JSU News Wire

Dr. Meehan Thanks the JSU Community for Response.
Publishes new JSU Vision Statement.

When the President of Jacksonville State University asks for feedback from the community, he gets it. Dr. William A. Meehan sent out a call to JSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community stakeholders to respond to two surveys in October and November of 2005. The result was a response from more than 2850 people.

“I was very pleased by the response from our community on these two very important surveys that will serve to shape the future of Jacksonville State University,” Meehan said. “My thanks go out to all who took the time to complete the surveys and to write constructive comments. Your responses were carefully reviewed and will have an impact on how the administration will move forward. It is clear that the JSU community cares about its future.”

Core Values Survey Results

During October through December students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members were asked to complete a gap analysis survey that measured respondents’ agreement with JSU’s core values as identified by the Strategic Planning Committee. This committee is charged with setting the long-range course for JSU. Results indicated that 1180 students, 213 faculty/staff, and 789 alumni and community stakeholders responded.

Overall, responses indicated that respondents agreed with the 12 identified core values that are listed below. However, analysis also indicated that both students and faculty/staff respondents identified gaps between what Jacksonville State University’s core values are and what they should be. This gives the Strategic Planning Committee much to think about as they move forward with creating the University’s Strategic Plan.

JSU’s Core Values:

The social, intellectual, cultural and physical development of students, faculty, and staff
Being the friendliest campus in the South
Providing an affordable quality education
Maintaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body
The support of intellectual and academic freedom, dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas
Quality teaching to prepare students for employment, citizenship, and life-long learning
Student accessibility to faculty and staff
Maintaining a beautiful campus that preserves the historical architecture of the university
Collegial decision-making
Providing access to state-of-the-art technology
Providing a continuous improvement environment
Excellence in all aspects of university life

Vision Statement Survey Results

In November, an on-line survey was published and broadcast through e-mail to all students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders in the community. A total of 669 respondents reviewed a draft of JSU’s vision statement and rated whether they strongly disagreed, disagreed, agreed, or strongly agreed that the statement met six criteria. The criteria were 1) the vision statement conveys a picture of the future at Jacksonville State University; 2) the vision statement is desirable; 3) the vision statement is attainable; 4) the vision statement is focused clearly enough to guide decision-making; 5) the vision statement is flexible enough to allow for alternative responses based on changing conditions; and 6) the vision statement is easy to explain.

Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the draft vision statement met these criteria with more than 80% of all respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with each criteria.

Respondents were also asked to comment and make recommendations for the vision statement. Two suggestions most mentioned were used in revising the statement. The first suggestion was to make THE lower case in the first sentence; the second, to remove the reference to the number of students targeted for enrollment at the university. Dr. Meehan has finalized and approved the JSU Vision Statement. It reads:

Jacksonville State University will be the regional comprehensive institution of choice for students who want a strong, high quality education. Students will be challenged academically by dedicated and accessible faculty and have access to the latest technology to develop skills for success in an expanding global community. Curricula offerings will utilize developing methods of instruction to eliminate barriers of time and distance and allow the JSU experience to transcend regional boundaries. Highly responsive services that demonstrate the institution’s commitment to continuous improvement will ensure JSU’s reputation as the friendliest campus in the South.

Thank you to all who participated in this important effort.