Guide to Implementation

GUIDEBOOK TO IMPLEMENTATION

I’m excited to share an update on the progress we’re making in advancing Georgia State’s strategic plan, BluePrint to 2033. This plan remains a vital roadmap for growth, innovation and excellence across our institution. Thanks to the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and partners — many of whom are featured in this guidebook — we are making significant strides in critical areas that are shaping the future of Georgia State University.

Our commitment to student achievement is central to our mission. Through the Student Success 2.0 initiatives, we are building on our national reputation as a leader in student success by fostering curricular innovation, expanding educational access and enhancing evidence-based support programs for students at every level. From refining our core curriculum to prioritizing high-impact practices and launching a student employment program that builds connections between academics and careers, these initiatives strengthen Georgia State University’s role as a social mobility engine, positioning our students for long-term success.

Georgia State has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most dynamic research and innovation ecosystems. Our researchers and creative scholars are advancing new knowledge for public benefit, and through initiatives focused on innovative research, scholarship and creative activity, we are committed to elevating our impact in these areas. By improving tools and technologies that streamline research management, we are enhancing the support for our researchers to drive forward-looking solutions.

We are proud to be a globally recognized institution that offers students from all backgrounds access to one of the most innovative and creative learning environments in the nation. As a vibrant, multicampus university, Georgia State aims to be a place where people come to learn, work, play and connect. The Identity, Placemaking and Belonging initiatives will deepen our ties to Atlanta and our surrounding

communities, creating relationships that benefit both our students and neighbors. These collaborative initiatives enable us to contribute to our region’s growth while enriching the experiences of our students, faculty and staff.

Over the next decade, Georgia State will continue to be an institution “moving at the speed of change,” anticipating the needs of employers and equipping our students with the resources to thrive in their careers and in life. Through the Beyond College to Career initiatives, we are expanding career services, centralizing professional education and enriching the undergraduate experience with more opportunities for experiential learning in research, scholarship and creative pursuits.

As we look to the future, we will stay focused on our goals while remaining flexible to new opportunities and challenges. Your feedback is essential as we refine our strategies and build a stronger, more resilient Georgia State University. Together, we are crafting a future that honors our successes and embraces the innovations of tomorrow.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission. I am eager to see what we will accomplish together in the coming months and years.

Dear GSU Community,

We are thrilled to embark on the next phase of BluePrint to 2033. With the launch of the 20 new initiatives grounded in the foundational pillars of Identity, Placemaking & Belonging; Innovating Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity; Student Success 2.0 and Beyond College to Career, we are leveraging the university’s strengths to advance our mission and reach our highest aspirations.

This guidebook serves as a resource to inform, inspire and guide our collective efforts as we move forward with the implementation of the strategic initiatives. Each section reflects our commitment to excellence, innovation and alignment with the goals that will propel the university toward continued success. But more importantly, the guidebook highlights the collective story of us — the dedicated faculty, staff and students — who have been involved in the process since the plan’s inception, and to those who will lead the implementation of the initiatives going forward. Together, as the GSU community, we will embrace this journey of growth and transformation, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas thrive, progress is measured and impact is realized.

Thank you for your dedication, focus and engagement as we work toward achieving the strategic objectives and fulfilling the Our Place, Our Time vision on the road to BluePrint to 2033.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Y. Lester Associate Provost, Strategic Initiatives

2022 STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Charge – To engage the university community and stakeholders in the development of a broad strategic planning document that will guide the University’s direction, build upon the Presidential Pillars, and identify goals for the next ten years that will enhance Georgia State University’s capacity for cultural enrichment and placemaking, student success, innovation beyond the classroom, and creating and communicating new knowledge.

