Strategic Plan

MISSION STATEMENT

Consistent with the designation of Morgan as Maryland's Public Urban University, the mission of the School of Graduate Studies is to advance the education of students who have excelled at the baccalaureate level and to prepare them for careers as leaders in teaching, the professions, research, and service. The goal of the School of Graduate Studies is to create a universal community of scholars and adult learners committed to the life long discovery and application of knowledge that will enrich the lives of those they teach and serve. The graduate faculty at Morgan encourage graduate students to master the complex theories, principles, research methodologies, of their respective disciplines for the twofold purpose of: advancing knowledge in their chosen field; and contributing to the improvement of urban communities.

The Objectives of the School of Graduate Studies are:

1. To offer programs of the highest possible quality beyond the baccalaureate level to those who aspire to become intellectual leaders in the professions and in the various disciplines of teaching and research.

2. To support research that advances knowledge, contributes to undergraduate and graduate education, and which increases the capacity of the University to provide programs of service to the local community.

3. To assist the Colleges/ Schools in developing the University's doctoral and research mission.

4. To increase the competence of graduate students in their academic disciplines by facilitating carefully directed intellectual activity.

5. To provide adult learners, professionals, and practitioners with opportunities at the graduate level for cultural enrichment, academic enhancement, and professional growth.

6. To encourage the spirit of independent inquiry and appraisal, including basic and applied research.

7. To promote inquiry into and investigation of the problems of urban areas and urban social systems, and to provide an historical perspective on the analysis of those problems.

Increasing Emphasis on Graduate Study
Morgan State University currently enrolls 6,200 students and is projected to grow to nearly 8,000 students within the decade. During the first half of the decade, full-time undergraduate enrollments accounted for most of the enrollment growth at the University. During the past few years, graduate enrollments have accounted for most of the University's growth. As of fall semester 2000, five hundred eighty-four (584) graduate students were enrolled at the University. The recent growth in graduate enrollments has been concentrated at the doctoral level, where the number of students has tripled during the past five years.

The 2000 Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education describesMorgan as a Carnegie class Master's I university, that is in transition to a campus that will place greater emphasis on graduate study and research, attract a more diverse student body, and increase the range of services it provides to the City, its business organizations, and its schools. In its new role it also will be able to make a substantial contribution to an important and long-standing problem - the substantial under-representation of African Americans receiving doctorates from Maryland campuses.

Consistent with the State's plan, Morgan's 2001 - 2006 Strategic Directions for Development as Maryland's Public Urban University places additional emphasis on graduate study, particularly study at the doctoral level, as the University makes the transition to a Doctoral/Research - Intensive institution. These programs will be in fields of importance to the economy and will provide the foundation for an increased emphasis by the University on service to the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore region. Morgan has been approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to offer nine (9) doctoral programs. During the next several years, the University plans to seek approval for a limited number of additional doctoral programs including:

• English
• Instructional Technology
• Institutional Management
• Geological Engineering

Currently the University offers twenty-five (23) graduate programs leading to the master's degree. Most of the program development at the master's level in the near future will be in engineering and technology-based fields. The new master's programs, which will be oriented to providing continuing education for working professionals, include:

• Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering
• Geological Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Instructional Technology
• Hospitality Management
• Food and Nutrition
• Electronic Commerce
• Mechatronics
• Computational Science.

In summary, the University's strategic plan envisions that at the graduate level, the University will offer programs that address important needs of the labor market and in which minorities are under-represented. The long term institutional objectives for graduate education are: to offer programs of the highest possible quality from the baccalaureate through the doctorate; to support research that advances knowledge, contributes to undergraduate and graduate education, and which increases the capacity of the campus to provide programs of service to the local community; and to develop its doctoral and research mission.

A Plan for the School of Graduate Studies
Consistent with the State's plan and the University's increasing emphasis on graduate education, the strategic plan of the School of Graduate Studies focuses on increasing the enrollment and retention of graduate students and strengthening the teaching and learning environment for graduate faculty and students through: improving the efficiency of the application process; developing and publishing policies and procedures to facilitate the education of graduate students; developing and publishing policies and procedures for the selection and retention of graduate faculty; and improving communication among the constituents of the School of Graduate Studies.

ADMISSION AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS

Goal 1.
Over the next five years, the School of Graduate Studies will increase the enrollment of graduate students in all graduate programs from 584 in 2001 to 784 in 2006 by developing new marketing and promotional opportunities to attract students and by creating improved application and record keeping procedures. The School of Graduate Studies will facilitate the retention of graduate students by clarifying graduation requirements and disseminating policies, procedures, and requirements to graduate students in a timely manner.

FACILITATING THE EDUCATION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

Goal 2.
The School of Graduate Studies will work through the Graduate Council and with the academic deans, chairpersons and graduate coordinators to facilitate the education of graduate students by enforcing standards for good academic standing and by supporting the highest expectations for scholarship among graduate students in partial fulfillment of requirements for the award of the graduate degrees from Morgan State University.

SELECTION AND RETENTION OF GRADUATE FACULTY

Goal 3.
The School of Graduate Studies will work through the Graduate Council and with the academic deans, chairpersons and graduate coordinators to select and retain graduate faculty who will be: academically qualified to teach graduate students; assist them in conducting quantitative and qualitative research and understanding the professional applications of their research; and who are qualified to chair and/or serve on theses and dissertation committees.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

Goal 4.
The School of Graduate Studies will improve the communication and dissemination of timely and accurate information to its constituents including applicants, graduate students, faculty, and University officials by drafting clear letters and documents and by utilizing appropriate technologies to facilitate electronic communiqués.