Institutional Planning Committee, March 9, 2004

Present: Ruth Salter, Bruce Caster, Blake Pearce, Fred Ware, and Michael Noll.

Meeting was called to order at 9:05 A.M.

The IPC met for the fourth time in the academic year 2003-2004. Michael Noll reported on the meeting of the Executive Committee (March 4) and Ruth Salter reported on the meeting of UPAC (March 8). The remainder of the meeting focused on comments the IPC received regarding the "Concise Mission Statement" (or "Pocket Mission Statement") which will also be discussed at the Faculty Senate meeting on March 18.

In total the IPC received 13 responses from both faculty (7) and staff (6). Although in general the comments were very supportive, the following 4 issues were brought to our attention:

1) "Expunge the word excellence. It is so stagnated by overuse …."

After a thorough discussion (and the consultation of a thesaurus) the IPC came to the conclusion that there was no good substitute for the term excellence and although it might, in fact, be overused, excellence IS what the VSU community should strive for.

2) "… say something like "local, regional, and global opportunities and challenges" in the first bulleted statement.

The IPC discussed the possibilities to change the current version to include a reference to regional and local opportunities but eventually decided against it. On one hand, global considerations (practically speaking) must include regional and local references (as the earth is also part of a solar system). On the other hand, the suggested or any other phrases that were considered to accommodate these references sounded rather awkward.

3) "I would prefer a mission statement which include[s] faculty as well as students as central to the university."

After careful consideration the IPC came to the conclusion that ultimately one also would have to mention everyone else involved in the larger VSU community (groundskeepers, administrative staff, librarians, etc.) to not be exclusive, which in the end would defeat the original purpose of a "concise" mission statement. Ultimately the students are our major concern and, thus, this part of the mission statement was not changed at this point.

4) "I find … the lack of reference to shared governance as the mode of operation at the university to be disturbing …."

After a lengthy discussion the IPC came to the conclusion that the concise mission statement implies that shared governance is the mode of operation just as it indicates the importance of teaching, research, and service. In the last sentence it reads that "VSU seeks to accomplish this mission in a dynamic, student-centered learning environment marked by respect for the diverse abilities, backgrounds, and contributions of all members of the university community. This "respect" can only be accomplished by a system of shared governance as practiced in the Faculty Senate and the various committees at VSU and as outlined in goal 6 of the Strategic Plan (Goal 6: VSU pursues excellence and identifies best practices in recruiting, developing, and retaining quality faculty and staff in an environment of shared governance across the campus community.)

Last but not least, the IPC would like to share the following comments made in respect to the Concise Mission Statement:

"Students are the reason we all have a job."

"I do not think [that] VSU will ever effect total agreement on the mission statement, but I do believe that the statement represents shared consensus that I believe is crucial to moving forward on this campus."

Meeting was adjourned at 10:05 A.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael G. Noll, Chair-Elect.