Bowie State Concludes Racing to Excellence Strategic Plan in FY25 with Record Achievements
Bowie State University successfully concluded its Racing to Excellence Strategic Plan, a comprehensive framework that guided institutional growth, innovation and student success from fiscal year 2019 through fiscal year 2025.
Launched following a campuswide planning process that began in fall 2017, the plan aligned with President Aminta H. Breaux’s vision and the priorities of the Maryland Higher Education Commission and University System of Maryland. Developed with input from shared governance groups, including alumni and campus stakeholders, Racing to Excellence focused on five strategic goals centered on academic excellence, student success, innovation, diversity and long-term institutional viability.
Over the life of the plan, Bowie State advanced its mission as Maryland’s first historically Black college or university through measurable gains in academics, enrollment strategy, campus culture, partnerships and infrastructure. The timeline of the plan was extended through FY 2025 to allow the university to respond to evolving external conditions and emerging opportunities.
Goal 1
Achieve Academic Excellence Supported by Curricular as well as Co-curricular Experiences
Bowie State University will achieve academic excellence through quality teaching, learning, and research; high-demand innovative academic programs; high impact student activities; and strategic partnerships.
Key Accomplishments
- Expanded academic portfolio with 23+ new programs (including BSU’s first Ph.D.), 17 fully online programs, and multiple high-demand fields (data science, cybersecurity, biotechnology)
- Established experiential learning infrastructure through the new Engage Center for Experiential Learning & Career Readiness and record student participation in internships, research and study abroad
- Strengthened student career readiness with record employer engagement (936 students, 122 employers at Fall 2024 Career Fair) and expanded industry-recognized certifications
- Advanced undergraduate research with 3,000+ students in CURE programs and expanded opportunities across STEM and humanities
- Enhanced faculty excellence by hiring in critical fields, securing major research grants, launching endowed chairs and earning state/national awards
- Increased external partnerships with corporations, government agencies and educational institutions to provide scholarships, internships and transfer pipelines
- Expanded graduate education and support with new programs, employer-sponsored cohorts, expanded assistantships and creation of a Graduate Resource Center
- Maintained strong accreditation and assessment practices across all programs, earning an Excellence in Assessment Award and sustaining high NCLEX pass rates
- Strengthened student engagement and visibility with national recognition in media (New York Times, Washington Post, AP), national conferences and high-profile student and alumni achievements
- Integrated equity and access initiatives by expanding financial support, broadening online access and embedding culturally responsive and career-focused experiences across the curriculum
Goal 2
Promote a Holistic and Coordinated Approach to Student Success
Bowie State University will honor its rich heritage and culture by promoting access, affordability, and completion through resources and opportunities that empower students to succeed at every level of learning.
Key Accomplishments
- Established a unified Enrollment Management Division, merging Student Affairs and Enrollment Services to improve coordination, referrals, and retention support
- Launched comprehensive new student onboarding programs (SOAR, Bulldog Scholars Academy, DIG summer bridge, Commuter program) to strengthen transition and readiness
- Implemented test-optional admissions, broadening access and aligning with BSU’s mission of opportunity
- Expanded financial aid strategies, awarding more institutional and private scholarships, including targeted awards in high-demand fields
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive Retention and Student Success Strategic Plan, covering tutoring, advising, coaching, workshops, and early alert systems
- Strengthened support for near-completers through the One Step Away Grant (12 consecutive years awarded)
- Enhanced graduate student services with the Graduate Resource Center, expanded advising, and improved admission-to-graduation processes
- Increased focus on mental health and campus climate, expanding counseling, wellness programming, and student advocacy
- Expanded holistic student development initiatives, including wellness dining, leadership programs, entrepreneurship, E-Sports, and cultural/creative events
- Improved student engagement and belonging through new advisory committees, honor societies, applied learning opportunities (e.g., Saxby’s café), and co-curricular experiences
Goal 3
Encourage Academic and Administrative Innovation to Meet Student Needs
Bowie State University will engage in academic transformation initiatives which encourage increased levels of student success, and we will regularly evaluate administrative processes and leverage new approaches to improve the student experience.
