Report to the Faculty Senate

Institutional Planning Committee

March 23, 2005

 

Present:            Linda Bennett Elder, Alan Bernstein, Jeff Grant, Mike Holland, Joan Futch, Marsha Krotseng, Michael Noll, A. Blake Pearce,

Richard Schmertzing.

 

 

Meeting was called to order at 2:35 pm.

 

The IPC met for the fifth time in the academic year 2004-2005.

 

At the meeting, Michael Noll gave a brief summary of the Executive Committee meeting held on March 3, 2005. Items discussed included:

 

·        The need to establish and follow clear procedures at VSU in regard to initiatives that eventually become policy after they have been discussed and voted on in the respective committees and on the floor of the Senate (e.g. the inclusion of “sexual orientation” in the non-discriminatory clause of VSU’s Equal Opportunity Statement)

·        Update on the question of the sale of complimentary textbooks by faculty

·        The question of whether or not full-time VSU faculty are able to teach part-time elsewhere

 

Next, Marsha Krotseng reported on the UPAC meeting held on March 18, 2005. Topics covered included:

 

  • Dr. Krotseng’s current visit to Murray State University to inquire about possible strategies to help increase the graduation rate at VSU. Within only six years (from 1997 until 2004) the graduation rate at Murray State University increased from 39% to 56%.

 

In comparison, the graduation rate at VSU in 2004 was 38%. Among other things, Murray State University seemed to have boosted its graduation rates by invoking a culture of “excellence” across its campus and by its commitment to students’       success through an elaborate “web of support.”

 

 

Finally, Michael Noll reported on the meeting of the Strategic Communication Task Force from March 16, 2005, and presented to the members of the IPC the envisioned survey on “Communication and Communication Structures at VSU” for discussion.

 

Following this discussion, the survey is currently being revised. It is envisioned that the survey will be tested during Maymester to make any final revisions if necessary. The survey will then be administered in the Fall Semester of 2005, shortly after the end of the add/drop period. Following a thorough analysis of the survey, a list of recommendations will be presented by the end of the Fall Semester.

 

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Michael G. Noll, Chair.