Strategic Plan: Rockhurst By 2029

Revitalization. Innovation. Transformation

Rockhurst University Strategic Plan 2024-2029

Mission Statement

Rockhurst is a comprehensive university and a supportive community that forms lifelong learners in the Catholic, Jesuit, liberal arts tradition who engage with the complexities of our world and serve others as compassionate, thoughtful leaders.

Vision Statement

To create a more just world through inclusive, innovative, and transformative education.

Core Values

Finding God in All Things
We believe that God is actively working in our lives and world; therefore, we strive: To search for and find God in every circumstance in life, not just in explicitly religious situations. To grow in love – love of God, of our neighbor, and of the world. To deepen our relationships with God and our own religious traditions. To model that all aspects of learning and teaching are relevant ways of encountering and responding to God. 

Magis “more”
We are committed to excellence; therefore, we strive: To understand better ourselves and others as people loved by God. To seek greater knowledge of the academic, spiritual, and social disciplines. To give greater love, care, and compassion for our neighbor. To find more purposeful and effective ways to carry out our work. 

Cura Personalis
We are committed to caring for others inside and outside the classroom; therefore, we strive to help people: To understand their inherent human dignity. To reach their greatest human potential. To share their experience and knowledge with others. To act in a way that reflects this growth.

Reflection and Discernment
We are committed to the examined life; therefore, we strive: To seek for a greater knowledge of all creation. To reflect on our own lived experience of the world. To discern the movements of our heart and reason. To listen to the experience of other people.

Contemplation in Action
We are committed to just action through leadership and service; therefore, we strive: To take responsibility for our gifts and talents and to help build up the gifts and talents of others. To be agents of transformation, especially in the areas of social justice and equality. To bring our best resources to bear on creative responses to problems and challenges. To foster openness and curiosity about all things new and different. To foster a spirit of trust, hopefulness, collegiality, and dialogue. To value different points of view and experiences. 

Wisdom • Sapientia Aedificavit Sibi Domum – “Wisdom Has Built Herself a Home”
We are committed to learning; therefore, we strive: To learn about all aspects of this God-charged world. To create an environment that values and champions the search for and communication of knowledge. To examine the moral and ethical implications present in each discipline and program. To view religious experience and religious questions as integral to the understanding of human existence and human culture. To foster love of the world that leads to the desire to create a better and more just existence.

Planning Goals

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Living our Jesuit Mission

Rockhurst University is proud of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and core values, including Finding God in All Things, Magis, Cura Personalis, Reflection and Discernment, Contemplation in Action, and Wisdom. We honor and respect all members of our community and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment that upholds the dignity and worth of each person. We are committed to a faith that pursues justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and our Jesuit values and traditions. Through opportunities for students from all faith perspectives, we work to eliminate barriers to access a transformational education for all students.

Enhancing Academic Excellence and Distinction
Rockhurst will focus on academic excellence and distinction through teaching, scholarship, and service—building a community of scholars who are intellectually curious and passionate global citizens. We value the knowledge, skills, and abilities rooted in the liberal arts and the ideals of Jesuit education. We remain committed to ongoing quality improvement, especially as it relates to achieving excellent student outcomes and developing innovative, future-oriented programs. Our curricular and co-curricular programs prepare servant leaders to understand and address today’s challenges in our region and across the globe.

Realizing a Connected and Inclusive Campus Culture
Rockhurst University will engage in initiatives that promote well-being, belonging, identity, and a strong campus community. We are committed to the intentional investment in people, place, and programs that foster interprofessional learning and the development of skills that prepare our learners and stakeholders to engage productively in an increasingly diverse and multicultural society.

Fostering Strategic Partnerships and Innovation
Rockhurst will strengthen partnerships that enhance our institution by enriching the education of our students and contributing to positive societal change in both our local and global communities. Our personalized education ensures students have opportunities for career preparation, experiential learning, and high-impact practices. Students will be immersed in transformational experiences through expanded career planning, engagement with extensive partnerships, service and leadership activities, and the academic rigor that defines a Rockhurst education – making it both outstanding and life-changing.

Building Infrastructure and Sustainability
Rockhurst University will implement long-term strategies to enhance the university’s physical infrastructure across campus. We are committed to intentionally investing in physical spaces and technologies that foster inclusive learning and living environments—supporting the student experience essential for developing strong leaders. We will remain steadfast in pursuing organizational excellence, employing best practices in campus programs and services. We are also committed to environmental and fiscal sustainability, designed to attract and retain mission-driven, student-focused faculty and staff.