Key Accomplishments
- Expanded online education and regional center presence, growing programs from 9 to 16 fully online offerings and increasing RHEC enrollment from 168 to 547 (2023–2025)
- Launched Maryland’s first HBCU prison education program at Jessup Correctional Facility, earning national recognition
- Awarded over $600K in faculty stipends and $100K in research grants to support course redesign, innovation, and new pedagogies
- Designated as an Adobe Creative Campus and developed the Center for Arts, Research, and Innovation (CARI) to foster interdisciplinary creative and research projects
- Implemented enterprise-wide Workday system (HR, financials, procurement), streamlining administrative and academic processes
- Established Bulldog Data Hub and Graduate School electronic hub to expand analytics capacity and data-driven decision making
- Created Transparent Academic Pathways aligning advising, catalogs, and programs of study for consistency and clarity
- Increased faculty innovation and visibility through national grants, AI Summits, and new research/teaching centers (e.g., W.E.B. Du Bois Center, NSF projects)
- Enhanced student services through technology, including TouchNet billing, Anthology Call Center, upgraded dining/ID systems, and library digital tools (BSU Discovery, LibChat)
- Raised BSU’s profile nationally with media coverage of innovative programs (criminal justice degree at Jessup, Black male teacher training initiative, and tech-finance projects like Lotus Wallet)
Goal 4
Enhance our Campus Culture of Diversity, Inclusion and Civic Engagement
Bowie State University will embrace, promote, and support a community of cultural inclusivity, diversity and accountability by ensuring that faculty, staff, and students develop a mindset of accountability in teaching, learning, support programs, and extra-curricular campus experiences designed to enhance collaboration and engagement.
Key Accomplishments
- Established a comprehensive DEI infrastructure, including the Office of Ombudsperson, a campus-wide DEI plan, and intercultural competency/diversity training for students, faculty, and staff
- Launched the Office of Multicultural Programs & Services, expanding support for international and multicultural students and strengthening retention efforts
- Expanded culturally responsive pedagogy, offering CETL workshops, book studies, and national expert-led training for faculty
- Opened the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and named the Dionne Warwick Theater in the Fine & Performing Arts Center, reinforcing BSU’s cultural and historical legacy
- Celebrated BSU’s 160th anniversary with national media attention and special programming, deepening institutional pride and historical awareness
- Promoted inclusion through campus traditions and displays, including murals, heritage month celebrations, Peace Park unveiling, and environmental justice events
- Expanded civic engagement, with large-scale voter registration efforts, debate watch parties, and hosting of national leaders including President Biden and Vice President Harris
- Integrated civic responsibility into academics, including the redesigned First-Year Seminar emphasizing HBCU legacy, civic engagement, and social justice
- Strengthened student leadership in community and civic projects, such as Chesapeake Bay initiatives, sustainability summits, and NSF-funded Data Science Corps work
Goal 5
Ensure Long-term Viability of BSU
Bowie State University will create a unified understanding of the elements that define the unique qualities of its value to attract a culturally diverse student body and actively engage alumni, friends, and partners to address critical needs of Prince George’s County and the surrounding region. We will leverage fiscal resources from public and private sources to advance strategic priorities that create a sustainable future for the university, the county, and the State of Maryland.
Key Accomplishments
- Expanded entrepreneurship and workforce development, launching Building Businesses @ BSU, creating the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community, and hosting the 4th Annual HBCU+ Entrepreneurship Conference with nearly 1,000 attendees.
- Achieved national recognition for the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (EIC), named 2024 GCEC Outstanding Emerging Center, and secured major partnerships (Adobe, Laika Studios, A+E Networks, Harlem Fashion Row)
- Strengthened employee engagement and retention, reducing the campus vacancy rate by 10 percentage points, establishing a Learning & Development Office, and implementing Workday performance management.
- Expanded alumni engagement through the #BSU4LIFE campaign, Executives-in-Residence program, and enhanced digital outreach (website, YouTube, newsletters)
- Increased community impact through NSF Data Science Corps, Chesapeake Bay partnerships, and high-visibility civic engagement events (Orioles, Wizards, Baysox HBCU Nights)
- Elevated BSU’s brand visibility with the BOLD 2.0 campaign, generating 178M+ impressions, while enhancing campus identity through murals, banners, and digital signage
- Secured major external funding, including $2M in COB philanthropy, $6.5M Dining Services contract, $1.5M MHEC grant, $2.8M UARC research award, and Congressional earmarks
- Expanded research capacity with new labs, advanced STEM equipment, and multimillion-dollar grants from NSF, DoD, Mellon, and NEH
- Completed and advanced major facilities projects, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Robinson Hall, Jericho Park upgrades, and procurement for the new Library & Academic Commons
- Strengthened campus sustainability culture, implementing LED and solar upgrades, EV purchases, Green Ambassadors programming, and paper reduction through digital-first communications
From Racing to Excellence to Moving Boldly Forward
The Racing to Excellence Strategic Plan reflects the collective effort of the Bowie State University community and its partners. Collectively, these accomplishments strengthened academic quality, expanded access and innovation, deepened civic engagement and positioned the university for long-term sustainability. As Bowie State looks ahead to its new Boldly Forward FY26-29 Strategic Plan, the outcomes of Racing to Excellence serve as a strong foundation for continued growth and impact in higher education and beyond.
