News - The University of Montana

For the last several months, the Academic Strategic Planning committee has taken a close look at both internal and external influences on the academic environment at UM. We explored questions related to the broad categories of the UM student body, access and affordability, the UM work force related to Academic Affairs, academic programs offered, technological capabilities, and funding trends. We also looked at demographic trends, technology, trends in K-12 that reach into higher education, the economic environment, political and regulatory environments, defining our competitors, natural resource issues, and international factors. After extensive review of the information collected, the Committee identified a suite of issues that we believe require attention in the coming years.

At this point in the planning process, we need the campus community to deliberate and weigh in on the list that follows. Some of the issues listed are fairly straight forward, while others are more complex and, therefore, more challenging to capture in few phrases. Accordingly, the purpose of this list is to stimulate deliberation and conversation, and to provide students, staff, faculty, and administrators with opportunities to weigh in with comments and recommendations about which issues deserve further discussion and should be prioritized for action.

So please take a look at the following list. If you were a member of the committee, what direction would you take from this point forward? If we proceed with the following list, in 3 years what do you think we would find surprising (e.g., where might we wish we had spent more of our time and resources)?

We hope you will take a minute to leave your comments on this blog. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon,

Carol Brewer
Chair, ASP Steering Committee

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STRATEGIC ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN THE COMING FEW YEARS (not ranked in any particular order)

a. The Undergraduate Experience (creating a world class curriculum; mindfully connecting teaching and learning to best deliver this curriculum) – who are we preparing, what are we preparing them to do, and how best to retain them and prepare them to be successful?

b. Development of COT/Community Colleges in Montana – better articulation and synergy.

c. Articulation Between K-12 and Higher Education in Montana– including dual enrollment, teacher certification and in-service professional development, addressing deficiencies in preparation, and consistent outreach from UM to K-12 schools in Montana.

d. Enabling Technology for Teaching and Scholarship – how technology is funded and managed, looking toward the future of devices and web 2.0; paying attention to training, nimbleness.

e. Perceptions and Reality of the Cost of Education versus the Value of Education at UM – who has access, addressing affordability; better branding and communication with stakeholders (in MT and beyond) of our scholarship and community service.

f. A Coherent Vision for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship – where and how do we want to cultivate distinction for discovery, innovation and leadership; a climate for interdisciplinarity; connection to the Montana economy.

g. Strengthening Communication and Transparency – in line with our value and tradition of shared governance; better communication with stakeholders.

h. The Workplace Conditions – allow staff and faculty to meet their potentials, and that allow them to collaborate more effectively in service of teaching, scholarship and service.

i. Cultivate Graduate Programs – attract excellent students and prepare them to make scholarly and creative contributions in their field – Curriculum and research opportunities matched to our current reputation, student demand, capitalizing on our location; stipends and in-state status.

j. Diversity – cultivating a climate and curriculum to values diversity and recognizes the value of a diverse student body, faculty, and staff.

k. The Changing World Around Us – international programs and exchanges, research, key languages sustainability, interdisciplinarity, demographics, globalization, economies, and so on.

l. Achieving Optimal Enrollment – what is optimal for UM and for the educational experience we value.

What is possible for academic affairs at UM in the future? Since the summer of 2008, the Academic Strategic Planning Committee has met with many individuals who had expertise in areas related to the academic mission at UM. We also asked targeted campus stake-holders to respond to a short survey that asked about what makes UM unique, surprises over the last five years, what they would most like to change, and how they hope UM will be described five years from now. The following aspirations emerged for academic affairs from these interviews, surveys, and discussions.

Take a look at the following list. Is there an area you think needs more attention? Less attention? Is there something we overlooked? We hope you will take a minute to leave your comments on this blog.

Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon,

Carol Brewer
Chair, ASP Steering Committee

ASPIRATIONS FOR UM ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
In five years …
• UM will be well along the path to becoming a major research university with an entrepreneurial spirit and a major force in the evolution of Montana’s economy and culture.

• UM will achieve/maintain an optimum intellectual and real world blend of the arts, sciences and cultural experiences for a truly interdisciplinary and collaborative campus.

• UM will be recognized as a leader and innovator in key disciplinary areas, capitalizing on our unique environment and location.

• UM will be known for having an exciting and stimulating intellectual atmosphere for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff, including…
– UM will be renowned for an intellectually exciting and distinctive undergraduate experience that is integrated across the curriculum and prepares students for addressing the big questions that we face as a global society.
– UM will provide a world-class experience for graduate students.
– UM will be a leader in two- and four-year education, offering academic, professional/technical, transfer, and workforce programs that address the needs of diverse student populations and regional employers.
– UM will be a recognized regional leader in online and distance education.
– UM will have faculty and students globally connected and engaged.
– UM will be the leader in Montana in diversity, and will be a major force in the diversification of both the workforce and student body.

• UM will have an all-encompassing, seamless information technology environment for all aspects of teaching, learning, and research.

The Academic Strategic Planning Committee was convened at the end of Spring 2008, and charged with developing, in collaboration with the campus community, an up-to-date and ambitious Academic Strategic Plan (ASP) to serve as a decision-making guide over the next five years. When completed, the plan should help us focus resources and energy on key issues, provide a solid foundation for our upcoming accreditation visit, and, most importantly, help us build an even more effective university. Since last spring, the committee has been hard at work. Over the summer, the committee collected data to answer a series of environmental scan questions. This included exploring system-wide published strategic plans, trends and expectations for higher education in Montana and beyond, and unit operating plans form 2007. The staff in the Office of Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis provided extensive data related to student affairs (e.g., enrollment, retention, cost of education), the workforce, diversity, research and creative activity, demographic trends, and so on. Moreover, the Committee met with many individuals who had expertise in areas related to the environmental scan. Finally, targeted campus stakeholders were asked to respond to a short survey that asked about what makes UM unique, surprises over the last five years, what they would most like to change, and how they hope UM will be described five years from now. After extensive review of the data collected, the Committee has summarized the aspirations that emerged and the issues that will have to be addressed in the coming years to ensure we can meet these aspirations. You can learn more about the aspirations and issues identified by the committee in the January 26, 2009 newsletter. Link to it at http://www.umt.edu/asp/newsletters.html. We look forward to a lively campus conversation.

Best regards,

Carol Brewer
Chair, ASP Steering Committee