2022 STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Co-chairs

Karen Wheel-Carter Perimeter College

Jared Poley College of Arts & Sciences

Honorary Co-chair

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Project Coordinator

Kristie Seelman

Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Committee

Members

Airhihenbuwa

Committee Members

DaShaunda Patterson College of Education & Human Development

Chester Phillips College of the Arts

Student Advisory Board

Kevin Baker College of Education & Human Development, undergraduate

Summer Clark J. Mack Robinson College of Business, undergraduate

Jennifer Sherer J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Kelly Stout Research Program Enhancement

Bobby Eischen Perimeter College –Newton campus, associate

Sydney Flonnoy Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, graduate

David Gaines College of Law & School of Public Health, graduate & law

Veruanikka Newsome College of Arts & Sciences, undergraduate

Tre’Vaughan Williams College of the Arts, undergraduate

STRATEGIC PLANNING TASKFORCES

Charge – Organized according to pillar the Strategic Planning Taskforces were charged with utilizing the strategic planning document to identify, define, and recommend initiatives for implementation to the Cross-cutting team. The Strategic Planning Taskforces are led by members of the President’s Cabinet as well as the Dean of the Graduate School.

STRATEGIC PLAN

STRATEGIC PLANNING TASKFORCES

IDENTITY, PLACEMAKING AND BELONGING

Convener Task Force Members

Michael Sanseviro Student Engagement

Kimberly Bennekin Perimeter College

Dorcas Attah J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Charlie Cobb Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

Kim

Facilities Design & Construction

Joseph Corrigan Campus Police

Dajun Dai College of Arts & Sciences

Delisa

Undergraduate Student, Student Government Association

INNOVATING RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Convener Task Force Members

Donald Hamelberg Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development

Ann-Margaret Esnard Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Elliott Albers Neuroscience Institute

Kay Gilstrap Research Program Enhancement

Paul Alberto College of Education & Human Development

J.D. Li Institute for Biomedical Sciences

Anna Radar Neuroscience Institute

Jessica Shepherd Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development

Rodney Lyn Schol of Public Policy

STRATEGIC PLANNING TASKFORCES

STUDENT SUCCESS 2.0

Convener Task Force Members

BEYOND COLLEGE TO CAREER

Convener Task Force Members

Armistead The Graduate School

Kennedy Crawford Student Engagement

Bala Ramesh J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Heath Wood University Advancement

Jason Aldrich Career Advancement Center

Jennifer Meeks Perimeter College

Jamie Thaubald Instructional Innovation & Technology

Bell-Kareem Institute for Biomedical Sciences

Huanbiao Mo Byrdine College of Nursing & Health Professions

Phil Ventimiglia Instructional Innovation & Technology

Richard D. Phillips J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Willis College of Ars & Sciences

CROSS-CUTTING COMMITTEE

Charge – Prioritize and recommend to the Presidential Cabinet initiatives for implementation. The Cross-cutting Team also ensures consistency and integration of initiatives that span across the university. The Cross-cutting team consists of leaders across the university and is co-chaired by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

CROSS-CUTTING COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs Committee Members

L. Jared Abramson Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Cheryl Harrelson University Advancement

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jo Ann Herold Public Relations & Marketing Communications

Sidney Smith President’s Office

Jeff Steely University Library

Michelle Brattain College of Arts & Sciences

Rubena Cela Learning Innovations

Charge – Create a consistent format for prioritized initiatives that can be aligned with key performance indicators of both successful implementation and outcome and develop a scorecard to rate each proposed initiative on impact, affordability, and ease of implementation.

OPERATIONS TEAM COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

Charge – Create a communication environment that manages and coordinates internal and external communications regarding the plan that ensures that the University community can effectively engage with the plan through a variety of communication methods.

OPERATIONS TEAM

L. Jared Abramson Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

Cynthia Lester Office of Strategic Initiatives

Committee Members Committee Members

Cynthia Villaverde Finance and Administration

Chair

Jo Ann Herold Public Relations & Marketing Communications

Cody Benson Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss

Renata Irving Public Relations & Marketing Communications

William Davis Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss

Matt McCullin Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss

William Inman Public Relations & Marketing Communications

Julia Thompson Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

Charge – The Implementation Team will develop the project plan and oversee the implementation for each initiative. The Implementation Team also defines clear initiative objectives, goals, timeline for implementation, and milestones. The Implementation Team is led by a Taskforce Convener or designee and provides quarterly updates to the President’s Cabinet.

Implementation Team Pillar Key

IDENTITY, PLACEMAKING AND BELONGING

INNOVATING RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY

STUDENT SUCCESS 2.0

BEYOND COLLEGE TO CAREER

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

INITIATIVE: Implement the Hidden Gems Project

Develop the Hidden Gems and Hidden Histories Project to highlight historical sites and events on each campus to increaseconnections and community.

