Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning Committee
Minutes/Notes - Wednesday, October 24
Teague Library

Present: Doug Bennett, Bob Southard, Margaret Hampton, Monteze Snyder, Rick Foreman, Sara Penhale, Tamara Clark, Wes Miller, Paul Ogren, Nancy Sinex

The minutes from our October 17 meeting were corrected and approved

1. Sara, Paul, Margaret and Monteze, who met together on October 18, talked about their brainstorming session. Sara had earlier sent to all SPC members helpful notes from their discussion in which they began the process of selecting aspects of the final report, suggesting what questions need to be addressed and what data or other information will need to be collected. This discussion led us to explore what direction SPC members might take now - to work in small groups to gather information and begin to write sections of the long-range planning report. One member asked when would we stop "describing" where we are and get on to the next steps of determining how where we are informs where we ought to be and how we might get to that place (vision of Earlham in 5-10 years). Following the proposed outline of the final report, members volunteered for various assignments. (See the attached report outline and assignments.)
   
   
2. Earlier in the week Doug sent to committee members a list of "White Paper" topics to consider. These papers would be 1000 word (suggested length) documents, summary statements which would address both recent history and current trends & issues. As drafts for review by various groups and departments, these papers might eventually serve as the basis or foundation for sections of the final report. After a "visioning" exercise (see below), SPC members volunteered to work on the following topics:
   
   
   1. Recruitment and financial aid (Monteze, Paul, Bob, Nancy)
   2. Retention (Monteze, Paul, Bob, Nancy)
   3. Enrollment (Monteze, Paul w/ Dick Smith)
   4. Quality, preparation and social characteristics of entering students (Monteze, Paul, Bob, Nancy)
   5. Faculty and staff: number, composition, compensation, faculty development (Sara & Margaret)
   6. Facilities (Wes & Rick)
   7. Budget (Doug)
   8. Fundraising (Sara & Doug)
   9. Assessment
   10. Student Life - key issues (Newell, Tamara, Nancy)
   11. Curriculum - key issues (Bob, Sara, Margaret)
   12. Community Life - key issues (Newell, Tamara)
       
       
3. Doug asked each SPC member to record three hopes/visions/desires/aspirations for the college for 2010. The results of the exercise were interesting and responses diverse (everything from the construction of a fine arts facility to attracting a more diverse student body and faculty), but there were some repeated themes which had to do with fiscal health and a larger student body. (Doug collected our responses and will ask Darlena to record them. These will become an attachment to these minutes when they are available.)
   
   
4. (There was a non-agenda-related and important discussion about retention and retention data, specifically what we know about attrition by residence hall, student participation in groups, organizations, experiences and students who don't' seem to fit the statistical norms.)
   
   
5. Doug asked the membership if there were any topics missing from our lists of aspirations. One member indicated that she was surprised that no one mentioned our need to address ecological/environmental concerns (to be a more highly environmentally conscious and responsible campus). Doug mentioned that the college would reintroduce its campaign to improve recycling efforts by the college beginning November 5.

Student Participation in Strategic Planning

We talked about the best "venue" for gathering student input in the process of long-range planning. Several options were offered and discussed. We decided to first find ways to inform students about the process (articles in "The Word") and then advertise opportunities for students to participate.Newell will contact the Word editor to suggest an interview of some members of the committee to define what it is we're doing and why and talk about the importance of broad consultation, including with students. In the same issue, Doug would address strategic planning -2- in his column, jointly written by him and our two student members. (Nancy will notify SPC members when the Word interview is scheduled and those available will plan to attend.)

Division/Department Meetings

Earlier in the week, Monteze, Wes and Bob met with the Social Science Division and Sara, Paul, Bob and Nancy met with the Natural Sciences Division about strategic planning. During both of these gatherings we conducted an exercise requesting faculty to record both divisional and institutional strengths and weaknesses. Minutes from those meetings were distributed by email or in person to all SPC members, and eventually will be made available to division faculty.

The following additional department meetings have been scheduled:

Tuesday, October 30 (noon - Carpenter 222) - Languages and Literatures (Wes and Tamara will attend)
Wednesday, October 31 (3:00 - Carpenter) - English (Bob and Nancy will attend)

Next Meeting of SPC - Wednesday, October 31, 4:00 - Teague Library.