I. Enhancing the Student Experience Through Engaging and Enriching Interactions
The three strategic goals for the Priority One team are implementing comprehensive job shadowing, mentoring, and internship programs to include alumni and local community friends; increasing support and campus connection from alumni and friends; and creating programs for discipleship and spiritual growth, for intentional leadership development, for celebrating and supporting a multicultural student body, and for developing impactful relationships among students and the employees of HPU. This priority is led by Mrs. Kailee Torgerson, Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, and Mr. Jordan Villanueva, Instructor of Christian Studies and Assistant to the President for Hispanic Relations.
In the fall of 2024, a Multicultural Task Force was formed to support students and create programming that educates and encourages cultural awareness. The task force spent the spring developing a “cultural climate survey” for Alumni, Staff, Faculty, and Students. The Alumni and Staff surveys were administered this summer, and the Faculty and Student surveys were administered this fall. The task force is currently reviewing the results. In light of Howard Payne’s recognition as a Hispanic Serving Institution, this survey will enable the university to ensure that students of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds thrive.
A Discipleship Group was formed to provide spiritual mentoring to students. The group is meeting this fall and is seeking funding for a director of spiritual formation.
The Career Services Office built a vocational development system, Handshake, utilizing technology to facilitate internships and post-graduate job opportunities. Student Worker policies have also been clarified and developed by this office and will take effect this fall.
Dr. Kalie Lowrie has created alumni affinity groups to increase support and campus connection from alumni and friends by bringing together groups by major or interest. Since 2023, she has created a Young Alumni group, a Junior Jackets group, and the Gold & Blue Alliance. A new Music Alumni group is being formed. 88 charter members have signed up, and, pending approval by the Alumni Board in December, the group will launch in January.
Student Worker policies were clarified and updated to be used by the Career Services Coordinator beginning Fall of 2024
The committee is drafting a cultural climate survey to be sent to staff and alumni in the summer of 2024 and faculty and students in the fall of 2024. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, this will enable the university to make decisions to insure that students of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds thrive.
The committee is working on a transition timeline to myGateway. It has been used for check-in at University events and has been named the go-to communication resource for the future of HPU.
A network of music alumni is being coordinated by Steve Faulkner, with participants across the state of Texas. Members of this group, representing Heritage Singers across the decades, performed at the annual Robnett Founders Dinner in March of 2024.
A Multicultural Task Force, comprising two staff, two faculty, two alumni, and four students, was formed to support students and create programming that educates towards and encourages cultural awareness. The task force began a common reading of The Beautiful Community.
A Discipleship Group was formed to provide spiritual mentoring to students.
The Career Services Office built a vocational development system, Handshake, utilizing technology to facilitate internships and post-graduate job opportunities. Handout cards with email links have been developed to be shared with students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni.
“Coffee & Careers” sessions, in which alumni and business owners in a particular field meet with students in a similar major, were held for healthcare and for athletic training-related careers.
A “Fall Career Luncheon” on strategies for entering the workforce was held for students.
Dr. Kalie Lowrie created two alumni affinity groups, aimed at increasing support and campus connection from alumni and friends by creating groups by major or interest. The “Young Alumni” group for recent graduates had its charter approved by the Alumni Board in December. The “Junior Jackets” group for children and grandchildren of alumni and friends. has over 80 members ages 6 months to 18 years old.
The Gold & Blue Alliance fundraiser had a successful start, with 288 participants so far.
Cards bearing important phone numbers have been placed on the inside of the doors in all residence halls