The BEST is on the BAYOU!
For over 90 years, the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) has forged its own path striving for excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. ULM’s mission is to “prepare individuals from northeast Louisiana and beyond to compete, succeed, and contribute in an ever-changing global society through a transformative education while positively impacting society through research and service.”
In 2021, the University of Louisiana Monroe undertook the campus-wide project of developing a strategic plan. The strategic planning process involved every sector of the university and was not a top-down exercise, but a truly collaborative effort. Voices of faculty and staff from across the campus were heard and helped craft the living strategic plan document.
The focuses of the ULM Strategic Plan are divided into five pillars – 1) Student Success, 2) Faculty & Staff Distinction, 3) Intellectual Activity, 4) Community Engagement, and 5) Athletic Excellence. It is ULM’s belief that striving for excellence in these five areas will yield results that will continue to improve the student and employee experience at the university.
Since the pandemic of 2020, higher education enrollment across the United States dipped as many high school graduates opted out of pursuing a college degree. ULM was not immune to this national trend, seeing decreased numbers in all areas. This trend made the implementation of an enrollment strategic plan even more important, as steps needed to be taken to ensure the future success of the university.
Excitement was building on the ULM campus at the start of the Fall 2024 semester. As students returned to school, there was a palpable energy in common areas like the HUB and Schulze Dining Hall. You needed to look no further than on-campus housing to know that things were trending upward: ULM residential life was reporting 93% capacity in all housing facilities.
In the third week of September, ULM announced a 4% enrollment increase over the previous fall semester, one of the largest single year increases in the university’s history. For perspective, the nationwide average enrollment increase from 2022 to 2023 was 1.2% according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Additionally, enrollment is up across a number of sectors including first-time freshmen, international students, the ULM Honors Program, and the graduate school.
Additionally, ULM embarked on a campus master plan with a goal to change the future. During the master planning process, we involved many stakeholders at ULM to conceive a plan that is effective for the entire community. The plan outlines several possible campus enhancements including additional space to accommodate growing programs, additional green space on campus, improved vehicular travel, safer pedestrian travel, and improved signage, navigation, and security. Some buildings are proposed for demolition – others will face extensive renovations. The master plan is a living document. It will be changed and modified depending on the future needs of the university.