WELLS COLLEGE

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Friday, September 24, 2004

Henry Wells Room, Long Library

Present: Chris Bailey, Jim Chase, Carolyn Denard, Muriel Godbout, Michael Groth, Ellen Hall, Diane Hutchinson, Frank Lacomb, Nicole Pellegrino ’05, Laura Purdy, Bill Roberts, President Lisa Marsh Ryerson, Jonee Smith ’07, Amy Staples, Steve Zabriskie.

Members Excused: Karen Green, Ann Rollo, Susan Sloan, Susan Talbot

Call to Order – President Ryerson at 10:30 am

President Ryerson announced that Patricia Parnie Wahlen ’66 Wells College Trustee had accepted the invitation to serve on the committee.

President Ryerson requested that Dean Ellen Hall review the following material:

The assessment by Middle States

Mission Statement and Goals

CIAC report done by Professors Morfei and Munoz

The 10 Year self study which was part of the Assessment Plan/Strategic Plan. This would show how an assessment is done. In 1999 Middle States asked that Wells rewrite the Mission Statement and Institution and Academic Goals. A Mission statement was created and approved and the Institutional goals and academic goals came from this.

There may be implications if Wells goes Coed – it would require change of Mission statement and goals.

Dean Hall set up an academic planning model last year during the periodic review report and a plan for the future. There is no assessment plan.

Dean Hall also discussed the Academic Program Planning Guide and the Institutional Renewal. Assumptions that should be made are that Wells would remain in Aurora etc. Questions would be what kind of college Wells would become, diversity of students, faculty and staff, etc. Who are we now and what will we be. These are things to think about.

She suggested members read the Characteristic of Excellence, which has standards in it.

The registrar reports the State of the College to Middle States every year and does a Periodic Review Report every 5 years. The 5 year report was done last year. Middle States only criticism was on the last sentence about the financial picture or the budget for the college.

Wells must maintain Senior Studies program if we grow larger. Concern about resources for this. The Education Certification Program is Excellent and the Teacher Certification rate is also excellent. But, there is not enough staff and technology which may cause burn out. Wells must add more, but how? Also students at this point have very heavy courseload.

Professor Bill Roberts wondered about waiting to act until the Board makes a decision. He questioned the delay on the Science Building

Associate Dean Carolyn Denard responded that the Strategic Plan would address this.

President Ryerson said there was no reason to put this on hold. Wells needs to continue on the steps to plan ahead. The Mission Statement changes are on going. Institution Goals are the thing to revisit.

Teams should be created to work on those goals and continued discussion on Mission Statement and changes.

Dean Hall stated that this is not just education, but a plan for quality of education at Wells.

Nicole Pellegrino ’05 asked if Wells has the resources to meet the goals to go coed.

Computer Support Technician Frank Lacomb stated we have no target yet to know what we need for technology.

Professor Michael Groth stated that many initiatives have fallen by the wayside like CIAC which he felt was ignored. There are no resources. This can undermine a group like the Strategic Planning Committee. This must be overcome.

President Ryerson asked where do we head from here?

Professor Bill Roberts hopes the decision is soon, students are distracted and there is a need to clarify.

Vice President Diane Hutchinson stated that some things have been achieved but there is a need to recap.

Dean Hall is not averse to making a list. She also stated that the first page of the course schedule shows changes.

Professor Amy Staples said APPC will have Experiencial Learning and 101 and 102 this fall on their plate. She suggested a bullet list of accomplishments for next meeting.

Associate Dean Carolyn Denard suggested looking at the institutional Goals and see what is not there. At the next meeting talk about individual plan and objectives. What would each person like to add.

It was agreed that at the next meeting in two weeks, October 8, 2004, each member should plan on this.

Trustee members will also have this assignment.

It was suggested that a white board be at this next meeting.

Dean Hall will give everyone the Institutional Goals.

Institutional Goals as they currently exist will be the program for the October 8 meeting.

Adjournment at 11:30 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Verna I Dugan