STRATEGIC PLAN Key highlights

The Gieses and the Mount Union community have worked toward goals of Advancing Excellence — A Strategic Plan for the University of Mount Union. Key highlights are:

The addition of 22 new undergraduate programs in high-demand fields.

Development and launch of two graduate programs – physician assistant studies and educational leadership.

The announcement of the potential addition of a doctor of physical therapy program pending the appropriate approvals.

Development and launch of a new general education model — the integrative core — and the change from a three-credit to four-credit hour system.

A $100 million investment in campus over the course of the past decade.

An enhanced partnership with the city of Alliance through service-learning and community service initiatives, programs that bring students and business leaders together, workshops on campus, work with local school districts and partnerships with the city government and chamber of commerce.

Maintenance of enrollment in a challenging economic environment, including this fall’s 10-year high in total student full-time enrollment of 2,263 with an overall fourth all-time best freshman class of 694.

Closing of the Drive for Distinction Campaign with $82 million raised a year ahead of schedule and a $25 million campaign for the health and medical science building and performing arts center projects.

Change of the institution’s designation from college to university.

A high graduate success rate, with 98 percent of self-reporting 2013 graduates having secured degree- required employment or graduate-school placement, all in an average of 30 days after graduation.