Kansas State University

The president's cabinet selected eight metrics to be used to determine both our current ranking and to measure our progress against the Top 50 goal. These metrics are:

• 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. For more information, read Measuring Our Progress.

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In most of the categories listed 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. For more information on our rankings compared to peer institutions, see the Benchmarking presentation (pdf).

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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 they compete with better funded and higher-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.

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Our benchmark institutions for our University metrics are:

• Auburn (23,547 students);
• Clemson (17,309 students);
• Oklahoma State (23,692 students);
• Oregon State (19,352 students).
• Colorado State (27,636 students);
• Iowa State (25,462 students); and
• North Carolina State (31,130 students).

These benchmark institutions were chosen by the cabinet and are all Land-Grant institutions without Medical Schools. (Data taken from Center for Measuring University Performance at Arizona State University.)

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The university will use these benchmark institutions to measure our progress against our Top 50 goal. As colleges, major units, and departments develop their own plans and measures, they will determine the benchmark institutions appropriate for their disciplines.

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We will resource K-State 2025 through private and corporate donations, state and federal funding, and internal reallocation.

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Everyone has a role to play in moving K-State towards 2025. The University’s key metrics will be important measures, but not the only measures, of our success. Additional university metrics to track progress toward each thematic goal and associated outcomes will be identified in Fall 2012 following the completion of the initial College/Major Unit level planning.

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You can track our progress moving toward K-State in 2025 on the 2025 website. The website is updated regularly to provide a snapshot of our progress.

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A brochure providing a summary of the K-State 2025 Visionary Plan (pdf), which includes a list of every benchmark, theme, and outcome, is on the 2025 website.

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Realizing the vision of K-State 2025 requires an institutional commitment at all levels. This includes a commitment to planning and holding ourselves accountable at the University, College/Major Unit and Departmental levels. Everyone at K-State has a role to play in moving K-State toward our goal of becoming a top 50 public research university. Achieving this goal will require a concerted and coordinated effort to help us get where we want to be. Aligning our university, college or major unit, and departmental plans will facilitate moving forward together as Kansas State University.

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For K-State 2025 planning purposes, Major Unit refers to the organizations headed by the Vice Presidents of Administration and Finance, Communications and Marketing, Research, and Student Life as well as the Deans of Kansas State Libraries, Continuing Education, and the Graduate School. Department refers to Departments within the Colleges and Major Units as well as Divisions and Departments reporting to the President and Provost.

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To help facilitate the next level of K-State 2025 planning, guidance and instructions are provided in the Timeline, Guidance and Instructions for K-State 2025 (doc) for College/Major Unit/Departmental Strategic Direction Planning and Alignment.

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The K-State 2025 College/Major Unit/Departmental Strategic Direction Planning and Alignment Response Chart (pdf) provides an overview of the response timeline. A detailed timeline is available in the Timeline, Guidance and Instructions for K-State 2025 (doc) for College/Major Unit/Departmental Strategic Direction Planning and Alignment.

Completed plans for each college or major unit and their associated departments are due in March 2013. Each college or major unit will develop its own planning process and timeline for its departments. Departments should coordinate with the Dean or Vice President of their College/Major Unit.

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The K-State 2025 College/Major Unit/Departmental Strategic Direction Planning and Alignment Response Chart (pdf) identifies the departmental plans to be completed for units within the President's and Provost's Offices. The Vice Provosts, Associate Provosts, and Directors reporting directly to the Provost and the Directors within the Office of the President will submit completed alignment plans in March 2013.

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Your planning process should be inclusive of all levels of your College/Major Unit/Department's faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders. You are encouraged to use web tools to support collaborative planning and feedback.

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No. Each Dean or Vice President is responsible for developing its College or Major Unit’s own planning process consistent with the Guiding Principles listed in the Timeline, Guidance, and Instructions for K-State 2025 (doc) for College/Major Unit/Departmental Strategic Direction Planning and Alignment.

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No. Review of initial departmental plans of Colleges/Major Units is the responsibility of the Deans and Vice Presidents. The President and Provost will determine the review process for their initial departmental plans.

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Colleges/Major Units and Departmental strategic action and alignment plans should be submitted using the K-State 2025 Strategic Direction Action Plan and Alignment Template (doc). Plans should be submitted to the President and Provost via 2025@k-state.edu.

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No. Include key strategic activities (what you plan to do) to progress to expected outcomes and measures, with particular emphasis on the first five years.

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No, you are not expected to link every University theme, common element, outcome, or key benchmark in the university plan to your unit plan. Your strategic action and alignment plan should be specific for your area and must work for your unit. The K-State 2025 linkages to your key activities and outcomes should be relevant to your unit and mission.

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Your College/Major Unit/Department will be responsible for identifying resources needed to fund your plans during the coming years. At this time and for purposes of completing the template, only a very brief summary at a high level for the overall plan is needed.

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It may be. An assumption is that all Colleges and Major Units will have strategic or long range plans. You may choose to present your strategic or long range plan in the format of your choice or simply use the template. If you present your strategic plan in another format in addition to the template, you should provide a link when you submit your K-State 2025 Strategic Direction Action Plan and Alignment Template (doc).

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