Academic Implementation Plan Impact

Academic Implementation Plan

(August 2026 - July 2029)

Mission Alignment

With primary responsibility for the core educational function of the university, the Academic Affairs Division will deliver key components of Fairmont State’s Strategic Plan. The plan aims to achieve a measurably stronger academic portfolio that is directly informed by regional stakeholders, improving program relevance and enhancing classroom experiences. Academic Affairs will focus on improving student academic support, with the goal of improving both student retention and persistence to graduation at the university. Faculty, administrators, and other staff will benefit from strengthened career training and support, improving the employee ecosystem. Together with its partners, Academic Affairs will seek to offer additional cultural events, while simultaneously improving both access to and attendance at such events. Finally, the plan seeks to improve community involvement through partner development and faculty engagement.

Lead Unit:

Academic Affairs Division​

Collaborating Units:

  • Alumni Association
  • Athletics
  • Enrollment Management
  • Fairmont State Foundation
  • Finance and Administration
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Institutional Research and Effectiveness
  • Student Affairs

Objective 1

By the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2029, 100% of academic programs will demonstrate alignment with regional workforce and/or community needs and support students’ career aspirations.

Priorities Supported: 

P1.1 Outstanding Academic Programs

P1.5 Career and Life Preparations

P3.4 Cultivate Alumni Connections

Key Results:  

KR1.1 100 % academic program alignment to regional workforce and/or community needs

KR1.2 85% UG programs will include structured experiential learning opportunities

KR1.3 Communicate career pathways through experiential major maps, program webpages, and advising resources

KR1.4 50% increase in participation of workforce upskilling (certificates/microcredentials/continuing education)

KR1.5 100% of faculty engage in ongoing instructional and scholarly development

Objective 2

By end of FY2029, a collaborative, well-resourced, and future-ready academic support ecosystem contributes to at least a 5% increase in student fall-to-fall persistence and at least 3% improvement in academic progression rates across all programs.  ​

Priorities Supported: 

P1.2 Wrap-Around Student Support

P1.4 Consistent Student Processes

Key Results:  

KR 2.1 5% increase in fall-to-fall persistence

KR 2.2 3% increase in on-time graduation rates

KR 2.3 100% standardized institutional academic support practices and advising protocols

KR 2.4 85% faculty/staff complete 30 hours of funded professional development on pedagogy, technology and curricular innovation

KR 2.5 Regular, periodic review cycle assessing all university-wide instructional and academic support practices

Objective 3

Engage at least 20% of employees in personalized career path support by end of FY2029.

Priorities Supported: 

P2.3 Supportive Work Conditions

P2.4 Clear Career Paths

P2.5 Positive Organizational Culture

Key Results:

KR 3.1 Strengths-based awareness supporting teamwork

KR 3.2 Implement personalized career paths

KR 3.3 100% alignment of faculty promotion, tenure, and review requirements with institutional annual reporting requirements ​

KR 3.4 Increase by at least 15% employee satisfaction of training and development opportunities by end ofFY2029​

Objective 4

Enhance the reach and effectiveness of on-campus cultural programming and resources by 10% by end of FY2029. ​

Priorities Supported: 

P3.1 Up-to-date Facilities and Abundant Opportunities

P3.5 Serve as Stewards of Place

Key Results:  

KR 4.1 Increase attendance at events by 10% by end of FY2029, according to the baseline established by end ofFY2027

KR 4.2 Increase attendee satisfaction with cultural enrichment opportunities by 10% by end of FY2029

KR 4.3 100% of campus cultural facilities will be safe and accessible by end of FY2029

Objective 5

Increase high quality community engagement by at least 20% through the division of academic affairs as measured in Master Academic Plan Map (MAP-Map) by end of FY2029. ​

Priorities Supported: 

P3.3 Promote Civic Engagement

Key Results:  

KR 5.1 10% increase in faculty participation in documented community engagement

KR 5.2 Establish community advisory board to strengthen alignment between programs and community needs by 10%

KR 5.3 30% faculty community engagement efforts will meet scholarship standards by FY2029

KR 5.4 20% increase in faculty participation in faculty-led mentoring and professional development focused on community engaged teaching, research and service​

KR 5.5 Implement a sustainable financial and labor plan supporting faculty community engagement efforts by end of FY2029

Budget Summary:

Strategic Investments  

(One-time expenses approved by the Board) 

Years Items Total Supported Objectives
20261 Academic Technology​ $200,000 Objective 2
2027-292 Academic Student Success; Academic Technology; Regional Service; Advisory Council; Alumni Engagement; Bridge program; Career Services; Cultural Events; Graduate Enrollment Support; Microcredentials; Professional Development; Regional Outreach; Student Success Training; Transfer Enrollment Support​ $3,357,000 Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

1Strategic Investments approved at the June 2025 Board of Governors meeting. ​
2Strategic Investment requests anticipated at a future Board of Governors meeting. ​

External Funds

(Funded by potential grants, sponsored programs, and other advancement efforts) ​

Years Items Total Supported Objectives
2025-26 Academic Technology​ $216,000 Objective 2
2026-27 Professional Development; Cultural Events; Regional Outreach $182,500 Objectives 3, 4, & 5
2027-28 Career Services; Alumni Engagement; Academic Student Success; Bridge Program; Professional Development; Cultural Events; Regional Service $691,500 Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
2028-29 Career Services; Alumni Engagement; Academic Student Success; Bridge Program; Professional Development; Cultural Events; Regional Service $691,500 Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

 

Incremental Operational Funds

(Additional budget or reallocation to cover recurring expenses) 

Years Items Total Supported Objectives
2025-26 Academic Technology $10,000 Objective 2
2026-273 Academic Technology; Advisory Councils; Market Alignment; Microcredentials; Instructional Design; Transfer and Graduate Enrollment Support; Academic Student Success; Student Success Training; Student Support Assessment; Professional Development; Student Employment; Cultural Events; Regional Outreach $95,500 Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
2027-284 Academic Technology; Advisory Councils; Market Alignment;Microcredentials; Instructional Design; Transfer and Graduate Enrollment Support; Academic Student Success; Student Success Training; Student Support Assessment; Professional Development; Student Employment; Cultural Events; Regional Outreach> $724,500 Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
2028-294 Academic Technology; Advisory Councils; Market Alignment; Microcredentials; Instructional Design; Transfer and Graduate Enrollment Support; Academic Student Success; Student Success Training; Student Support Assessment; Professional Development; Student Employment; Cultural Events; Regional Outreach $1,319,500 Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

3Operating funds requested at the June 2026 Board of Governors meeting.
4Estimate of additional operating funds to be requested