LMU Shares Updates on the Progress Made in the 2021-26 Strategic Plan

Loyola Marymount University is reaching significant milestones as the university completes the third year of its strategic plan, "Creating the World We Want to Live In, 2021-26," advancing the plan's commitments to inclusion, innovation, and impact.

In pursuit of the plan's strategic priorities, since 2021 LMU has revised key elements of its Core Curriculum to promote inclusive and interdisciplinary learning experiences; launched the Lion Connect platform as the linchpin of a comprehensive "web of support" for student success; created a new doctoral program: and expanded access to an LMU education through new pathways for transfer and non-traditional students.

Now, Lions can visit the recently redesigned strategic plan webpage and follow along on the progress made toward each of the plan's five spotlight initiative goals.

Highlights from the strategic plan's progress thus far include the following:

• Spotlight Initiative 1, "Learning for Justice Inclusion, and Transformation," led by Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Emelyn dela Pena, prompted faculty-led, equity-focused updates to the Core Curriculum's "Studies in American Diversity" and "Engaged Learning" requirements. Other Spotlight 1-related achievements include significant enhancements of the diversity of LMU's faculty, staff, and senior leadership since 2021, along with maintaining strong diversity of each entering class and approaching the long-term goal of achieving Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status for the university.

• Progress toward Spotlight Initiative 2, "Integrative and Interdisciplinary Thinking," led by Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Jonathan Rothchild, includes the development and/or launch of multiple new interdisciplinary degree programs, including cross-college collaborations such as the Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) interdisciplinary program created by the College of Business Administration (CBA) and the Frank R, Seaver College of Science and Engineering (CSE). Additional interdisciplinary major and minor programs are in development, accelerated by summer faculty working groups sponsored by the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA). The Center for Teaching Excellence (now the Center for Faculty Development) has been a major partner in Spotlight 2 initiatives, hosting Faculty Learning communities, salons, and events promoting integrative pedagogies and collaborative teaching.

• A landmark accomplishment for Spotlight 3, "Personalized Connections," led by Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives Jennifer Belichesky-Larson, is the August 2024 launch of LMU's LionConnect platform. By empowering students with a personalized dashboard connecting them with faculty and staff who can support their scheduling, advising, and degree planning needs, LionConnect forms the centerpiece of the "web of support" envisioned by Spotlight 3 to promote comprehensive student success.

• Based on the objectives of Spotlight 4, "Discovery and Innovation in Graduate and Professional Education," now led by Vice Provost for Academic Programs José Badenes, S.J., LMU has created a pool of seed funding to support innovative new graduate and professional education programs. This seed funding supported the launch of CBA's Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, LMU's first new doctoral degree in more than a decade, as well as multiple new in-person and online master's degree programs. Strategic investments in the university's research support structures through Spotlight 4 have also contributed to record outcomes in external research grants, with this year's $16.2 million total coming in 35% higher than external grant outcomes from the plan's first year.

• Spotlight 5, "Access LMU," led by Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Maureen Weatherall, has spurred considerable progress toward making the university more accessible. This has included the expansion of LMU's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements to include El Camino College and Santa Monica College. We are in the process of further expanding the TAG agreements to include the School of Education. Additionally, a new pathway program with West L.A. College: WLA/ LMU Psychology Scholar's Program has been signed. While maintaining strong undergraduate and transfer enrollment outcomes across the board, LMU's efforts to expand access have led to projected increases in Pell-eligible students this year.

Effective strategic plans help institutions articulate a shared vision of the future, build consensus around key goals and actions, and prioritize the use of financial and human resources. The university will continue to share updates as further progress advances.

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