On Wednesday, August 31 2011, Gustavus held its annual Colloquium where the state of the college was discussed. President Jack Ohle, and the Vice-Presidents, known collectively as the President’s Cabinet, discussed such subjects as the celebration of the Sesquicentennial and the naming and dedication of Beck Academic Hall. The President’s Cabinet also discussed institutional goals for Gustavus.

Most of these goals stem from the Commission Gustavus 150 Strategic Plan, but some come from unanticipated sources, such as the Title IX review, which not only applies to athletic opportunity, but also to sexual harassment and assault prevention, education and intervention.

“Each of the vice-presidents’ offices also have individual goals that they’re working to achieve,” Provost and Dean of the College Mark Braun said.

“It’s important for the institution to have a road map,” Braun said. These institutional goals were set by the Cabinet during a two-day retreat over the summer.

The goals that the President’s Cabinet set are to continue working on Commission Gustavus 150 goals, to fully implement the Board of Trustees governance structure, to continue to prepare for the 2013 Higher Learning Commission self-study/accreditation visit, conduct a comprehensive Title IX review to develop short- and long-term objectives, to achieve enrollment goals, to publicly launch a comprehensive fundraising campaign, to continue to grow the college brand, to achieve institutional financial goals and to celebrate the College’s Sesquicentennial.

“Students should care about their academic experience, both the learning that occurs in the classroom and outside the classroom. We want students to be learning and developing at all times. For that to take place, we need a plan,” Braun said.

Business author Michael Lebeouf said that, “What gets managed gets done.” This is a quote that Braun believes in strongly.

“We have to be as intentional and accountable as possible to make sure what we achieve is what we want to achieve,” Braun said. “The kinds of things that staff, faculty and students are achieving at this college show us that we’re on the right track.”