GSBS Strategic Plan
2025-2027 Strategic Plan
Strategic Goals
In order to effectively accomplish its mission, the Graduate School is committed to the following strategic goals:
- To recruit highly qualified and diverse students into the GSBS programs;
- To enhance GSBS academic and training experiences for all students;
- To develop and enhance academic programs on all campuses that reflect targeted educational needs;
- To provide leadership in the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarship;
- To promote student development and wellness through training and informational workshops
While the Strategic Goals summarize the ultimate direction of the Graduate School, they are accomplished through the achievement of specific strategies and objectives that are outlined below.
Strategies and Objectives
To recruit a highly qualified and diverse student body into GSBS programs.
Strategy 1.1 - Provide competitive financial packages for recruitment of students
- Objective 1.1.1: Continue to expand the ASCO Scholarship Program
- Objective 1.1.2: Ensure regionally competitive salaries
- Objective 1.1.3: Provide fee waiver incentives
- Objective 1.1.4: Pay tuition & fees for all doctoral students
- Objective 1.1.5: Pay health insurance for all doctoral students
- Objective 1.1.6: Continually increase salaries to assist with health insurance premiums for all doctoral students
Strategy 1.2 - Identify and implement successful recruitment activities
- Objective 1.2.1: Travel to diverse campuses to recruit students
- Objective 1.2.2: Increase number of domestic students that interview and tour campus (paid visit for select domestic PhD applicants)
- Objective 1.2.3: Track recruitment activities through Slate software
- Objective 1.2.4: Continually improve SABR (Summer Accelerated Biomedical Research) and ABRI/BRIA (Amarillo & Abilene Biomedical Research Internship) experiences
- Objective 1.2.5: Implement Biomedical Sciences Research Scholar Program with the Office of Research and Innovation.
- Objective 1.2.6: Create media campaigns for the graduate programs as well as targeted advertisements
- Objective 1.2.7: Revise the existing GSBS website to create a more professional, user-friendly online resource for all stakeholders
To improve GSBS academic and training outcomes for all students.
Strategy 2.1 - Increase exposure to diverse biomedical career opportunities
- Objective 2.1.1: Improve and expand the annual Student & Faculty Retreat
- Objective 2.1.2: Plan and coordinate the seminar series and journal clubs to expose students to the diversity of biomedical careers
- Objective 2.1.3: Continue to develop the GSBS student mentoring resources
- Objective 2.1.4: Support continued exchange of scientific ideas and collaboration between faculty and graduate students through Student Research Week and Annual Research Days
- Objective 2.1.5: Organize workshops with GSBS Alumni that focus on employment in industry (Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical “Homecoming seminar”, Biomedical, etc.
Strategy 2.2 - Conduct systematic assessment of student learning outcomes in all academic degree programs and demonstrate the use of results for program improvements
- Objective 2.2.1: Document programmatic student learning outcomes and related assessment plans in Weave on an annual basis
- Objective 2.2.2: Revise course syllabi with course objectives that are linked to student learning outcomes
- Objective 2.2.3: Evaluate, revise and implement standard rubrics for summative assessment of student learning (e.g., thesis, qualifying exams, dissertation)
- Objective 2.2.4: Establish a systematic process for documenting student presentations and publications across academic programs
Strategy 2.3 - Improve student access to resources for enhancing their academic performance
- Objective 2.3.1 Revamp the student-based tutoring program
- Objective 2.3.2 Assess quality of resources through graduation/exit surveys
- Objective 2.3.3 Evaluate Core Curriculum Coordination (CCC) Committee oversight of:
- Curriculum development
- Training of faculty for online/TechLink courses
- Assessing strategies for monitoring student progress
Strategy 2.4 - Conduct ongoing systematic program reviews to determine that all programs have the appropriate faculty, students and resources to effectively meet their educational objectives
- Objective 2.4.1: Disseminate program review policy to all programs
- Objective 2.4.2: Conduct program reviews so that all programs are reviewed on a systematic cycle approved by THECB
- Objective 2.4.3: Use assessment results to revise and improve program action plan
- Objective 2.4.4: Ensure that Ph.D. programs are organizationally aligned
Strategy 2.5 - Conduct ongoing assessment of graduates’ employment opportunities and success in the workplace
- Objective 2.5.1: Improve alumni relations through homecoming seminars, social media, national meeting receptions, etc.
- Objective 2.5.2: Distribute exit survey/questionnaire to all graduates
- Objective 2.5.3: Track and disseminate employment of GSBS graduates to strengthen alumni network
To develop and enhance academic programs that reflect targeted educational needs.
Strategy 3.1 - Promote educational opportunities within existing master's programs
- Objective 3.1.1: Maintain excellence in the Masters in Graduate Medical Education Sciences program
- Objective 3.1.2: Expand the existing Pharmaceutical Sciences MS program to Abilene
- Objective 3.1.3: Grow the Biotechnology MS program by increasing recruitment activities
- Objective 3.1.4: Implement and evaluate the accelerated, one-year track in Biotechnology
- Objective 3.1.5: Explore opportunities to create new concentrations
To foster the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarship.
Strategy 4.1 - Increase research funding and success
- Objective 4.1.1: Assist in the recruitment of additional faculty with active research programs
- Objective 4.1.2: Maintain faculty expertise aligned with specific program needs
- Objective 4.1.3: Maintain research opportunity page on Website
- Objective 4.1.4: Increase collaborative efforts with all HSC faculty
- Objective 4.1.5: Offer workshops to mentor students
- Objective 4.1.6: Create opportunities to integrate Post-docs into GSBS activities and continue to strengthen rapport with Office of Research
Strategy 4.2 - Collaborate with other stakeholders at the Ƶ to develop GSBS scholarship funds
- Objective 4.2.1: Continue fundraising efforts for GSBS scholarships
- Objective 4.2.2: Expand fundraising events during Student Research Week
Initiatives to promote student development and wellness.
Strategy 5.1 - Promote student career and professional development through training workshops
- Objective 5.1.1: Workshops that promote submission of Predoctoral Fellowships
- Objective 5.1.2: Workshops that help students develop more effective LinkedIn profiles, curriculum vitae, and resumes
- Objective 5.1.3: Workshops that promote developing teaching portfolios and provide opportunities for teaching experiences
- Objective 5.1.4: In partnership with Ƶ Office of Research maintain the Office of Graduate Student Development and Postdoctoral Affairs
Strategy 5.2 - Promote student wellness through informational sessions and events
- Objective 5.2.1: Mandatory sessions on mental health awareness, crisis assistance and suicide prevention
- Objective 5.2.2: Annual Graduate Student Appreciation Luncheon
- Objective 5.2.3: Regular social gatherings that focus on wellness
- Objective 5.2.4: Collaborate with Ƶ Well Beyond to provide resources and seminars to improve student wellness according to the eight dimensions of wellness