Resources

Ohio Wesleyan University must align its resource base with its strategic objectives, particularly through the development of programs that allow students to connect theory and practice; the enhancement of facilities that offer more individualized, engaged, and small group learning; and the renewal of residential facilities in ways that create greater community on the OWU campus. This requires significant capital infusion into the OWU endowment and into the OWU campus, and it requires increasing net tuition revenue. These efforts will be enhanced by increasing engagement of key constituencies whose support is critical to fulfillment of this plan and, perhaps most importantly, by investing in our employees who devote their lives to Ohio Wesleyan University and whose work with our students ultimately leads to the realization of these aspirations.

Human Resources

The people who devote their professional lives to Ohio Wesleyan University are the institution’s most treasured resource. OWU seeks to attract the most highly qualified employees, retain the highly qualified individuals we have attracted, and develop employee satisfaction and morale that improve performance and create a sense of positive community spirit. To this end, we will ensure that our employees are compensated fairly, receive the training and tools necessary to be successful employees, and find satisfaction and fulfillment in their work.

Specific objectives include:

  • Develop a human resource function based on best practices while recognizing our unique needs, including employee handbooks
  • Develop a proven, efficient and transparent process for allocating and reallocating staff positions as needs and resources change
  • Develop appropriate benchmarks for compensation and compensate employees in all classifications appropriately in relation to their responsibility and performance
  • Increase resources for professional development for faculty and administrators and provide ongoing training for staff
  • Develop an employee wellness program
  • Develop resources and activities to intentionally build community among OWU employees, to recognize outstanding performance among all classifications of employees, and to celebrate professional accomplishments and personal milestones of our employees

Constituencies

Ohio Wesleyan University benefits from the support of key constituencies who value the University and share its aspirations. We will intentionally address our relationships with and our support from each of these constituencies, with new focus on parents of current and former students, community partners, and regional and national charitable foundations.

Specific objectives include:

  • Develop a full parent relations program, including opportunities for parent engagement in the mission of OWU and substantially increased philanthropic support from parents
  • Develop a community relations program that engages civic leadership in the OWU vision and that increases philanthropic support from Delaware and central Ohio
  • Engage regional and national philanthropic foundations that have not supported OWU in recent years
  • Enhance communication with on-campus constituencies and within the OWU extended family

Technology

Technology is a critical resource with the capacity to support teaching and learning as well as all administrative operations. We will become an institution that embraces the best use of technology in the classroom and in our administrative work.

Specific objectives include:

  • Provide appropriate, current technology in all teaching venues
  • Implement the latest and most appropriate administrative software to support administrative efficiency
  • Provide adequate training for faculty and staff in the use of technology
  • Develop a centralized plan for ongoing renewal of hardware and software
  • Cultivate IT leadership to provide vision and direction for the future of technology at OWU
  • Establish an IT governance structure to serve as a link between university leadership and the campus community on technology issues

Endowment

The long-term financial strength of OWU and the ability to deliver on the promise of an innovative, life-changing liberal arts education requires significant growth in the University’s endowment. This endowment, when managed prudently and allocated strategically, will provide the resources necessary to educate a new generation of leaders.

Specific objectives include:

  • Increase endowment to $350 million, with particular attention to new faculty positions, unfunded financial aid, plant adaptation and renewal, the New OWU curricular plan, and faculty development
  • Continue strong management of endowment with focus on long-term growth and reduction of spending rate, including quasi-endowment, to five percent

Net Tuition Revenue

The implementation of a bold curricular and co-curricular initiative, complemented by investment in the campus and its infrastructure, greatly enhances the value of an Ohio Wesleyan University education and positions the University to strengthen its resource base by increasing net tuition revenue.