Cabinet Sponsors

Jo Ann Herold Vice President, Public Relations & Marketing Communications

Michael Sanseviro Vice President for Student Engagement

Leaders

Manager, Marketing and Media

INITIATIVE:

Develop Signature University-Wide Events

Enhance the Georgia State University community experience by highlighting signature experiences, expanding existing traditions and developing new shared traditions that reflect our core values and create a sense of shared identity.

Cabinet Sponsor

Michael Sanseviro Vice President for Student Engagement

Leaders

Lauren Bellard History & Honors College Librarian

Jeff Benson Associate Director, Student Life – Atlanta

Jez Catamay-Lopez Director, Student Engagement – Clarkston

INITIATIVE: Develop GSU Mobile App

Develop an official mobile app for the Georgia State University community that elevates the user experience, boosts engagement, extends the university’s reach, fosters seamless communication, drives innovation and reinforces the strength of the university’s brand.

Cabinet Sponsor

Phil Ventimiglia Chief Innovation Officer

Leaders

John Bandy Deputy Chief Innovation Officer

Fernando Rochaix Assistant Professor

INITIATIVE:

Develop a Panther Quad on Every Campus

Develop a Panther Quad on every campus, which will serve as an identifiable location where students, faculty and staff can gather for activities, events or leisure.

Cabinet Sponsors

L. Jared Abramson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Michael Sanseviro Vice President for Student Engagement

Leaders

Anthony Davis Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

Instructor

Jamie Smith Chief Administrative Officer and Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

INITIATIVE: Implement Safety Improvement Plan

Implement the safety improvement plan to improve safety infrastructure, enhance the learning environment, foster community trust, promote well-being, strengthen the university’s reputation and create better campus connectivity.

Cabinet Sponsor

L. Jared Abramson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

INITIATIVE:

Recruit, Cultivate and Retain Employees

To establish Georgia State as a competitive place to work, one of President M. Brian Blake’s first priorities was to launch a compensation study. The study will provide data to establish benchmarks for competitive salary structures to better recruit and retain employees.

Cabinet Sponsor

Ann Williamson

Associate Vice President for Human Resources & CHRO, Office of Finance and Administration

INITIATIVE:

Reimagine Research Administration

Reimagining Research at Georgia State will strengthen the administrative framework by improving tools and technologies that streamline the management of sponsored programs, research activities and related processes.

Cabinet Sponsor

Donald Hamelberg Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Leaders

Comfort Reeves-Brownell Assistant Vice President for Research, Office of Sponsored Proposals & Awards

MaryAnn Romski Regents Professor – Director, Center for Research on Atypical Development and Learning

INITIATIVE: School of Computing

Create a School of Computing within the College of Arts & Sciences to expand the scope of traditional computer science by leveraging interdisciplinary fields that advance computing research and education while meeting the growing demand for degree programs that align with distinct sub-fields and career paths.

Cabinet Sponsor

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Leaders

Lindsey Cohen

Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology

Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

INITIATIVE:

Elevate Research and Innovation

As the next phase of Project RISE, Georgia State will establish a new health-focused University Research Center (URC), which leverages the unique strengths of our research and academic community to address complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Cabinet Sponsor

Donald Hamelberg Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Lindsey L. Cohen Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

J.D. Li Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences

Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Leaders

Paul A. Alberto Dean, College of Education & Human Development

Sarah Cook Dean, Honors College

Rodney Lyn Dean, School of Public Health

Jeff Steely Dean, University Libraries

Courtney Anderson Interim Dean, College of Law

Armistead Dean, The Graduate School, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology

Huanbiao Mo Dean, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions

J. Vicino Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Chester Phillips Dean, College of the Arts

INITIATIVE: Implement Graduate Research Excellence Program

Launch the Graduate Research Excellence Program to bolster support in line with peer Research 1 institutions, offer degree completion incentives and introduce enhancements that elevate the overall graduate student experience.

