Strategic Planning Council Notes, Nov. 3, 2003 Meeting

1.      Distributed Material

Updated rosters of task forces and council membership were distributed as well as the agenda, planning assumptions, reactions to the planning assumptions, notes from the October 20 Stakeholders’ Conference, Strategic Planning Survey Questions and responses, Driving Forces Task Force Report, and the Shared Governance Task Force Report.

2.      Planning Assumptions

Dr. Cox began by explaining that the planning assumptions were generated at the Research and Academic Affairs Council Retreat September 25 and from the September 30 Strategic Planning Council meeting.  The council broke out into four groups to discuss the assumptions and the reactions to the assumptions.  After the breakout discussion, the council reassembled to finalize assumptions.  (See Planning Assumptions.)

3.      November 13 Stakeholders’ Meeting

Dr. David McFarland will return to Jonesboro to assist Dr. Les Wyatt in facilitating a series of discussions about the concerns expressed at the October 20 Stakeholders’ Conference.  The meeting will be Thursday, November 13, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce.  Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m.

4.      Task Force Reports

    • Jack Zibluk (Driving Forces) - The task force is beginning to identify external and internal driving forces (see report “Driving forces draft topics:” included in handouts).
    • Len Frey (Governing Ideas) - This task force wanted to wait until the driving forces were identified before they met.  The first meeting will be during the week of the 10th.
    • Rich Carvell (Institutional Distinctiveness) - The task force will meet for the first time the week of the 10th.  They will be using data collected from the survey, specifically questions 2 and 3.
    • Jerry Farris (Graduate Education/Research) - They met for the first time to establish their charge this week.
    • Julie Isaacson (Shared Governance) - The committee has met and is looking at different models of shared governance and reviewing the concerns of The Higher Learning Commission regarding shared governance.  (see “Shared Governance Task Force report” included in handouts.)
    • Glen Jones (Diversity) - This task force was established prior to the formation of the strategic planning initiative.  Five subcommittees have been formed addressing areas of diversity awareness, minority faculty and staff recruitment and retention, minority student recruitment and retention, the curriculum, and assessment.  The subcommittees are progressing well in their work.  For example, Chuck Carr developed a curriculum survey addressing diversity and is beginning to review those results.  As a group, they are addressing accountability issues.  A potential goal may include different campus units developing miniature plans consistent with the larger diversity plan, outlining steps they will take to achieve the desired results.
    • Lynita Cooksey (for Greg Thornburg - Enrollment Management) - Enrollment Management, due to The Higher Learning Commission concern, is moving forward with the development of an enrollment management plan.  A survey has been developed and will be distributed to students the week of the 10th.

5.      Next Meeting

As mentioned earlier, there will be a Stakeholders’ meeting facilitated by Dr. David McFarland November 13, 2003 at 3:00 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce.  The next Strategic Planning Council meeting will be December 9 at 4:00 p.m. in the Library 8th floor Board Room.  Task Force chairs should be prepared to provide reports to the council at that meeting.