Strategic Planning Committee
Meeting Minutes
September 11, 2008
Members Present:
Lisa Foss, Dan Gregory, Diana Burlison, Debra Leigh, Jim Sherohman, Dan Wildeson, Kim
Oren, John Palmer, Judy Kilborn, Diana Lawson, John Burgeson, Kay Worner, Mark Jaede,
Geoffrey Tabakin, Robin Ewing, Deborah Bechtold, David Sikes, Sara Grachek, Dan Pedersen,
Mahmoud Saffari, Sue Massmann, Michelle Mumm, Monica Devers, Stephen Hornstein
Welcome and Introductions
Announcements
 President Potter visit on Sept. 25
o Present the charge of the SPC for the academic year
o Interested in this committee serving as a coordinating committee for the task force
of the Leadership Team
o SPC plays a critical role in bringing information back to the various groups that
we represent

Reschedule Oct. 23 meeting to Oct. 30
o Moved by John Palmer, Second by Judy Kilborn, No objections
SCSU Strategic Action Plan (draft) presentation
Concern about areas that have zero initiatives identified around cooperation and collegiality and
ensuring the safety and value of employees so they can be successful.
 Task forces are addressing some of these issues such as the Enrollment Task Force and
the Initiative Climate Task Force in the COE.
 The work plan documents clearly are not exhaustive and there is lots of work happening
that is not reflected in the documents. Communication will be key
FY 09 Institutional Work Plan (SCSU and MnSCU)
This is the first time the work plan document is in the hands of the general university.
 The document will enable us to identify natural linkages that identify shared ownership
of goals and objectives.
 Responsibility for the action items listed in the work plan does not lie solely with the
person identified in the responsibility column. That person will be the coordinator of that
item with the help of others. Most items require collaboration from across campus, but it

is necessary to have a responsible person. Concern was expressed about people who do
not yet exist and are responsible for important areas.
The document is very new and has not had the opportunity for a lot of buy in. The
challenge was that the SCSU work plan had to be attached to the MnSCU Presidential
Work Plan by Sept. 4. In the future this document will not be put together over the
summer but rather in March, April, and May.
President Potter has clear points in the MnSCU Work Plan that he will be held accountable for
and those points are related to the SCSU Work Plan. The work plan provides clear accountability
to the President by his direct reports
Opening SPC meetings to the campus
Open meetings might help the university community be informed of what is happening with
planning. Meetings are always open but we may want to decide which meetings to specifically
invite the campus to attend to provide input in the shaping of the plan.
Concern was expressed that it is a large group already conducting difficult, complicated work. It
was recommended that we notify the campus, list the agenda, and invite participation during a
time set aside for comments. This would be accomplished by adding an open comments item to
the agenda.
If the intent is to better communicate with campus, we may want to consider other means as
well. Minutes are not always helpful because much of the discussion is not captured. The
committee should develop creative ways to communicate highlights of the planning work,
especially as we try to communicate with students, such as using Podcasts. The committee was
reminded that we can ask to participate in a Student Government Meeting on Thursday nights.