S.W.O.T.

Analysis of online and focus group results Spring, 2005

What should a S.W.O.T. do?



Provide overall direction for strategic planning



Put planners in touch with constituents



Serve as a guide, not a prescription

Maintain, build and leverage

strengths

Remedy or exit

weaknesses

Prioritize and optimize

opportunities

Counter

threats

Online surveys to:

Faculty (111) Staff (118) Alumni (278) Parents (37)

Community Advisory focus groups in:

Broward (2) Jupiter (1) Port St. Lucie (1) Results of Student Surveys (6,000) Survey of Admitted Students who did not Enroll (504)

Questions for online survey and focus groups:

What are the top three things that FAU does well?

What should FAU preserve at all costs?

Who are FAU’s chief competitors?

What does FAU do better than its competitors?

What does the competition do better, that FAU should be doing?

What three things should FAU address immediately to improve?

What does FAU do poorly?

What directions should FAU avoid taking in the future?

What do people outside of FAU see as its strengths?

What do people outside of FAU see as its weaknesses?

What opportunities could FAU take advantage of in the next five years?

What is changing in the environment that could adversely affect FAU?

STRENGTHS

High Quality Education Variety and flexibility of course offerings Faculty and Staff Class Size Accessibility/Multi-Campus Structure Location Campus Environment Low Cost Diversity Library Services Student Services Athletic Programs Community Outreach (Lifelong Learning) Partnership with Community Colleges Leadership, Innovation and Vision Employment Benefits Advising by Faculty Computer Services Registration

Alumni Faculty Staff Respondent Type Parents Admitted, not enrolled Community Students Student Focus Groups

= Most frequently cited = Often cited = Commonly cited = Occasionally cited = Seldom or never cited

STRENGTHS



“ Operates as a continuous learning organization.”

- Alumni 

“Keeps parents well informed about student progress.” -

Parents (specifically referencing Dr. Jennifer Bebergal, Director, Office of Retention) 

“Offers a great variety of educational programs.

- Staff 

“Smaller size makes students feel an integral part of the school.”

- Parents 

“Provides lifelong learning for older adults

.” - Alumni 

“FAU provides great benefits for employees.”

- Staff 

“Diversity of student population.”

- Faculty 

“Provides second chance for non-traditional students.”

- Faculty 

“Excellent education at an affordable price.”

- Alumni 

“Quality of instruction for the Honors College is a strength.”

– Student Focus Groups

WEAKNESSES

Communication Marketing and Advertising Low Admissions/Academic Standards Availability and Scope of programs and courses Responsiveness to workforce needs Availability of Distance Learning Courses Research Presence Physical Plant Campus Life (limited) Parking/Traffic Food Services Housing Multi-Campus Structure Faculty and Staff Salaries and Benefits Customer Service Student Services Cost/inadequacy of financial aid Strategic Planning Fundraising Freshman Advising

Alumni Faculty Staff Respondent Type Parents Admitted, not enrolled Community Students Student Focus Groups

= Most frequently cited = Often cited = Commonly cited = Occasionally cited = Seldom or never cited

WEAKNESSES



“Many people pass the buck from department to department. They do not take ownership of helping solve the student’s problem. We are not pleasant to each other, no less the students. Some people have the terrible attitude that students are a bother and keeping them from their work.” -

Staff  “

FAU creates a poor experience for commuter students.”

- Alumni 

“Marketing. Get the word out about research and unique discoveries and assets at this university.” “Market night courses as fun, educational, social and networking opportunities, as well as tools for advancing in corporate world.”

- Alumni 

“Needs to make classes more available – times, days, campuses.”

- Staff 

“… I am dismayed at the lack of academic skills of some students, almost all of whom are transfers from community colleges. Some of these students are woefully unprepared for college, and they need more than a writing/tutoring center. … On average, especially on the Davie campus, I can expect that 25% or more of my students can barely read and write. Many of these students are trying their best, but it’s a tremendous challenge when their academic skills are so poor. As a result, I have to ‘dumb down’ my teaching. ...”

