Our Strategic Plan

Completed:

• Educational Policy and Governance Committee (EPAG) issued a call for proposals for Experimental-Introduction to the Liberal Arts courses to be taught in fall of 2024

In progress:

• EPAG ad hoc Curricular Committee co-chairs meeting with department chairs to get feedback on topics such as the pros/cons of two or three different curricular models, the effect of the timing of major declaration, and the impact of capping the number of courses for a major
• Creating three pilot first-year courses as an Introduction to the Liberal Arts
• Drafting of revised institutional learning outcomes for students

Completed:

• Educational Policy and Governance Committee (EPAG) selected from submitted applications a set of three Experimental-Introduction to the Liberal Arts first-year courses to be taught in fall of 2024
• EPAG ad hoc Curricular Committee, along with the Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC), held divisional listening sessions to test ideas of a liberal arts core and pathways to curricular changes

In progress:

• Developing two-credit first-year experience courses
• EPAG ad hoc Curricular Committee gathering input on different curricular models

Completed:

• Strategic Planning and Analysis (SPA) committee issued a report on the Four-year Developmental Curriculum
• SPA issued a report on Reimagining our Use of Time
• SPA issued a report on Optimizing the Schedule of the Academic Week that could expand opportunities for course-embedded connections with the Twin Cities

In progress:

• Piloting new student move in on weekdays prior to Labor Day, allowing better integration for new international students and additional opportunities for all students to connect with Twin Cities partners

In progress:

• A working group is creating an inventory of the high-impact experiential opportunities being completed by students
• The working group is also identifying barriers to expanding the number of experiential learning opportunities available to students

Planning:

• Disaggregate data through the Office of Institutional Research so we better understand which students participate in activities such as paid internships, student-faculty collaborative research, and study away
• Expand capacity for course field trips in and around the Twin Cities

Completed:

• Updated policies so International students can use financial aid for study away; made housing available during winter break for students who need it
• Faculty participated in the Serie Center’s Transforming Pedagogies Institute and other efforts related to inclusive pedagogy
• Over 100 faculty, staff, alumni, and students participated in Strategic Plan Implementation working groups
• Since January 2023, nine faculty and staff Strategic Planning Implementation sessions provided progress updates and gathered feedback
• Flemming Scholars Program initiated
• EPAG changed the timing of deadlines for mid-term grades and encouraged faculty to not create major deadlines following mid-semester breaks
• Winter break added to Macalester’s employee leave policy and calendar and changes were made to create a more consistent and equitable approach to the treatment of holiday hours
• Endowed fund for annual exceptional performance awards for employees established, with Board of Trustees approval
• Employee parental leave policy expanded
• New student portal created and updated

In progress:

• External consultant conducting comprehensive review of staff compensation practices
• Working groups making recommendations about the first-year experience, advising, and high-impact practices

Planning:

• Pilot in fall 2024 a change in the timing and length of new-student orientation

Completed:

• In addition to a name change, Human Resources (HR) reconfigured existing positions to hire Macalester’s first Employee Relations and Training & Development Manager, and hired a full-time Talent Acquisition Manager
• Welcomed a second cohort of Posse students
• Initiated the Flemming Scholars program

In progress:

• Disaggregating data for institutional research questions
• Examining retention and graduation rates as a Quality Improvement Project for accreditation
• Implementing the Minnesota Native Indigenous (MNI) Mellon grant to recruit and host postdoctoral fellows
• Developing a toolkit for equity-minded search practices for staff and tenure-track faculty positions

Completed:

• Held MacFest for the first time in fall 2023 to bring together in a single weekend parents, students, alumni, staff, and faculty
• Engaged alumni in a range of committees and initiatives related to the strategic plan implementation, including Comprehensive Campus Plan, 150th celebration planning, and capital campaign planning
• Hired new Vice President for Advancement

In progress:

• Hosting 150th events, including alumni and parent regional events and two trips to Scotland

Completed:

• Board of Trustees approved plans for a capital campaign that includes raising funds for a new residence hall and welcome center
• The Urban Design Group architectural team met with students to plan elements of the Kagin Commons renovation to expand programming space for the Lealtad-Suzuki Center in 2025

In progress:

• Completing a zero-based budgeting process for fiscal year 2024-25
• Renovating the Lampert Building to centralize Advancement staff offices and create a more accessible work environment for staff and visiting alumni
• HGA design team co-hosting meetings with facilities staff to gather student, staff, and faculty input on the new residence hall and welcome center
• Meeting with students to discuss and plan for the future of C House programming

Planning:

• Begin renovation of the Campus Center in May 2024
• Move Office of Student Affairs staff and Macalester College Student Government into Weyerhaeuser Hall in summer 2024

Completed:

• Held PRE@Mac, a free residential immersion into the college experience for Minnesota high school students with identities traditionally underrepresented in higher education, in the summer of 2023
• Co-sponsored and hosted an information booth at the Taste of Rondo Community Block Party
• Submitted multiple faculty- and staff-led collaborative grants proposals involving Twin Cities partners
• Engaged with Twin Cities artists, theaters, community organizations, and alumni for History and Heritage Months events 
• Students and staff participated in LíderCon, the annual leadership conference organized by LatinoLEAD, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization committed to supporting Latinx leaders and their allies

In progress:

• Developing partnerships with Twin Cities companies and nonprofit organizations
• Implementing the Minnesota Native Indigenous (MNI) Mellon grant along with community partners

Planning:

• Host the return of the Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games to campus in July 2024
• Launch a pilot iteration of MathCorps, a recognized mathematics and mentorship program involving middle school and high school students in a summer day camp