Establish Overall Goal
The President and Provost will propose an overall university goal for 2025 which will represent the foundation for the strategic planning process.
Overall goal: Kansas State University will be recognized nationally as a top 50 public research university.
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How will it be determined that we have met this goal?
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The president's cabinet have selected eight metrics to be used to determine both our current ranking and to measure our progress against the Top 50 goal. These metrics include:
- total research and development expenditures
- total endowment
- number of national academy members
- number of faculty awards*
- number of doctorates granted annually
- freshman-to-sophomore retention rate
- six-year graduation rate, and
- percent of undergraduate students involved in research.
These metrics were chosen following the examination of the data compiled by the Center for Measuring University Performance at Arizona State University.
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Where does K-State currently rank among public universities in the U.S.?
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In most of the categories list above, Kansas State ranks between 80 and 90 in comparison to other public research universities. As such, we will need to move "up" 35 spots or so against a very competitive set of schools—all of whom are also trying to grow programs and increase their national rank and stature at the same time.
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Why is it important for K-State to rank among the top 50 universities?
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The higher education world continues to get more competitive, and our prospective students, staff and faculty are keenly aware of how universities are perceived. The ranking and prestige of Kansas State University is of critical importance to our graduates as they seek jobs, our students as they apply to top tier graduate programs, our doctoral students as they look for career opportunities in the research world, and our faculty members as you compete with better funded and ranked universities on a daily basis. Finally, people want to invest in a winner—and the different constituent groups who support Kansas State want to invest in a university they perceive as moving upward to new heights of achievement.
- For further information, see:
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- the President's February 2010 Letter to Campus
- K-State Communications and Marketing's article "K-State beginning ambitious plan for next 15 years to be a top 50 public university"
Where Are We Now?
We will develop a benchmarking presentation which illustrates our current national standing in key areas, and will be presented to small focus groups across campus. Focus groups will be facilitated and notes will be taken. Additionally, there will be two or three broad questions asked about the future of Kansas State. Suggestions will also be collected through the K-State 2025 website.
Please review the "Why Benchmark K-State?" presentation and consider responding to the questions below.
Download the presentation as a PDF.
- See also: President Schulz's July 2010 Letter to Campus
- See also: K-State Communications and Marketing's Kirk Schulz getting input from K-State constituents on reaching lofty goals by 2025
Your input is critical
To determine the themes and objectives of K-State 2025, we need your input. Please consider the following questions and reply as concisely as possible. Your responses are anonymous. This form will be available until September 1.
Once we have collected your feedback, we will determine the initiative's "Major Themes" in the next phase.
Identify the Major Themes
October 2010
We will use the data collected by the various focus groups to develop major themes which have arisen from the focus group areas. A representative group of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends will meet in a one-day retreat setting to propose goals for the identified themes.
Establish the Major Goals & Objectives
November-December 2010
We will use the information from the major identified themes to convene small groups focused around thematic areas to develop measurable and quantifiable long and short term goals and objectives.
Draft the Overall Plan
January 2011
We will draft a complete plan using the overall goal, focus group feedback, major themes, thematic goals (including both long and short term), and annual accountability measures.
Gather feedback & revise plan
February-March 2011
A draft plan will be widely disseminated for critique and discussion. Small focus groups will also be used to provide feedback on the proposed plan.
Roll out final plan
April 2011
The K-State 2025 Visionary Plan will be prominently featured on the university website. Appropriate publicity materials will be used which will highlight the plan and how it will impact the university.