OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY – STILLWATER
Scholar Development and Recognition
Mission
Scholar Development and Recognition identifies and mentors OSU students to compete for and win national and international scholarship competitions, and thereby enhances the general educational opportunities for all.
Vision
Scholar Development and Recognition will broaden OSU’s growing reputation as a top school for student scholars who want to develop their academic abilities in exceptional ways and win prestigious national and international awards.
Core Values
Diversity – We respect others and value diversity of opinions, freedom of expression, and other ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Integrity – We are committed to the principles of truth and honesty, and we will be equitable, ethical, and professional.
Service – We believe that serving others is a noble and worthy endeavor.
Intellectual Freedom – We believe in ethical and scholarly questioning in an environment that respects the rights of all to freely pursue knowledge.
Excellence - We seek excellence in all our endeavors, and we are committed to continuous improvement.
Stewardship of Resources – We are dedicated to the efficient and effective use of resources. We accept the responsibility of the public’s trust and are accountable for our actions.
Goals, Critical Success Factors, Objectives, and Strategies
Goal One: Increase participation in Scholar Development by more students, through better information dissemination and the involvement of more faculty.
Critical Success Factors/Assessment:
- At least 30 students apply for national prestigious scholarships every year
- Assist other offices to insure participation in programs such as Fulbright and National Science Foundation
- At least 100 Wentz research applications every year
- At least 300 Wentz general scholarships applications every year
Objectives:
Objective 1.1: Increase number of presentations to OSU orientation classes and faculty groups.
Strategies:
- Work with student academic services directors to identify the best speaking opportunities to recruit new students.
- Work with department heads to identify the best faculty groups to visit.
- Make more printed materials available to use in enlisting support from above groups, and to use as handouts in meetings.
Objective 1.2: Strengthen further the ties and opportunities between Scholar Development and The Honors College.
Strategies:
- Continue current special programming for summer study, orientation opportunities, and “Windows to the World”.
- Continue to include Honors in fund-raising activities to encourage and inspire special programming.
- Meet more frequently with Honors advisors to discuss recruiting and mentoring strategies.
- Encourage all students of the extreme importance of honors-type experiences, especially in general education.
Objective 1.3: Increase the number of faculty who identify candidates and report them to Scholar Development office.
Strategies:
- Participate in new faculty orientation every August.
- Increase use of Scholar Development information when colleges are recruiting faculty.
- Encourage faculty to nominate candidates every semester, not just in the fall.
- Provide reward opportunities for faculty who identify students who eventually become successful candidates.
Objective 1.4: Seek wider distribution for Scholar Development newsletter and add other helpful publications.
Strategies:
- Use High School and College Relations to distribute newsletter to Honor programs in public schools.
- Consider an on-line version of newsletter.
- Develop information sheets on various scholarships, and also on-line version for web-site.
Objective 1.5: Participate in more recruiting visits to public schools.
Strategies:
- Target key Oklahoma City schools and one in each region of the state.
Goal Two: Send more students throughout the United States and abroad for enriching educational experiences, resulting from collaborations with OSU donors and inspired by OSU faculty.
Critical Success Factors/Assessment:
20 Scholar Development students in United Kingdom every summer on study programs
20 students who apply for prestigious scholarships receive financial support
Objectives:
Objective 2.1: Make permanent connections on rotating basis with Oxford and Cambridge for summer study.
Strategies:
- Secure housing contracts at Oxford and Cambridge at least one year in advance.
- Identify faculty and course content more than one year in advance.
Objective 2.2: Encourage all prestigious scholarship candidates to apply for financial support by extending more options and providing more financial incentives.
Strategies:
- Raise sufficient funds to enable support in all semesters, not just summer.
- Keep records on all activities sponsored by office for students’ information.
- Collaborate with OSU Study Abroad office to find options for students.
Objective 2.3: Reach more colleagues at other institutions using National Association of Fellowships Advisors contacts for potential study host-sites.
Strategies:
- Appear at conferences to collect information on intern and institute opportunities for students.
Goal Three: Increase the undergraduate research opportunities available at OSU.
Critical Success Factors/Assessment:
At least 100 Freshman Research Scholars every year
Every college provides a research skills class for freshmen
Raise stipends for Wentz projects to $5,000
Increase number of faculty mentors for undergraduates
Objectives:
Objective 3.1: Broaden recruiting efforts in public school.
Strategies:
- Improve publicity for Freshman Research Program – especially to define research and clarify its value.
- Invite more high school students to Wentz Research Day.
- Connect with high school faculty who understand and appreciate research, and enlist them as recruiters.
