STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
MAY 2, 2005
MINUTES
Present: C. Bailey, J. Chase, C. Denard, M. Godbout, K. Green, E. Hall, D. Hutchinson,
F. Lacomb, N. Pellegrino, L. Purdy, B. Roberts, S. Talbot, L. Ryerson, M. VanDuyne, L. Labar, M. McCune (phone)
Carolyn began the meeting at 8:35 am.
I. Announcements
1. Four subcommittees, Students, Alumnae, Community and Funding, have not met but will have their revised goals and objectives ready before Friday’s meeting.
2. The three meetings scheduled this week will be used to review subcommittees’ work on their goals and objectives.
3. Because of a request from Anne R. last week, Carolyn asked if after the meeting on Friday, May 6, a copy of the draft with current changes from the week’s review could be sent to Anne R. so that it could be included in the Express for alumnae and the college community. The printed document would indicate what stage the draft had progressed to and that it was still a work in progress. Everyone attending the meeting agreed that it was a good idea and that a copy would be sent to Anne R.
4. Carolyn explained that, if all goes well, by Friday’s meeting we should have all the areas reviewed, and Friday’s meetings would serve as a final review of the goals and objectives. By Thursday, May 12th we should have a draft ready to be sent out to the on-campus community. It is important that this committee have a consensus of all the revisions before it goes out to the community.
5. Carolyn handed out a copy of the presentation she did for the Board. She explained that they were happy to see that this committee is keeping to the timeline. President Ryerson also added that the Board was happy to hear that there would be a full cost analysis. They asked that we keep in mind that we might not be able to do everything.
6. Carolyn reminded the Funding committee that their subcommittee was not responsible for the cost analysis of the entire plan but to cover goals and objectives for that particular area.
7. Ellen reminded everyone that the committee still needed to work on the mission statement. Carolyn asked if this was work for this spring. Ellen and President Ryerson reported not this spring but work for the future. It was suggested that it might be work for the next strategic plan committee.
8. Carolyn read a paragraph from the Wells history book, page 62, to show committee members how the relation of work done so far relates to foundations indicated in the history and beginnings of the work first done when Wells College was just beginning. This could help when deciding whether we use foundation or foundations. Chris B. added that our mission’s statement does indicate foundations. On Friday, the committee needs to come to a consensus as to what theme will be used for the cover page.
9. If work is completed by Friday with the goals and objectives, the vision statement would be worked on for final changes.
10. The committee reviewed three areas of the Strategic Plan: Staff, Faculty and Academic Program. Changes are attached.
11. Dean Hall indicated that the Student Diversity Committee would like to review the Diversity section of the Strategic Plan in their Monday afternoon meeting. The Committee agreed to allow them to review the section. President Ryerson will also be meeting with these students.
12. Meeting adjourned at 10:15a and will reconvene Wednesday morning, May 4th at 8:30a.
II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES-REVIEW AND REVISIONS
Wells College will attract, retain, and support a
highly qualified, diverse, and professional staff that is well compensated,
technically proficient, and enjoys a flexible, comfortable, and supportive work
environment.
Specifically, Wells will
1. Implement and support the Staff Forum’s salary plan for staff to meet the goals by 2009-2010.
2. Conduct an annual review and report progress towards benchmarks in achieving the salary goals.
1. Improve and update the annual review document making it standardized for all departments with one section developed specifically for the area the staff member works.
2. Implement a consistent annual review timeline with supervisors.
1. Develop and implement a new employee orientation conducted within two weeks of hire.
2. Institute ID system for all employees.
3. Establish a recognition program to honor staff contributions.
4. Create and support incentives for education and improvement of skills.
5. Provide opportunities for alternative work schedules for job sharing and seasonal flexible work hours.
D.
Provide and support technology, equipment and
instructional opportunities that
facilitate and
improve staff work.
1. Establish two staff development days per year.
2. Establish training classes for staff to become proficient in current technology available on campus.
3. Provide tools to effectively meet job requirements.
E.
Develop and sustain an environment that creates a sense
of community by
encouraging and supporting staff
involvement in campus activities.
1. Establish guidelines for flexible work arrangements for staff members to attend
on-campus activities.
2. Encourage staff's participation in the extracurricular life of the college.
(The
objectives for Section E will go back to the subcommittee for rewording)
Wells College will attract, retain and support a
highly qualified, diverse and professional faculty dedicated to teaching the
liberal arts and sciences.
A. Provide competitive compensation in line with appropriate external standards in order to attract and retain high quality faculty.
1. Develop a schedule of incremental increases
that will allow the College to reach
IIB-2 no later
than 2009-2010.
2. Establish a long-term plan for periodic review of faculty salary structure in order to maintain IIB-2 as a minimum average salary.
3. By 2010, choose a new higher external standard for faculty compensation and develop a plan for reaching it. (After discussion for this one, did you wish this objective to stay in or be taken out?)
B. Provide sufficient faculty to meet curricular
needs of each academic program.
1. Hire at least three
new tenure-track faculty members each year for the next three years, as
designated by the College’s current transitional plan (appr. by Board of
Trustees Jan. 2005): 2006, 2007, 2008.
2. Standardize the process to review and report faculty staffing needs annually.
C. Provide support staff, equipment, and instructional opportunities that facilitate and improve faculty work.
1. Hire additional technology staff to assist in meeting the instructional needs of
faculty.
2. Support training for faculty to become proficient in current technologies available on campus.
3. Provide well-equipped classrooms for current needs in teaching and learning.
4. Review needs of faculty for administrative support in each department and provide support in areas where need is greatest.
D. Provide resources for scholarly, curricular,
and institutional development.
1. Increase faculty travel budgets in order to provide faculty attendance and participation in activities that strengthen teaching, scholarship and curricular initiatives.
2. Provide on-campus opportunities --workshops,
forums, and lectures-- for professional development.
Wells College will offer an academic program of the
highest quality, with a curriculum that is relevant, culturally diverse,
gender-balanced, and pedagogically sound.
Specifically, Wells will
A. Conduct internal reviews of the entire
curriculum to assure that it is coherent and reflects the mission of the
college.
1. Conduct a comprehensive self-study for each academic program with the assistance of professional faculty colleagues from other institutions, to be completed by the fall of 2007.
2. By Fall 2008, fulfill the recommendations made by the New York State Department of Education for accreditation of the Wells Elementary and Secondary Certification Program.
3. Use information gathered in academic program self-studies to prepare for the 2009 external review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
4. Continue to evaluate opportunities to expand the curriculum to meet the needs of current students and to attract new students to the College.
5. Strengthen cross registration arrangements with Cornell University and Ithaca College.
B. By Fall 2007, conduct internal reviews of the Office of the Dean of the College, Library, Career
Services, Office of the Registrar and Computing Services to ensure they are
supporting the academic program.
1. Conduct a
comprehensive self-study for each academic support unit with the assistance of
professional colleagues from other institutions, to be completed by the fall of
2007.
2. Use information
gathered in academic program self-studies to prepare for the 2009 external
review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
3. Continue to
evaluate opportunities to enhance academic support units to meet the needs of
current students and to attract students to the College.
C. Make experiential learning a more integral
component of the college curriculum.
1. Ensure that students have opportunities to have on-campus and off-campus experiential learning.
2. Hire an Off Campus Study Director to centralize and facilitate the administration of the off campus study
programs.
3. Provide greater opportunities for internships.