Our Strategic Plan
With Report Summaries
(highlighted in red)
Goal I - Continued Focus on
Campus Sense of Community
Goal II - Increase the Overall Quality of
the Student Body
Goal III - Provide all PSU Students with
Challenging and Rewarding Educational Experiences Inside and
Outside the Classroom
Goal IV - Increase the Diversity of
Students, Staff and Faculty at PSU
Goal V - Enhance Quality of Curriculum
Goal VI - Increase Quality of Instruction
Goal VII - Ensure Excellence in Our
Support System
Goal VIII - Increase Quality of Campus
and Facilities
Goal IX - Continue Our Growth as a
Significant Agent for Community, Citizenship Enrichment and
Economic Development in the Region
Goal X - Continue to Increase
Institutional Gift Revenue
Goal XI - Establish a Highly Integrated,
Comprehensive College-Wide Assessment Program
Goal I - Continued Focus on Campus Sense of Community
A. Create and adopt a statement of resolution and guiding principles which reflect our ideal of community.
1. The Planning Committee will solicit a list of items from the faculty, staff and students that address issues of community by December 1, 1998.
2. By March 1, 1999, the Planning Committee will prepare a draft synthesizing the feedback from the faculty and staff survey and disseminate it to the faculty and staff for further comments.
3. The Planning Committee will, by November 1, 1999, prepare a final draft based on responses to the first draft and will forward it to the President for approval.
As of March 1999 the College Planning Committee had completed the work of 1.A.1 and 1.A.2 above. They then submitted the required draft of the "Statement of Resolution and Guiding Principles" to the President for his approval. View the statement at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/cpcdrft1.pdf
4. The President will disseminate the statement of resolution and guiding principles to the campus to serve as a guide to decision-making, interpersonal relationships, customer service and management/supervision.
B. Identify and understand the changing needs and profiles of the student population as well as the PSU faculty and staff so that factors such as cultural diversity, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds are addressed in the institution's approach to curriculum, co-curriculum, and student and employee support.
1. The Planning Committee will compile demographic data on students, faculty and staff, to examine the constituent composition of our campus. Deadline: February 1, 1999.
2. The Curriculum Committee in consultation with the President’s Commission on Diversity will conduct a review to evaluate the integration of multicultural principles throughout the curriculum and report to the faculty by February 1, 2000.
3. The Dean of Student Affairs and staff will conduct a review of the co-curriculum in conjunction with the President’s Commission on Diversity and report to the faculty by February 1, 2000.
C. The following groups shall devise plans and actions to engage the College in ongoing discussion of issues of community by creating formal and informal opportunities for dialogue: The President’s Commission on Diversity, the Traditions Committee, student government Residential Life, PACE, Faculty Executive Council. A progress report from each group is due by May 1999, and annually each May thereafter.
1. The Traditions Committee reported their thoughts on event planning and a campus calendar. Often there are too many events to choose from, resulting in low turnout. Our centralized calendar system needs to be improved and better publicized. Also discussed was lack of community spirit seen or heard at PSU sports events. Other suggestions included an annual birthday celebration, meetings between Principal Administrators and students, and rethinking student award presentations. View the full Committee report at: http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/trad1.pdf
2. A Res Life/Dining report includes excerpts of survey responses from the Res Life/Dining staff regarding the above goal. These comments were collected at a Strategic Planning Initiatives Retreat held on April 27, 1999. Responses can be viewed on the web, full report is on file in the Office of Financial Management. View partial report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/reslife1.pdf
3. PACE reports on their efforts to provide quality programming which responds to the interests and needs of and contributes to the overall development of the College community. View the PACE report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/pace1.pdf
4. The Executive Council's report stated that due to the unusually high volume of discussion that took place last spring regarding issues of curriculum and grievances, it was unable to address the charge put before it by the Strategic Plan. Action regarding the specific charge above is planned for this year's Council, which will begin meeting on September 24, 1999.
Goal II – Increase the Overall Quality of the Student Body
A. Increase the number of students entering PSU who rank in the top half of their high school class to total two-thirds of the entering class.
1. The Director of Financial Aid will monitor the recent change in the allocation of financial aid which grants more assistance to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd achievement level enrollees (95-96 entering classes = baseline). A report is due December 1, 1998 and annually on that date thereafter.
