UNO College of Education

Strategic Plan

Preamble:

The UNO College of Education's Strategic plan outlines the college's goals and strategies. The faculty have identified and established six themes and an overarching equity statement essential to the teaching, research, and service activities of the college. These six themes are: students, diversity, quality, technology, collaboration, and faculty development. It is the college's belief that the equity statement and the six themes resonate through all college endeavors. Furthermore, the college's six themes are in accord with the overarching goals presented in the UNOmaha Strategic Plan. The college's themes are embedded in the three goals within the university's plan. Thus, in placing students at the center of the educational enterprise (Goal 1), in striving to achieve academic excellence (Goal 2), and in actively engaging with the community (Goal 3), the activities associated with the six themes of the college align with and support the stated goals in the UNOmaha Strategic Plan.

Mission Statement:

The College of Education (COE) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha celebrates and embraces its unique metropolitan mission to prepare dedicated professionals committed to excellence in education and human development. Our candidates acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of leaders ready to fulfill critical roles in shaping the future of their communities. COE provides resources and opportunities for the growth and development of dedicated practitioners, reflective scholars, and responsible citizens through a wide variety of academic programs. Through these programs we foster a climate that encourages, supports, and challenges our candidates by:

• Providing initial preparation in teaching, recreation, exercise science, athletic training, health, and library science consistent with standards in the professions;
• Providing advanced preparation in school administration, counseling, teaching, library science, speech-language pathology, and mental and physical health consistent with standards in the professions;
• Applying principles of learning and assessment through a variety of tools and technologies that inform best practices;
• Utilizing new and emerging technologies to support the teaching-learning process;
• Building creative and critical thinking skills to encourage reflective practice and lifelong learning;
• Engaging candidates in basic and applied research on campus and in the community;
• Challenging candidates to address issues of social justice and become agents of change;
• Engaging candidates in dynamic and culturally rich service and learning experiences on campus and in the community;
• Identifying knowledge bases that value diversity and incorporate urban and global perspectives; and
• Modeling and communicating high standards of professional and ethical behavior.

Vision Statement:

The College of Education inspires exemplary professionals to become dedicated practitioners, reflective scholars, and responsible citizens who provide leadership for positive change in 21st century communities.

College of Education Strategic Goals:

As stated in the COE Strategic Plan, the goals of the college align precisely with the goals in the UNO strategic plan. That is, the college places candidates at the center of the educational enterprise, achieves academic excellence consistent with the university’s metropolitan mission, and engages actively in the community. Alignment of the college strategic plan objectives with the university strategic plan goals is shown in the table below:

 

UNO Strategic Goal	COE Strategic Objectives
Goal 1: UNO places students at the center of its enterprise	1. To develop and maintain academic programs, services, and facilities designed for diverse needs of traditional and non-traditional candidates, undergraduate and graduate, with varying career and academic goals. 2. To recruit and retain candidates appropriate to the professions for which they are preparing. 3. To reflect the diversity of the metropolitan area in the college’s faculty, staff, and candidates.
Goal 2: UNO strives to achieve academic excellence	1. To assure that the college’s baccalaureate, masters, specialists, and doctoral graduates are prepared for participation, employment, and ultimately leadership in their respective professional roles. 2. To make use of evaluation, monitoring, and accreditation strategies to assure program integrity and viability. 3. To assure faculty, staff, and candidates have the knowledge and skills to utilize technology to meet professional demands. 4. To provide faculty development consistent with mission and program needs.
Goal 3: UNO will actively engage with urban, regional, national, and global communities	1. To maintain and expand collaborative efforts in programmatic areas to meet the educational, training, research, and service needs of our school, community, and medical partners.