SLIM Mission, Vision + Strategic Plan

Mission, Vision and Strategic Plan 2023-2028

This document was approved by unanimous vote of SLIM Council on March 24, 2023.

SLIM Vision

Embracing an interdisciplinary culture of collaboration and diversity for the common good.

SLIM Mission (adopted fall 2019)

Educating a diverse population of successful library and information professionals with imagination, creativity, and innovation.

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Statement (adopted May 5, 2021)

At the School of Library and Information Management, we are dedicated to fostering and supporting a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff where everyone feels welcomed, appreciated, and safe. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as the guiding principles of our work is rooted in the American Library Association’s resolve to support information professionals in creating responsible and inclusive community spaces to provide knowledge-based resources and services.

We understand diversity as accepting and appreciating differences in each other and the communities we serve, including age, race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, socioeconomic status, political beliefs, religion, intellectual perspectives, and beyond.

Equity to us means taking action to ensure opportunities for equitable education and information access, engaging in ethical information practices, and promoting inclusive information resources and services, along with the use of information technology for public good, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

By being inclusive, we aim to cultivate a sense of belonging in an environment of mutual respect that is open to all and cherishes each individual’s contributions to creating a more fair, just, and unified society.

Professional Values (adopted May 5, 2021)

As reflective practitioners, graduates will demonstrate the following professional values:

PV 1 - We value the skills necessary to cultivate and sustain collections and services that elevate previously hidden voices and represent the communities we serve.

PV 2 - We value and advocate for an inclusive workforce that practices and employs professional ethics.

PV 3 - We value upholding social justice responsibilities and making information equitably accessible to advance knowledge and transform communities.

Introduction

The following strategic planning outline is informed by the Strategic Planning Assessment Report 2015–2021 (June 2022). It is designed to guide the continuing SLIM strategic planning process and the formulation of new strategic goals.

The Strategic Plan should:

1. Prioritize activities necessary for SLIM to educate Master and Doctor of Library Science students to be leaders in 21st Century America.
2. Incorporate input from students, faculty, administrators, and other interested members of the SLIM community.
3. Be presented so that everyone in the SLIM community can identify how their work relates to the SLIM and the ESU strategic directions.
4. Build logically on the past strategic plan and present values of librarianship as published by ALA and its affiliate associations.
5. Be a roadmap that reminds all stakeholders of SLIM’s mission, vision, and expectations for our program graduates.

Key findings from the Strategic Planning Assessment Report 2015-2021 (June 2022)

Goal 1 Summary Statement: Education of Master of Library Science students in preparation for careers in library and information organizations has been achieved through organized and continuous improvement in the SLIM program development process.

Goal 2 Summary Statement: SLIM students, faculty, and administrators are highly visible across a wide geographic region, and they work collaboratively at Emporia State University and in many library and information studies professional organizations. Collaboration is regularly published in the SLIM newsletter and on ESU’s and SLIM’s social media accounts.

Goal 3 Summary Statement: SLIM students have opportunities for intercultural engagement and study through multiple, active learning experiences. To address student safety, technology-assisted opportunities have been increased.

Goal 4 Summary Statement: There are timely and efficient improvements made to SLIM physical facilities including recent efforts to use SLIM’s Room 319 as a virtual broadcasting space.

Goal 5 Summary Statement: There are active efforts to recruit and maintain Master of Library Science students who are at risk of being unable to obtain graduate education and professional positions of employment in library and information agencies that should be continued and increased in the future. Efforts to know and respect perspectives of all people should continue to be a high priority in faculty professional development, curriculum, and across all SLIM programming and resource management.

