SOU finalizes Vitality Plan for long-term sustainability

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has released the final version of its Vitality Plan, a strategic outline that addresses financial challenges and prepares the university for long-term sustainability and student opportunities.

The final version includes a variety of modifications based on suggestions from faculty, staff and students that were submitted after a provisional version of the Vitality Plan was announced June 15.

The new version holds firm to the university’s objective of at least $20 million in overall budget savings – through combined SOU Resiliency and SOU Vitality Plan efforts – in the fiscal year that ends next June 30, but does so while maintaining all but one of its current academic offerings. The plan calls for a sunset of the Music Industry and Production degree but will maintain the overall Music program, which is possible by committing the institution to a revolutionary change in course delivery and design.

“The Vitality Plan was constructed in such a way as to keep as many pathways as possible open to students,” SOU President Rick Bailey said in a message to campus Tuesday night. “We’ve done just that. But we still need a robust student body to thrive, and we’ll need all of us working together to keep students on the path toward the graduation stage and the fulfillment of their educational goals.”

The final version of the plan was released at the conclusion of a deliberation period that was required by the university’s contract with its faculty union, the Associated Professors of Southern Oregon University, and consultation with the Service Employees International Union. It is a revision of the initial plan that was drafted following months of analysis, discussion and engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community stakeholders. Those interactions led to important improvements that will serve the institution and the community during the implementation process and beyond.

The plan prioritizes reducing impacts on students wherever possible, preserving pathways to degree completion and strengthening SOU’s long-term financial and operational foundation.

“Our new proposed mission centers on educating students for resilient, meaningful lives by making the Rogue Valley our classroom, mentorship our method and practical, experiential work our curriculum,” an introduction to the plan says. “Moving away from the outdated model of a generic regional institution, the Vitality Plan adopts a ‘Living Laboratory’ operating system that unifies the university’s academic offerings and prioritizes the cultivation of essential human capacities that no machine can replicate.”

The Vitality Plan is intended to connect SOU to the communities it serves through a bioregional approach; provide streamlined pathways to degree completion in every academic discipline; offer flexible options for students through innovative, interdisciplinary academic design models; and incorporate a human-connected approach to education that is cognizant of the rapid pace of emerging technologies.

The final version of the Vitality Plan will result in the elimination of a total of 60.6 faculty and staff positions over the coming year. That is about five fewer than those identified in the provisional version of the plan, but the overall expected savings for the year of $20,028,030 remains above the $20 million threshold set by the university’s Board of Trustees.

President Bailey acknowledged in Tuesday night’s campus message that all reductions in the plan will be difficult and come at a human price.

“Our goal during this process is to respect the dignity of all our employees and their contributions to our students and our university,” he said.

You can review the full Vitality Plan, revisions and more here.

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