Charleston Southern University
Planning Assumptions FY 05-06 through 07-08
Assumptions
are intended to provide a contextual framework to assist
planners as they develop strategies. These assumptions
attempt to consider things that are known about the university’s
current environment and those that are expected to become
a reality during the planning horizon. Actions resulting
from planning should intentionally support the University’s
Strategic Goals and funded Strategic Initiatives.
University Mission & Vision
1.
All planning will be consistent with the University’s
mission of Promoting Academic Excellence in a Christian
Environment.
2. Planning decisions will serve to move CSU in a direction
to achieve regional distinction as an excellent university,
endowing students with a Christian vision of life.
3. Although the students, faculty, and staff at CSU reflect
increasing diversity, the University will continue to be
affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
4. The University will continue to hire only qualified
Christian individuals to meet vacancies and needs for additional
faculty and staff.
5. Faculty and staff will ensure that the good news (Gospel)
of Jesus Christ is shared with every student that chooses
to enroll at CSU.
Academic Assumptions
6. University actions will continue to increase the percentage
of full-time faculty and decrease the percentage of adjuncts
until a continuing student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1
or less is achieved.
7. The University will continue efforts to further diversify
the faculty, staff, and administration to reflect changes
in our student body served.
8. CSU will be a learning-centered environment, which
places learning first and provides educational experiences
for learners.
9. Technology will have an increasing impact on teaching
and learning, as well as on the way CSU operates.
10. CSU will continue to provide access and remediation
to under-prepared students.
11. Prospective and enrolled students will continue to
expect increasingly more efficient and personalized treatment
along with an expanded array of services.
12. Changes in the work force will continue to result
in the return to higher education of adult students seeking
baccalaureate degrees or college graduates seeking post-baccalaureate
degrees, certifications, and other types of job-related
educational needs.
13. CSU will allocate resources to support the integration
of faith and learning in curricular and co-curricular programming.
Enrollment Assumptions
14. Student Enrollment will continue to increase incrementally
at a rate of 2% per year.
15. Student mix will continue to be diversified as CSU
progresses toward a goal of 3100 students in FY 07-08.
16. There will be increased competition from local, state,
and regional colleges and universities for undergraduate
and graduate students. The competition will be more inclusive
of schools offering a variety of learning methods, in increasingly
net-centered environments.
17.
Student success and persistence rates will continue to
be critical indicators of institutional effectiveness
as we focus on CSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan.
18. Student satisfaction will be a focused element in
retention of students. The delivery of services and student
outcomes must be constantly reviewed to ensure CSU provides
the quality our students deserve.
19. Neighboring state high school graduate projections
as compared to those from South Carolina show that CSU
should increasingly expect more students to require on-campus
housing. Current Residence halls will limit occupancy to
a maximum of 5 females or 4 males in a suite.
20. Minorities will represent a higher proportion of the
population in the future and the University must address
their needs and interests appropriately.
21. Access to CSU must be maintained through adequate
financial aid.
Financial Assumptions
22. Tuition revenues will increase at a rate of 4.5% in
FY 05-06 with contingency options for the remaining years.
23. Expenditures are expected to grow at a rate of approximately
3% per year. A salary increase pool will be maintained
to support competitive salaries.
24. All University constituents must be accountable for
efficient use of resources and actively seek opportunities
for revenue enhancement.
25. There are forces that will continue to add additional
costs throughout the University, such as risk management,
health insurance, utility costs, etc.
Facility Assumptions
26. The new Science Building will be ready for occupancy
no later than Fall 2005. Utilities are expected to be approximately
double that of other campus buildings due to special equipment.
Custodial and building maintenance support will be required
for the new building.
27.
The University will sustain the overall maintenance of
CSU’s facilities and infrastructure.
28.
Addition of new faculty and staff will continue to keep
office space at a premium. This will require creative
measures and retrofitting of existing facilities to meet
CSU’s needs over the next few years.
29. New residence halls will be provided when demand and
supporting revenue is assured. If necessary, a given demand
pool can be increased by obtaining a BOT policy change
to increase the age of students required to live on-campus.
30. CSU will actively pursue reasonable options to generate
a revenue stream from undeveloped campus property, while
ensuring use is consistent with University values and ultimately
retaining ownership of the property.
Advancement Assumptions
31.
The University will develop a strong brand to promote
the culture of CSU’s campus and “serve as a
signpost in a cluttered marketplace.”
32. The University must continue to develop and implement
programs that build awareness of and support for unfunded
strategic initiatives.
33. The University will focus on developing and implementing
strategic plans to increase the number of donors and the
size of gifts to meet legitimate student needs.
34. Named endowed scholarships will continue to grow at
a rate of at least ten per year.
35. CSU will actively seek to increase deferred giving,
primarily through estate planning, to enhance the long-term
stability of the University.
General Assumptions
36.
CSU’s strategic goals will continue to be reviewed
and updated on an annual basis.
37.
The University will maintain a 3-year rolling Strategic
Plan that supports the institution’s strategic goals.
38. New initiatives and programs must be carefully considered
in the context of their impact on activities that are central
to the mission of the program or unit, and the University.
39. Calls for greater assessment and accountability will
intensify from all stakeholder groups.
40. Continued emphasis will be made to systematically
refine and improve campus-wide assessment and planning
activities.
41. The needs and legitimate interests of students will
be kept in the forefront of all institutional decisions.
42. CSU will continue to operate a NCAA Division I athletics
program.
