Present: Chris Bailey, Carolyn Denard, Muriel Godbout, Michael Groth, Ellen Hall, Diane Hutchinson, Frank Lacomb, Nicole Pellegrino, Laura Purdy, Bill Roberts, Susan Sloan, Jonee Smith, Amy Staples, Meredith VanDuyne, Patricia Wahlen (Phone), Steve Zabriskie.

10:30 am –Carolyn Denard called the meeting to order.

C. Denard discussed with the committee how to assemble the responses from the community when they are collected on Dec. 5. Each sub-committee will require copies of responses on their particular goals. If all the community responded to the priorities sheet there would be about 550 responses. Trying to assemble the quantitative data in a clear way to show the community responses would be a large undertaking in the short space of time between collecting the priority sheets and when the sub-committees will meet the week of Dec. 6. What would be the break down, criteria etc? Common ground would need to be established on how to evaluate responses. It was suggested that voices of responders must be heard but the report needs to be quantitative in analysis then qualitative.

Discussion on how more sub-committee members can be added. At least 1 or 2 should be added to some of the sub-committees. It was determined that each sub-committee could invite members, but the sub-committees ideally should not exceed 7 members. After the sub- committee decides on new members, Chair of the sub-committee would invite them.

C. Denard reviewed the distributed charge for the subcommittees. Discussion followed. The date for the report from each sub-committee was changed from December 10^th to December 17^th. The reports must be done by then because of semester break.

Staples initiated discussion about the overall strategic planning process and suggested that faculty members of APPC thought a review of the Mission Statement should be first priority, and then establish the 5-year plan and goals. C. Denard stated that the different processes have been used at colleges, ultimately the goal or outcome of the planning process is the same. Discussion about different approaches to planning ensued. E. Hall reviewed the process that was used to create the Mission Statement. The last Mission Statement process took place three years ago for Middle States and it took only one semester to finalize. The Mission Committee had 2 Trustees, 2 Faculty members, a Presidential appointee and others - some appointed and some elected. The draft Mission Statement was sent into the community and brought back for review. Then it was approved by APPC, Faculty and Board of Trustees.

S. Sloan stated that for admissions purposes the Mission Statement needs to be updated soon to include our expanded audience. Note – currently the mission statement refers to women. M. VanDuyne shared that the Board is aware of the need to make this change in a timely manner. Discussion about the scope of the needed change followed. Most members expressed that changing the word women to students may be all that is needed at this time. Periodic review of the Mission Statement, whether or not there are substantial changes as a result of strategic planning, should be done to keep our mission current and connected to what is going on in the world. Discussion about how to integrate the Community Standards Statement into the community and the strategic planning process followed. N. Pellegrino also suggested that we will need to review the Institutional Goals. C. Denard suggested that many of the current goals will still apply but we may also add many or all of the ten goals that are currently under discussion by the SPC. She also suggested that as a preliminary step the SPC reaffirm the current Mission Statement with the understanding that the Board will work to change "women" to "students" to reflect our transition to coeducation. Members expressed agreement that with that change the current Statement accurately reflects our Mission.

It was decided that at the next committee meeting on December 10^h, the agenda will include the reaffirmation of the Mission Statement and discussion about development of the Vision Statement.

Meeting ended 11:30am

Minutes recorded and respectfully submitted by Verna I Dugan