Academic Excellence & Innovation
Transformative learning and instruction are the chief engines for the advancement of DeSales University, as we hold wisdom as a core value. The dynamic relationships among our students, faculty, and staff drive the education, research, and personal/professional development that heighten the quality of the DeSales experience. Connecting the Catholic intellectual tradition to new technologies, innovative teaching practices, and burgeoning ideas, the future of our academic programming stands prepared to address the unknown contexts our graduates will face in their careers, communities, and families.
These five goals work together to create an academic environment where the Catholic intellectual tradition enhances rather than limits scholarly inquiry, where technology serves humanity through ethical application, and where collaborative innovation prepares graduates to lead with wisdom in an ever-changing world. Our commitment to academic excellence remains rooted in our foundational mission while embracing the tools and approaches necessary for 21st-century learning.
Build a Future-Ready Academic Portfolio
We are conducting comprehensive, mission-aligned reviews of all programs to ensure quality, relevance, and sustainability. Through academic and financial evaluations, we will identify recommendations to revise, consolidate, or sunset programs while launching new offerings aligned with workforce needs. By Year 3, we will track measurable improvements in retention, graduation rates, and cost efficiency across all programs.
Integrate the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Across the Curriculum
The Catholic intellectual tradition becomes a visible, lived thread throughout our Connections Curriculum. We are mapping Catholic intellectual tradition themes to institutional student learning outcomes and course-level objectives while creating a formal course designation system. This integration ensures students engage with courses that explicitly connect faith and learning, with annual assessments to verify these themes are taught and meaningfully experienced.
Prepare Every Graduate to Use AI Ethically, Responsibly, and Creatively
Artificial intelligence literacy and responsible use will be embedded across all programs. We are offering two micro-credentials: AI Literacy for students and Responsible AI Teaching for faculty. Institution-level and program-level AI learning outcomes will guide our approach, supported by workshops, forums, and case-based modules on AI ethics and practical applications. Standardized syllabus language will establish clear expectations for appropriate AI use.
Enable Efficiency, Collaboration, and Innovation in Our New College Structure
Our modernized academic structure promotes streamlined workflows and shared services, reducing administrative overhead while freeing time for teaching, research, and student impact. We are growing interdisciplinary activity through team-taught courses, shared modules, joint events, and external partnerships. Each college and school will propose innovative academic initiatives each semester, with experiential education models implemented across all areas by 2027.
Invest in Faculty Development and Scholarship
Expanded professional development opportunities advance both teaching excellence and research productivity. We are increasing on-campus workshops, seminars, and training aligned to pedagogy, technology, and assessment while growing access to external development and seed funds for scholarship. Faculty development funding will increase 10-15% annually, with a 50% increase in external funding applications by Year 3.
