Rowan College at Burlington County finalized its 2020 Strategic Plan, which charts the college’s strategic course and finalizes the five-point plan to transform the college into a model of 21st century education.
The 2020 Strategic Plan is available online at rcbc.edu/strategic-plan.
“The 2020 Strategic Plan leverages our many successes of the past year and memorializes our vision to transform Rowan College at Burlington County into the model of 21st century higher education,” said RCBC President Paul Drayton. “This plan will quickly lead us to the future in which more Burlington County students graduate with a bachelor’s degree three years after high school, we will have robust corporate partnerships for academic and workforce programs and we will feature modernized offerings that remain on the cutting-edge of what employers need.
“This effort involved a broad base of the college community, and I thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute to this effort — especially Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. David Spang who led this extraordinary effort,” Drayton said.
In the past year, the college has:
— Implemented a historic partnership with Rowan University that allows students to earn a high quality bachelor’s degree for as little as $25,000.
— Began a transition to transform the Mount Laurel campus into the ultimate modern student experience while transitioning out of the college’s original Pemberton campus.
— Reengineered the organization structure to place a greater emphasis on student success, workforce development and academics.
— Launched a new Workforce Development Institute, an innovative combination of county, college and private-sector resources, which has earned national acclaim for addressing workforce needs of today and tomorrow.
“President Drayton has truly ushered in a new era for Rowan College at Burlington County, which bodes well for the economic future of our county and region,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Kate Gibbs. “Addressing out-of-control tuition and student debt is a priority for me as a freeholder. I served on the college’s Board of Trustees and worked closely with President Drayton on a number of these initiatives to reduce the cost-burden students and their families face. This is a bold plan that will keep the college on a positive trajectory.”
The plan is divided among four strategic pillars: access, affordability, quality and effectiveness, and student success. It includes a new mission statement: “Rowan College at Burlington County transforms lives by delivering innovative, high-quality and affordable educational experiences in an accessible and diverse environment.”
“Every day we see how Rowan College at Burlington County transforms lives — whether it’s a young person straight out of high school pursuing an engineering degree from Rowan University, or a nontraditional student looking for a mid-career change through our Workforce Development Institute,” RCBC Board Chair George Nyikita said. “This plan keeps both of those students — and all of them in between — in mind in a comprehensive, holistic approach to modern education.”
The plan also includes tactical initiatives and benchmarks to give the college flexibility to incorporate new initiatives as new student success methods evolve. This section will be updated annually.
“We will rigorously track our progress and keep the community informed of how well we meet our goals,” said RCBC Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. David Spang. “Rowan College at Burlington County offers a variety of high-quality programs to satisfy academic and workforce goals and this plan ensures that we will continue to be the destination for learners in Burlington County.”
Updates and progress reports on the plan will be posted at rcbc.edu/strategic-plan.