The full report from Financial Aid outlines the steps we have taken to make improvements in the overall quality of our student body by increased leveraging of institutional financial aid dollars. Rather than award strictly on financial need we utilized the Admission's Office achievement level quartile rankings to target College Scholarship dollars to better academic prepared students. We also have expanded our offers of Achievement Scholarships (Presidential and Plymouth Scholars) and increased the number of Talent Grant awards to first-year students. View bulk of report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/finaid1.pdf
2. The President will continue to reallocate budget funds from other areas of the College in order to provide additional resources for financial aid, which will attract a higher level student.
3. The Dean of the College, along with the Executive Council and the Honors Council, will create an Honors Program with the intent of attracting and retaining higher level students. Deadline for initial action: January 1, 1999.
4. The Director of Admissions and the Enrollment Management Group will develop an admission/recruitment strategy which will increase the quality and number of transfer students. Deadline: March 1, 1999.
5. The President and the Enrollment Management Group will, on a continuing basis over the next five years, solicit ideas and develop a list of new initiatives designed to provide PSU with increased competitive advantage in attracting more qualified students. The President may assign task forces or charge standing committees with developing recommendations on issues such as improving the image and reputation of the College, improving access to faculty during non-class times, changing the name of the College, adding new facilities and information technology.
1. The raison d'etre for the College and the statement for her ideas, goals and image are cogently articulated in the "mission statement" as well as in other formal and informal publications. However, to make this good college a better one, we must strive for and maintain a high reputation and an excellent image. To accomplish this, the Task Force on Reputation and Image makes the following recommendations:
- Attract and retain quality students
- Recognize and publicize "Outstanding Students of the Month"
- Promote responsible students behavior
- Stress PSU as a person-to-person college
- Promote faculty development and success
- Showcase high standards and community involvement at the SCAC
- Immediately establish a communications and publicity center
- Consider changing the name of the College
(Entire report is shown here.)
6. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Director of Admission will review the system of waivers for provisionally-admitted students and report to the Dean of the College by February 1, 1999.
B. Reduce the number of achievement level 4 students accepted to the institution. The Enrollment Management Group will, by May 1, 1999, develop a strategy that will allow for a 50% reduction in the number of achievement level 4 students enrolled by the year 2003. This needs to be done by replacing those students with additional students in levels 1, 2, and 3, thus offsetting any possible loss in budgeted FFTE. The Dean of the College will continue to develop methods of alternative access as a proving ground for achievement level 4 students prior to admission to PSU.
A report from the Office of Admission shows a continued decline in level4 students at PSU since 1996. Recommendations for further improvement in this area include improve merit aid availability, accept stronger students, expand student search efforts, etc. View the Admission report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/admit1.pdf
C. Upper division (junior and senior status) students will constitute one-half of the total full-time, matriculated undergraduate student population on the Plymouth campus.
1. The Associate Dean of the College, along with an appropriate committee, will review and recommend improvements to the warning, probation and severance process. Emphasis should be placed on solving student academic problems in a way to improve retention and not compromise academic quality.
2. The Dean of the College and the Dean for Student Affairs, along with the appropriate committee, will revisit the 1989 strategic plan relative to retention strategies. A report to the President is due by March 1, 1999, assessing the plan and recommending further initiatives as appropriate.
3.The Dean of the College along with the appropriate academic and staff committees will develop a long-term academic plan designed to improve retention of students making satisfactory progress. Deadline for draft plan to the President: October 1, 1999.
The committee found that the most common reasons for withdrawals involved financial and personal problems. Their report offers recommendations on simplifying requirements (streamline drop/add process, provide explanations of procedures, encourage effective advising and interdepartmental cooperation), working with students in difficulty (reach out to those in trouble, link withdrawals to counseling services, recommend that every class be graded for credit), helping students feel connected to college (encourage departmental initation in attracting undecided majors, mentoring programs, social gatherings by major, club/activity fair etc), rewarding academic achievement (departmental honor societies, certificates of merit, scholarships, studying student success) and encouraging good teaching (require demonstration class as part of faculty interview, course evaluations, no tenure for poor teaching evaluations). View the committee's report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/retent1.pdf.
4. The Director of Admission and the ad hoc Enrollment Management Committee will develop a strategic admission/recruitment program to increase enrollment of achievement level 1, 2 and 3 students. Report to President January 1, 1999.
