Eastern Michigan University Systems Appraisal Feedback Report October 10, 2008 CRITICAL CHARACTERISTICS ANALYSIS
The purpose of this section is to identify what team members understood to be the critical and
distinguishing characteristics of your institution. They are the shared understanding of the most
important aspects of Eastern Michigan University, its current dynamics and the forces surrounding it,
and its internal momentum and aspirations, at least as team members understood them. This section
also demonstrates that the Systems Appraisal Team recognized and knew what makes Eastern
Michigan University distinctive. Should you find some characteristics that you think are critical and
missing from this list, you may want to clarify and highlight these items when you revise your Systems
Portfolio and other literature explaining your institution to the public.
Item
Critical Characteristic
O1a.
The state of Michigan does not have a formal state-wide system integrating its 15 state
universities. Eastern Michigan University is one of 15 autonomous state supported four-year
universities in Michigan.
O1b.
Eastern Michigan University has experienced decreases in state funding, resulting in nearly
30% of institutional revenues now coming from state appropriations. As a result, the
institution is becoming more dependent on student tuition and fees.
© 2008 Academic Quality Improvement Program, The Higher Learning Commission. All rights reserved. This report may be reproduced and distributed freely by Eastern Michigan University. Eastern Michigan University Systems Appraisal Feedback Report October 10, 2008 O1c.
The past five years have been turbulent in terms of campus leadership, with three campus
presidents during that period. The current president has served for less than 3 months.
O1d.
Eastern Michigan University has embraced a commitment to contribute to the local
community in its core principles and strategic directions, demonstrated by more than 25,000
hours of student volunteer community service annually.
O1e.
Eastern Michigan University is currently engaged in a thoughtful, evidence-based approach
to campus-wide planning.
O1f.
Eastern Michigan University is guided by a mission that emphasizes excellence in teaching,
applied research, and artistic expression.
O1g.
Eastern Michigan University has adopted five core principles and four strategic directions
that guide decision making, which emphasize learning, engagement with the community, and
diversity and multiculturalism.
O2a.
Eastern Michigan University has recently implemented a new General Education Program:
Education for Participation in the Global Community, an outcomes-based curriculum
consistent with the University's emphasis on continuous improvement.
© 2008 Academic Quality Improvement Program, The Higher Learning Commission. All rights reserved. This report may be reproduced and distributed freely by Eastern Michigan University. Eastern Michigan University Systems Appraisal Feedback Report October 10, 2008 O2b.
Students have an opportunity to take classes and complete programs at seven off-campus
locations through Continuing Education.
O2c.
Eastern Michigan University consists of a graduate school and five colleges: Arts and
Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; and Technology. In addition,
the Honors College provides enhanced interdisciplinary programs to approximately 1000
students.
O2d.
Eastern Michigan University's new General Education program includes a Learning Beyond
the Classroom component in which students are required to participate in extracurricular and
co-curricular activities.
O2e.
In addition to overall accreditation by the HLC, Eastern Michigan University maintains 34
specialized professional accreditations.
O3a.
Eastern Michigan University has an enrollment of approximately 18,000 undergraduates and
4,900 graduate students and is noted for its ethnically diverse student population.
O3b.
Eastern Michigan University is predominantly a commuter institution, with less than 15
percent of students residing near the campus. Nearly all Eastern Michigan University
© 2008 Academic Quality Improvement Program, The Higher Learning Commission. All rights reserved. This report may be reproduced and distributed freely by Eastern Michigan University. Eastern Michigan University Systems Appraisal Feedback Report October 10, 2008 students work in addition to pursuing their degrees, and more than 60 percent of students
are over age 21.
O4a.
Eastern Michigan University collaborates through accreditation agencies, businesses,
centers and institutions, targeted industry grants, research grants and agreements,
nonprofits, advisory boards and steering committees, community colleges, and K-12 districts.
O5a.
Most of Eastern Michigan University’s employees are represented by unions. The nonunion
employees include administrative/professional, confidential clerical employees and coaches.
O5b.
Eastern Michigan University’s recent history includes challenging labor relations, especially
with the AAUP faculty union.
O6a.
The physical plant at Eastern Michigan University encompasses 4,500,000 sq ft within 73
buildings, including more than 18 miles of walkways and jogging trails.
O6b.
Eastern Michigan University has $65 million in deferred maintenance in state buildings and
$45 million for auxiliary buildings and current economic conditions in Michigan present
challenges in updating these facilities.
O6c.
Eastern Michigan University has not received any state funding for capital expansion or
improvements since 1996. Despite the financial challenges, the University has implemented
© 2008 Academic Quality Improvement Program, The Higher Learning Commission. All rights reserved. This report may be reproduced and distributed freely by Eastern Michigan University. Eastern Michigan University Systems Appraisal Feedback Report October 10, 2008 several major improvement projects, including both physical and technology-related
upgrades. Several additional building projects totaling nearly $200M
are planned, but state appropriations for these are considered challenges.
O6d.
Since 2005, technological investment and improvement includes 41 computer labs, 16
computer classrooms, and wireless networking to 42 buildings.
O6e.
Since a high-publicity on-campus homicide in December 2007, security has been a very high
priority. Physical upgrades and safety programs have been implemented.
O6f.
Eastern Michigan University's main campus is located southwest of the larger metropolitan
area of Detroit. The current economic conditions in southeast Michigan are negatively
affected by the downturn in the US auto industry and impact Eastern Michigan University and
the state overall.
O7a.
Eastern Michigan University's primary competitors include regional comprehensive and
research universities, private institutions, for-profit institutions and providers of non-credit
continuing education.
© 2008 Academic Quality Improvement Program, The Higher Learning Commission. All rights reserved. This report may be reproduced and distributed freely by Eastern Michigan University. Eastern Michigan University Systems Appraisal Feedback Report October 10, 2008 O7b.
Eastern Michigan University has established 75 articulation agreements with 13 community
colleges, along with onsite baccalaureate programs at one community college. The
University considers community colleges partners as much as competitors.
© 2008 Academic Quality Improvement Program, The Higher Learning Commission. All rights reserved. This report may be reproduced and distributed freely by Eastern Michigan University.