Cabinet Sponsor

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Leaders

Cynthia

Vice President for Financial Planning and Operation

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

INITIATIVE:

Engage Faculty to Increase Student Success

Georgia State will form faculty-led task forces to explore and implement best practices in targeted courses aimed at improving completion rates. Modeled after the successful Math Taskforce, these groups will focus on replicating positive student outcomes across various disciplines.

Cabinet Sponsors

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

Courtney

Melody Kelley Associate Professor

J.D. Li

Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences

Huanbiao Mo

Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions

INITIATIVE:

Implement Customer Relationship Management Tool for Robust Student Records

Implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool for continuing students to enhance engagement, improve communication and retention, streamline processes, make more timely data-driven decisions and personalize the student experience.

Cabinet Sponsor

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

Scott Burke Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions

Associate Vice President for Advancement IT

Associate Vice President & University Registrar

INITIATIVE: High-Impact Practices and Core Curriculum

Enhance the core curriculum by prioritizing high-impact practices, particularly in firstyear courses, through stronger integration and expansion, while implementing a faculty incentive plan to promote the adoption of best practices.

Cabinet Sponsors

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

Michelle Brattain Associate Professor

Katy Crowther Associate Professor

Kim Manturuk Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Online Education

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

INITIATIVE: Enhance Learning Management System

Enhance the learning management system into a more comprehensive student-facing tool by integrating academic support, enrollment management and career exploration opportunities, with a focus on connecting students to college-to-career initiatives.

Cabinet Sponsor

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

Carol Cohen Associate Vice President for University Advisement

Eric

Floyd Associate Director, Digital Learning Environments

David Cotter Director of Communications and Data Analytics

INITIATIVE: Implement an On-Campus Worker-Learner Program

Establish a Student Employment Program that provides financial support to students, offers practical experience to strengthen career-academic connections, aligns employment opportunities with College-to-Career initiatives and includes a comprehensive training program for student employee supervisors.

Cabinet Sponsor

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

Boyd Beckwith Assistant Vice President for Student Life

Senior Director of Talent Management

Cheryl Harrelson Vice President for University Advancement

INITIATIVE:

Recruit, Cultivate and Retain High-Quality Graduate Students

Implement the Graduate Enrollment Management Plan to better recruit, cultivate and retain high-quality graduate students.

Cabinet Sponsor

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Lisa Armistead Dean, The Graduate School, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology

J.D. Li

Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences

Chester Phillips Dean, College of the Arts

Leaders

Amber Amari Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs

Lindsey L. Cohen Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Rodney Lyn Dean, School of Public Health

Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Paul A. Alberto Dean, College of Education & Human Development

Sarah Cook Dean, Honors College

Joseph Magliano Professor

Jeff Steely Dean, University Libraries

Courtney Anderson Interim Dean, College of Law

Barbara Johnson Dean, Perimeter College

Huanbiao Mo Dean, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions

Thomas J. Vicino Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS

INITIATIVE:

Strengthen Infrastructure for Student Success

To create a one-stop hub for Georgia State’s student success services and the headquarters for the National Institute for Student Success (NISS).

Cabinet Sponsors

L. Jared Abramson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

J.D. Li Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences

Ramesh Vakamudi Vice President for Facilities Management Services

Timothy M. Renick Founding Executive Director, National Institute for Student Success

INITIATIVE:

Expand Access to Career Services

Implement VMock, a virtual career assistant that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics to ensure every student has continuing exposure to career services.

Cabinet Sponsor

Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success

Leaders

Housley Assistant Vice President, Student Engagement

INITIATIVE:

Centralize and Expand Continuing and Professional Education

Centralize and expand the continuing and professional education enterprise using short-format credentials and certificates that help workers upskill to meet the marketplace’s changing needs.

Cabinet Sponsor

Presidential Commission

Leaders

Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Nancy Byron Assistant Dean for Marketing, Academic Innovations, Strategic Partnerships

INITIATIVE:

Create an Undergraduate Research Center

Create a Center for Undergraduate Research and Creativity that will enhance the undergraduate experience through increased opportunities for experiential learning in the domains of research, scholarship and creative activities.

Cabinet Sponsor

Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Leaders

LaKeyta Bonnette-Bailey Professor and Co-Director, Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni (CASA)

Gregory Poon Professor

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