also enlisted the collaboration of OptimizeU to support the development of the Signature Salve Experience, and they will be conducting focus groups in March and April 2022 to invite the feedback of Salve Regina students, staff, faculty and alumni in the development of the Signature Salve Experience.

If anyone is interested in being part of a focus group or has questions about the Compass Design Working Groups — and the above office hours do not suit one’s schedule — please reach out to Farley at kathleen.farley2@salve.edu, Rodenborn at steven.rodenborn@salve.edu or Ladrigan-Whelpley at t.ladriganwhelpley@salve.edu.