Strategic plan

The strategic plan for the period 2024-2028 for the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University (WSU) was developed with input from key constituents including faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends. It includes the department’s vision, goals and new and ongoing initiatives in the context of returning to pre-pandemic normalcy in the department.

Methods

A department-wide committee comprising representatives of all stake-holding groups, including students, worked together in 2024 to adapt the college plan to the department plan, then presented the revised plan at a faculty meeting in the fall.

The Department of Chemistry Strategic Plan mirrors the plan presented by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and university and targets the same goals but includes specific department initiatives. Relevant parts of the college plan were incorporated in the department plan with permission of the dean. The department goals and plan for the five-year period are delineated in the following text.

Goal 1: Excellence in research

This goal focuses on increasing departmental research.

Related initiatives

Continue building an environment that nurtures and rewards outstanding research activities.
Promote, advance, reward and retain faculty with demonstrated active research.
Increase research productivity, invest more in innovation, strengthen research collaborations across disciplines and foster knowledge generation, including hiring more faculty.
Support the development of mid-career faculty through the promotion process.
Continue to apply for funding to improve research infrastructure, including equipment, data storage methods and lab space.
Continue sending assistant professors to grant-writing workshops to increase the capture of extramural funds.
Continue advocating for, mentoring and promoting assistant professors whose success is critical for the future of our department, college and university.
Retain and promote outstanding staff and continue advocating for the appropriate level of department support staff.
Continue to explore opportunities to increase the number of endowed chairs that support research.
Increase recognition to encourage excellence and enhance our institutional reputation.
Promote innovation and commercialization of research discoveries.
Support new research funding opportunities wherever possible.

Goal 2: Innovative teaching and student success

This goal includes student-centered activities, faculty and teaching excellence, curricular adjustments and infrastructure improvements.

Related initiatives

Enhance student success and retention through participation in learning communities, internships, undergraduate research and other initiatives.
Emphasize excellence in advising using early assessment of at-risk students, who can benefit from more individual attention and increased participation.
Improve technology in student teaching areas to facilitate state-of-the-art learning and promote better outreach strategies to non-WSU students, nationally and internationally, for a global education.
Promote career-facilitating certificate programs, which can provide an excellent grounding for various career paths. Career certificates can be offered in conjunction with majors/minors to undergraduates and to non-degree students.
Increase student awareness of the AGRADE and Direct Admit M.A. programs.
Champion compassionate teaching of all students and elevate the experience of students with disabilities.
Promote faculty and staff training in the areas of teaching and engagement with the Office of Teaching and Learning.

Goal 3: Outreach and engagement

This goal highlights our successful partnerships and new initiatives in the city of Detroit and our community.

Related initiatives

Amplify our relationships with the neighboring Museum District and the Michigan Science Center.
Continue partnering with the Detroit Public Schools on tutoring (for example, NOBCChE outreach and Neinas Chemistry Day).
Enhance outreach and partnerships with high schools and school districts that include and go beyond metro Detroit.
Host and participate in campus events, including STEM Day, AP Day, and Future Warrior Day.
Assist the college’s partnership with the higher education programs of the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Elevate chemistry’s reputation of academic excellence, community services and socioeconomic impact via social media.
Continue supporting the Science Olympiad at Wayne State to encourage and recruit undergraduate students throughout Wayne County.

Goal 4: Departmental climate

This goal recognizes the importance of social climate and inclusion in recruiting and retaining faculty, staff and students.

Related initiatives

Continue building our departmental culture of collegiality, collaboration and transparency through clear communication, supportive staff, meetings and transparent policies for compensation, advancement, responsibilities, teaching and expectations.
Create a sense of belonging for all faculty, staff and students.
Recruit and retain intellectually and culturally engaged faculty and provide robust support structures to ensure their pre- and post-tenure success.
Remove barriers to higher education for first-generation, immigrant, minority students and all students coming from non-traditional backgrounds, including students involved with the criminal justice system and students with disabilities.
Enhance engagement with K-12 schools in the city and in metro Detroit to develop pipelines of students prepared for success at Wayne State.
Continue to partner with the Office of Student Disability to support students with disabilities at Wayne State.
Promote participation in university training on bullying and harassment.

Goal 5: Financial sustainability and operational excellence

This goal supports revenue growth through enrollments, development and extramural research.

Related initiatives

Enhance existing programs (for example, Science Olympiad, Neinas Chemistry Day) and develop new programs/initiatives to increase student enrollment and tuition revenue.
Encourage and support recruiting city, metro, out-of-state and international students.
Use best practices related to student retention for reputational and financial success.
Increase extramural funding and revenue through research excellence, impactful science, innovative technology and entrepreneurship.
Increase revenue through philanthropic donations by working with the Office of Development and the college and reaching out to potential donors, alumni, corporate, community entities and mission-based foundations.