FROSTBURG — The goal of those who run things at Frostburg State University is to make that institution the best comprehensive regional university in the nation and it is the strategic plan, currently in draft form, that will help get it there, said College of Business Dean Danny R. Arnold.

In the past, according to Arnold, who heads the planning team, strategic foresight amounted to 25 or so university employees meeting in a room for a day, coming up with a written plan and being done with it. There was no review nor opportunity for input from others inside or outside the academic community, including students.

Not anymore.

Arnold admits that it was the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that, in 2006, forced the university to put its planning process in a fishbowl for all to see.

“But it is the right thing to do and we are happy to do it,” Arnold said. “There were a lot of people on campus who wanted it done that way all along.”

On Monday, at two sessions, the draft plan was exposed for all to see. Throughout the day Tuesday, Arnold and others were available on campus to answer questions and explain.

“We continue to be available for that purpose until about the 1st of February,” Arnold said, adding that inquisitors can come to him or he will be glad to go to them, including attendance at meetings of local government or organizations. Arnold may be contacted at (301) 687-4019.

The Middle States team was also concerned about the diversity of the faculty at FSU.

“They like to see the makeup of the faculty be similar to that of the student body,” Arnold said. “Our largest minority group is African- Americans, who make up 25 percent of the student body and, although our faculty is diverse in country of origin, 25 percent of them are not African- American.”

Arnold said that FSU administrators are constantly looking to find African-American faculty members.

“But so is every other university,” Arnold said, adding that the minority professor often chooses the higher-paying job. “The schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference are always looking for them and those universities are better heeled than us.”

Arnold said the strategic plan is a great conduit for coming up with ideas to bring more African-American faculty on board.

The makeup of the local communities has an impact on that effort as well, he said. “Our Indian faculty members have a lot of support in the community, away from the campus, because there is a growing population of Indians in Allegany County. That isn’t true with African-Americans.”

Wray Blair, the assistant vice president for enrollment management, said he welcomes the strategic planning process as a way to clarify approaches to enrollment, including bringing in new students, retaining current students, and getting a good mix of resident and nonresident students.

“It gives us a holistic way to deal with enrollment management,” Blair said.

The total student count this semester at FSU is 5,215.

Arnold said a danger in the strategic planning process is that the final document will go on a shelf and stay there.

“But the president (Jonathan Gibralter) is committed to this plan. He has energized a group of people to see it through, and we are determined to implement it,” Arnold said.

Arnold said he is convinced that FSU is under-rated in the minds of many. “We are better than a lot of people think. Historically, we have spent little money on marketing and on letting people know our strengths, but that can change by way of the strategic plan,” he said.

The plan is expected to be finalized in the spring.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.