At the beginning of Dr. Bruce Mclarty's presidency, Harding implemented a new strategic plan, a tool that allowed the university to look at the next five years and set a plan of action for where it would like to be at the end of that time. The oneyear process of compiling the document was normally headed by the president and involved faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Board of Trustees. Mclarty described the strategic plan as a guideline that helped steer the university towards certain goals. "You sit down and consciously think about where you want to go rather than being driven along by things as they happen," Mclarty said. "If you don't plan to go anywhere, you'll be blown about by every wind that blows. This is a way of consciously thinking about where we want to be. It provides some standards, it provides some vision, and it provides a means of accountability." Mclarty said the time to compile the strategic plan for 2014-2019 came during a unique time at the university. The university had to decide whether or not to go ahead with the planning process in the midst of a presidential transition. According to Provost Dr. Larry Long, Chancellor Dr. David B. Burks declined the opportunity to chair the strategic planning committee because he wanted the new president to be able to craft a plan that conformed to his vision for Harding. However, President of the Board of Trustees John Simmons said that waiting a year to start the planning process with the new president was not an option. "When you've got some momentum going, you don't want to just mark time," Simmons said. "We talked about that at some length and decided to go ahead with the process with Dr. Long starting the development." Long was involved with the planning process previously because of his role as vice president of academic advancement. Long and members of the strategic planning committee organized the first focus groups with faculty, staff and students as early as August 2012. Mclarty was named as the next president in November of 2012 and was able to step into the planning process near the time of its first draft. " It's not someone else's plan," Mclarty said. "It's one that I feel very much at home with and comfortable with. I had enough of a role in fashioning this that it is a strategic plan that fits my presidency." The strategic plan addressed the mission of the university and included specific goals from each department regarding how it planned to fulfill that mission. For enrollment, the strategic plan stated a goal of 85 percent student retention by 2019. In academics, the university expected to implement an occupational therapy program in the next five years. As far as construction plans, the university stated a need for an academic building not tied to a specific department. There were also plans for a type of wellness or workout center for students in addition to the Ganus Athletic Center. Mclarty presented the 2014-2019 strategic plan to the President's Council during Homecoming weekend. Strategic plans were revisited every yea.r by the various departments and the Board of Trustees to track the university's progress and to make necessary changes. "A strategic plan is a dynamic, living document," Long said. "What we publish today is what we think today, but tomorrow we might see something different." Shelby Moore Board of Trustees Row 1: Jim Holsombake, Panama City, Fla.; Becky Tubb, Sparta, Tenn.; Harry Risinger (Past Chairman), Millington, Tenn.; Jimmy Cone, Little Rock, Ark.; Harrell Freeman (Vice Chairman), Metairie, La.; Jerry Morgan (Secretary), Amarillo, Texas. Row 2: David Waldron, La Vergne, Tenn.; Suzanne Waller, Arlington, Texas; Bob Diles (Treasurer), Searcy, Ark.; Bruce Mclarty (Ex-Officio), Searcy, Ark.; Harold Redd, Memphis, Tenn. Row 3: Bob Walker, Decatur, Ala.; John Reese, Austin, Texas; Lundy Neely, Dayton, Ohio. Row 4: Roosevelt Harris, Hampton, Ga.; Charles Ganus, Searcy, Ark.; John Simmons (Chairman), Columbia, Tenn. Row 5: Russ Burcham, Kennett, Mo.; Danny Hawk, Richardson, Texas; Don Shores, Cave Springs, Ark. Row 6: Roy Reaves, Russellville, Ark.; Richard Gibson, Longview, Texas; Bruce Binkley, Broken Arrow, Okla.
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