In her first speech as University president, Suzanne Shipley asked a full house of faculty and community members to re-imagine Midwestern State.

Shipley, at the Aug. 17 faculty/staff meeting, said her goals for the next year include supporting an outstanding learning environment, creating a vibrant workplace for faculty and staff, and becoming known as the leading residential university in Texas.

Shipley said she hopes to capitalize on the growing residential student body.

“Student life is a distinguishing mark that can set us above our peers,” Shipley said.

According to Shipley, maintaining relationships with current and future supporters of Midwestern State is also a long-term goal.

“We must work to maintain their support and their respect as we move forward,” Shipley said.

Shipley’s last long-term goal for MSU was that the university be guided by practices set by the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, a council of which she is president and MSU is a member, the only member in Texas.

“We deserve to take a leading place among the best public liberal arts universities in the country,” Shipley said.

Shipley also outlined a few goals she hopes to make progress on in her first 90 days in office.

Shipley said she wants to meet and listen to all her constituents and determine the university’s direction through broad consultation.

After gaining feedback from faculty, students and the community, Shipley said she hopes to narrow down the strategic plan of the university to no more than 24 goals, put in priority order with the funding for each goal attached.

In her effort to learn the opinion of the faculty, Shipley announced she would send a survey to all full-time faculty and then present the survey results in early November.

Shipley also debuted her GRAD goal – growth, retention, academic excellence, and diplomas.

“For us to remain competitive for state resources and recognition, we need to grow in the ways that make sense for us,” Shipley said.