D. Maintain optimum enrollment size. This total population will remain consistent with the campus facilities.
1. The full-time matriculated undergraduate population shall be based on (1) the instructional mission of the College, (2) the desirability of the present enrollment size as opposed to either significant increases or decreases, (3) the carrying capacity available in our academic facilities. The President will review enrollment patterns, facilities usage, and facilities development over the past few years to determine a target enrollment goal by September 1, 1999.
2. The directors of the graduate programs shall recommend to the President by February 15, 1999, an optimum enrollment size for graduate programs.
3. By January 1, 2000, the Dean of the College in consultation with the Academic Standards Committee shall develop recommendations for the President on initiatives which encourage full matriculation of undergraduate students.
The Academic Standards Committee submitted a report resulting from their discussions that centered on how the faculty define "full matriculation". They identified as open for exploration such topics as how we offer courses, increasing student wages, revising drop-add policy, revise the Gen Ed program down to 30 credits and several others. The report can be read at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/acstand.pdf.
4. The Curriculum Committee shall undertake additional necessary changes to our current curriculum in an attempt to further reduce the overall time-to-degree average for undergraduate students, and report their recommendations to the President and faculty by May 1, 2000.
5. Academic departments shall revise existing degree programs to insure opportunity for completion in four years, and report to the Dean of the College by May 1, 2000.
While the Math department has already met the basic goal, it plans to investigate scheduling alternatives for non-traditional students. http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/math1.pdf
A. To enhance the educational experience for first-year and transfer students.
1. The Task Force on the First-Year Experience or duly appointed council will make a comprehensive assessment of the curricular, co-curricular, and residential aspects of the first-year experience at PSU. The Dean of the College and the task force will issue a progress report to the College in April of 1999 and thereafter annually each April.
The original Task Force on the First Year Experience submitted a report to the Dean in June, 1998. That report and a summary of their activities can be found at http://www.plymouth.edu/acadaff/firstyear/fytitle.htm. A permanent Council on the First Year Experience has since been formed.
2. The Orientation Steering Committee shall assess, evaluate, and recommend by the end of the spring semester of 1999 appropriate changes to the orientation program in light of Goal III A. 1. The Orientation Steering Committee will also conduct an annual student survey(s) to assess the effectiveness of the first-year experience.
The Steering Committee's report outlines its work in areas such as introduction of a common reading choice, use of Noel-Levitz retention management questionnaire, orientation/convocation speaker, additional orientation programs for students, parents and first-year students, low-ropes program for first-years and the addition of an overnight hike/session in the White Mountains. Evaluations of all programs will be conducted and results reported. Regarding the annual survey, the Orientation Steering Committee feels that such a survey falls within the role of the First-Year Task Force. Full report is on file in the Office of Financial Management. View the Orientation Steering Committee report letter at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/orient1.pdf
3. By spring semester 2000 the Introduction to the Academic Community Council will re-examine IAC course content including a focus on issues of community, diversity, and student responsibility.
The Academic Orientation Council Report recommended topics to be covered in IAC classes, such as attendance at a cultural event, library skills, understanding of the Gen Ed component of a degree, academic integrity, Registration policies, time management and study skills and understanding professor's expectations. Their report is at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/acorient.pdf.
4. The Academic Advising Committee will make recommendations to the Dean of the College to improve the academic advising process for first-year students and make recommendations to the Dean by April 1, 1999; by November 1, 1999 the Committee will make recommendations to the Dean regarding advising of all continuing students.
A preliminary report has been received from this committee. The final report is not complete, but they have been addressing such issues as eliminating bad advising through evaluations, ideas on an advising center, and gathering information to help understand where advising problems lie.
The Council of Chairs reviewed the academic advising process and submitted a recommendation that the current assignment procedure be kept in place as it does include equity considerations at the department level. Read the council's letter at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/acadvis1.pdf.
5. The Residential Life staff will annually assess the residential experience of first-year students and their integration into the academic community and make recommendations for enhancement thereof to the Dean of Student Affairs.
Report includes excerpts of survey responses from the Res Life/Dining staff regarding the above goals. These comments were collected at a Strategic Planning Initiatives Retreat held on April 27, 1999. Responses can be viewed on the web, full report is on file in the Office of Financial Management. View partial report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/reslife1.pdf
- Facilitate the participation of non-traditional students in our cultural and educational programs.
1. The Office of the Dean will conduct a needs assessment for this category of student by April 15, 1999.
2. Department chairs will use a needs assessment to review and revise as appropriate current programs to facilitate a better fit with non-traditional students’ work and home schedules by April 15, 2000.
