Campus Conversations Summaries

Thursday, October 19, 2006; 1 pm Facilitators: Tom Smith and Joan Clinefelter

Group 1

Synthesize Our Strengths:

  • Ability of employees to think creatively in problem-solving (outside the box)
  • Willingness to empower individuals - give them ownership
  • Individuals have opportunities to see how they can make a difference here and in society

See the Future:

  • Vision of educating citizens of the world instead of just members of the workforce
  • Civic involvement infused in the curriculum campus-wide and inst[itution] involved in community
  • Adequately funded/staffed
  • An end to "them" and "us" - all employees are valued at all levels
  • Administrative procedures/processes are simplified/streamlined/well-defined

Find Way to Get There:

Goal: Eliminate the atmosphere of faculty vs administration

Goal: Soften the "walls" that divide schools and colleges

Goal: Utilize the "core" to infuse civic engagement

Goal: Increase levels of funding and staff

Group 2

Synthesize Our Strengths:

  • People-centered
  • Willingness to devote energy to get the job done
  • Traditions - campus settings, buildings, physical environment, history
  • Cross program project collaboration with faculty and students - Faculty identified projects
  • People get along with each other

See the Future:

  • Purposeful education - not narrow focus just on job skill prep
  • Embrace liberal arts learning
  • Communicating with community - why education is valuable
  • Financial stability
  • Attracting new resources
  • Less external pressure, eg, reporting, etc.
  • Tools for effectiveness

Find Way to Get There:

Goal: Collaboration between faculty and staff

Goal: Integration

Goal: Worth and value of university and college education [colleagues?] to external environment

Goal: Long-term financial plan and security [of] resources

Goal: Investment of resources into instructional facilities

Goal: Competitive compensation

Goal: Extra credit for willingness to work