Four principles in particular informed the focus areas of this academic year:
Implement the academic prioritization process (APP) utilizing guiding principles created by APP action group with consultation from deans and faculty as well as data dashboard; reduce the size of the faculty in accordance with the guiding principles developed by the faculty and in alignment with the college’s fiscal health and enrollment. Continue focused effort on developing revenue-generating, year-round programs including:
Continue the non-academic program prioritization process including use of zero based budgeting for staffing needs. Implement additional furloughs and continue to engage in strategic reorganizational review by functional area. Review all benefits offerings to ensure maximized financial savings while preserving value for employees.
Determine the ideal size of the institution, taking into consideration enrollment data, academic program mix (including graduate programs), revenue needs, and the optimal desired student experience to include the number of residential students based on housing stock and the philosophical and practical approach to the residential living requirement.
Implement an enrollment and marketing strategic plan to include recruitment campaign and development of pricing strategy to strengthen both short- and long-term enrollment.
Implement the COVID reopening plan in preparation to reopen in spring 2021 and invest in infrastructure to ensure success in remote learning and/or public health and safety in an on-campus learning environment.
Develop a campus climate marked by culturally competent faculty and staff and an inclusive living and learning experience for students, including promoting the revised college diversity statement and expanding programming that educates campus around relevant topics.
Utilize a comprehensive and focused strategy to develop, support and promote an all-inclusive culture of engagement and philanthropy with the entire Ithaca College community—including alumni, families, students, faculty, staff and the wider community—which will best position IC to achieve the greatest possible success, inspiring in each group (individually and collectively) the support necessary to realize the college’s highest and most impactful strategic priorities.
Focus will be on immediate growth and stability, as well as its long-term health and vitality of the college. These efforts will include executing a feasibility study in April 2021 and subsequent Ithaca Forever comprehensive campaign beginning October 2021.
*Ithaca College has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Ithaca College anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2021, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the March 2021 ARC-PA meeting and New York State Education Department (NYSED) approval to register the program.
Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Program approval is not guaranteed. In the event ARC-PA withholds accreditation, or NYSED does not register the program, Ithaca College will not admit students to begin in August 2021 and will pursue accreditation and program registration in the next review cycle.