Pillar 1: RENEW

Focus on Enhancing Sustainability, Fortifying Existing Resources, 
and Developing Competitive Experiences

• Focus on pathways for student recruitment and strengthen opportunities to sustain and grow enrollment.
  • Implement a Comprehensive Enrollment Management Plan covering undergraduate, graduate, online, and certificate programs.
  • Expand recruitment and retention of international students to enhance diversity and global engagement at Rockhurst.
    Develop a targeted marketing strategy and allocate resources for the recruitment of graduate and online students.
  • Expand support for student retention by addressing challenges that impact persistence and degree completion.
• Develop a Strategic Technology Plan aligned with institutional goals.
  • Expand and improve campus infrastructure, hardware, and software to support modern learning and operations.
  • Establish a system-wide professional development program to enhance the use of technology by students and employees, and to ensure effective cross-training.
  • Improve support for online instructional design in both online courses and academic programs.
  • Implement consistent, efficient, and focused data management processes to support data-informed decision-making.
• Develop and implement a Strategic Human Resources Plan to attract and retain highly qualified faculty and staff in a cost-effective manner.
• Develop and implement a Campus Environmental Sustainability Plan to reduce the campus footprint in alignment with institutional objectives.
• Develop and implement a Rockhurst Financial Health Plan to ensure long-term financial sustainability and provide resources for continuous improvement.

Pillar 2: ENGAGE

Enhance experiences with local, regional, national, and global communities 
to build cultural competence through inclusive engagement.

• Advance the Wisdom Core curriculum’s initial implementation to the next phase of integration: toward a deeper communal understanding, implementation, and assessment of the new Core.
• Building on the work of the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith Justice and other departments, expand opportunities for Kansas City students to engage with Rockhurst through growth of programs for youth on the Rockhurst campus.
• Expand opportunities for Rockhurst students to study abroad through a variety of experiences.
• Develop a comprehensive career development program for Rockhurst students at all levels with expanded community engagements and focus on transition from college to career.
• In line with our Jesuit values and traditions, demonstrate a deeper commitment to inclusion, belonging and access through respect for others’ differences and actively work toward a more inclusive community.

Pillar 3: CONNECT

Expand opportunities for connections between students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community through affinity spaces and the living/learning environment

• Create residential spaces with a focus on a wide spectrum of living/learning experiences and spaces in line to better meet students’ expectations.
• Enhance multi-use academic-collaborative spaces on campus to support programs and experiences.
  • Complete Sedgwick Hall to include flexible, multi-use classroom/lab/gathering spaces to address additional large classroom and community needs for meetings and conferences.
  • Reimagine Greenlease Library into a Library/Learning Commons supportive of student success experiences and expanding gathering spaces for student learning.
  • Renovate Massman Hall to encompass a university center.
  • Renovate Conway Hall to support the expanded technology focus.
• Set priorities for implementation within the Athletic Master Plan to support recruitment and enhancement of students’ athletic experiences and campus spirit.

Pillar 4: Partner

Expand programs and experiences for growth, 
development and community impact

• Expand opportunities for students and employees in Kansas City and regionally to engage with Rockhurst University programs.
  • Develop and implement more robust partnerships for transfer credit and student exchanges with other institutions to expand options for students and encourage seamless participation.
  • Expand the Advanced College Credit Program into more high schools in the Kansas City area, including into the state of Kansas.
  • Partner with Kansas City and regional companies to leverage internships for Rockhurst students and to provide continuing education for company employees.
• Focus on the development of new academic programs for growth, especially when integrated or partnered with other programs.
  • Identify and implement new academic programs in health care that partner with local hospitals and health care agencies to meet workforce development needs.
  • Identify and implement integrated programs with a focus of shared program responsibilities and outcomes.
  • Expand programs in the College of Business and Technology in support of new community and global economic demand.
  • Expand continuing education, professional development and degree completion programs offered for the community.
• Develop significant partnerships and consortium agreements with other organizations to strengthen services and the student experience.
  • Expand co-curricular learning opportunities and partnerships with firms and corporations in Kansas City and beyond.
  • Implement shared administrative services, benefits, and operations when cost-effective and mutually beneficial.
  • Gain access to developing equipment and technologies

Strategic Planning Committee Members