C. Promote curriculum-based service learning for all students.
1. The Ad Hoc Committee on Service Learning will disseminate information about service learning to the faculty and request feedback relative to its current and future application to their courses. The Committee will report its findings to the President by December 1, 1998.
2. If the President determines that there is sufficient faculty interest in service learning, he will enroll PSU as a member of the Campus Compact (a state organization which promotes, through grants and consultation, service learning throughout New Hampshire Colleges).
D. The President’s Commission on Diversity, working in conjunction with the Dean of the College and the chairs of the academic departments will develop and implement a plan whereby students have a multicultural experience integrated into their academic program through living/working/studying in locations where multicultural experiences are gained. The plan shall be presented to the Dean of the College by May 1, 1999. The plan shall have as its target that at least 1% of the PSU student body would be participating by the end of the spring term of the year 2000, increasing the percentage of participation by 1% each academic year until a minimum of 5% of the PSU student body is participating in such an experience in each academic year.
1. The President's Commission on Diversity submitted a lengthy report outlining their efforts to promote multiculturalism on campus. Included are various department efforts such as diverse admission recruitment, sponsored visiting scholars, receptions, choral tours, guest artists, fund-raising for disaster victims and integrating multicultural principles into the curriculum. Full report is on file in the Office of Financial Management. View outline of the report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/divers1.pdf and the Diversity Committee's Strategic Plan at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/divers2.pdf
2. Math Department: Dick Evans plans to take students on future Winterim or summer trips to Australia to study their mathematics education. Other opportunities may soon include sending major to study at the Technical College of Budapest.
3. The Social Science Department submitted a report to the Diversity Committee on their multicultural efforts. It offers a number of multicultural experiences both inside and outside the classroom including classes in anthropology, sociology, history geography and political science, along with a well-traveled faculty. Students have been offered first-hand experience in the West Indies, Nicaragua, New Mexico, Greece and Scotland. Read their report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/socsci1.pdf.
4. The Department of Computer Science report outlines their individual contributions to multiculturalism, including mentoring foreign students, involvement with the International Film series and several faculty who speak and work in other languages. View their report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/compsi1.pdf.
5. The Foreign Language Dept lists their cultural programs:
Immersion programs in Spain and Mexico
Exchange w/ Bishop's College in Quebec
Foreign study
Foreign Language Society trips
Canada Club
Annual PSU International Week
OctoberFest
German Interns
Foreign Language apartmentsFrench student teacher in falls
Annual Canada Conference
Annual Canada Summer Seminar
Skit night in target languages
Student teacher workshops
Annual Canada essay contest (grades 5-7)
Role playing in classroom
Language drills and help sessions6. The Department of Music/Theater has programs in which all Music, Theater and Dance major and minors participate along with Gen Ed students who take these classes: i.e., a choral tour of England; theater and piano literature in classes, and singing in foreign languages.
7. Psychology offers the same multicultural experiences available to all students on the PSU campus. In addition, they offer a practicum which provides experience in various cultures. All Psychology majors receive multicultural information as an integral part of the curriculum and all faculty participate in providing it.
8. The Education Department is involved in the New Hampshire Migrant Education Program, a federally funded program that provides for extra help to children of migrant workers. Undergraduate students majoring in Early Childhood and Childhood Studies help to produce literacy packets for migrant families. These literacy packets are comprised of a piece of high quality children's literature and 6-8 developmentally appropriate activities that are designed to highlight concepts in the book. Approximately 80 students help select the book and develop the activities each semester. Due to the diverse cultural backgrounds of the migrant families, the project requires the selection of books written in Spanish and English and the activities be written in both languages.
E. Each department shall develop plans for increasing opportunities for internships and externships in departmental programs. The chairs will forward their recommendations to the Dean by April 15, 1999.
Mathematics has developed an internship in liaison with the Director of Career Services. http://www.plymouth.edu/finman/cpc/math1.pdf
F. Each department in consultation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Dean of Student Affairs shall develop recommendations for improved coordination between the curriculum and co-curriculum and report those recommendations to the Dean of the College by April 15, 1999.
Goal IV - Increase the Diversity of Students, Staff and Faculty at PSU
A. Continually increase the number of minority students, women and minority faculty and staff until the PSU demographic profiles match the demographic profile of the New Hampshire region.
1. The President shall develop and submit for approval to the faculty, PATs and OS a college policy of zero tolerance for behavior directed toward victimizing individuals because of race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or gender.
