STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

MAY 4, 2005

MINUTES

 

 

Present:         C. Bailey, J. Chase, C. Denard, M. Godbout, M. Groth, E. Hall, F. Lacomb, N. Pellegrino, S. Sloan, J. Smith, A. Staples, S. Talbot, M. VanDuyne, S. Zabriskie, L. Labar

 

Carolyn began the meeting at 8:35 am.

 

I.  MAJOR POINTS OF DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS:

 

INTECOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

 

1.      The committee decided to take out the objective for affordable college housing for athletic staff in Goal C.  Michael G. felt that this was an important concern not only for staff but faculty, as well, and should not be dismissed.  There was consensus and it was agreed that this item should be reviewed and placed in another area such as Physical Plant for greater visibility.

 

2.      Karen G. asked if Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committees have students on them.  Lyn L. answered, some do, some do not.  Amy S. asked what is the difference between IAC (Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee) and SAC (Student Athletic Committee).  Lyn explained the difference:

 

                                       i.      IAAC – Standing committee at the institution, is not responsible for personnel issues.  It is a committee for assessment of program and issues.

 

                                     ii.      SAC – Committee comprised of student athletes.  Primarily a voice for the student athletes.  Their work is to do community service and serve as a good role model.

 

The committee decided to include “student athletes” in  Number 1, under Goal C.

 

3.      Committee decided that using “national” in Goal C, Number 2, would limit search.  Replaced with “comprehensive” so that local and regional area would not be missed.  “Vacant” was added before full-time athletic staff positions so that it was clear that it was vacant positions that needed to be filled.

 

4.      Meredith V. asked if the dates used under Goal D were discussed with Anne R.  Lyn said not at this time, these are dates in their strategic plan with Betsy Alden.  Chris B. asked that the dates be taken out at this time as it is committing us.  Carolyn explained the reason for the strategic plan is that we need to be committed to it.  Lyn explained that the dates were very important and needed.  The Betsy Alden plan puts us in a position to attract students for recruiting and also gives attraction to a conference.  It is very important for us to align ourselves with a conference recognition.  Lyn felt the dates motivate us to move forward. 

 

5.      Some committee member asked if the 2009 date to break ground on the new facility was achievable?  Amy S. asked if there was an institutional commitment to a new athletic facility.  Ellen said the athletic plan goes along with the physical plant plan. 

 

6.      Susan T. asked if we could use dates beyond the next 5-years in our objectives as action steps.  Carolyn answered that the dates need to go along with the current 5-year plan.  Michael G. suggested that rewording could suffice at this time to be more realistic. 

 

PHYSICAL PLANT

 

1.      A committee member suggested that Physical Plant be changed to “Physical Environment”.

 

2.      Carolyn D. noted that benchmark dates would be included for each area in developing the plan for lighting, signage, security phones and navigation throughout the campus.

 

3.      Nicole P. didn’t see an actual date for the science building groundbreaking and asked that there be a date in the plan.  The committee decided under Goal C to put fund raising as Number 1, timetable as Number 2, vacating the building as Number 3 and add the date for groundbreaking as Number 4.

 

4.      Susan T. asked if the objectives under Goal D should read “Develop and implement.”  Ellen H. said the intent is to implement.  It was decided to add “implement” to Numbers 2, 3, and 4.

 

5.      Muriel asked why was the feasibility study for the library dropped.  Ellen H. said it was missed in the revising process and that this item would go back to the subcommittee to add back.

 

6.      Jonee S. asked if a goal or objective could be added to be sure that the buildings currently on campus not being used, or being used very little, are not missed for upkeep and maintenance.  This item will also go to the subcommittee to be added.  Meredith V. suggested that this would be a good place to put in the objective for staff and faculty housing.

 

 

DIVERSITY

 

The committee decided to review this section after the Diversity Subcommittee has met with the Student Diversity Committee.  It was very important to the Student Diversity Committee to have input in the goals and objectives for this section.

 

Carolyn D. asked that we have a definition of diversity as it has different meanings to different people. 

 

 

 

MISCELLANOUS

 

1.      Nicole P. asked why there was no mention of the Honor Code in the plan and how  would the Honor Code would be implemented.  Everyone agreed that it should be in the plan but the question was whether it should go under Students, Community, or recreate the section of Culture.  This would be looked at more when the Students section was reviewed on Friday.

 

2.      Chris B. noticed that day care was no longer included in the plan.  Frank L. and Muriel G. did say that it was an item under Staff but the subcommittee, after a lengthy discussion when reviewing their section for revision, decided that it should not go under Staff.  Frank also asked that this item be tabled until everyone’s questions could be better answered by Diane H., who was not at today’s meeting.

 

3.      It was noted that the goal regarding the Cayuga Nation was omitted.  Susan S. did explain that in reviewing their Student section, they felt it would better fit in History.  Some felt maybe this item should go under Community and that title might change to Community Culture.  It was decided that this item would need to be reviewed more for placement in the plan.

 

4.      The meeting was adjourned at 10:15a.  Next meeting will reconvene Friday, May 6, Henry Wells Room at 8:30 am.

 

Minutes respectively submitted by:  Phyllis Siemiatkowski

 

 


 

II.  GOALS AND OBJECTIVES – REVIEW AND REVISIONS

            (The revisions are indicated in red)

 

INTERCOLLEGIATE  ATHLETICS

 

Wells College will have a high quality intercollegiate athletic program that supports the mission and enrollment goals of the College.

