Members absent: Amman, Bellaver, Motloch, Ober, Twibell, Tietz, M. Weaver
Dr. Balogh welcomed Ken Brown, Interim Athletic Director, who will be replacing Bubba Cunningham on the task force.
Dr. Balogh announced that the task force needs to stay focused in order to provide the Strategies for Distinction and the field guide to the Board of Trustees and President's Cabinet for approval. A draft will be presented to the President's Cabinet on November 29. There will be two more meetings. The task force was asked to hold November 18 and December 9 for meetings.
Dr. Balogh passed out a quote from James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras, from Build to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (2002) to help focus the task force.
Minutes for the October 21 meeting were approved. Minutes for the November 4 meeting were approved as submitted.
A member of the task force requested to withdraw a recommendation from the table that would have revised the Vision statement to read: "Ball State University will be a very selective academic community that guarantees for all students immersive, integrative learning experiences and that advances knowledge, improves economic vitality, and works toward a sustainable quality of life." It was noted and accepted.
Task force reviewed the planning priorities. A copy of the Strategic Directions/Planning Priorities/Strategies for Distinctiveness was distributed, with highlighting which denoted points discussed or endorsed at the Board of Trustees Retreat and/or the Administrative Retreat.
A task force member indicated that #6, "Guarantee students access to immersive, out-of-class, study abroard, and immersive learning opportunities," would give departments and units direction.
This list of institutional priorities is to move the institution in the direction it wants to go. Identifying strategies for distinctiveness is part of the game plan, but it is important not to leave behind successful programs, but to build upon them. Part of the distinctiveness is the strategy of building nationally ranked programs.
A task force member noted that the NCA has increased the rigors of assessment. Ball State will have to fully integrate assessment with curricular changes in order to improve academic programs. Assessment must be tied to changes in the curriculum.
The task force reviewed each point with the following discussions, changes, and additions to the Strategic Directions:
1. Increase the quality of learner-centered undergraduate programs – It was noted that assessment must be utilized to improve programs. Deb Balogh and Frank Sabatine will clarify.
2. Support targeted and strategic growth of graduate programs – The task force discussed whether or not this should just be "graduate programs." It was pointed out that this was part of the President's charge. Item #2 was revised to: "2. Support strategic growth of graduate programs and other strategic units." The wording will be reviewed by Deborah Balogh and Frank Sabatine.
3. Build nationally ranked programs – It was brought to the task force's attention that not every program can be nationally ranked, but those programs could be nationally recognized. It was revised to: "3. Seek and support opportunities for nationally ranked or nationally recognized programs.
4. Increase retention and graduation rates – It was approved as stated.
5. Increase selectivity in student admissions – It was approved as stated with adding an "s" to "admission."
6. Guarantee students access to immersive, out-of-class, study abroad, and immersive learning opportunities – There was discussion of whether this was already stated in the Mission Statement. It was also noted that in the new core curriculum there are capstone experiences and more active learning directives that will bolster immersive learning.
Concern was raised over the words "guarantee" and "immersive." Can the university really guarantee? Is this a stretch or is the university jumping in over its head? It was edited to read: "6. Guarantee student access to significant experiential learning activities, such as immersion experiences, research opportunities, and study abroad. Deborah Balogh and Frank Sabatine will review the wording of this item, and the task force will revisit this planning priority.
7. Develop alternative revenue sources – Accepted as written.
8. Enhance economic vitality of Indiana – Edited to read: "8. Enhance economic and community development in Indiana."
9. Develop and implement the most effective technology for teaching and learning – Edited to read: "9. Enhance national recognition for best practice use of technology in learning, scholarship, and community engagement."
10. Increase diversity of faculty, staff, and students. Accepted as written.
Drs. Balogh and Sabatine will revise the list and send to the task force. The task force was asked to review #6, #11, #12, and #13 before the next meeting so that the revisions can be made before the President's Cabinet meeting on November 29.
The meeting was adjourned. Next meeting will be November 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The location will be announced.
Responses to the Strategic Plan that were posted on the Web site were distributed for the committee to review.
RELATED LINK:
Agenda for November 11, 2005