ACADEMIC UPDATEBoard of Trustees September 2014

• Thank you for the opportunity• Much to share

– Pres. Leahy’s “Year in Review”• Limited remarks today• Happy to field questions to your interests

Priorities: • Complete Four Dean Searches

– College of Science & Engineering– School of Education– College of Arts, Humanities &– Social Science– School of Nursing

Nursing: A New Era•Free-standing School of Nursing

– First & only in Northeastern Pennsylvania•New Interim Dean: Dr. Deborah Zbegner•National Search for Nursing Dean•New Structure to maximize success:

– New Program Directors: Graduate & Undergraduate

– Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Five-Point Strategy•Focus on undergraduate student success on state board examination•Integrate graduate & undergraduate faculty to maximize success•Full-time faculty recruitment & development•Judicious use of adjunct faculty•Grow national presence through HotChalk partnership for graduate

• Intense focus on improving state board scores– All course exams aligned with “final exam” (NCLEX)– Focus on Seniors with intensive support:

• Weekly review of questions• Content review via competitions • Restructure final senior clinical course to embed test

review• Strong program of remediation for individual students• Continue current Kaplan reviews

• State Board of Nursing decision in October• Where we are now with nursing scores

– Current percentage– Worst case scenario– Cautious optimism

Priority: Off-Campus Site Strategy•Mesa•Poconos

Priority: Research & Development Process• No dearth of ideas! • Opportunity cost critical•Need mechanism to constantly evaluate ideas prior to moving to formal channels:– Assess demand & competition– Determine if fits Wilkes– Determine resource needs– Triage: Yes, no, not now– If yes -- Prioritize – Move forward!

Thank youQuestions and Answers