Goal 6: Aligning Resources with Goals
As a private, non-profit higher education institution, we achieve our goal of student success only if we manage and invest our students’ tuition dollars and donors’ funds wisely and well. That’s why we are implementing an ambitious program to strengthen operational efficiencies and central management systems; contain costs; build fundraising capacity; and develop other new revenue sources. These actions help ensure we are directing our resources where they matter most.
In this first year of the Strategic Plan, Columbia focused on building a foundation that included: ensuring the college is technology-ready, investing in the retention and recruitment of talented faculty and staff, bolstering alumni relations and recruiting new Board of Trustees members to strengthen the donor base. This year, the college made impressive strides in all of these key areas. Highlights include:
1) Information Technology – a major college-wide network upgrade
2) Human Resources – recruitment of a new associate vice president of Human Resources
3) Alumni Relations – recruitment of a new director for alumni relations, and increases in alumni events and activities
4) Board of Trustees – six new board members were recruited this year
Finally, the college made a major investment in supporting MAP-funded students when the state of Illinois was faced with budget cuts and a budget impasse. More information on this and more:
- Move Over Moodle, Canvas is Coming. March 28, 2017.
- Meet Columbia's New Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. March 28, 2017.
- A Letter from Ames on Faculty Engagement and Communication. February 6, 2017.
- Ames Hawkins Appointed Associate Provost for Faculty Research and Development. February 2, 2017.
- Investing in Our Mission. January 31, 2017.
- Campus Spaces 2.0. October 4, 2016.
- Diane Dammeyer’s Generous Pledge Funds Photography Fellowship Focused on Social Issues. May 10, 2016
- Columbia to Cover MAP Grants for 2015-16 Academic Year Due to State Budget Impasse. April 12, 2016
- Jimmy Chamberlin and Terry Diamond Join Board of Trustees. Feb. 16, 2016
- Alumni Aiming High. Dec. 8, 2015
- Budget Overview – Fiscal Year 2016. Nov. 10, 2015
- Board of Trustees Welcomes Four New Members. Nov. 3, 2015