December 04, 2025

VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University is charting a bold course for the future with the Board of Trustees' endorsement of the "2026-2030 Strategic Plan: Building Futures Through Excellence, Innovation, and Opportunity” at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The plan outlines a dynamic vision for the future to leverage previous achievements, advance VU's mission, and strengthen its statewide and national impact. The new plan sets forth six priorities that support student success, financial health, workforce relevance, operational excellence, and institutional visibility.

VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson provided an update on the five-year plan and the process that began in the summer of 2024.

Johnson said, “This is a plan that positions VU well in the next five years. If we can execute these priorities and make progress on these key performance indicators, we will be in a very good position.”

Student Success at VU

As demonstrated in VU’s new strategic plan, the University is deeply committed to ensuring every VU student completes their degree or certificate.

Student Success Center Director Gaye Wathall and VU Jasper Assistant Dean Alli Tempel updated the Board on increased retention and completion rates, as well as the University’s vital initiatives that improve student persistence and success.

Since 2017, the University has seen a remarkable increase in its on-time graduation rate, almost tripling to 50.2% in 2025.

VU’s fall-to-fall retention rate climbed significantly from 57.0% in 2017 to 74.4%, reflecting a strong upward trend in keeping students enrolled.

In addition, the University has achieved a comparable increase in its extended time graduation rate, rising from 36.1% in 2017 to 58.6% currently.

Update on AI’s Impact on Teaching and Learning at VU

The Board also heard a fascinating presentation focusing on AI’s impact on teaching and learning by Dr. Sarah Alderfer, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE).

She detailed how a guidebook for the responsible adoption of generative AI has been created for faculty, how a student AI literacy course pilot will be rolled out in the Spring Semester 2026, and that a future project involves a faculty AI course.

Center for Health Sciences and Learning Innovation Naming Commitments

Naming commitments for spaces in the Center for Health Sciences and Learning Innovation, which opens in January 2026, were approved by the Trustees.

The North Lobby/Student Commons will be named in memory of Douglas McCormick and Laura McCormick, thanks to the philanthropy of Dexter and Patty McCormick Family. Thanks to the generosity of Cyrus and Margaret Adams, the Student Collaboration Study will be named in their honor.

In other Board business:

• The Trustees recognized Johnson's leadership by unanimously voting to extend his contract an additional year. Johnson's employment contract will run through Dec. 31, 2028.
• First Vice Chair Reggie Henderson, Second Vice Chair Scott Brand, and Secretary J.R. Gaylor were all reelected to their leadership roles on the Board.
• The Board also approved moving forward with a pair of proposed capital projects for renovation of the George Rogers Clark Residence Hall and the Steam Plant. Those projects will now be submitted to the Commission for Higher Education and the State Budget Committee.