From the President

As Butler embarked upon the planning process for our new Butler Beyond strategic direction in 2019, we proactively confronted the reality of disruption. We embraced the imperative that Butler University must transform to remain a thriving university. In consultation with nationally regarded experts in higher education, we identified the major forces expected to significantly threaten our traditional educational approach over the coming decade, including demographic shifts, pricing and cost pressures, and more.

We knew that solving these significant and systemic challenges would require a bold strategy, one that continues to enhance Butler’s successful model of traditional, liberal arts-based residential undergraduate education while simultaneously developing entirely new models designed to meet the future needs of higher education. It became clear Butler would need to push the boundaries on who, how, and where it educates. Referred to as dual transformation, this simultaneous approach to developing multiple models became the University’s strategy for ensuring long-term success and thus serves as the foundation for the Butler Beyond strategic direction.

Since developing our Butler Beyond strategy, we have established seven priorities that provide the guiding framework for advancing this vision. In the following pages you will see some of the highlights of our progress to date within each of these priorities. I am extremely proud of the significant collaborative work represented within these pages that the Butler Community has accomplished over the past several years. Our dual focus on enhancing our traditional model while developing innovative future models is paying off. The Butler Beyond strategy is already bearing fruit through distinctive student experiences, new partnerships, diversified revenue streams, and additional learners gaining access to a Butler education through innovative programs and degree pathways.

While we celebrate these successes, we cannot rest on our past achievements. Navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and the changing needs of learners will require us to maintain a steady focus on the priorities outlined in these pages, and even to accelerate these efforts. We owe it to every past, present, and future Bulldog to faithfully steward Butler University into its next great chapter.

As you read through these pages, I hope you are inspired by all that has already been accomplished and by all the possibilities that are still before us in the pursuit of our mission.

Well-Being

Mission Statement

Butler University, founded on ideals of equity and academic excellence, creates and fosters a collaborative, stimulating intellectual learning environment. We are inspired to boldly innovate and broadly educate, enriching communities and preparing all learners to lead meaningful lives.

Drafting a strategic direction is one thing. Taking the necessary steps to make it happen is quite another. These are the priorities we are pursuing to take Butler Beyond,

Priority 1

Ensure the Accessibility, Relevancy, and Distinctive Impact of a Butler Degree

Butler University will develop and enhance programs and experiences of distinction, maximize exceptional student outcomes, and deliver an education inclusive of the academic, social, and career needs of future learners.

Ensuring Accessibility Of A Butler Degree

Butler and Ivy Tech partnered to create articulation agreements which provide a more accessible and affordable pathway to a Butler degree. Four of Butler’s six colleges now offer articulation pathways, and additional agreements are under review.

Articulation Pathways

• Elementary Education (COE)

• Art & Design (JCA)

• Business (LSB)

• English (LAS)

• Environmental Studies (LAS)

• French (LAS)

• Philosophy (LAS)

• Religious Studies (LAS)

• Spanish (LAS)

THREE-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS

Butler established new Three-Year Degree Programs to provide accelerated, lower-cost pathways through access to year-round courses.

10 40 recently added programs total three-year degree pathways

Innovating In Academic Student Success And Retention

Launching Foundations of Excellence and the Student Success Center, a result of Butler’s work with the Gardner Institute, has driven institutional transformation for first-year and transfer student success and retention. Interdisciplinary teams are leading a multi-year implementation which has included:

• Hiring Butler’s first ever Director of First-Year Experience

• Creating new academic advising guidelines for first-year students as well as guidelines for student mentors

• Developing a philosophy of the first-year experience and corresponding student learning and program outcomes

• Supporting professional development for faculty and staff

A collaborative Student Success Center hub across two suites in Jordan Hall provides a marquee home for academic student success and retention.

FORWARD-THINKING ACADEMIC LEADERS

Following a national search that concluded in March 2022, Butler appointed Dr. Brooke Barnett as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Brooke is a passionate advocate for expanding the reach of a Butler education to a more diverse set of learners. Several other key new academic leaders have also joined the Butler team bringing together the wisdom of years of experience at Butler and other universities to provide the perspectives needed to create the future together.

Butler is thriving and prepared to meet the many challenges higher education faces. We are on the cusp of so many exciting things, and I look forward to the next stages of our work together.

Brooke Barnett Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Creating Distinctive Student Experiences

THE FACULTY-IN-RESIDENCE (FIR) PROGRAM

Eight faculty live among Butler students and provide programming in the residence halls in The Faculty in Residence (FIR) Program. The FIR program is now a joint program between Academics and Student Affairs with an action plan to enhance academic partnerships through residence life. The FIR in the honors livinglearning community is a Butler alum of the very same honors program.

THE BLUEWORK PLATFORM connects students with employers to gain real-world experiences aligned with their skills and interests.

BlueWork helps undergraduate and graduate students to:

Gain

Take advantage of the flexibility of remote work

Priority 2

Enhance Holistic Student Well-Being and Engagement

Butler University prioritizes the holistic well-being of our students and supports their development through robust opportunities for meaningful student engagement.

STUDENT WELL-BEING

Butler has partnered with two Indiana-based companies, Preventia and LifeOmic, to provide a Telehealth program for students and engaging wellness content via the LIFE Extend App.

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Butler Food Pantry

expanded hours of operation and increased types of food offered to meet a variety of dietary needs. Student satisfaction with this new service is high, and 98% of students participating indicated that the food pantry allowed them to focus more of their time and energy on their academic pursuits.

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ATHERTON UNION COMMUTER STUDENT CENTER opened fall 2022. This new space will provide a dedicated “home” on campus for commuter students to study, rest, store and prepare meals, and spend time with friends between classes.