Student Experience
Create a student experience that is seamless, supportive, and deeply engaging, so every student has the opportunity to thrive and feel connected to WCU.
The WCU
Action Plan
Three Drivers
Be Better
- Being better doesn’t have to mean “more” work, rather it’s about embracing doing something differently
- Focus on intentional change
- Reflect on personal habits and dynamics with others
Think Bigger
- Solve issues at their root rather than repeatedly putting out the same fires (upstream thinking)
- Consider the ripple effects of decisions across units (downstream thinking)
- This will help us reduce burnout and increase long-term impact
Foster Moments
- Prioritize meaningful, personal experiences for students and others we serve
- Continue to create the conditions for life-changing moments to be part of every student’s experience
The Action Plan in 3-D
After months of listening to you and learning what is on your hearts and minds, I was inspired to visualize this plan using a 3-D model of a pyramid as a metaphor for how our priorities and actions connect. It's unconventional, but that's exactly what we need right now. This new model is:
- Built on WCU's existing strengths
- Collaborative and adaptable
- Designed to evolve over time
Four Strategic Priorities: The Faces of the Pyramid
The four faces of the pyramid represent WCU’s major strategic priorities:
Alumni Network
Our alumni are our University in action. Build a stronger, more connected alumni network that extends WCU’s impact and creates meaningful opportunities for students, graduates, and communities.
Stewards of Place
Strengthen WCU’s role as a steward of place by building partnerships, expanding opportunity, and contributing to the vitality of our region and Commonwealth.
Teaching & Learning
Advance high-quality, inclusive teaching and learning that prepares students to succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.
Four Faces of Experiential Learning
Experiential learning takes many forms across WCU. The capstone highlights four broad ways students put their learning into action beyond the traditional classroom:
- Licensure & Professional Credentials
- Research & Entrepreneurship
- Nonprofit, Government & Service Learning
- Arts & Athletics Ambassadors & Student Leaders
Connectors: Where the Priorities Intersect
The vertices of the pyramid show where our strategic priorities intersect. Many connections are possible, but four themes that emerged from the listening tour are highlighted in the model because they represent important areas where work across two faces can reinforce one another and create greater impact:
Student Success
Connects Teaching & Learning with Student Experience by focusing on the structures, supports, and experiences that help every student thrive.
R2
Connects Teaching & Learning with Stewards of Place by advancing research, scholarship, creative activity, and discovery that benefit students, communities, and the Commonwealth.
Arts & Athletics Ambassadors
Connects Student Experience with the Alumni Network by recognizing how students who represent WCU through competition, performance, leadership, and visibility can build lifelong connection and pride.
Sustainability
Connects the Alumni Network with Stewards of Place by advancing environmental, financial, and social sustainability in ways that strengthen WCU and the communities we serve.
What You Can Do Right Now
PHASE ONE: GET PERSONAL
We'll do this work in a few phases. First, I'll challenge you to look inward and ask if there is something you can do personally to "get to awesome." I'm doing this part too, so I know it isn't always easy. But it's worth it.
This isn't about your job description or improving on tasks, it's about you — as a person. Maybe you want to manage your time better, reduce stress, or communicate more clearly. No matter what it is, take some time to reflect and record your thoughts using this "Get Personal" worksheet .
You won't be required to give it to anyone — this is for YOU — though you are welcome to share it with your colleagues, your friends, or family.
This is a starting point on our journey and will help prepare you for engaging, intentional conversations with your colleagues in the next phase.
Short Video Summary of Phase II:
PHASE TWO: GET TOGETHER
Our Collective Call to Action
The WCU Action Plan process challenges us to BE BETTER | THINK BIGGER | FOSTER MOMENTS. In phase one, we explored how to do that at a personal level. In phase two, we'll take it to a professional level. There is something you, your unit, or a team from across units can do to help the University BE BETTER | THINK BIGGER | FOSTER MOMENTS.
DON'T OVERTHINK IT
Is there a process that needs to be redesigned, or a practice that needs to be updated, or a policy that needs to be changed? Below are some prompts to get you thinking, but feel free to go in any direction you like. What matters most is that we take one step closer to "awesome." Getting there isn't about perfection — it's about progress.
