Agile Ambrose

About Agile Ambrose

As the university writes its next chapter, we find ourselves at a turning point. Change is everywhere. The job market is changing. Demographics are changing. Student needs and expectations are changing. Agile Ambrose is ready to address these challenges and make bold moves to redefine itself as the leading Catholic Learner-Centric University.

The St. Ambrose University Strategic Plan Agile Ambrose (2022-2027) is a roadmap that guides us toward excellence in teaching, research, and service to our community. On this webpage, you will find an overview of our strategic plan and the planning process, as well as detailed information about our areas of focus and strategic outcomes.

We invite you to explore our strategic plan and learn more about our commitment to providing world-class education and making a positive impact on society.

Sustainable foundations

St. Ambrose University is firmly committed to a future where our community thrives, supported by a solid foundation. Our strategic plan places the Sustainable Foundations area of focus at its core, highlighting our dedication to building a strong and adaptable organization. Initiatives in this area of focus are designed to not only address the immediate needs of our community but also to foresee and prepare for future demands. By focusing on expanding the capabilities of our people, continuously improving our policies and procedures, and enhancing our physical and technological resources, we are paving the way for a future of sustainable development and achievement at St. Ambrose.

Building People Capacity Initiatives
The backbone of St. Ambrose University is its people. By investing in our faculty, staff, and students, we're enhancing our community's ability to innovate, educate, and serve. Professional development programs, wellness initiatives, and an inclusive culture ensure that our university remains a vibrant and nurturing environment for all.
Policies and procedures initiatives
Efficient, transparent, and effective policies and procedures are essential for sustainable development. At St. Ambrose, we're committed to continuously reviewing and updating our governance structures to ensure they meet the highest standards of accountability and facilitate our strategic objectives.
Physical and technological infrastructure initiatives
Our commitment to sustainability extends to our physical and digital realms. From environmentally friendly buildings to state-of-the-art technological resources, St. Ambrose provides a campus that supports innovative teaching, learning, and community engagement.
Risk mitigation and management initiatives
Recognizing the importance of preparedness, our strategic initiatives include comprehensive risk management plans that address potential challenges head-on, ensuring that St. Ambrose remains a resilient and secure institution for years to come.
Philanthropy initiatives
The generosity of our alumni, donors, and friends fuels our vision for a sustainable future. Through philanthropic support, St. Ambrose University can continue to invest in critical areas that ensure our growth, innovation, and leadership in education.

Reimagined learning

The Reimagined Learning area of focus is a bold endeavor to redefine our position as a leader in Catholic, learner-centered education. With an eye on the future of academia, this forward-thinking area of focus contains multiple initiatives to redesign the student's educational experience, setting a new standard for how education is delivered and received. These initiatives will not only prepare St. Ambrose students for future challenges, but will empower them to be the architects of tomorrow's world.

Reimagined Learning underscores our dedication to providing a holistic education that fosters critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and the pursuit of knowledge, all within the framework of our Catholic values. It's about creating a vibrant, innovative learning environment where students are prepared to lead, innovate, and excel in a rapidly changing global landscape.

General education and Ambrose Core initiative
At the heart of our Reimagined Learning area of focus is a new Ambrose Core, our innovative vision for the general education core curriculum. Tailored to meet the evolving needs of today's students, the Ambrose Core is more than a set of courses-it's a journey towards intellectual, personal, professional, and spiritual growth. This new curriculum is designed to equip students with a holistic education that blends critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and the pursuit of knowledge, all grounded in our Catholic intellectual tradition.
New learning infrastructure initiatives
St. Ambrose is committed to providing a state-of-the-art learning environment that supports our innovative educational approach. Through this initiative, we are redefining the boundaries of traditional classrooms to create dynamic, technology-rich learning environments. These spaces are conceived to foster collaboration, innovation, and creativity, ensuring our students and faculty have access to the tools and resources necessary for leading-edge education. This modernized infrastructure is the backbone of our reimagined learning landscape, where traditional values meet the latest educational technologies.
Expanding innovative learning opportunities initiatives
Our vision extends beyond conventional academic boundaries. St. Ambrose University is dynamically leveraging its academic portfolio to manage a diverse and innovative array of academic programs and learning experiences. From in-person to online and hybrid models to experiential learning and community-engaged projects, we offer unique pathways that cater to the varied interests and aspirations of our students. These initiatives are designed to challenge the status quo, encouraging students to think critically, act compassionately and ethically, all while leading courageously in their communities and beyond.

Students thriving

At St. Ambrose University, our Students Thriving area of focus is more than just words - it is a commitment, a promise we make to every student who chooses to join our community. As a learner-centered institution, we are deeply devoted to creating an environment that nurtures our students' academic, personal, and professional growth. Our dedicated strategic initiatives under the Students Thriving banner are carefully designed to ensure that success for our students is not just a possibility but a certainty.