2. Each academic department shall develop plans to increase diversity in teaching and in student populations within specific disciplines, and will forward their recommendations to the Dean by May 1, 1999.
Addressed in Mathmatics by use of Affirmative Action hiring guidelines. http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/math1.pdf
The Department of Philosophy sent a statement of diversity outlining efforts made in their department. Among other areas are attempts at diversity in teachers and teaching materials. The department believes it desirable to include the "broadest possible range" of students for the study of philosophy, of both technical and liberals arts majors. Read the report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/philos1.pdf.
B. Continually increase the number of minority students until the PSU demographic profiles match the demographic profile of the New Hampshire region.
1. The Admission and Financial Aid offices will develop and implement plans to expand the applicant pools of qualified minorities for admission. Deadline: September 1, 1999.
2. The Dean of Student Affairs will evaluate the current plan for retention of minority students and develop a plan to maximize their retention. Deadline: September 1, 1999.
C. Continually increase the number of women and minority faculty and staff until the PSU demographic profiles match the demographic profile of the New Hampshire region.
1. The President’s Commission on the Status of Women will monitor the representation of women on campus committees and will forward recommendations relative to same annually to the President, faculty speaker and the faculty at large.
Ongoing process.
2. The Director of Personnel shall insure that the PSU Affirmative Action plan is widely communicated and available online via the Web. Deadline: January 1, 1999.
3. Department chairs will develop specific plans for the amelioration of gender/minority under-representation in specific academic disciplines as currently identified by the college’s Affirmative Action Plan, and report them to the Dean by February 1, 1999.
Addressed in Mathmatics by use of Affirmative Action hiring guidelines. http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/math1.pdf
Goal V- Enhance Quality of Curriculum
A. Enhance faculty involvement in curricular issues.
1. By January 1, 2000, the Curriculum Committee and the General Education Committee shall evaluate the desirability of instituting a common core of undergraduate curriculum. Should the committees decide that a common core is desirable they shall recommend such a curriculum to the faculty by January 1, 2001.
The Curriculum Committee's response to this charge was that it did not see sufficient interest in the common core to warrant pursuing it at this time. The current discussion of possible changes to the general education program supersedes discussion of a common core of courses. (Taken from the 11/19/99 Committee minutes)
2. By January 1, 2000, the faculty speaker and Executive Council shall bring to the faculty for consideration the following issues that relate to "time-to-degree" and recommend to the President appropriate action:
a. student transition from undecided status to the majors
b. student movement between the majors
c. standardization of the number of credits for all degrees
d. analysis of the results of the fall 1997 faculty forum entitled "Roots of Complexity in the PSU Curriculum: The Majors or General Education?"
3. By January 1, 2000, the faculty will examine the requirement for a juried presentation by students for advancement to junior status.
4. By January 1, 2001, faculty should discuss formally how best to address critical societal issues in the curriculum, e.g. multiculturalism, diversity, civility, conflict resolution, tolerance.
B. Develop an information technology plan for the curriculum.
1. The Technology Across the Curriculum Committee shall develop recommendations which focus on the integration of technology and associated new pedagogy into the curriculum (modeled on WAC), and disseminate them to the faculty by September 1, 1999.
2. By January 1, 2000, the Technology Across the Curriculum Committee shall recommend to the Dean of the College a plan for achieving the integration of technology into the curriculum.
The Technology Across the Curriculum Committee (TAC) submitted a long range plan to the Dean which includes suggestions such as sponsoring speakers and workshops, providing grants, encouraging department web pages, and developing outreach activities. Faculty mentors and service learning and internships were also mentioned. Go directly to the TAC's webpage at http://www.plymouth.edu/hper/tac/tac.htm.
Goal VI - Increase Quality of Instruction
A. By March 1999, increase opportunities for the ongoing development of instruction by the design and implementation of a center for teaching and learning excellence devoted to faculty development in pedagogy and advising, assessment issues, research in teaching/learning, and technology enhancement. The Dean shall consult with the faculty in designing and establishing the Center.
