Strategic Plan 2020-25
Guiding Philosophy
The guiding philosophy behind UNF’s strategic plan embraces the following principles, among others:
Strategic Goal
University of national prominence and distinction with North Florida as our catalyst and student success as our mantra.
Mission
Our student-centered mission is to create the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and problem solvers with the unique knowledge and experience to positively impact the world.
Vision
We will be the higher education nexus where diverse students, faculty, and organizations from around the world collaborate and creatively innovate for the advancement of society.
Institutional Values
We achieve excellence in all we do; we are an institution of uncompromising character; we lead with humility, humanity, and integrity.
Integrity
We do the right thing for the right reason at the right time.
Respect
We treat everyone with kindness; we are informed by the perspectives of others; and we draw strength from our differences.
Accountability
We are responsible for how the outcomes of our actions affect others and our environment.
Innovation
We harness creativity and talent to turn challenges into opportunities and problems into solutions in a uniquely UNF way.
Strategic Map to Greatness
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Goal
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Top (100) Public University
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Performance
Measures
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SUS Metrics | Student Well-Being | Student Engagement
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Focus
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Student Success
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University
of Prominence
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Healthcare | Logistics | Water (Coastal Initiatives) | Technology (STEM)
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Institutional
Excellence
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Research | Teaching | Service | Athletics
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Operational
Excellence
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Student Experience
Research, Scholarship, and Creative
Activities
Professional Environment
Community and Business Engagement
Organizational Effectiveness
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Core Values
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Integrity | Respect | Accountability | Innovation
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Goal-Based Framework for Student Success
Student Success
Student succeed when they are provided with the tools and opportunities to make the most of their experience, enabling them to reach and exceed their goals.
Goals: Academic and Administrative Excellence
Research
Faculty research will be of high quality, focusing on publications in respected and premier journals, research grants from prestigious foundations, memberships in leading academies, curations and performances in partnership with prominent organizations, as well as other professional outcomes demonstrating national leadership in one’s field.
Teaching
Excellence is expected in every teaching effort with a focused approach on the quality of instruction and student success. Each faculty member will demonstrate an ethos of student care, kindness, and mentorship. Experiential learning will be the cornerstone of every classroom experience.
Service
Faculty, staff, and students will engage in a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement, recognizing the role outstanding service to both the university and the community plays in making UNF a university of distinction.
Athletics
UNF will compete at the highest level for conference, regional, and national championships. Our coaches, staff, and student-athletes will embody integrity and sportsmanship and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to student-athlete well-being and academic success.
Goals: Student Experience
Experiential Learning
Lead the nation in experiential learning by offering innovative academic programs of relevance augmented by community-based learning, study abroad activities, student-faculty research experiences, practicums, and internships.
Precision Advising, Counseling, and Teaching
Offer students a holistic, personalized experience to ensure a smooth transition to college, sustained academic progress, and timely graduation and career placement success.
Student Well-Being
Promote the health and well-being of our students by providing both needed services and an enviroment that fosters physical and emotional resilience.
Osprey Pride
Create a culture of Osprey Pride in all UNF activities on campus and beyond.
Cultural and Social Opportunities
Provide distinctive educational, cultural, and social opportunities for students by integrating the campus with the surrounding community.
Goals: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities
Research Reputation
Significantly elevate and transform UNF’s national reputation for research, scholarship, and creative activity to one of excellence associated with high-impact, high-quality publications, exhibitions, awards, and fellowships.
Research Expenditures
Significantly expand research expenditures, elevating UNF’s ranking among universities for expenditures on research and development as measured, for example, in the annual NSF HERD Report.
Graduate, Research Programs
Create transdisciplinary, as well as other relevant discipline specific master’s and doctoral programs in alignment with the Board of Governors’ defined areas of strategic emphasis and UNF’s research strengths.
Carnegie Classification
Achieve at least R2 High Research Activity Status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning.
Goals: Professional Development
Workforce Composition
Attract and retain a vibrant and diverse group of faculty and staff who reflect the society in which we live, further seeking to create a culture of collaboration where resources are shared to maximize impact.
Professional Development
Provide a breadth of professional development and training activities to ensure faculty growth and relevancy. This includes mentoring faculty and staff into positions of increased service leadership to enhance both their role in the success of the institution and our practice of shared governance.
Assessment
Establish norms for performance evaluations that provide clear, consistent, and honest feedback on efforts; rewarding and recognizing where people excel and constructively identifying areas for improvement.
Goals: Community and Business Engagement
Inspire Service
Encourage community service engagement among all students through participation in community-based learning experiences, voluntary service, or other appropriate forms as part of UNF’s commitment to its Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
Experiential Learning
Engage every student with community partners through either a curricular or co-curricular program activity (e.g., practicum, internship, research) prior to graduation.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Achieve formal recognition for strength in applied research in community settings and with private sector partners as part of UNF’s key role in the statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Goals: Organizational Effectiveness
Financial Resources
Seek monetary support through the UNF Foundation, government sources, and private sector to support innovative academic programs, research, facilities, and student scholarships.
Infrastructure
Transform technology across the entire enterprise to meet the current and future needs of the university and its constituents. Maximize efficiency across units by optimizing resource allocation, organizational structures, and streamlining workflows to accommodate a five year enrollment target of 20K students.
Marketing and Communication
Develop a unified brand strategy, consistent visual identity, and successful media deployment to elevate UNF’s reputation as a world-class brand. Include an internal communication strategy that informs the campus community and promotes a culture of engagement and collaboration.
Areas of University Distinction
Matching Competencies to Needs, Students to Jobs
Key areas of distinction at UNF:
Healthcare
Logistics
Water (Coastal Initiatives)
Technology (STEM)
UNF Student Promise
With students as its focus, UNF will pursue UNIQUE approaches to:
Experiential Learning
Precision Advising, Counseling, and Teaching
Faculty Engagement, Student Research
Character Development, Problem-Solving
Graduate School Pathways
Continue to Produce Graduates to Support Florida's Future Talent Needs