Priorities of the Provost/VPAA Office
for 2015-2016: Senate Forum
Update: December 16, 2015
Thomas M. DiLorenzo
Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
Priorities of the Provost and Deans
• Implementing the new budget model (MIRA)
Implementing the new budget model
(MIRA) –Current
• Deans’ Working Group
– Reviewing model statements for FY2012 through FY2015
– Developing tools for academic divisions to use as reference
guides for MIRA
– Developing guiding principles for allocation of resources at the
college-level
– Further defining “hold harmless” for FY2017
• Working with University Senate Leadership on Joint
Communications
– Budget 102 – Delivered 2 sessions during the past two weeks
– Website – www.und.edu/2020
– Developing Budget 103 – Governance
• MIRA group working with Co-Sponsors DiLorenzo and
Brekke to finalize allocation levers by the end of January
Priorities of the Provost and Deans
• Implementing the new budget model (MIRA)
• Continuation of PTE work
Promotion, Tenure, and Evaluation (PTE):
Support Faculty, Increase Academic Quality
1. Annual process improvements (continuous implementation)
– New VPAA guidance memos; smarter timeline;
communications; webpage; clarified dossier preparation &
submission guidelines
2. Implementation of Essential Elements (in process, on track)
– Created process of departmental, college/school, and VPAA
review & approval to ensure all departmental guidelines are
implemented with elements identified in 2008 faculty-led
review
3. PTE Working Group (in process, on track)
– Representatives of all eight colleges/schools review;
recommend clear, consistent, fair PTE policies, procedures
informed by quality, best practices, peer & aspirant institutions,
UND- and discipline-specific information
PTE Working Group Update
•
Five meetings so far this academic year re. these issues (in process, new in italics)
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Standard hiring letter, contract template
Philosophy statement for promotion & tenure
Dossier format & template
Procedures, including roles & responsibilities of candidate, chair, committees
Academic titles, ranks, and responsibilities for faculty
Guidelines for expected time in rank
Beginning to envision recommendations for revised Faculty Handbook section on PTE
(in process)
– Concepts will be added to draft Faculty Handbook outline as completed by subgroups and
discussed at Working Group meetings
•
Communications plan (implemented, continuous)
– University Letter after each meeting; webpage; email updates; University Senate sessions;
when concepts ready to discuss, will hold topic-specific open forums or focus groups
– Complete information, regular updates on the web at:
Academic Affairs -> Initiatives -> Promotion, Tenure, and Evaluation
Priorities of the Provost and Deans
• Implementing the new budget model (MIRA)
• Continuation of PTE work
• Search for a Dean for the School of Graduate
Studies
Search for a Dean for the School of
Graduate Studies
• Co-chairs – Debbie Storrs and Gwen Halaas
• Completed focus groups and forums this fall designed to
discussed future ideas for the School of Graduate Studies
and qualities for the new Dean
• Culminated in a selection process for committee members
• Started the actual search process
• Selected a Search firm and underway
• Peter Rosenberg recently provided a draft copy of the
position announcement for the Dean of the School of
Graduate Studies.
• The position description is being finalized, and the search
should be launched the week of January 11.
Master Planning Process
• SBHE requires a Physical Master Plan by February 15,
2016. To ensure that UND develops the plan in a
thoughtful and inclusive manner, the current focus is
on classrooms and office spaces. (with research space
discussions occurring between the Provost, VP of
Research and ED, and others)
• The focus of the study is to evaluate current utilization
of classrooms and office spaces, assess condition of
existing buildings, and prioritize where funding should
be targeted during the current biennium.
• Over the next year, the needs for research spaces,
auxiliary spaces, and ancillary spaces will be assessed
with faculty and others, and the master plan will be
updated accordingly.
Examples of SBHE/Chancellor Priorities
• Master Planning Process (due February 15,
2016)
• Master Planning Presentation on December
11, 2015
– http://und.edu/finance-operations/facilitiesmanagement/openforum2.pdf
• Next meeting is January 13, 2016
Open Education Resources (OER)
• 11 Faculty and Staff members trained by the NDUS Open
Source Book Training in Oct at Valley City State University.
• Committee has been formed to ensure best practices in
implementation of Open Education Resources---Members
include: Dean of Libraries and Information Resources (cochair), Associate Provost (co-chair), UND faculty members,
Vice-Chair of the University Senate, Students, Director of the
Center for Instructional and Technology and her course
design personnel and Director of the Office of Extended
Learning and her administrative staff.
• No faculty will be required to use Open Source Textbooks--Participation is Voluntary. Focus will begin with instructors
who teach large enrollment classes to ensure larger savings
for students.
Open Education Resources (OER)
• Faculty engaged in use of OER will have the financial,
technical and editorial supports. The focus will be on shared
expertise and peer-based learning to disseminate curricula
and support a learner-centric approach to education.
