Alverno Strategic Plan Outlines Dynamic Future

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After 130 years of making a difference in Milwaukee and beyond, Alverno is continuing to evolve in response to the changing needs of the workforce and the community.

Guiding that evolution is Alverno's new strategic plan, the product of a year-long planning process in which President Andrea Lee, IHM, and colleagues gathered input from alumnae, business and civic leaders and the College community. Alverno's Board of Trustees in June approved the plan, at the heart of which is Alverno's recommitment to educate and empower women.

With Alverno's legacy of leadership and innovation as a strong foundation, the plan calls for reimagining existing programs and adding highly engaging new initiatives in five priority areas.

“Our pledge to the Alverno community and the region as a whole is to continue to strengthen and grow a mission-driven, market-focused college that benefits students, faculty, staff, trustees and alumnae,” says Sister Andrea. “The direction and priorities of our new strategic plan position us and our students well for the future by building upon the College's legacy and strengths.”

New Education Programs Prepare Teachers for Urban, High-Need Schools

Alverno has been preparing skilled and highly effective teachers for K-12 classrooms and outstanding leaders for schools in the Milwaukee area for 130 years.

The primary focus of the Education component of the strategic plan is to prepare teachers and leaders for urban and high-need schools. The College redesigned its undergraduate curriculum to place greater emphasis on multicultural classrooms and meeting the needs of diverse learners, and it will offer new licensure opportunities tied to these skills as well as a pathway to licensure for paraprofessionals. Alverno will continue its leadership role in the city's education landscape by graduating more teachers of color who are prepared to serve in Milwaukee classrooms.

Health Care Priorities Focus on Leadership Development

Widely recognized as one of the state's top nursing programs, Alverno has educated nurses for more than 80 years and is home to one of the largest undergraduate nursing schools in Wisconsin.

As demand grows for nurses and other healthcare professionals, especially in response to an aging population, Alverno is launching a master of science degree program in gerontology for primary care nurse practitioners. Registered nurses seeking their bachelor of science in nursing can now enroll in Alverno's 12-month online program. And the College plans to introduce new non-nursing opportunitie as well.

Mental Health Programs Address Provider Shortage

More adults and youth are seeking mental health care, but many parts of Wisconsin lack sufficient providers to meet demand.

Alverno already has established undergraduate programs in psychology, music therapy and art therapy and master's programs for licensed professional counselors and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. The College seeks to become the go-to destination for aspiring mental health professionals, harnessing unique programs that are community-focused. New offerings under development include a bachelor of social work and a graduate-level educational psychology program.

New Programs Expand Commitment to Academic Excellence, Leadership

Alverno has a long history of developing strong women leaders, a vital and still-relevant mission as women remain severely underrepresented throughout various fields and at the highest echelons of business and government.

The College's commitment to developing strong women leaders continues with a focus on helping women achieve their highest academic aspirations with more student-faculty research opportunities, challenging new programs and expanded pre-professional support initiatives.

What's more, a new partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will allow students to earn a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Alverno and a bachelor's degree in computer science from UWM in five years. Another partnership will allow Alverno's pharmaceutical science graduates to earn a doctoral degree from Concordia University in seven years.

School of Adult Learning and New Initiatives Designed to be Responsive

Alverno must be poised to quickly respond to the needs of the community and the workforce in southeastern Wisconsin. The newly formed School of Adult Learning and New Initiatives will be the College's principal hub for innovation.

The new school will be home to degree-completion programs, two-year and online degree programs, as well as to stackable offerings such as certificates, digital badges and professional development opportunities. It is designed to complement the College's other schools and is premised on the interdisciplinary vision that has always guided Alverno.