PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
Open Forum
October 10, 2012

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
•
•

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
Institutional Comparisons within UNC:
•
NCSU
•
UNC-G
•
ECU
Regional Comprehensive comparison:
•
Sacramento State University

Timeframe
•
Mid November
– complete background research
– develop criteria and finalize process
– submit information requests to departments,
Institutional Planning and Effectiveness
•
Late November/early December
–
Forum (Criteria)

Timeframe
•
Mid February
–
Departmental profiles assembled from IPE data and departmental reports
•
Mid to late February
–
Forum (mid-point forum / departmental data)
•
Late February
–
Programs complete examination of profiles
– submit corrections or additional data to be considered in review

Timeframe
•
Early April
–
Task Force completes review and publishes report
•
Early to mid April
– two Forums (feedback / questions)
•
Mid to late April
–
Programs submit responses, requests for revisions
•
Early May
–
Final report with recommendations submitted to the
Chancellor

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
•

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
•
•
•

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
•
What will we define as success of this task force?

What will we define as success of this task force?
•
Faculty buy-in / support
– the sense that this was a fair and organized process, based on objective, quantitative data
•
University to be healthier, more effective at meeting our mission, distinguish from other institutions
•
Programs take this time to be reflective formative and summative

What will we define as success of this task force?
•
Programs of excellence be identified that make
WCU more distinctive
• Change WCU’s image in the state
•
Align our resources with the strategic plan
•
Be proactive with a set of priorities

What will we define as success of this task force?
•
Clear communication:
–
Articulate reasons and justifications
–
Forums, website, visual / weekly email flash with links
–
Faculty / Staff Senate meetings / newsletter
–
Communication via Department Heads
–
Redundancy is good.
•
Clearly articulate the role of finance / budget in the process.
– martial our resources to maximize student success
(One of the reasons the QEP has been successful is because individuals agree this makes our students successful).
–
This can set us up for the comprehensive campaign coming in the future

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
•
What concerns do we have about this process?

What concerns do we have about this process?
•
WCU community - We are a small community and our decisions will impact our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues.
•
Timing - what are the intersections of general education review and program prioritization?
•
Tension between strategic priorities and quality of program

What concerns do we have about this process?
•
Credibility and fairness
–
The process must be credible. Must avoid any perception that something was a done deal.
–
It must be clear we are not replicating the previous process. Some previous data can feed into it, but it is a new process.
–
Perception that central data is not reliable undermines the credibility of the process… We have to sort out artifacts we can control.
–
This process is a way to make this a better institution for our students (current and future), not just about the bottom line.

PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
•

•
Faculty culture
–
A faculty culture that protects itself and colleagues, preservation of the status quo
–
Generalizations about faculty culture. We have a lot of positive aspects to our faculty; we must not buy into ideas that we are a certain kind of culture that is unilateral.
•
The last program prioritization process
•
A perception or push toward democracy or equality in resources
•
Data issues – we need a more objective comprehensive data base.
•
Timeframe

Feedback / question submission coming soon .