Living the Mission

WPU’s Strategic Plan Provides Clarity in Times of Change

Jon Sampson, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students

When Warner Pacific’s community prioritized Innovating Models of Education Continuously and Efficiently in the strategic plan, moving to online formats within two weeks wasn’t on the agenda. But rapid work this spring to adapt during a global pandemic highlighted the agility and care WPU faculty and staff take to adjust learning to reflect the needs of the moment.

Explorers entering new territories use a process of way-finding to guide their navigation. By identifying a point of reference in the direction they wish to travel, they are able to use the distant object to stay on the desired course. These reference points become even more important when traveling on difficult terrain.

Warner Pacific’s Strategic Plan, approved by the Board of Trustees last year, continues to serve as a key point of reference in a time of rapid change for the campus, nation and world.

The plan’s strategic imperatives—to innovate models of education continuously and efficiently, lead with excellence in equitable education, upgrade strategic infrastructure for the future, and enhance market position—are as relevant in a world where the “coronavirus” and “social distancing” are common phrases as they were before. These imperatives filter and prioritize decisions as faculty, staff and students adjust their patterns, adapting to remote work and distance learning.

The emphasis on innovating models of education frames the work of creating and supporting remote learning. The commitment to pursuing excellence in equitable education stimulated responsive follow-up to student needs and encouraged donors to step in to support students who needed additional access to laptops and equipment.

The imperative to upgrade strategic infrastructure highlights the growth in cloudbased and remote learning tools needed to support this work. And efforts to enhance market position guide the work to recruit new students in a world that is rapidly changing.

Students have shared appreciation for the support they received from faculty during this transition. “I am so very grateful to WP staff that our education may continue, and it is nice to be in touch with our peers instead of feeling isolated and worrying,” PGS student Gwendolyn Collver shared. “I am grateful the teachers are doing a great job offering an option to keep going as we navigate this together.” ▪

Internship Fair

First-Ever Internship Fair Connects Students and Organizations

On February 20, over 40 organizations, companies and nonprofits came together at Warner Pacific to recruit among dozens of eager and qualified internship candidates during the first Annual Spring Internship Fair. The WPU Department of Business convened a committee to prepare for this event months in advance to ensure its success. The committee believed inviting students from local universities and high schools would only offer a more-attractive crowd of businesses—and they were right. Companies of all different capacities attended, including Intel, Pacific Office Automation, Sherwin Williams, Volunteers of America, The Latino Network and many more. Students walked through the maze of businesses with resumes in hand, prepared to give their elevator speeches. It was a successful day for all attendees—especially for the student who was offered an internship on the spot. Warner Pacific looks forward to hosting its second Annual Spring Internship Fair next year. ▪