Objective 3.2: Speak to faculty groups and recognize faculty who participate in undergraduate research.
Strategies:
- Determine if financial rewards for student mentoring are feasible.
- Develop additional recognition events that draw attention to faculty mentor efforts.
- Broaden communication (letters, emails) to thank faculty for their participation in Scholar Development Programs.
Objective 3.3: Cultivate more funds through Foundation initiatives dedicated to undergraduate research.
Strategies:
- Arrange more events where donors meet top students conducting research.
- Make sure the connections among the major existing undergraduate research programs are clear and effective for funding “pitches”.
- Work with each college to coordinate all existing research programs that are funded by foundations.
Objective 3.4: Encourage wide-spread distribution of undergraduate research activities through publications, appearances at meetings, and news releases.
Strategies:
- Develop a brochure highlighting undergraduate research.
- Develop a major, yearly magazine that depicts undergraduate research activities.
- Send regular features to OSU News concerning undergraduate research accomplishments.
- Work with local and statewide newspapers on stories about undergraduate researchers.
- Use successful undergraduate researchers to visit classrooms and schools to recruit.
Goal Four: Recognize the accomplishments of top OSU scholars, and publicly acknowledge their contributions to OSU's reputation, in increasingly visible ways through various media and marketing campaigns.
Critical Success Factors/Assessment:
Submit an article to the hometown paper(s) about the accomplishments of every OSU scholar and nominee
Every high school that produces OSU scholar/nominee receives a letter of thanks
Every scholar/nominee assured of prominent recognition, either on Student Union “Wall” or in the appropriate college
Every scholar/nominee receives financial support
Objectives:
Objective 4.1: Work with Marketing and Communication Services to develop a system that submits information routinely to OSU and statewide media.
Strategies:
- Identify individuals in OSU Communication Services to work on articles and press releases on a regular basis.
- Budget for communications in a timely and systematic way.
Objective 4.2: Work with colleges to develop recognition strategies for scholars who are not mentored in the Office of Scholar Development (e.g. Fulbright, Rotary, National Science Foundation, SF, Boren).
Strategies:
- Explore providing funds to each college to support scholar recognition at that level.
Goal Five: Fully fund the Young Scholars Society to insure continuation of the Scholar Development concept throughout OSU's future.
Critical Success Factors/Assessment:
Increase funds to reward students and faculty and develop programming for the short-term
Endow the Office of Scholar Development and Recognition
Five calls and one personal visit each week to prospective donors
Objectives:
Objective 5.1: Work with Foundation on the prestigious scholar direct mail campaign.
Strategies:
- Expand list of individuals receiving direct mail information on Scholar Development activities.
- Refine printed materials for a more impressive and readable package.
- Coordinate timing on direct mail campaign to coincide with scholar announcements.
Objective 5.2: Work with central administration on an office structure that allows for fund raising, recruiting, and research.
Strategies:
- Identify best faculty in sciences to assist with undergraduate research.
- Reduce certain activities in order to expand recruiting and fund raising without reducing contact with students.
- Collect several model examples from other offices through NAFA contacts showing planned and steady growth to include more recruiting and fund raising.
- Identify tenured faculty member in sciences to take over administrative duties for Wentz, Niblack, and Freshman Research programs.
- Identify funding for a 3-year pilot project to hire a faculty member to assist with Scholar Development duties.
Objective 5.3: Work with the Foundation and selected donors to fully endow the Young Scholars’ Society.
Strategies:
- Publicize effects of the Carreker/Halligan gifts.
- Work with Wentz Foundation for a $250,000 “seeding” of Scholar Development activities.
- Arrange events where donors meet with OSU scholars.
- Set financial goals for next five years, and communicate to Foundation, to insure certain programs are endowed.
- Begin bringing scholar and alumni into fund-raising duties.
Goal Six: Refine the capabilities of the Scholar Development office by using technology in a more sophisticated way, to supplement the personal contact required for every student involved.
Critical Success Factors/Assessment:
Track recruits and prospective scholars on the web
Maintain scholar resumes and sample essays on the web
Post applications for all undergraduate research programs on the web
Publish newsletter more frequently, including both paper and web-versions
Objectives:
Objective 6.1: Conduct business with scholars and prospective scholars through more web-site based interactions.
Strategies:
- Update web-site every three months.
- Design web-based resume’/”wish list” to keep up with prospective scholars’ progress toward candidacies.
Objective 6.2: Enhance web-site for Scholar Development and Recognition.
Strategies:
- Train staff on development and upkeep of web-site.
- Clean up and revise web-site.
- Make web-site more interactive.
- Create a data base of opportunities for students.