• Multiple major research universities have been creating and
using Open Source Materials including MIT, U of MN, U of
Oregon, U of Utah, SUNY and Georgia System.
• This movement is in response to the rising costs of textbooks
at double the cost of inflation (NY Times).
• Stephanie Walker and Thomasine Heitkamp are preparing a
proposal to NDUS. (please contact them if you have any
questions. Stephanie.Walker@und.edu and
Thomasine.Heitkamp@und.edu
Open Education Resources (OER)
• Open Educational Resources (OER)
– Stephanie Walker and Thomasine Heitkamp are
about to submit to a proposal to NDUS for funds
to assist five faculty members to adapt their
classes for OER purposes.
– We will also provide library and technical
supports to faculty wishing to use OER materials.
Examples of SBHE/Chancellor Priorities
• Master Planning Process (due February 15,
2016)
• Open Educational Resources (OER)
• Student Success Initiatives: Retention and
Graduation
Student Success Initiatives:
Retention & Graduation (SEM Comm)
• Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Committee (implemented,
continuous)
– Partnership of Academic Affairs & Student Affairs
– All colleges & schools; focus on undergraduates
– 2014-15 focus: Course availability; four-year plans; data provision
• SEM Committee Priorities for 2015-16 (in process)
– Targeted student populations (at-risk, on-campus, online, transfer)
– Academic advising process (handoff between majors, advisor professional development,
policies, Academic Advisor Council)
– Information systems education, coordination & training (Starfish, CourseLeaf,
ImageNow, PAR Predictive Analytics, iDashboards)
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Five meetings so far this academic year (in process)
– Revising current probation, suspension, and dismissal policy to clarify policy for
students, support advising, improve interventions (Student Government has
endorsed)
– Discussing current minimum 125-credit graduation requirement (varies within NDUS)
Student Success Initiatives:
Retention and Graduation (iCAN project)
• UND’s new iCAN (Integrated Coaching and Advising Network) has been
established following recognition as a community member by EDUCAUSE.
Proposal submitted to EDUCASUE in summer 2015 authored by staff in my
office including UND Student Body President, Matthew Kopp.
• Pilot iCAN programs established with Student Success Center and CoBPA
Academic Advising.
• Access to EDUCAUSE resources will ensure best practices in using
technology to conduct advisement.
• Academic advising group is reconstituted to secure faculty input.
• Faculty and staff based initiative with Lisa Burger and Thomasine
Heitkamp working collaboratively following participation in EDUCAUSE
training.
• We secured funds from EDUCAUSE, as a community member, to support
iCAN initiative (a significant first step will be the implementation of the
early alert system in several pilot projects).
My Priorities
• Continue communication with:
– the Senate Executive Committee, Former Chair, Current
Chair and Future Chair of Senate Workgroup, and Student
Government President/VP – Monthly meetings with each
– University “Letters” - 14
– Provost’s webpage: we have made improvements to the
website and will continue to make progress moving
forward – updated website is live
– Blogs – 46 blogs since July 2015
– Weekly office hours – 2 hours/week: Total so far = 18
– 3 recent blogs on exceptional teaching and research
activities of faculty across campus
• Goal to have monthly follow-up forums in the Spring
My Priorities
• Mentor the new Vice President for Research and
Economic Development (Grant McGimpsey) and
Dean of Libraries and Information Resources
(Stephanie Walker) and support their activities
and initiatives
– Stephanie’s presentation (next semester)
• UND hired Henok Elias as its first full-time
Ombuds. Henok will start mid-January 2016. His
office is located at 314 Cambridge in room 201.
Phone: 701.777.6239
Research, Scholarship, Creative Activity and
Economic Development at UND
Grant McGimpsey
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
University of North Dakota
• UND provides a very comprehensive menu of research, scholarly
and creative opportunities to undergraduate students, graduate
students and students in the professional disciplines.
• High quality medical, law, engineering, nursing and aerospace
programs along with strong and impactful programs in the sciences,
social sciences, humanities and arts. - Such comprehensive quality is
usually only found in much larger institutions.
• Our faculty, staff and students believe that research, scholarship
and creative activity is a vital component of our responsibilities.
Research and Economic Development
Mission: Enhance the impact of UND’s research, scholarship
and creative activities in the state and beyond through:
• Research Development – efficient systems, enhanced service,
information, mentorship, collaborative opportunities, financial
resources and other services to help faculty build successful
research, scholarly and creative programs
• Economic Development - through translation of
research/scholarship to the marketplace and through the
development of workforce in areas related to the state’s
economy.
Research Development
Service and Systems
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Improve our communication and level of service
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All-division ‘Advance’ to evaluate our level of service and how to improve
service to faculty.