- Faculty 

“If you are going to maintain the partner campus structure have the infrastructure and commitment to preserve it.”

- Student Focus Groups, Davie Campus

COMPETITORS

FIU, UCF and USF UF and FSU Nova Southeastern Other private colleges Community colleges Distance learning providers For Profit

Alumni Faculty Staff Respondent Type Parents Admitted, not enrolled

26% 12% 2% 3% 14%

Community Student Focus Groups

= Most frequently cited = Often cited = Commonly cited = Occasionally cited = Seldom or never cited

COMPETITORS



“ There are no serious competitors, which is why FAU has grown so quickly and with so few demands for quality, effectiveness, thoughtfulness or common sense…” “We lack the quality and reputation to be competitive outside of our region.”

Faculty 

“For the poorly prepared, and/or geographically bound students we overwhelmingly attract, we face little if any competition.” -

Faculty 

“’Competition’ is the wrong word. All educational institutions serve a purpose. What is FAU’s niche? What can it do best?”

- Community Advisory Group 

“The question should be – who is our competition nationwide, not just in the Southeastern part of Florida. We must think bigger. If we see FIU, Nova, BCC, PBCC, etc. as out main competition, then we will perform at that level. We must assume UF, FSU, Miami, etc. are the schools we are up against in Florida – and if we want to move forward and become a top-tier program – we need to compete with the best in the nation.”

- Alumni

Opportunities

Scripps Partner with business, industry and government Build a multipurpose stadium Distance learning Diversity of South Florida Location and climate Multi-campus structure Use of technology Take advantage of location for programming Thriving economy Lifelong Learning Population growth in service area Local community relations - fundraising opportunities

Alumni Faculty Respondent Type Staff Parents Community Student Focus Groups

= Most frequently cited = Often cited = Commonly cited = Occasionally cited = Seldom or never cited

OPPORTUNITIES



“FAU does not seem integrated well into its surrounding community. Relationships with business and government could make a great difference in the existing programs. … Local corporations could sponsor a host of components from scholarships to paid internships to transition students from the classroom to the boardroom.”

- Alumni 

“FAU could take increasing advantage of high-speed internet by offering more content-rich and enhanced online or web-based course offerings. Online courses and degree programs are gaining wider acceptance in the business community – especially those programs offered by universities such as FAU that have solid academic reputations.” -

Alumni 

“FAU should have a literacy/learning center for adults and children to receive expert advice from professors and where professors can research and learn from their clients.”

- Faculty 

“We should be developing fundable proposals for Homeland Security and related programs. … We do not have any type of Middle Eastern or Arabic studies program. We do not have a strong Criminal Justice or other counter terrorist program. Why?”

- Staff 

“The Port St. Lucie area is extremely fast growing and FAU is missing a big opportunity with this campus.”

- Student Focus Groups, Treasure Coast Campus

THREATS

Cost of education, limited funding Increased competition from other and online providers Area population growth and traffic Cost of living and housing Hurricanes Economy Scripps Value of FAU degree Competition for good faculty Block tuition Emphasis on research Loss of best students to out of state schools Partner campus structure - lack of coordination and communication

Alumni Faculty Respondent Type Staff Parents Community Student Focus Groups

= Most frequently cited = Often cited = Commonly cited = Occasionally cited = Seldom or never cited

THREATS



“ Internet educational opportunities, since they are not bound by location, could increase competition.”

- Alumni 

“Increasing fuel prices could mandate making it either easier for students to come to campus and/or to improve off campus delivery systems beyond the existing ones. This is where the TriRail/direct FAU shuttle would be important. We could also use better east and west access.” -

Faculty 

“Cost of living, particularly the sky rocketing housing market, is going to make it very difficult to recruit and hold faculty and staff.”

- Staff 

“The general public is beginning to realize that a college degree has lost a great deal of its value, both economic and educational. Frankly, if I had a child today who lacked any strong academic motivations, I would encourage him to find an alternative to university study.”

- Faculty 

“Some good teachers are being lost because of low research productivity. FAU needs to value quality teaching.”

- Student Focus Groups, Jupiter Campus