MONMOUTH, Ore. — Western Oregon University announces its selection to participate in the Sensemaking & Strategic Prioritization process with the Gardner Institute. This program, made possible through the generous support of the Gates Foundation, focuses on enhancing student success at institutions like Western that demonstrate a commitment to accessibility, particularly for undergraduate students with a Pell recipient population of 25 percent or more.
As a proud member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), Western actively pursues best practices in higher education. This unique initiative, titled “Advancing Student Success: Strategic Prioritization for Student Success,” is a membership benefit to selected COPLAC members.
“We are thrilled to be selected for this initiative. WOU’s application focused on our General Education program because it has incredible momentum right now to work across divisions and departments and fully realize this curriculum as a primary driver of student retention and equity,” said Melanie Landon-Hays, Director, General Education and Student Transitions. “This partnership will give us the essential tools and framework to build consensus across campus with structured insights that help us ensure that our academic pathways are intentionally designed to support the success of every student.”
- Participants in the program will benefit from a comprehensive set of resources, including:
- A facilitated Sensemaking Conversation on campus with Gardner Institute staff to interpret results and set priorities.
- Customized reports and dashboards summarizing Institutional Transformation Assessment and Readiness for Transformation Assessment findings.
- A focused Strategic Prioritization plan outlining both near-term and long-term actions for enhancing student success.
- A Transformation Roadmap aligned to the Gardner Institute’s Six Transformation Principles to guide implementation.
- A fully funded two-day on-campus Sensemaking session.
- A $1,000 stipend for Western’s Institutional Research office upon completion of the Gardner Institute data upload.
“We look forward to engaging in this process, and what we learn will enhance strategies that support our student achievement and success,” said Western President Jesse Peters. “Opportunities like this align with our strategic plan and underscore our commitment to placing students at the center.”
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About Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.