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Establishment of the University Planning Council

The president established the University Planning Council to advise and assist him in the strategic and tactical planning of the university.

The president’s initial charge to the UPC in 2019 included:

• Develop priorities that will guide the design of a University Strategic Plan focused on ordering all of our resources and all of our work to ensure that each student is successful—both here and after graduation.

• Guide the final assessment of the 2015–20 ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â University Strategic Plan and prepare a final report to be shared with the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â community.

• Advise the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â president and university leadership about challenges and opportunities impacting the institution.

In January 2020, UPC members began meeting with divisions, departments, and organizations to discuss and receive feedback about the Core Principles, Impact Areas, and barriers to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â student success. More than 600 faculty, staff, and students participated in meetings with UPC representatives through June 2020 (held virtually after March due to the pandemic). At its December 2020 meeting, the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Council of Trustees formally endorsed the 2020–25 University Strategic Plan, and at its December 2023 meeting they extended the plan to 2028.

Guiding Philosophy

• The strategic plan for 2020–28 is to transform the culture at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â to enhance the student experience by fostering exceptional student-centeredness. Transformation will include reordering resources to ensure every student is successful in transitioning to college, while at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, and after graduation.

Impact Areas

• ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â-Readiness
• Finding and Creating Community
• Mental Health and Well-Being
• Post-ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Success
• Academic Success

Core Principles

1. Every student is a priority.

2. Promote the search for, production of, and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of our students and society.

3. Provide a wide range of intellectual and professional opportunities for students that will assist them in developing their potential for becoming productive and responsible citizens.

4. Construct an environment of respect that encourages the growth of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

5. Respond to students and their needs when and where they are to enhance student satisfaction.

6. Design and re-engineer processes and procedures logically to improve ease of use for students.

7. Improve communication, collaboration, and engagement across the university, and with our alumni and community partners.

Restructuring of the UPC in 2024

The University Planning Council has been charged by President Driscoll to guide the continued implementation of the current ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Strategic Plan (2020–28) and to advise the President on related matters. To achieve this, UPC has restructured both its membership and its overall structure. UPC has created the following two subcommittees whose charge will be to:

1. Map completed and in-progress ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â initiatives to the Strategic Plan, identify areas for opportunity to address gaps and/or overlapping initiatives, and consider markers and measures for success.
2. Resolve reported barriers to student success and think imaginatively about developing creative and innovative ideas to move the university forward in its goal to serve future students. 

Current UPC Members

• Cochair, Scott Moore (History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies) at rsmoore@iup.edu
• Cochair, Paula Stossel (Student Success) at pstoss@iup.edu
• Julie Ankrum (Professional Studies in Education)
• Allison Baker (University College)
• Kaylee Becker-George (SGA)
• Mimi Benjamin (Student Affairs, Student Success, and Disability Access)
• Dan Burkett (Mathematical and Computer Sciences)
• Josh Castle (Management)
• Tedd Cogar (MVRC)
• Amy Cook (Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics)
• Hillary Creely (Health Sciences/Research and Innovation)
• Todd Cunningham (IT Services)
• Jenn Dunsmore (University Advancement)
• Lorraine Guth (Counseling and Human Development)
• Megan Heilbrun (Emergency Operations)
• Stephanie Jozefowicz (Finance and Economics)
• Chris Kitas (Institutional Research)
• Dana Minser (Research and Innovation)
• Jim Racchini (Allied and Public Health)
• Edel Reilly (Education and Human Services)
• Hamzah Sammour (GSA)
• Anna Shively (Human Resources)

UPC continues to welcome feedback on the plan or suggestions of barriers to student success that need to be removed or modified. Comments can be emailed to cochairs Scott Moore at rsmoore@iup.edu or Paula Stossel at pstoss@iup.edu or to any member of the UPC.