Strategic Planning Team

Minutes

March 18, 2003

Attending: Bryan Price (presiding), Alice Bahr, David Buchanan, Jane Dané, Tim Dunn, Joel Jenne, Kent Kimmel, Al Mollica, David Rieck, Alan Selser, Jerry Waldron, Ellen Zinner

The meeting was called to order at 7:25 a.m.

1) There was a brief summary of the discussion that occurred on March 13, 2003. Minutes had been e-mailed to everyone. There were no corrections.

2) A lengthy discussion continued regarding the draft or working, core University goals. Continuing from the previous meeting, the SPT discussed the proposed goal “The University will promote effective integration of technology in academic, administrative, and instructional support.” There was broad consensus that IT served as “tools” in support of many (if not all) of the University’s goals (whatever those might finally be) and that, as a result, IT objectives should be subordinate to the core goals. The point was also made that IT had been and would continue to be expensive objectives in support of the University’s academic, student service, administrative, and other goals. The group discussed whether IT should be elevated to the status of a core goal given the resources devoted to IT. After further discussion, the consensus remained that, despite resources and priorities devoted to it, IT directly supported other SU goals and would continue to function in that capacity.

Action

Eliminated “The University will promote effective integration of technology in academic, administrative, and instructional support.”

Note: It was emphasized that IT should be identified as a primary objective supporting each goal. The group discussed developing brief statements of philosophy-preambles for each core goal in order to focus the primary objectives.

3) The SPT revisited the tabled goal “The University will secure alternative resources to accomplish its mission.” A brief discussion led to consensus that, this goal, like the IT goal, was directly supportive of each and every primary goal.

Action

Eliminated “The University will secure alternative resources to accomplish its mission.”

Note: It was emphasized that secure alternative resources should be a primary objective in support of each goal, and perhaps included in the statement of philosophy-preamble.

4) The SPT discussed the wording of the four draft, core goals. It was noted that these goals were not finalized and that, given the diversity of potential “academic” objectives, the academic goal may become unwieldy with multiple objectives. The group agreed and will revisit this in the future.

The SPT began to discuss the student-centeredness goal, including the reading of the University’s value statement on “student-centeredness.” The SPT agreed on the following draft: “The University will promote (provide-support) a student-centered environment.” It was noted that this language was still in draft form, and lacking agreement on the promote (provide-support) verbage, the SPT offered these as possibilities, with the intention that the final wording would reflect only one of the verbs. Additionally, there was general consensus that “student-centeredness” was the defining characteristic of the University.

The SPT began to discuss the academic goal, including the reading of the University’s value statement on “excellence.” Although not part of the SPT’s charge, the consensus regarding the statement on excellence was that it was fairly nondescript and not overly useful in focusing an academic goal. The discussion regarding academics identified undergraduate research, “teaching” AND “learning”, experiential learning, workloads, advising, the library and instructional resources and other topics. The draft wording agreed upon before adjourning was: “The University will provide an academic environment that promotes student success.”

5) Adjourned. Next meeting. Tuesday, April 1, 7:15 am—8:45 am, Caroline Room of the Commons.

The Current DRAFT core goals are:

1) The University will provide (promote-support) (note: undecided as to which term) a student-centered environment.

2) The University will provide an academic environment that promotes student success.

3) The University will advance student and workforce diversity while preparing students to function in a global society.

4) The University will be an active partner with the external community (to benefit Maryland and the Region)

Recorder: Bryan Price