On behalf of the School of Arts and Sciences and its nineteen member departments, I am pleased to present to you our approved Strategic Plan.

This document represents the ideas and intensive work of many individuals who participated in the planning process which began in 1995. See Appendix for historical details and participants in the School of Arts and Sciences strategic planning process.

Arts and Sciences is the largest school of Salem State College, and it operates from two primary perspectives. The School is responsible for developing and offering the liberal Arts and Sciences core for all undergraduate students of the college, and secondly, the School provides specific educational programs (majors, etc.) through the various departments. Consequently, our strategic plan is composed of two parts:

1) goals and objectives for the School as a whole are incorporated into this document, and

2) the specific departmental strategic plans are equally important and are included with each department's annual report.

Both components provide the framework within which Arts and Sciences activities develop.

The departmental strategic plans grew out of general goals first articulated by the School of Arts and Sciences Strategic Planning Advisory Committee in the fall of 1995. Each department then submitted their expanded draft plans to the School, and subsequently, the Advisory Committee identified common themes which could become the basis for the School Strategic Plan.

These common themes were discussed in the spring of 1996 at two planning days which included teams of department representatives. In the fall of 1996, the School held an Open Forum for all Arts and Sciences employees and students. At this forum, the draft plan was completely reviewed. In addition, forum attendees established a permanent School of Arts and Sciences Strategic Planning Committee. This representative committee continued to meet regularly throughout 1996-97 and on April 28, 1997 voted to approve the School of Arts and Sciences Strategic Plan which you now have before you.

Our Strategic Plan is a dynamic document which will evolve over time. Some of the short-term objectives are already attained. Currently the Committee is working to develop an action plan and to identify individuals and groups responsible for implementing these actions.

The School has enthusiastically used this Strategic Planning opportunity to realistically articulate what it wants to accomplish in the next two to five years. These meetings have also been a setting for collegial discussions across our diverse departments.

We are grateful to all of the participants for their commitment to defining the Goals and Objectives of the School of Arts and Sciences.

Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Anita V. M. Shea
Fall, 1997