Strategic Goals and Objectives

GOAL 3: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The institution will be recognized as a leading educational, economic and cultural partner that contributes to the human and social capital needs of the region, the State of North Carolina and beyond.

Collaborative Community Engagement

One of the values we instill in our students is giving back to their communities.

Winston-Salem State University will strengthen its community outreach and engagement efforts by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, fostering collaborations, expanding partnerships and developing new service and outreach programs that engage students, faculty and staff in addressing the needs of the region and beyond.

The University of North Carolina system in its strategic plan, “UNC Tomorrow,” encouraged campuses to be more actively engaged in enhancing the economic transformation and community development of North Carolina’s regions and the State. This direction is consistent with WSSU’s strategic goals as it supports our efforts to integrate in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning by linking teaching, research, and service with economic and community development. Strong partnerships with business, educational, community and cultural institutions provide opportunities for WSSU faculty, staff and students to learn, conduct research and provide service to the community.

Community engagement also includes the global community as we seek to develop strong institutional links with foreign universities to support study abroad and other international experiences.

The learning experience is often enhanced by speakers like Dr. Cornel West who spoke to an assembly of WSSU students, faculty and staff.

To achieve the goal of strengthening its community outreach and engagement, WSSU must:

• Foster collaboration among the University, its neighbors and others in the Winston-Salem community and develop new services and outreach programs that address community needs and enrich the learning experience
• Better support existing collaboration between University-related Centers and area community/government agencies
• Better align institutional structure and rewards to enhance, coordinate and integrate public service, applied research and e xperiential learning
• Expand continuing education and workforce development programming that contribute to the economic sustainability of the region
• Leverage the resources of the University to support local businesses and improve surrounding neighborhoods
• Increase collaboration with local school districts to create strong partnerships that enhance teacher preparation and student readiness for college-level curricula