Stakeholder observations and beliefs about the School of Library and Information Management:

• SLIM is well-positioned as an online Master of Library Science degree program to recruit and maintain enrollment of students wherever located.
• SLIM should continue to emphasize development of cultural competency skills and other ethical practices in graduates of the Master of Library Science degree program.
• SLIM should continue to build and maintain a network across geographic areas between SLIM faculty and frontline librarians and other information professionals to address educational and professional needs for better serving all members of library and/or agency communities.
• SLIM should continue to encourage and support faculty in their continuing education and ongoing creation of curriculum and programming opportunities for students that address information needs of all people in today’s society.
• SLIM should continue to invite and encourage alumni participation and giving that supports educational and financial needs of the SLIM and its students.
• SLIM should continue to grow and change in response to the Emporia State University strategic goals by identifying SLIM strategic goals to prepare today’s college students for jobs, careers, and overall quality of life.

Goals and Objectives

Goal One: Implement evidence-based strategies for effective online learning (aligns with ESU Strategic Plan Goal 1: Pursue distinctive initiatives in curricula and programs).

• Objective 1.1: Conduct assessments of student learning.
• Objective 1.2: Provide flexibility in assignments that enables students to customize learning to achieve their career goals.
• Objective 1.3: Continue to encourage faculty and instructor participation in communities of practice for each core course with the goal of maintaining commonality across multiple sections of the same course (including course descriptions, course learning outcomes, and pedagogical practices).

Goal Two: Continue to update curricula (master’s and doctoral degrees, licensure, and certificate programs) to reflect critical issues and emerging trends in the profession and enhance student pathways to career specializations (aligns with ESU Strategic Plan Goal 1: Pursue distinctive initiatives in curricula and programs).

• Objective 2.1: Conduct regular stakeholder meetings that include SLIM faculty, staff, advisors, students, alumni, advisory board members, and employers of our graduates to give them the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
• Objective 2.2: Maintain focus on the basics, values, critical thinking skills.
• Objective 2.3: Faculty conduct ongoing review of the SLIM curricula (masters’ and doctoral degrees, licensure, and certificate programs), and make recommendations to the SLIM dean.
• Objective 2.4: Promote lifelong learning and global awareness among students, faculty, and staff.
• Objective 2.5: Provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills.

Goal Three: Increase and improve initiatives to integrate and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion across the SLIM curricula (master’s and doctoral degrees, licensure, and certificate programs) and through student enrichment activities (aligns with ESU Strategic Plan Goal: Become a model for diversity, equity, and inclusion).

• Objective 3.1: Recruit and retain diverse students and academic advisors.
• Objective 3.2: Offer opportunities to attend presentations, participate in conferences, including international conferences, develop mentor relationships, and to otherwise network with practicing professionals.
• Objective 3.3: Support students in securing practicum and internship opportunities.
• Objective 3.4: Maintain a work environment for SLIM academic advisors that enables them to work efficiently on administrative and advisement tasks.

Goal Four: Achieve program excellence through recruitment and retention of outstanding and diverse faculty.

• Objective 4.1: Ensure that SLIM faculty receive support for research, scholarship, and creative activities.
• Objective 4.2: Faculty and instructors are afforded opportunities for professional development related to teaching.
• Objective 4.3: Maintain an instructional environment at SLIM that supports faculty and instructors in their teaching, their technological requirements, and their physical needs.
• Objective 4.4: Maintain a work environment for SLIM faculty and instructors that enables them to work efficiently and effectively on tasks related to teaching, research, and service.

Goal Five: Build and maintain networks across geographic areas between SLIM faculty, students, and librarians and other information professionals to address educational and professional needs of frontline librarians (broadly aligns with ESU Strategic Plan Goal 3: Enhance the competitive role of Kansas by enrolling, retaining, and graduating students ready for life and career, emphasis added).

• Objective 5.1: Foster interactions between students and alumni/professionals
• Objective 5.2: Develop community engagement among students, alumni, and more community members during their programs.

Strategic Plan Review Process

This document and current action items related to each objective will be reviewed annually during the fall semester to coincide with faculty annual reviews and meetings of the SLIM Council. Annual action items for each objective are identified in a separate document.