B. The President shall appoint a task force to study the current and future role of part-time faculty at PSU and to develop a strategy that maximizes their instructional contributions and a personnel plan that treats them both professionally and humanely. The task force shall
1. Analyze the increase in the number of part-time faculty over the last 6-10 years, during a time when there has not been a concomitant increase in the FTE number of students. The task force shall determine the causes for the increase and provide a series of recommendations to convert existing part-time positions to full time and to lessen PSU’s recently increased dependence on part-time faculty. The task force shall recommend structural, curricular, instructional, productivity, technological and other changes that would permit each of the departments to achieve their academic goals and the College’s General Education goals, while utilizing part-time faculty for a maximum of 20 percent of their courses. The plan shall provide for a systematic realignment of full-time/part-time faculty so as to achieve the 80/20 ratio by 2003.
The Task Force submitted an interim report on 9/15/99 to the President, Dean, and faculty. View that report at http://www.plymouth.edu/finman/ptfac/ptfacplan.htm
2. Address, among other considerations, personnel policies to enhance professional development and welfare of part-time faculty. The task force shall review and incorporate as appropriate the recommendations of the Council of Chairs’ forthcoming subcommittee report on part-time faculty. Upon the acceptance of the task force recommendations, the President shall work with the appropriate USNH administrators and the Personnel Committee of the Board of Trustees to implement the recommendations.
3. The task force shall, by May 1, 1999, make a progress report to the President and faculty, with a final report by December 1, 1999.
C. The Dean of the College will charge a faculty/staff task force with the investigation of a conversion from the present 3-credit course to a 4-credit course system with special consideration given to a correlative increase of instructional contact time with students and for alternative "out-of-course" modes of student learning with a report to be presented to the faculty by November 15, 1999. If the committee determines that such a change is favorable, it shall bring forth on that date a proposal for implementation.
The 4-Credit Issue Committee submitted a report to Dean Bowers recommending against a change from 3 to 4-credit courses, "based on the assumption that a 4-credit course would consist of a proportional increase in hours/week for each course." Their report listed the potential advantages and disadvantages of each system. The report can be read at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/credit.pdf.
D. Develop a strategy to continue to attract, hire and retain excellent faculty.
1. Attain and maintain salary parity with peer institutions.
2. The President’s Commission on the Status of Women will develop and recommend by January 1, 2000, mentoring/coaching/staff development programs for the advancement of women and minorities into key leadership positions.
The Commission submitted a survey report of results taken during Spring 2000 from OS, PAT and Faculty. It recommends the establishment of a voluntary mentoring program and the resources to back it up, which include training, workshops, release time and written materials. It appears that all groups have similar concerns, although women expressed more interest in general than men. The survey results and recommendations are at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/status1.htm.
3. The Dean of the College will review by September 1, 1999, equity of faculty credit loads for laboratory-type courses relative to contact hours and preparation hours.
4. The Dean of the College and the Council of Chairs will review the present allocation of the advisee load and make recommendations to ensure equity to the President by September 1, 1999.
5. By September 1, 1999, the Dean of the College shall review the purposes and allocation of faculty release time to ensure equity and to increase the presence of full-time faculty in the classroom.
6. Each department shall evaluate the optimum class size for each specific course in order to increase productivity of faculty, decrease reliance on part-time lecturers, and decrease faculty semester overload, and report to the Dean of the College by September 1, 1999.
Math Department: A spreadsheet is shared with the Dean of the College each semester outlining department planning for class size needs and meeting the goals of maximizing productivity. View the full Math Department report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/math1.pdf
E. Develop a realistic budget model, funding sources, and management plan for professional development of faculty and instructional staff that is cognizant of the costs of courses, conferences, workshops and other forms of professional (re)training and development. The Dean will appoint a committee of five persons (Director of Financial Management and three faculty members, at least one of which is a department chair) to assess the current professional development budget and make recommendations to the President by May 1, 1999. This committee shall be chaired by the Dean of the College.
The Professional Development Task Force submitted their report to the Dean of the College. Sabbaticals remain an integral part of professional development with faculty being encouraged to seek outside funding and to leave the campus during sabbaticals. Incentives for year-long sabbaticals will be sought along with other release-time opportunities. The Task Force recommends the appointment of a Professional Development Coordinator to handle all aspects of faculty professional development at PSU. Also recommended is a full-time Director/Grant Writer to take over responsibility for the Pre-Awards Grants office. Suggestions regarding professional development funding were also included in the report. Read the entire report at http://www.plymouth.edu/finman/cpc/profdev.htm.
Goal VII - Ensure Excellence in Our Support System
A. Achieve increased quality ratings for all college support systems as measured by annual student, faculty and staff quality assessment surveys.
