President's Report

Cupola atop a building on the Molloy University campus

Annual Report of the President 2022-2023


With this annual report of last year’s activities, we reflect on a time of insightful review and thoughtful planning for the University. Molloy’s Strategic Planning Committee graciously served the entire community by examining current practices and policies, institutional culture, and program offerings. The Committee evaluated our identity from multiple perspectives and carefully crafted a pathway toward the future.

The robust planning process was approached with the dedication and zeal that the Molloy community is known for. The Committee collegially tackled difficult discussions as they navigated the task of plotting a strategic course for Molloy.

They developed attainable and measurable goals and objectives designed to pave the way for the future of Molloy University and higher education in the region.

The Strategic Plan, which will guide Molloy over the next five years and impact each of us in unique ways, has been structured using an overarching thematic structure. The themes you will find throughout the report are: Uphold, Unite, Usher and Update the New U.

I chose to dedicate much of this annual report to the comprehensive work behind the strategic plan. More detailed information regarding its development and contents is available on the Molloy University website. You will also find an overview of recent grants the University has been awarded, interesting quotes from donors regarding why they chose to support Molloy and the requisite financial information.

As always, I remain grateful to the entire Molloy community for its vision and relentless focus on preparing our students to make a difference in the world.

 Photo of President James P, Lentini's signature

James P. Lentini, D.M.A.
President

Pathway to the Future

  • Unite the Community

    • Continue to build a sense of community by creating a pervasive culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Education and communication regarding the Dominican tradition and the mission will be increased and focused on in ways to assist with addressing issues of social justice. Thereby improving representation, inclusion, belonging and thriving for every member of the Molloy community.
    • Develop University-wide wellness initiatives to promote multiple dimensions of wellbeing. We will ensure that assets of curricula and student support services are in alignment with the goals that are attentive to the needs of all students living on or off campus and ranging from first-generation to adult learners.
    • Embrace the principles of DEI in teaching and learning by enhancing and sustaining diverse representation among faculty, staff and administration. Molloy’s academic programs and support services will also reflect diverse perspectives, transformative education and attend to issues of social justice.
    • Emphasize and articulate Molloy’s mission, values and guiding virtues. The community will work to improve awareness of the University’s heritage and commitment to DEI and belonging through education.

  • Usher in Programs for Student Success

    • Foster academic advancement through innovative research, creative activity, scholarship, and teaching. A culture of innovation in pedagogy and curriculum will be essential to supporting all students as they develop their skills, knowledge, and disposition to transform local/global communities.
    • Support curricular innovation through the faculty professional center and the schools. We will identify mechanisms to assess courses to address diverse learning perspectives, and the community will recognize faculty for innovative teaching practices. General Education requirements will be reviewed to ensure curriculum is cohesive, meets stated learning outcomes and objectives and supports the Molloy mission.
    • Analyze student success data across the University to identify areas for improvement and develop targeted interventions. Existing programs will also be evaluated to ensure consistency with current pedagogical disciplinary trends to close equity gaps.
    • Seek professional development opportunities for faculty dedicated to innovation. Undergraduate and graduate student research experiences and support will be increased. There will be an expansion of opportunities, financial resources, professional development and other support for faculty and students to engage in high-impact research, creative activity, scholarship and instruction. Faculty capacity to seek external funding to support teaching, learning, research, creative activity and scholarship will be fostered.

  • Utilize Approaches for Sustainable Growth

    • Implement new and adaptable approaches to enrollment, recruitment, and retention. We will look to increase both undergraduate and graduate enrollment and improve retention rates.
    • Evaluate current academic offerings and explore new high-demand academic programs to determine the balance between market demand, mission fit, and academic strengths. A data informed approach will be used to develop new academic programs that respond to community demands.
    • Expand and implement opportunities for adult learners, degree completers and those seeking education to meet the needs of the regional workforce. Policies and practices will be made more responsive to support the adult learner and beneficial community partnerships will be developed.
    • Identify enrollment patterns and programs to refresh academic offerings holistically. Molloy will develop custom programs to respond to the workforce development needs of local industries and organizations.
    • Ensure the financial health of the institution while achieving sustainable growth. Alternative revenue sources will be identified, and revenue streams will be diversified to ensure a strong and sustainable budget. Additionally, we will grow and expand the endowment by building a culture of philanthropy and we will expand corporate and foundation support.
    • Engage a larger percentage of alumni and employees in fundraising initiatives. This will be achieved by increasing communication with alumni and the broader community to promote lifelong engagement and by strengthening opportunities for alumni to share their Molloy story.

  • Update our Systems and Facilities

    • Cultivate an institution-wide commitment to purposefully utilizing data-informed assessment for continuous improvement. We will adopt best practices using data in decision-making and assessment of all operational areas. The University will utilize data in process and program review and will establish policies and procedures for support services review.
    • Employ and assess marketing and branding strategies to increase applications and enrollment in Molloy’s existing and developing programs. A comprehensive data warehouse architecture will be created, and an operational planning framework and assessment system will be developed. The efficacy of website activity using SEO data will also be evaluated.
    • Evaluate and improve technological infrastructure emphasizing security, mobility and flexibility. Facilities and technology will be enhanced to improve the student and employee experience. Additionally, a cybersecurity program will be implemented.
    • Focus on sustainability campus wide. Space allocations and constraints will be studied. The community will consider flexible work models and will work to create state-of-the-art physical and virtual instructional spaces.