Dear Saint Mary’s Faculty and Staff,
I trust that this message finds you in good health and high spirits as we enter the summer months. Reflecting on the exceptional commitment and pride permeating Saint Mary’s, I am reminded of our shared purpose and the deeply ingrained values that define our institution.
I would like to provide an update on the Financial Accountability and Strategic Thinking (FAST) Task Force. As I indicated to the FAST steering committee last week, we have just achieved a significant milestone in our project. After successfully completing Focal Area #1 (Financial responsibility analysis) in February, we have now completed initial proposal reviews for Focal Area #3 (Strategic alignment, prioritization, and investment). These proposals for innovation were created by cross-departmental teams and proposed investment opportunities to utilize innovation funds secured through our university’s efforts in advancement. We have now made the decision to move forward on several of those proposals, while others will be reserved for future consideration. The academic leadership will continue to work on Focal Area #2 (Extended school review) as we approach the fall semester.
The initial funded proposals encompass a diverse range of initiatives, including academic programs (exploration and designing of an MBA in Educational Leadership) and enrollment organizational support (partnership account managers and SGPP call center), in addition to a marketing investment from another philanthropic fund. We have assigned these projects to executive sponsors, who will continue to provide updates on their progress. Of course, like any new academic program, the MBA in Educational Leadership will still need to go through appropriate academic approval processes. Please know that we will continue to evaluate proposals and encourage ongoing submissions during Unit Level Plan reviews and strategic planning sessions. The infrastructure and documentation we utilized during FAST will be leveraged, and improved upon, for those ongoing discussions.
Many in our community contributed to achieving this milestone, and we appreciate their hard work. We are extremely grateful for the support that was extended during the process, and we look forward to this spirit of innovation in the future. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
Michael McMahon
Vice President for Enrollment Management
