With the fall semester under way, Fairmont State University Board of Governors had a long agenda of topics to review, approve, and celebrate during Wednesday’s bi-monthly meeting. Highlights included review and approval of two Implementation Plans and recognition of strong enrollment figures.
“Fairmont State University has experienced remarkable growth over the past year, and these implementation plans will help ensure that momentum continues,” said Board Chair Jason Pizatella. “Under President Davis’s leadership, and through collaboration with campus stakeholders, a clear course has been charted for the next decade. The Board is excited to see the path ahead filled with opportunity and promise.”
The University is experiencing significant growth in both new enrollment and student retention for the Fall 2025 semester. Specifically, undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase more than 9%, first time freshmen retention rates are projected to rise by more than 6%, and there is an anticipated 18% increase in graduate studies enrollment—bringing approximately 250 additional students to campus for the fall semester.
“The responsibility in front of us is truly humbling,” President Mike Davis said. “To serve these students, we need to approach our work with purpose and the belief that if they are willing to work hard, we can build a university that is ready for them.”
To guide that process, Fairmont State launched Strategic Vision 2025-2035, a detailed description of what the University aspires to become during the next ten years – A Great Place to Learn, to Work, and to Call Home. This aspirational document is now being operationalized through a series of three-year Implementation Plans. Once approved, these documents and the Strategic Vision will collectively form the Strategic Plan.
“I am constantly impressed by our staff and faculty. Over the past several months, dozens of folks collaborated to develop visionary yet actionable Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Implementation Plans,” said President Davis. “Since we began strategic planning, the process has been transparent and inclusive. At Fairmont State, the best ideas win—we sought ideas from every corner of campus, our surrounding communities, alumni, and elected officials. It is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of those involved that we’ve been able to do this in an integrated, systematic, and repeatable manner. Their work has provided exciting momentum and has paved the way for additional plans.”
Planning can take many forms. Fairmont State is using the Objectives and Key Results or OKR approach. Objectives are the most important things to be achieved, and each plan is limited to five. Key Results serve as mile markers along the way. OKRs address what the University will accomplish, not how it will be done. Progress will be tracked using publicly available dashboards that are already under development. This will allow anyone, at any time, to see where the University stands regarding each Objective.
This fall, Implementation Plans for Institutional Research and Information Technology will be created. Then, the University will tackle the Academics, Athletics, and Budget & Finance Plans. Next, attention will turn to the Campus & Facilities and Alumni & Advancement Plans. Finally, the Community Engagement and Human Capital Plans will be completed. For more information on Fairmont State’s Strategic Planning Process, including links to the approved plans, please visit www.fairmontstate.edu/strategicplan.
The Board will meet next on October 22 at 9 a.m. in the Falcon Center Board Room.
