In addition to using strategic planning as a tool for continuous improvement , the university in 2011 launched a yearlong community wide examination of its core values to determine if they were aligned with its institutional mission and vision . It focused on diversity , spiritual life , community engagement and ethics , to name just a few issues , and resulted in three updated values statements centered around fostering personal growth , global citizenship and intellectual development in Stetson ’ s students .
“ Focusing on our core values , we have created a welcoming and inclusive university , where students can pursue a course of study knowing that faculty and administration are dedicated to their development and their future ,” said President Wendy B . Libby . “ We fully expect that our students will make great contributions to their communities and the world after they leave Stetson , and every year they have met that expectation .”
Just as sustainability in business is not always a smooth road , so is the journey toward excellence in higher education . On Volusia ’ s eastside , Bethune-Cookman University has held tight to the vision of its founder , Dr . Mary McLeod Bethune , despite some recent imbroglios along the way for the 113-year-old institution .
BCU recently realigned its strategic priorities as it sorts through internal setbacks the school ’ s interim president , Dr . Hubert L . Grimes , has suggested caused BCU to “ fall short of the spirit of excellence that Dr . Bethune so proudly brought to this institution .”
“ But today is a new day . And today marks a new start ,” he notes in the university ’ s revised strategic plan . “ Our challenge as an institution is to make this plan a living , breathing document to ensure that we become the university we want to be in 2018 . To that end , the strategic plan is a starting point in an ongoing process of change , adaptation , and continuous improvement .”
BCU plays a unique historical and cultural role in Daytona Beach ’ s midtown area and the local economy . In its revised strategic plan , the university is striving to “ further reinvent itself in a new and rapidly changing world ,” and has committed to improving core processes , balancing costs and maximizing its academic resources .
Perhaps there is no better institution of higher learning where continuous improvement and technological advancement are more critical to remaining relevant and sustainable than at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University . What started as a simple plan to train pilots and cash in on a booming post-World
INVESTOR SPOTLIGHT
REACHING FOR THE SKY FROM UNDER THE SEA
Mike Read President , Teledyne Marine
Teledyne Marine is a global leader in under sea products , systems and technology . Its leaders serve demanding global markets from their headquarters here in Volusia County . When other high technology companies are considering a move to Volusia County , Mike Read and his colleagues can testify to the fact that this is an exceptional community from which to do business and enjoy an enviable quality of life . Attracting new companies in select industries makes our strong economy stronger , while generating jobs and capital investment . That ’ s why Teledyne Marine invests in Team Volusia .
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