Strategic Plan

About About

CHSSA’s Strategic Plan guides its mission and vision, drawn from past origins and forging a bright future. Aligned with UNCW’s Strategic Plan, CHSSA's Strategic Plan embodies our core values, pillars, and objectives across the myriad disciplines that make up our vibrant college.

Introduction

The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts educates students for lives of personal, civic and professional fulfillment and advances knowledge and creativity through the humanities, social sciences, and the arts.

This strategic plan provides a clear and actionable path forward, ensuring that CHSSA remains inspired, connected, and prepared for the evolving academic landscape.

Membership

Chair/Director Representatives

Tiffany Gilbert, Chair of the Department of English
Dana Stachowiak, Director of the Gender Studies Research Center
Aaron Wilcox, Department Chair of Art & Art History

CHSSA Dean’s Office Representatives

Maggie Bannon, Director of Academic Advising
Terrell Bryant, Assessment Coordinator, Institutional Research and Planning (previously CHSSA Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator)
Michelle Scatton-Tessier, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Graduate Education, and Enrollment Management (serves as co-chair)

Faculty Representatives

Jennifer Brubaker, Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Dorcas Dennis, Assistant Professor, Philosophy & Religion
Ryan Lidster, Assistant Professor, World Languages & Cultures
Gabriel Sanchez Porras, Assistant Professor, Music
Michael Seidman, Professor, History

Staff (SHRA) and EHRA Non-Faculty Appointment Representatives

Melisa Akande, Administrative Associate of Art & Art History
Jeremy Summers, Senior Managing Director, Office of the Arts

Student Representative

Ashlyn Smith, Member of Dean’s Student Leadership Council

Guiding Principles

The committee collected data from CHSSA stakeholders, peer colleges, etc. To complete its charge, the committee endorsed the following guiding aspirations and principles:

An open exchange of ideas and perspectives consistent with our UNCW mission
A commitment to seek appropriate data to inform our report
To be diverse and inclusive in our committee composition
To promote critical thinking within the committee and avoid groupthink and other barriers to innovation and excellence

Assessment

Design Stronger Presence on Research, Scholarship, and Creative Output

Recognize, reinforce, and communicate faculty and student research activities and achievements, creative activity, and external funding efforts.

Improve Community and Alumni Engagement

Compile and promote community engagement efforts and enhance alumni connections through strengthened outreach programs.

Capture Evidence of Student Success

Support efforts to enhance enrollment growth and student success through assessment and targeted initiatives.

Prioritize Faculty and Staff Satisfaction and Retention

Review faculty and staff satisfaction and retention efforts, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.

CHSSA's Areas of Strength

CHSSA inspires with a collaborative culture, where collegiality, interdisciplinary connections, and strong leadership drive our innovation. Faculty and staff foster a shared sense of purpose, ensuring a supportive environment that values mentorship, governance, and academic excellence. By encouraging engagement and leadership development, CHSSA cultivates a dynamic community where new ideas thrive and inspire the next generation of scholars.
CHSSA connects through adaptive governance, trust, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The shared governance model fosters transparency, ensuring inclusive decision-making. CHSSA cultivates interdisciplinary partnerships that drive innovative research, teaching, and community engagement, strengthening our impact within and beyond the university.
CHSSA prepares through to a commitment to high academic standards, strong infrastructure, and clear faculty and staff development pathways. With rigorous department quality, well-supported facilities, and transparent tenure policies, CHSSA provides faculty, staff, and students with the resources and stability needed to excel. This foundation ensures that CHSSA remains adaptable, forward-thinking, and equipped to meet the evolving demands of academia, communities, and professional life.

Strategic Pillars of CHSSA

Pillar 1: Inspire

Pillar 2: Connect

Pillar 3: Prepare

Goal 1: Expand research, scholarship, and creative activity

Invest in a culture of academic excellence by resourcing faculty and student scholarly and creative activity
Foster a vigorous academic exchange through efforts to boost faculty, staff, and student morale
Prioritize sustainable support for the college research mission

Goal 2: Grow CHSSA’s academic reach and enrollment

Share our excitement about learning and discovery to increase faculty, staff, and student engagement
Highlight and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and applied learning
Promote efficient paths towards degree completion
Expand recruitment strategies to increase CHSSA major enrollments and Student Credit Hour (SCH) production

Goal 3: Enhance communication and engagement

Showcase college successes through creative storytelling and visual presence
Advance community engagement initiatives highlighting CHSSA’s impact in local and regional outreach

Goal 4: Innovate development and philanthropic culture

Cultivate strong community partnerships
Strengthen alumni engagement and outreach efforts
Expand philanthropic culture through targeted stewardship initiatives

Goal 5: Advancing career readiness and student success

Commit to a holistic model of student success that incorporates all dimensions of well-being to nourish and support resilient and compassionate citizens
Maximize applied learning opportunities across CHSSA disciplines that develop external partners for career readiness
Improve student-facing communication and career services by cultivating deeper partnerships with the Career Center
Further progress the successful integration of the new advising team, creating sustainable structures and protocols
Match/increase student success benchmarks to support departments in setting measurable goals

Goal 6: Strengthening CHSSA’s infrastructure and governance

Enhancing facilities and infrastructure:
- Allocate resources to improve physical and technological infrastructure
- Support high-impact student learning experiences through modernized spaces and resources
- Promote knowledge creation and dissemination through well-equipped facilities
Establishing fair and effective policies:
- Develop transparent, equitable, and inclusive policies and procedures
- Streamline operational processes to enhance efficiency and accountability
- Ensure governance structures support faculty, staff, and student needs

Closing

CHSSA is committed to fostering an environment where students, faculty, and staff thrive. By enhancing research, and improving faculty, staff, and student experiences, expanding career readiness, and strengthening our shared governance, we will solidify CHSSA’s role as a leader in interdisciplinary education and community engagement.

UNCW Strategic Plan

In 2023-24, UNCW launched its newest Strategic Plan: Soar Higher. Progress on each pillar, priority and objective reflects the initiatives, actions and successes of the entire Seahawk community.

Learn more about UNCW's Strategic Plan