 

Specifically, Wells will

 

  1.  Expand the athletic programs for women and men.

 

    1. Based on enrollment growth, by 2009, add to the existing programs, the following intercollegiate athletic programs:

 

                  Women: Volleyball, Basketball, Golf

                  Men:  Lacrosse, Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Baseball

 

2.   By Fall 2006, send letter of interest to Conference(s) that fits well geographically for Wells. By Fall 2007, apply for membership in selected conference.

 

 

  1. Recruit and retain academically and athletically talented student athletes for the Wells intercollegiate teams.

 

1.   Formulate a plan to increase visibility of the intercollegiate athletic program across the internal campus and ideally, the regional community.

 

2.   Develop a multi-faceted recruitment plan by September 2005 designed to target talented students in the region and the nation to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Wells.

 

3.      Achieve and maintain an 80% or higher graduation rate for student athletes.

 

4.      Provide academic support for student athletes so that they achieve and maintain a collective GPA of above 3.0.

(Took out “ways to provide” in #3 and deleted #5)

 

  1. Attract, retain, and support adequate coaching and professional support staff for the intercollegiate athletics program.

 

1.        By January 2006, establish an Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee comprised of administration, faculty, student athletes, and staff to assess needs and goals of the athletic program and the student athletes.

 

2.  Conduct comprehensive searches to fill all vacant full-time athletic staff positions.

 

3.  Increase budget to support participation in professional development opportunities, educational workshops and national sport conventions.

 

(Took out #4 regarding staff housing.  Many felt this should go somewhere else in the plan, maybe physical plant?)

 

  1. Build a sport facility that meets the competitive, educational, and recreational needs of the program.

 

1.   Move forward with short-term renovation plans for Schwartz Building

                 

2.   By February 2006, select an Architectural Firm to work with Wells on developing plans for state-of-the-art athletic facility/field house and outside sports complex/facility.

 

3.   Work with External Relations Staff and Athletic Director to identify and cultivate relationships with select groups of alumnae/i, prominent donors, and prospective donors for intercollegiate athletics by July 2007.

 

4.   Initiate a capital campaign program for indoor and outdoor athletic facilities by June 2008.

 

5.   Break ground on new facility by Spring 2009.

 

 

  1.  Establish a broad-based Booster Club Organization.

 

1.   By June 2006, with the assistance of Alumnae and the Athletic Departments, develop a database of all Wells College Alumnae Student-Athletes.         

 

2.   By June 2007, establish an “Express  Hall of Fame” that will serve as the Intercollegiate Athletics Sports Hall of Fame.

 

2.      Create Email ‘Friends of Wells Athletics’ Newsletter Program  (3 emails / year) for outreach strategy and communication with Alumnae/i by June 2007.

 

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

 

Wells College will recognize and preserve the natural beauty of the campus and surroundings by developing and maintaining a physical plant that adequately supports the Academic Program and the social and recreational life of the campus community.

 

Specifically, Wells will

 

  1. Make the campus more inviting, secure and accessible to students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

 

2.       Develop and prioritize a table of needs for accessibility to campus buildings and grounds by Fall 2006

 

3.      Develop and implement a plan for lighting, signage, security phones and navigation throughout campus.

 

4.      Develop informal gathering spaces throughout the buildings and grounds.

 

B.  Utilize, enhance and preserve our local natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

 

1.      Develop nature trails in collaboration with the campus community.

 

2.      Increase the use of the lake for learning and recreational activities.

 

3.      Improve green spaces on campus.

 

4.      Develop a plan to revitalize the college’s recycling and energy conservation initiatives.

 

 

C.  Build a new Science Building to meet current and future curricular needs.

 

    1. Complete fund raising.

 

    1. Establish a timetable for construction.

 

    1. Develop a plan for vacating science departments from Zabriskie and relocating to new building.

 

    1. Break ground in March 2006.

 

D.  Be guided by the Erdman Report (1980 and 1990 update) and HOLT Architect  Building Conditions Report (2001) for necessary improvements for the workplace, student life areas and academic spaces.

 

1.      Prioritize the table of needs identified by the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds.

 

2.      Develop and implement an improvement plan for academic spaces in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and other academic personnel.

 

3.      Develop and implement an improvement plan for student life spaces in consultation with the Dean of Students and other student life personnel and committees.

 

4.      Develop and implement an improvement plan for the workspaces in consultation with the Vice President & Treasurer and other applicable personnel.

 

E.   Identify future use for Zabriskie Hall

 

1.      Review and analyze the plans proposed by faculty and HOLT architects.

 

2.      Develop a timeline for implementation of the plan for future use.

 

F.   Improve athletic, recreational and physical education facilities to meet the needs of the Wells Community.

 

1.      Review conceptual proposals for new building submitted by Spring 2006

 

2.      Review the Alden study in the Fall 2007 to access future facility needs.

 

 

G.  Assess staffing and funding levels needed to ensure optimum maintenance and upkeep of campus buildings.

 

1.      Develop incremental plan for staffing to meet strategic planning goals and initiatives.  (Took out “undertaken through the current transitional plan”)

 

2.      Develop Physical Plant Plan.