Strategic Planning

Strategic Vision 2025-2035

Fairmont State University Aspires to be

The words "A Great Place to Learn, to Work & to Call Home." over rolling maroon hills with a falcon flying over the hills

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Aspirational Goal 1:

Provide grounded educational experiences, fueled by personal relationships and holistic support, which contribute to all students’ successful careers and lives.

Priorities:

Deliver outstanding academic programs in high-demand and foundational fields, with small classes taught by passionate and relatable faculty experts.
Provide wrap-around student support services that promote physical and mental wellness, academic success, financial stability, and multiple paths to achieve individuals’ goals.
Ensure exceptional student experiences outside the classroom, including athletics, campus housing, student organizations, and activities.
Implement consistent, reliable, and predictable student processes that allow them to easily and successfully navigate their collegiate experience.
Prepare students for their careers and lives through comprehensive preparation, experiential learning, student employment, and civic rights & responsibilities programs.

Aspirational Goal 2:

Become the premier higher education employer in West Virginia for full-time, part-time, and student employees.

Priorities:

Compensate employees competitively and equitably based on accurate classification, state-wide benchmarks, individual qualifications, and performance.
Offer exceptional benefits and quality of life enhancements that attract, retain, and raise the morale of all employees.
Develop supportive work conditions that foster employees’ success and provide maximum flexibility.
Establish clear career paths, with professional development opportunities and support for every employee in all divisions.
Create a positive organizational culture in which employees’ expertise is respected, collaboration is the norm, we don’t start with ‘no,’ communication is ubiquitous, trust is universal, and adaptability is embraced.

Aspirational Goal 3:

Create a vibrant campus, where everybody is welcomed, valued, and wants to spend time, which serves as a bedrock institution for North-Central West Virginia.

Priorities:

Maintain beautiful, safe, accessible, and up-to-date facilities, with abundant intellectual, cultural, and athletic opportunities that attract both university and community members.
Demonstrate to regional residents that Fairmont State is their university, a destination for entertainment, and an integral contributor to economic development and opportunity.
Promote the civic engagement of students, faculty, and staff with a broad range of community organizations, contributing their expertise while learning from their experiences.
Cultivate alumni connections with the University, engagement as Falcons, and support of advancement efforts.
Serve as stewards of place, actively contributing to the preservation and celebration of Central Appalachian culture.

Mission:

Fairmont State University educates engaged citizens in a community distinguished by opportunity, growth, and achievement, delivering transformational impact for West Virginia and beyond.

What Comes Next: Implementation of the Strategic Vision

The Strategic Vision will be operationalized through a series of interconnected three-year Implementation Plans, which collectively will form the Strategic Plan.

All Implementation Plans will contain SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) Objectives that will be used to measure progress toward the Strategic Vision.

Implementation Plan	Lead	No Later Than
Enrollement Management	George Wolf Vice President of Enrollment Management	August 2025
Student Affairs	Dr. Janna Bredeson Vice President of Student Affairs	August 2025
Information Technology	Paul Steinhaus Chief Information Officer	January 2026
Institutional Effectiveness	Dr. Lindsey Graham Guinn Executive Director of Institutional Research	January 2026
Academics	Dr. Allen Bedford Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs	August 2026
Athletics	Greg Bamberger Director of Athletics	August 2026
Finance & Budget	John Nisbet Interim Vice President of Finance and Administration/CFO	August 2026
Campus/Facilities	Lenora Montgomery Assistant Vice President of Facilities	January 2027
Community Engagement	Dr. Brian Selmeski Chief of Staff	January 2027
Alumni & Advancement	Dr. Brian Selmeski Chief of Staff	August 2027
Human Capital (Incremental)	Ashley Maxey Director of Human Resources	August 2027

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How We Got Here

Strategic Vision discussions began in December 2023, with the formation of the University Strategic Planning Process Committee (SPPC).

Over the next several months, in collaboration with numerous internal and external constituencies, the SPPC:

conducted multiple surveys,
defined capabilities and competencies,
held dozens of division-level discussions and discovery sessions, and
held robust University-wide discussions.

Those months of deep discussion and discovery led to the creation of the Strategic Vision.

This pursuit of this vision will guide University operations for the next decade, and Fairmont State University will demonstrate that it truly is a Great Place to Learn, to Work, and to Call Home.

Here are more details about how the Strategic Vision was developed, including a timeline of major milestones.