1. The President will charge the Holmes Group with creation and implementation of a feedback mechanism to measure the current satisfaction rating for internal stakeholder service by May 1, 1999. For purposes of this charge the President may add appropriate additional personnel to the Holmes Group.
2. Based on the results of the feedback, the Holmes Group will recommend a set of function-specific goals by January 1, 2000 to the Cabinet.
3. Beginning September 2000, the Holmes Group will annually collect and measure the trends in quality ratings.
4. The Holmes Group will annually communicate the results to stakeholders.
B. In order to attract, hire and retain quality support system personnel, the President will appoint by January 1, 1999 a task force to work with the college Personnel Office to coordinate the development of a campus-wide human resource plan. A progress report shall be submitted to the President beginning in May, 1999.
The report of the Task Force included recommendations for assessing our current human resources, including a profile of all employees' demographics and skills which will be compiled by the HR Office database. Asssessments of current work climate and employee satisfaction are also recommended, as is an assessment of the supply of employees, both internal and external. Upon completion of this profile, a projection of future needs can be developed based on the future direction of the College. View the full Task Force report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/hr1.pdf
Goal VIII - Increase Quality of Campus and Facilities
A. By 2004, complete the 1994 Plymouth State College Master Plan Findings and Recommendations.
1. The President shall complete the 10 steps as necessary to meet current space needs (as defined in Chapter 3 of the plan).
2. The President shall, as appropriate to Goal II.D, complete the four additional steps of the Master Plan..
B. Continue to address ongoing repair and renovation projects. The Director of Administrative Services will:
1. Complete building facility audits for all campus buildings by September 1, 1999.
The Physical Plant Department submitted a status report on November 8, 1999 to the Director of Administrative Services regarding facilities planning goals.. The Deferred Maintenance Projects List includes all major campus facilities and their needs based on field experience, on-going building maintenance and monitoring of the department. It measures all major building systems/components and compares them against normal building component life cycles and degradation over time. A sample Facility Condition Assessment of Hyde Hall is a professionally done overview assessment of the building systems of Hyde Hall. It helps to forecast capital renewal requirements for the building for both short and long-term capital funding.
Physical Plant has also been instructed by the Director of Administrative Services to pursue a comprehensive facilities audit of all major campus facilities during FY00-01. To read the full status report, please click on "status report" above..
2. Develop timelines for implementation of critical needs identified in the facility audits by January 1, 2000.
3. Develop a budget support model to accomplish facility audit timelines by January 1, 2000.
4. Develop a staffing plan for the proper maintenance of our facilities by January 1, 2000.
C. Continue to address ongoing parking issues. The Director of Administrative Services will:
1. Complete parking inventory and needs assessment by September 1, 1999.
2. By February 1, 2000, develop timelines for implementaion of a parking plan which would be based on the inventory and needs assessment, and which would begin with FY 2001.
D. Develop plans for funding and optimum utilization of equipment resources.
1. The Director of Administrative Services shall develop and recommend to the President a plan to build and enhance distinctive entrances and attractive boundaries by September 1, 1999, with a recommendation to the President.
A campus signage and "gateway" project is underway beginning with a new informational sign at BelknapHall and campus directory located at the new shuttle stop on Highland Street across from the Library. Major plans include a town, college and NHDOT cooperative effort to beautify Main Street, High Street and Holderness Road in conjunction with the upcoming bridge replacement project. Read the 11/8/99 status report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/signs1.pdf.
2. The President will appoint and committee by January 1, 1999, with representation from student, operating staff, PAT and faculty constituencies to serve as advisors to the Design Team for Campus Landscape.
This committee, which began meeting in February 1999, proposes to establish a prioritized list of areas on campus that deserve attention from the Design Team. The committee expects to be in regular communication with the campus as plans evolve. View the 11/8/99 status report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/design1.pdf.
3. The Dean of the College will appoint a task force to assess all academic equipment and develop a prioritized long-range plan for acquisition, maintenance, upgrade, and replacement. The task force will forward its report by January 1, 2000.
4. The Computer Advisory Board will forward to the President a progress report on a campus technology plan by May 1, 1999, and a final report by May 1, 2000.
Compiled by the Long Range Planning Subcommittee of the CAB, the report outlines the CAB's goals in its own planning process in the areas of Access, Integration, Competence and Awareness. To accomplish these goals, the Board has adopted a process including Assessment, Plan Creation, Policy Development and Funding. View the full CAB report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/cab1.pdf
5. The Dean of the College shall appoint a task force to review lab and course fees; the task force will make a recommendation to the Dean by January 1, 2000.