Reviewing staffing functions
Modernize our proposal and award systems (electronic
systems) and find other efficiencies
•
Electronic pre- and post-award system vendors have been interviewed and
we are moving toward a decision on a preferred vendor (in collaboration
with NDSU)
Research Development
Mentoring and Resources
• Training, information, mentorship, seed funding, collaborative
opportunities. Full Research Development strategy coming
soon including coordinated seed funding programs.
• Current Seed Funding:
• Early Career Award – up to 5 awards at $20,000 each to help build faculty research/scholarship
• Research Equipment – up to 3 awards at $50,000 each to help acquire major research
equipment
• Research Infrastructure – up to 10 awards at $20,000 each to help acquire supplies and
consumables, provide summer support, grad student support, etc.
• Post Doctoral Award – up to 6 awards of 2-year post doctoral salary and benefits support
• Arts and Humanities Awards – up to $125,000
• AMPLIFY – student innovation awards – 7 awards in first round ($500-$2500)
• Innovation Awards – 6 awards in first round ($57,000 total)
• SSAC Awards – multiple awards totaling $60,000
Research Development
Focus on Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
– Create opportunities to showcase arts, humanities and social sciences creative
works and scholarship
– In addition to seed funding, support discipline-specific outlets for scholarship
including symposia, performances, conference travel.
– Reactivate and enlarge arts and humanities advisory council to advice to VPR.
– Identify opportunities for arts, humanities and social science faculty to engage
with sciences, engineering, medicine
Economic Development
• Develop community, corporate, industrial relationships
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Aggressive corporate engagement effort
Business-friendly IP policies
Valley Prosperity Partnership
GF EDC
Industrial advisory board
• Identify economic development resources
– Inventory incubation, acceleration, innovation space
– Inventory entrepreneurial and business services provided by UND
• Student Research, Innovation, Commercialization Hub (RICH)
– Identify space and services for student invention and innovation
Communicating our Success
Communicate inside the university and to the community
– Create a research and scholarship communications effort to augment current
research publications and communication channels (‘A
research/scholarship/creative activity story per day’)
– ‘Scholar of the Month’
– Organize and support major symposia in areas of university research strength
or societal challenges – e.g., energy and the environment; aging; public health;
healthcare; water resources, etc.
Diversity and Inclusion Strategic
Areas & Priorities
Sandra Mitchell
Associate Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion
Why does this matter?
• Benefits of a diverse student population (including but not limited to
racial and ethnic diversity) include promoting cross-racial
understanding, breaking down racial stereotypes, and promoting
livelier and more enlightening classroom discussion.
• A college student’s diversity experience is associated with higher
learning outcomes such as enhanced critical thinking skills, more
involvement in community service, and a greater likelihood for
retention and graduation.
• Efforts to prepare students to interact with and serve diverse
populations in their career field upon graduation directly implicate
diversity-related policies.
Total Enrollment by Ethnicity
Ethnicity Enrollment
Am. Indian
Asian
Black
Hawaiian
Hispanic
Non-Resident Alien
NS
two or more races
White
Summary
236
242
373
16
440
1,017
397
441
11,789
14,951
Enrollment
0%
1%
2%
2%
3%
7%
Am. Indian
3%
3%
Asian
Black
Hawaiian
Hispanic
79%
Non-Resident Alien
NS
two or more races
White
• Associate Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
• Diversity is broadly defined not limited to issues of race,
class gender or other protected classes, but encompasses
all forms of human difference.
• Cultural Centers:
– Women’s Center
– Multicultural Student Services
– American Indian Student Services
– Office of International Programs
• Classroom lectures and staff training sessions
Diversity and Inclusion Strategic
Areas
1. Campus Climate
2. Recruitment of students and faculty
3. Retention of students and faculty
4. Outreach and collaboration
5. Operational excellence
Priorities
• Climate- intentional fostering of activities which help to build and
maintain a positive campus climate for diversity for all students,
faculty and staff
• Operational Excellence- coordination of resources (human and
financial) to achieve staffing that will maintain the benefits of
diversity and inclusion for all students, faculty and staff
• Student Retention/Graduation-focus on efforts to retain a
diverse student body, particularly through the academic success
of traditionally underrepresented populations
Diversity and Inclusion
• Diversity Advisory Council has been re-formed. The group has
already been actively working to:
- Develop a charter which will make it a permanent part of the university
structure
- Create a strategic plan for diversity and
- Create and implement a student climate assessment
• Collaborations with Residence Life, Health and Wellness, Affirmative
Action, Office of Instructional Development, Human Resources,
Dean of Students, University Police, Law School, College of Arts and
Sciences, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines and more
• ACE Internationalization Lab
• American Indian Research Committee (AIRC)
Q&A