Strategic Planning

Overview

The College of Education is engaged in a comprehensive process throughout the 2024-2025 academic year to reimagine its structure through an in-depth organizational assessment, and to chart a clear vision for its future. With a century-long commitment to preparing educators, the college has evolved over the decades to include a diverse range of programs that prepare educators and educational leaders, as well as offering specialized programs in library science, counseling, and more.

Given the breadth of disciplines and degree programs housed within the college, as well as the changing expectations of higher education and educator preparation programs, now is the ideal time to conduct a thorough assessment of how our units are organized, with the goal of identifying a structure that best positions the College and its units to leverage resources effectively, fulfill its mission, expand opportunities for collaboration, and ensure long-term success.

In addition, the university has embarked on a process to develop its forthcoming MTSU Strategic Plan 2035. With the release of this strategic plan on the horizon, the time is right for the College to establish a bold vision and roadmap for its own future through a stakeholder-driven process that actively engages faculty, staff, students, leaders, alumni, and community partners.

We invite you to participate in this collaborative effort as we come together to shape the future of our college. As we continue on this path, we will regularly share updates on the status of the assessment and planning processes. Please visit this page often to stay informed and learn more about how to get involved.

Timeline

This planning process will take place throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, with the majority of stakeholder engagement occurring between October 2024 through February 2025.

October 2024: Project kickoff

October – November 2024: Stakeholder engagement  

January 2025: Organizational assessment recommendations

January – February 2025: Strategic planning engagement; survey all students and the college alumni and donor network  

March 2025: Strategic planning retreat

March – April 2025: Strategic plan development

May 2025: Finalization of strategic plan

Updates

Update 24 (05/06/2025) – Reminder sent to COE Faculty and Staff to review and give feedback on the Draft Strategic Plan. Feedback deadline has been extended to Wed. May 14 at 5pm.

Update 23 (04/29/2025) – Draft Strategic Plan sent to COE Faculty and Staff for their review and feedback due Fri. May 9 at 5pm.

Update 22 (04/07/2025) – Initial Draft Strategic Plan presented to the Steering Committee for review and comment by April 16.

Update 21 (03/21/2025) – Dean Cone and the Steering Committee joined Emergent Method in preliminary strategic planning work using faculty, staff, student, and alumni/donor data collected Fall 2024 and beginning of Spring 2025. This work is ongoing.

Update 20 (03/02/2025) – Strategic Planning Survey final reminder email sent to all COE alumni and donors, survey closes Mon. 03/03 at 5pm.

Update 19 (02/24/2025) – Strategic Planning Survey reminder email sent to all COE alumni and donors.

Update 18 (02/18/2025) – Strategic Planning Survey sent to all COE alumni and donors via email.

Update 17 (02/12/2025) – Strategic Planning Survey final reminder sent to all COE students via email, survey closes Fri. 02/14.

Update 16 – (02/06/2025) – Strategic Planning Survey reminder sent to all COE students via email.

Update 15 (01/31/2025) – Strategic Planning Survey sent to all COE students via email.

Update 14 (01/30/2025) – The Steering Committee submitted a two-department and three-department model for consideration by the Dean and Provost.

Update 13 (01/24/2025) – The Organizational Assessment Feedback Survey deadline has been extended for Faculty and Staff to 5pm Fri. Jan. 24, 2025.

Update 12 (01/17/2025) – Recommendations from the Steering Committee and Emergent Method were shared with the College Faculty and Staff. An Organizational Assessment Feedback Survey was sent out to all Faculty and Staff deadline Noon on Fri. 01/24.

Update 11 (12/05/2024) – SAVE THE DATE – Fri. Jan. 17 – For COE All Faculty and Staff Meeting where Recommendations from the Steering Committee will be shared.

Update 10 (12/05/2024) – As a part of Data Day Emergent Method shared information learned from the recent surveys, listening sessions, and interviews from 1:30-2:30pm in LRC 101.

Update 9 (11/25/2024) – Strategic Planning Survey reminder sent to faculty and staff

Update 8 (11/21/2024) – Strategic Planning Survey sent to faculty and staff

Update 7 (11/05/2024) – Strategic Planning Survey reminder sent to all faculty and staff, with link to Strategic Planning website containing Listening Session PowerPoint slides.

Update 6 (10/30/2024) – Listening Sessions scheduled for Tues. 10/29 have been rescheduled to Thurs. Nov. 7:
-Open Faculty/Staff (for those unable to attend area-specific time)-RESCHEDULED to Thurs, Nov 7, 1-2:30, COE 148.
-Undergraduate Students RESCHEDULED for Thurs Nov 7 from 3:00-4:00pm, COE 141
-Graduate Students RESCHEDULED for Thursday, November 7 from 4:30 – 5:30pm, COE 141

Update 5 (10/30/2024) – Strategic Planning Survey reminder has been sent to all faculty and staff.

Update 4 (10/28/2024) – One-on-one interviews with COE stakeholders (faculty, staff, alumni, donors, district partners, and University Administration) has begun.

Update 3 (10/23/2024) – Strategic Planning Survey has been sent to all faculty and staff.

Update 2 (10/18/2024) – Listening Sessions with departments, centers, and units/offices scheduled for:
• Monday, October 28 9:00-10:30 COE 153 ELED Faculty/Staff
• Tuesday, October 29 1:00-2:30 COE 148 Open Faculty/Staff (for those unable to attend their area-specific time)*
• Wednesday, October 30 10:00-11:30 COE 153 EDLR Faculty/Staff
• Wednesday, October 30 1:30-3:00 LRC 101 COE Offices & Centers Administrators/Staff

Listening Sessions with students scheduled for:
o Monday, 10/28 4:30-5:30 ZOOM Graduate Students
o Tuesday, 10/29 3:00-4:00 COE 141 Undergraduate Students
o Tuesday, 10/29 4:30-5:30 COE 141 Graduate Students
o Wednesday, 10/30 4:30-5:30 COE 141 Undergraduate Students

Update 1 (10/04/2024) – At this time, we are in the early phases of the planning process. Emergent Method, the consulting firm that has been hired to help us navigate this process, is meeting with the steering committee to review research and begin planning for stakeholder engagement.

We thank you for your support in this process and your interest in the success of this plan and the future of the college.

Steering Committee

The steering committee is comprised of faculty, staff, and leadership representatives from across the College of Education. The committee will serve this process in navigating our progression by reviewing research, informing stakeholder engagement, and ultimately overseeing the development of our strategic plan.  

• Robyn Ridgley, Associate Dean, Committee Chair
• Tiffany Dellard, Executive Director, Office of Educator Preparation & Licensure
• Tiffany Fantine, Director of Advising COE
• Andrea Jenkins, Associate Professor Womack Department of Educational Leadership
• Kristen Keene, Strategic Communications & Marketing Manager, Office of the Dean
• Jane Lim, Professor Elementary & Special Education
• Eric Oslund, Professor; Chair, Elementary & Special Education
• Everett Singleton, Associate Professor Womack Department of Educational Leadership
• Michelle Stevens, Director in the College of Education, Professor Womack Department of Educational Leadership

If you have questions you can contact Emergent at:

Robyn Stiles robyn.stiles@emergentmethod.com
James Trammell james.trammell@emergentmethod.com
Anna Schilling anna.schilling@emergentmethod.com

Strategic Planning Resources