October 15, 2009

University Planning Council

Minutes for October 15, 2009

Present: Buffy Bagwell, Becky Doyle, Jane Fernandes, Archer Gravely, Bill Haas, Bill Haggard, Jeff Konz, Jim Kuhlman, Amy Lanou, Keya Maitra, Ted Meigs, Cortland Mercer, Patrice Mitchell, Kevin Moorhead, Linda Nelms, Adrienne Oliver, Dan Pierce, John Pierce, Anne Ponder, Christine Riley

Absent: Vic Foster, Bill Massey, Louise Thompson

UPC met from 3:30 to 5:00 in HU 234.

1. Ms. Riley distributed an updated draft of the strategic plan dashboard and benchmarks for UPC review and discussion. For benchmarks that do not have data, Ms. Riley has worked with the planning workgroup leaders to determine dates when the measures will be available. The current draft has a three-color system: green - exceeds target; red - below target; and yellow – slightly below target. UPC discussed whether to use a two percent or five percent window for coding benchmarks below the target value as “yellow” and agreed to use five percent as a trial for the review of the next draft. UPC discussed at length how we should interact with the planning work groups and Vice Chancellors to organize and review the development of action plans and review benchmark results. There was a consensus that UPC can help interpret benchmarking results and establish priorities among competing “red” targets. UPC will try to meet once each year with representatives from each work group to become familiar with the work they are doing, and review action plans and benchmarking results.

2. Provost Fernandes reviewed the overall plan for assessment and accreditation. She indicated that a small group has developed a program to help us get started, and we now need campus input. The following actions are now planned or underway.

• All academic and administrative units have been asked to complete institutional effectiveness reports. One half of administrative unit reports were due last May, and the remaining half are due in December. At a recent SACS conference, she learned that it is not sufficient to just write and file a report, as there has to be a documented communications feedback loop.
• The Vice Chancellors and departments will need to review their departmental mission statements to ensure alignment with the new University mission statement approved last Spring.
• A second draft of the student outcomes project was recently distributed to all faculty, staff and SGA representatives for their feedback.
• Dr. Bruce Larson will lead the SACS reaccreditation effort, Dr. Scott Walters will lead the quality enhancement project, and Dr. Lisa Friedenberg and Mr. John Bucher will serve as Assessment Coordinators for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs respectively.
• We are required to conduct a Quality Enhancement project that focuses on an aspect of student learning. These projects can be very expensive and will require a plan and a budget. UNC Asheville’s Quality Enhancement study will begin in Fall 2010. There will be a role for UPC to help focus on a topic designed to enhance student learning.
• There may be a need to reconstruct some version of the inactive Institutional Effectiveness Committee, but we will need to be clear on the roles of UPC and IEC.

3. The review of cost reduction ideas was deferred to the next meeting.