MORAVIAN VISION - Moravian College

Strategic Plan 2008–2015
Embracing the Future
In April 2008, the Moravian College Board of Trustees
adopted a new strategic plan to serve as a guidepost for
every aspect of the College over the next seven years,
2008-2015. The product of more than a year of reflection,
research, discussion, and debate, the new plan, "Preparing
Moravian for Future Generations," promises to dramatically
alter the face of Moravian, while maintaining a firm
commitment to the strengths that have sustained the school
since its inception, nearly 270 years ago. A broad group
participated in the process—not only trustees, but also students,
faculty, staff, and members of the community.
Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth ’68, board chair, played a key
role, challenging participants to envision a future in which
Moravian would wholly fulfill its mission of “engagement
in the world,” which includes preparing students “for leadership
and service for the common good.”
Recently, we asked Lyn to share her insights about the
new strategic plan, and how it will shape the course of
Moravian College over the coming years.
How did the board settle upon these specific initiatives,
and why were they chosen at this time in Moravian
College history?
With our previous strategic plan set to end this year,
we needed to initiate a new plan to guide us through the
coming years.
We asked people to do some dreaming, and they came
up with hundreds of great ideas. During the joint board
retreat last January, we listened and questioned. We knew
we had to find a way to prioritize the initiatives, because
we didn’t have the funds or wherewithal to do all of them.
We stepped back, asking administration, faculty, and
others: what should our student profile be? We needed to
know that to set our priorities—after all, we are here for
the students.
We agreed we wanted a more diverse student population
without giving up any excellence—we wanted at least
the same high quality students we have now. We decided
we wanted our student body to more closely mirror the
communities into which we send them to serve and lead.
Once we established this key point, we understood that
everything else must follow: we would have to change some
of the ways in which we provide support staff; we would
have to hire additional faculty to continue to provide a
personalized education; we would need to ensure that the
physical environment is attractive and fully functional; we
would need an appropriate technology strategy; and we
would have to refocus the Comenius Center to address key
opportunities in the Lehigh Valley. And to do all this, we
would need to raise sufficient funds.
We had talked about our student profile before, but
this time we really focused on it. Now we are taking constructive
steps toward achieving our vision, and I am quite
proud of this.
In what ways, if any, did your personal background
influence the new plan?
I presume my corporate background influenced the way
we went about the planning process, because I used to get
involved in strategic planning [in that role]. But I am also
an alumna—and I just love Moravian College. It is that
passion which drives me.
Moravian allowed me—a product of Kwethluk, Alaska,
and Leonard, North Dakota—to demonstrate an ability to
learn, reflect, and reason in an environment like none other
I had experienced. The critical thinking demanded here
provided me with the skills to succeed in the world. Key
communication skills were reinforced in every class, and
those skills have stood me in good stead over the years.
And acting with integrity was [for me] and is [for all of us]
fundamental to developing all relationships—personal and
professional—during college, during the formative years of
the 20s and 30s, and as we achieve maturity, especially in
today’s multi-cultural, global arena.
Looking ahead to 2015, can you envision ways the new
plan will change the school? How will Moravian look and
feel different at that future time?
We’ve emphasized the anticipated difference in the faces
we will see on campus: more students from a range of backgrounds,
as well as more first-generation students. I see this
as a mandate. We owe our students the opportunity to grow
and learn in an environment similar to that in which they
will work and live. Everything we do at Moravian should
equip our graduates to be effective in whatever line of work
they choose, wherever they choose to do it.
FALL 2008 MORAVIAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 11