Student success and retention initiatives
Several initiatives to support comprehensive student success and retention are at the core of our Students Thriving area of focus. This initiative prioritizes the academic achievement and overall well-being of our students, implementing support systems and resources aimed at enhancing student engagement, performance, and persistence through to graduation. By identifying challenges early and providing personalized support, the initiative is committed to ensuring every student has the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Holistic advising initiative
Understanding that each student's journey is unique, our Holistic Advising Initiative seeks to provide a personalized roadmap to success. Through one-on-one mentorship, career guidance, and academic planning, we will address our students' individual needs and aspirations. This approach not only aids in academic achievement but also supports personal growth and professional development, preparing students for the complexities of the modern world.
Student-athlete initiative
Recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by student-athletes, our Student-Athlete Initiative is designed to support the dual aspirations of athletic and academic excellence. By providing specialized resources, academic support, and personal development programs, we ensure that our student-athletes can excel in their sports while achieving their educational goals. This initiative embodies our belief in the power of balancing athletic commitment with academic success.

Strategic growth

The Strategic Growth banner contains strategic initiatives designed to lead St. Ambrose University into the future through innovation, transformation, and sustainable development. As the university charts a course of growth and renewal, this area of focus has several initiatives designed to ensure that we both honor our tradition while leaning into a future of possibility.

Mission, vision, and value alignment initiative
The Mission, Vision, and Value Alignment Initiative is at the heart of our strategic growth. This foundational effort integrates our core values with our day-to-day operations and long-term strategic goals. By aligning our actions with our mission and vision, St. Ambrose University is committing to providing exceptional, value-driven education. This initiative ensures that we remain anchored in the principles that define us as we grow.
Brand revitalization and activation initiatives
Our Brand Revitalization and Activation Initiative is a dynamic approach to enhancing and communicating St. Ambrose University's unique value. Through innovative marketing strategies and engagement efforts, we're refreshing and energizing our brand. This initiative aims to increase our presence, attract prospective students and partners, and reinforce our reputation as a forward-thinking, vibrant, learn-centered community.
Expand and enter new markets initiative
Understanding the need to adapt and expand, our Expand and Enter New Markets Initiative seeks to broaden our reach and impact. By exploring new demographic, geographic, and digital frontiers, this initiative seeks to welcome diverse students and offer more accessible, flexible learning options through a diverse mix of academic offerings and services. This strategic expansion reflects our commitment to inclusivity and our aspiration to serve a wider community of learners.
Develop strategic partnerships and alliances initiatives
The future of higher education is collaborative, and St. Ambrose University is at the forefront of this shift through our initiatives to develop and cultivate strategic partnerships and alliances. By forging meaningful connections with industry leaders, other educational institutions, and community organizations, we're creating synergies that enhance our educational offerings and provide our students with unparalleled opportunities for learning and growth.

Strategic Plan components

Careful planning and thoughtful execution are critical components of success. With that in mind, we have developed a comprehensive strategic plan and process that outlines our vision for the future and the steps we will take to achieve our goals.

Context of our Strategic Plan

To begin to appreciate the context in which the Agile Ambrose strategic plan was developed and is being implemented, consider some of the headwinds facing higher education:

Gen Z learners want shorter, less expensive, more direct-to-career pathways in high-demand industries (Question the Quo, 2022)
68% of adults considering enrolling in education prefer non-degree pathways, up from 50% a year ago (Strada Education)
More traditional students want online education and experts predict online students will make up 30% of all college students within five years (Education Dynamics, 2022)
39 million adults have some college but no degree or credential. 1.9 million live in Illinois; 655,908 of these adults live in Iowa. (National Student Clearinghouse, 2022)
Employers increasingly tout their willingness to "train on the job" with 50% of IBM's US job openings not requiring a college degree. (Gallup, 2022)

This is just a small sample of the issues colleges and universities face. The higher education sector is navigating through a period of unprecedented challenges and shifts. Key among these is changing marketplace expectations, with students and employers alike demanding more practical, flexible, and technologically integrated educational experiences. Coupled with this is the worrying trend of declining student enrollment, a phenomenon that threatens the sustainability of institutions across the country.

Equally pressing is the increasing student debt burden, casting a long shadow over the value proposition of higher education. This financial strain is reshaping public opinion about higher education, with a growing call for accountability, affordability, and tangible outcomes.

Furthermore, the rapid pace of technological change and digital disruption is redefining what it means to learn and teach. Today's students, digital natives, expect educational experiences that are not only immersive and interactive but also personalized and accessible from anywhere.

In response to these challenges, St. Ambrose University's Agile Amborse strategic plan is crafted to steer the institution toward a future marked by growth, resilience, and relevance.

Pillars of our Strategic Plan

The strategic plan is driven by a commitment to the four pillars of the cross. Each pillar represents an anchor of our foundation.

Faculty, Staff, and Student Engagement Axis: A flourishing faculty and staff are central to strong student engagement.
Faith, Tradition, and Innovation Axis: Ambrose balances its faith tradition rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Catholic Social Teaching with a spirit of innovation that has driven the university to serve learners across their lifespan while recognizing that to be a learner-centric university, we must model agile and evolutionary efforts to meet learners in new spaces with new models and new pedagogies.

Strategic Plan process

To achieve our vision, we must continuously bring sustainability (clarity), focus, and growth to our strategy.

Sustainability: What problem are we trying to solve or where are we trying to go? What infrastructure do we need to build to get there?
Focus: Can we test the solution and see if it works?
Growth: Can we scale to achieve the desired goal? How are we going to get there?
Transformation: How has St. Ambrose been changed and transformed by an order of magnitude?

Explore the possibilities at St. Ambrose

At SAU, the Fighting Bees are encouraged to explore every opportunity to grow and learn, finally becoming the person they are meant to be.

Strategic Plan