Strategic Planning in Action
Ron Matson, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) is the largest college at
WSU, with more than 4,000 students across a wide range of disciplines. That complexity
hasn't stopped LAS Dean Ron Matson from tackling the strategic planning process head-on.
The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) is the largest college at WSU, with more than 4,000 students across a wide range of disciplines. That complexity hasn't stopped LAS Dean Ron Matson from tackling the strategic planning process head-on.
Matson, who is also associate professor of sociology, says students and faculty have been involved in taking departmental and college actions that reflect the core ideas in the WSU Strategic Plan as tied to the Seven Goals.
The result has been added value for LAS students and WSU
“Fundraising, embracing new community partners, developing training programs and curricular advances are all happening now,” Matson said. “Many of these are an outgrowth of the deep involvement of faculty in the evolution of the college strategic plan.”
Matson said faculty have mostly enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to do what they do well and do it differently.
“There are many with novel, collaborations that have yielded patents, curricular innovations, and marketing activities,” he said. “While some people are reluctant to move on new, challenging opportunities, there are many who are more than willing. Our administrative challenge is to work with the enthusiasts.”
Among the LAS strategic planning champions, Matson named Dr. Chris Brooks, English; Cheryl Miller, LAS Dean's Office; Dr. Barbara Chaparro, Psychology; Dr. Doug English, Chemistry; Dr. Greg Housman, Biology; Dr. Jibo He, Psychology; Dr. Jay Price, History; and Dr. David Soles, Philosophy.