BE BETTER: WCU is already doing great things, and our people already work really hard. BE BETTER doesn't have to mean doing more, just doing things differently. Focus on mindfulness and habits. Is there something we should stop doing, or start doing? Is there something we need more of, or less of? What can we do differently in our office, department, college, or division?
THINK BIGGER: This is about upstream and downstream thinking. Is there a way to address a challenge at its root cause rather than solving the same problem repeatedly (upstream thinking)? Consider and be mindful of the downstream impact of actions and decisions on other stakeholders. This is downstream thinking.
FOSTER MOMENTS: What can we do to help someone feel more welcome, more heard, or more valued? This is about creating an environment where people experience something special. How do we want people to feel when they've spent time at WCU? How do we maintain the conditions in which moments can happen? How can we recognize when they occur? How do we celebrate and encourage them?
PHASE THREE: GET MOVING
In Phase One, we reflected on how to Be Better, Think Bigger and Foster Moments at a personal level. In Phase Two, we came together to propose ways to strengthen WCU. Now, we’re putting those ideas into action.
The University community submitted 167 proposals, and more than 200 students, faculty and staff participated in our inaugural Action Plan Days to review and rate them. Those ideas are now helping shape initiatives across our four strategic priorities: Student Experience, Teaching & Learning, Alumni Network and Stewards of Place.
Some initiatives are already making a difference, including the new One Stop Student Service Center. Others are moving through planning and development, from strengthening math readiness to connecting students with alumni entrepreneurs.
Keep the Momentum Going
Continue applying our three drivers in your everyday work, whether that means improving a process, addressing a recurring challenge or helping someone feel welcome and supported.
Scroll down to explore the initiatives underway this year, and read more about key initiatives shared in this year’s Action Plan report . Some changes will happen quickly. Others will take time and evolve as we learn. Getting to awesome together is about progress, and each of us has a role to play.
2026-2027 Initiatives
The following actions are slated for 2026-27. Some are already completed, some will be completed this year, and others will take more than one year to complete. Items may be added, changed or removed based upon availability of resources.
PRIORITY: STUDENT EXPERIENCE
- Expand Pre-College Programs and Student Pathways
- Strengthen Outreach and Support for Stop-Out Students
- Improve Scholarship Strategy and Long-Term Forecasting
- Streamline Teacher Candidacy Preparation and Applications
- Enhance the WCU Game Day Experience
- Upgrade South Campus Athletics Technology and Infrastructure
- Expand Orientation and Support for Adult Learners
- Build Student Belonging Through the KEYS Symposium
- Expand and Enhance the Student Ambassadors Program
- Expand Career Development in Sciences and Mathematics
- Extend Dining Hall Hours to Meet Student Needs
- Streamline Third-Party Scholarship Tracking
- Reorganize Financial Aid to Improve Student Service
- Assess the Philadelphia Center for Growth and Sustainability
- Simplify How Students Get Help
- Launch a Seven-Week Academic Recovery Course
- Identify Upstream Student Supports
- Strengthen Math Readiness
- Automate GI Bill Certification for Student Veterans
- Expand Resource Pantry Access and Services
PRIORITY: TEACHING & LEARNING
- Increase Access to HR Services and Professional Development
- Build Leadership Skills for Department Chairs
- Standardize D2L Course Resources for Adjunct Faculty
- Strengthen Math Readiness
PRIORITY: ALUMNI NETWORK
- Expand Supports for Student-Athletes
- Reestablish the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network
- Define Career Readiness for Every Student
- Connect Students with Alumni Entrepreneurs
- Streamline Alumni Licensure and Verification Requests
PRIORITY: STEWARDS OF PLACE
- Strengthen Corporate Partnerships and Civic Engagement
- Elevate Awareness of WCU’s Sustainability Efforts
- Leverage WCU’s Role as a Research University
A Vision of "Awesome"
We'll know we've reached "awesome" when:
- Every student is thriving and engaged in experiential learning
- Social, financial, and environmental sustainability is built into everyday decisions
- West Chester is known nationwide, and recognized by name
- WCU is a trusted community partner and resource