JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 4, 2015 — 51社区 trustees on Friday approved a long-range strategic plan for the university, got a clean audit report and passed the second smallest tuition increase in the last 20 years.
鈥淯nited in Spirit. Grounded in Truth.鈥� is the title of the plan that emphasizes seven strategic themes that will guide the work of the university over the next five years: bearing witness to the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, expanding enrollment across the university, enhancing operational effectiveness and efficiency to advance the mission, revising the liberal arts core curriculum, supporting meaningful research among faculty and students, developing leaders for the future and bolstering student life and building community.
鈥淭he point of our planning process was to get us to strategically and intentionally think about how we can both unify and coordinate our efforts to accomplish the mission of the institution,鈥� Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e have really talented and thoughtful people who have good ideas. This is a way for us to identify the things that we鈥檒l be pursuing together over the next five years.鈥�
The strategic plan came from broad-based input across the university, with all departments and academic units thinking together about how to advance the work of 51社区. Oliver said it builds on Union鈥檚 strengths and on the university鈥檚 core values of 鈥淓xcellence-driven, Christ-centered, People-focused and Future-directed.鈥� The entire plan consists of 140 pages of goals and activities that departments and schools have committed to pursue for the next five years.
鈥淯nion鈥檚 new strategic plan reflects the expanded opportunities embraced by the University: a robust liberal arts and sciences core, greater service to Memphis and Nashville, intentional outreach to international constituencies, new enhancements afforded by technology, and a deep commitment to its faith foundations,鈥� the plan reads. 鈥淏y relying on God鈥檚 providence, 51社区 looks forward to a third century of bringing glory to God by exploring His revelation of Himself in Scripture and in the world He created.鈥�
The accounting firm Crosslin and Associates gave Union a clean audit report. The audit showed nearly $183 million in total assets in 2015 compared to $180 million in 2014, along with about $3 million less in liabilities in 2015 compared to 2014. The tuition increase approved by trustees 鈥� from $14,100 to $14,660 in 2016-2017 -- is a 3.97 percent raise.
鈥淲e are committed to keeping a Union education as affordable as possible,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful for each of our students and their families, and we鈥檙e thankful for so many generous donors who give sacrificially to provide scholarships and help keep costs down.鈥