Report to the Faculty Senate
Institutional Planning Committee
April 27, 2005
Present: Alan Bernstein, Joan Futch, Kurt Keppler, Marsha Krotseng, Michael Noll, Blake Pearce, Ruth Salter
Chairman Michael Noll opened the meeting at 3:40 pm to start the discussion of three agenda items:
1) Report from the Executive Committee (Michael Noll):
Faculty Evaluation Task Force has been established to review the Faculty Evaluation Process and make recommendations for revision.
The Faculty Grievance Committee reported that outdated records have been shredded.
The Faculty Senate has $800.00 remaining in their budget for the fiscal year.
Faculty development grants are under discussion. Current policy allows for a maximum of two $500 grants per year (while funds last) with no option to combine the amounts for more expensive development opportunities. It is proposed that faculty members have the option to combine the amounts and apply for up to $1000 faculty development grant money per year.
2) Report from the University Planning Advisory Council (Marsha Krotseng):
The Diversity Council charter has been approved. Council members will be appointed in the summer and the council will begin operations in the fall.
The SGA student union survey is complete. Analysis is underway and results will be reported in the fall.
Communication surveys will be piloted soon.
A subcommittee has been established to reflect on the University Planning Advisory Council process. The group has been selected to identify major accomplishments of the council and identify activities for review in the fall.
Graduation rates were discussed.
National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE) information will be available to campus stakeholders in the fall.
3) Report from the Communication Task Force (Michael Noll):
Both Faculty/Staff and Student communication surveys are ready for pilot testing. The Faculty/Staff version is ready for testing and the Student version will undergo one more round of review with minimal changes expected.
Surveys will be pilot tested over the summer. Feedback will be used to inform the editing and finalization process.
Management Information Systems has agreed to put the final versions of the surveys on BANNER. Institutional Research will perform the data analysis.
Significant changes were made in the initial draft of the surveys. One Faculty/Staff question was removed. Financial questions differ between surveys.
Blazenet as a tool to improve communication at VSU was discussed. Education of faculty, staff, and students may increase the use of this product on Campus.
This was the final meeting of the IPC for the 2004-2005 academic year. In 2005-2006 Michael Noll will move to the position of Past Chair and Richard Schmertzing will serve as chair. Blake Pearce, Alan Bernstein, and Fred Ware will rotate off the committee.