Alumni Session
Here is the summary of the discussion held by Wayne State alumni who examined three of the five strategic directions contained in the current plan. Alumni focused on the learning experience, the engaged university and educational opportunities for renewal and advancement.
1. Learning Experience: Establish and sustain a superlative learning experience that builds upon the unique values and attributes of WSU.
- Create mentorship opportunities for students that involve alumni.
- Establish a continuing education division with liberal arts programming.
- Expand distance learning opportunities.
- Create a central information source about WSU programs and activities.
- Support diversity so that WSU students and faculty reflect the global population.
4. Engaged University: Develop mutually beneficial partnerships with our community as catalysts for the social, cultural, economic and educational enrichment of the region.
- WSU should create best practice models for K-12 engagement given the importance of the public school systems, particularly in Detroit.
- Create outreach teams of faculty, students, and alumni to address specific community needs such as tax assistance and healthcare.
- Provide more WSU resources off campus to expose more citizens to the university’s resources.
- Increase recruiting efforts.
5. Educational Opportunities for Renewal and Advancement: Enhance and increase educational opportunities for both the benefit of Michigan citizens and to attract others to the state from throughout the world.
- Create a “research triangle” with U-M, MSU and other colleges.
- Create transition programs for students from community colleges.
- Offer certificate programs to support professional advancement.
- Increase scholarships and financial aid.
- Expand marketing of WSU’s services, research and expertise.
- Increase outreach to industry for research opportunities.
- Position WSU as a provider of problem-solving research for industry.