October 16, 2007

University Planning Council

Minutes for October 16, 2007

Present: Melissa Acker, Amanda Alvarez, Gwen Ashburn, Lothar Dohse, Archer Gravely, Bill Haggard, Bill Haas, Herman Holt, Pat Hunt, Jim Kuhlman, Bruce Larson, Judi Leffe, Bill Massey, Adrienne Oliver, Dan Pierce, Anne Ponder, Christine Riley, Barbara Svenson, Kathy Whatley, Betsy Wilson, John Wood

Absent: Elizabeth Bagwell

Guests: Peter Caulfield, Peg Downes, Ed Katz, Jeff Konz, Keith Krumpe, JoAnne McKnight, Bryan Sinclair, Gordon Wilson

UPC met in the Whitman Room from 12:15-1:45 with the strategic planning conveners and think tank members as invited guests.

Chancellor Ponder distributed draft 9 of the Strategic Plan and the Management Appendix which contains forty-five numerical benchmarks for assessing progress towards achieving planning goals. These documents are provided on the web at:

http://www.unca.edu/ir/plan/upc/Strategic%20Plan_Draft%209.pdf

http://www.unca.edu/ir/plan/upc/Strategic%20Plan_Draft%209_MgtAppendix.pdf

Chancellor Ponder thanked the conveners and think-tank members for their work and invited them to attend a planning retreat to be held in December-January for the purpose of refining the benchmarks. UPC will consult with other University groups that have expertise in various benchmark areas to help define these measures. Chancellor Ponder stated that budget priorities and external funds would be aligned where possible with the strategic planning benchmarks. Our planning process will include an annual UPC review of the benchmarks.

Chancellor Ponder solicited UPC feedback on the discussion of the Diversity Report at the last All Campus Meeting. UPC reviewed the first six recommendations of the Diversity Assessment Report.

Chancellor Ponder reported that UNC Asheville recently received recognition from the Board of Governor’s for our progress in student diversity. She provided a draft membership list of the Diversity Action Council, noting that membership is based on an intent to coordinate the actions of people who have actual responsibilities and/or budget related to diversity. UPC Vice Chair John Wood will gather with a group of folks (some UPC, some other interested folks) to brainstorm and provide three definitions of diversity by our next meeting for review by UPC and the Diversity Action Council (DAC). Chancellor Ponder will work with the DAC to set goals and strategies. The DAC and Dr. Haggard will be asked to envision the “what” and “where” of the proposed Intercultural Center.

UPC will gather for a half-day retreat in December or January to start to fill in the target benchmarks for the Strategic Plan and identify individuals or groups who will be responsible for the goals of the Management Appendix. Additionally, Chancellor Ponder indicated that once the planning benchmarks were finalized and the DAC was underway, we would determine whether we are ready to take up the remaining diversity recommendations in the Spring.

The next UPC meeting will be held on November 27 from 12:15-1:45 in the Whitman Room.