- Identify and publicize current outreach activities.
1. The Director of Administrative Services will annually coordinate the production of a report on all outreach activities of the College. Deadline for first report May 1, 1999.
The Community Outreach Activities report outlines all reported outreach activities conducted by Plymouth State College. The report includes summaries of efforts from Art, Athletics, Computer Science, Continuing Ed, Education, Financial Aid, Foreign Language, HPER, Lamson Library, Math, Media, Music/Theater, Natural Science, PE Center, Physical Plant, Silver CAC, Social Science, Women's Services, the Small Business Development Center, the Institute for NH Studies, the Center for Professional Educational Partnerships, the Center of Community Enhancement, HUB activities. There are also many efforts that go unreported. View the Outreach Activities report at http://www.plymouth.edu/cpc/outrch1.pdf
B. Develop plans for additional outreach initiatives.
1. By December 1, 1998, the Dean of the College shall appoint a task force with developing and recommending distance learning strategies to extend access to the College. A preliminary report from the task force is due to the Dean of the College by December 1, 1999.
The Distance Education Committee submitted their report entitled "Distance Learning Strategies to Extend Access to Plymouth Academic Programs". Meetings focused on three key issues; college philosophy, mission/direction for distance learning; and professional development and training. Their recommendation is to create and properly fund a structure by July 1, 2000 for the purpose of meeting the goals and strategies identified by the Distance Education Committee in the following areas of focus: faculty training, course development, and graduate courses and programs. Also included in their report is the Philosophy Statement for Distance Learning. View the full report at http://www.plymouth.edu/finman/cpc/disted1.pdf.
2. The Director of Continuing Education will develop a plan for attracting a new audience of students. The plan will be designed using input from campus representatives such as the Council of Chairs, Continuing Education Committee, Distance Education Committee, etc. The plan will consist of certificate programs (credit and non-credit), off-campus sites, distance learning components, increase of programmatic offerings and any other means that are appropriate. The recommendation will be presented to the Dean of the College by September 1, 1999.
Goal X - Continue to Increase Institutional Gift Revenue
A. The President shall establish annual fundraising goals and priorities.
1. The Director of Advancement shall plan and recommend to the President by March 1, 1999, short- and long-term strategic friend-raising efforts that are most likely to result in enhanced giving levels among selected groups of alumni and friends.
2. The Director of Advancement shall lead the conclusion of The Roads Taken Campaign building projects (D&M and Lamson Library) and obtain a substantial dollar level of pledges/gifts for the $1.1 million scholarship project by January 1, 2001.
3. The Director of Advancement shall recommend annually to the President strategies to increase contributions to the principal of endowed funds and add new endowed funds.
4. The Director of Advancement, the Director of Alumni Relations, and the PSU Alumni Association Board shall, by September 1, 1999, develop and recommend to the President plans to enhance annual fundraising efforts by increasing the number and dollar level of alumni gifts.
5. The Director of Advancement shall develop and recommend to the President by February 1, 1999 plans to enhance giving by friends, corporations, foundations, and matching gift companies.
6. The Director of Advancement will develop and recommend to the President by September 1, 1999 a cultivation and stewardship plan for major gift donors.
7. The President shall, in an annual report of the College, communicate the results of institutional fundraising efforts.
Goal XI - Establish a Highly Integrated, Comprehensive College-Wide Assessment Program
A. By December 1, 1998, the President shall appoint a task force to:
1. inventory current PSU assessment activities;
2. investigate best practices in assessment;
3. review model college-wide assessment programs at institutions comparable to PSU;
4. solicit PSU faculty and staff input in identifying PSU specific learning outcomes;
5. develop and recommend an administrative structure for operations of the assessment program.
B. The task force shall present for discussion and feedback their initial findings to the faculty and staff by the end of the fall 1999 semester, and the final report by April 1, 2000.
The Assessment Task Force inventoried past and current assessment practices by looking at collected data, querying departments and use of a survey. Recommendations include creating an Assessment Committee. See the Assessment Task Force's webpage at http://oz.plymouth.edu/~wwf/atf.html
C. The President shall, by May 1, 2000, approve the college-wide assessment program after consideration of feedback from representative constituencies.
D. The President shall consider the feasibility of establishing an institutional research office to support the college-wide assessment effort.
2000 Plymouth State College.
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Last Updated: 6/20/00
