Minutes

President´s Cabinet

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
8:30 a.m. - Barge 410

Dr. McIntyre will be returning from Seattle, so Dr. Quirk will preside until her return.

Present: Jerilyn McIntyre, Wayne Quirk, Rich Corona, Charlotte Tullos, Ellen Hall, Libby Street

Guests: Phil Backlund, Patsy Callaghan, Tracy Pellett, Warren Street, Becky Watson

I. Action Items

1. Approval of Cabinet Minutes from August 13, 2008
Motion to approve the Cabinet Minutes from August 13, 2008 as presented by Mr. Corona. Seconded by Dr. Tullos. No further discussion. Motion carried.

II. Discussion Items

1. Enrollment Planning
Dr. Street distributed enrollment planning information that was discussed at the Cabinet Retreat on Monday, August 18. The information was discussed at length and assignments were given to each cabinet member to follow up on. Dr. Street will include the additional information on the enrollment matrix for next week´s cabinet meeting.

2. Invitation to Roundtable Discussion: Escalating Engagement Project
Dr. McIntyre received an invitation to attend a roundtable discussion on the results of a national research project that was conducted over the last 10 months. The project focused on how our state´s higher education institutions might do a better job serving the state´s current and future workload needs. Dr. Street agreed to attend this meeting as CWU´s representative.

III. Information Item

1. National Survey of Student Engagement Multi-Year Benchmark Report August 2008
This item was distributed as an information item.

IV. At 10:30 a.m.: Becky Watson regarding current advertising/marketing pieces

Dr. Watson distributed the advertising and marketing pieces that ran April 28, 2008 through June 15, 2008. She explained that they focused on the centers and on the university as a whole. Several of the ads were translated into Spanish and were run on the east side as well. A branding ad was also added to the website and several radio spots. On the west side, twenty buses with CWU ads on their tailgates are running as well. The Clearwire Channel is running a 30-minute flash video about CWU. In addition, KOMO sports radio is running a 15-30 minute ad. We have online ads with the Seattle PI and the Seattle Times on both their sports and education pages. Most of these ads are focusing on the university centers and on new recruits. At the upcoming Evergreen State Fair, a video about CWU will be running on their big screen several times a day. Over Labor Day Weekend, A full-page featuring CWU´s softball girls will be on the daily Kittitas County Fair schedule all four days. We will also have several ads in the Daily Record over Labor Day weekend.

Dr. Watson added that an enrollment-marketing meeting was held yesterday to discuss strategies for fall and the rest of the year. The group decided on a direct mail project for non-traditional students for this fall. For winter and beyond the fast track marketing group will be focusing on several ideas. The new view book and fall 2009 application packet were distributed for review and discussion.

V. At 11:00 a.m.: Phil Backlund, Patsy Callaghan, Tracy Pellett, Warren Street regarding Academic Assessment, Planning, and Implementation

Dr. Pellett gave a brief report of CWU´s 2007-2008 academic assessment. He added that assessment of student learning is an essential component of CWU´s ongoing efforts to evaluate overall academic and institutional effectiveness. He explained that through institution-wide surveys, programmatic yearly reports, standardized tests, and individual program studies management it is clear that students are achieving stated learning outcomes. This evidence is used for programmatic improvement at the individual faculty level and at the program level. As of spring 2008, all 116 degree programs were expected for the first time to provide ongoing documentation of achievement of programmatic student learning outcomes. The majority of academic programs submitted a student learning outcome assessment for the 2007-2008 academic year. As a result of this first year´s programmatic assessment reporting and feedback cycle, it is clear that we need to continue to develop and refine the assessment yearly reporting and feedback system; we need to provide professional development and continue to fund assessment grants that assist faculty in integrating best practice assessment processes; and we need to recognize and reward departments and programs that exhibit best practice assessment processes.

Dr. Warren Street gave an update on NWCCU Standard 2 with regard to assessment. He reported that there is widespread acceptance in the departments with regard to assessment, and there is a growing commitment to regular assessment and reflection. He added that Tracy Pellett and Ian Quitadamo should be commended for their work on this project because they basically started from ground zero. There is a greater awareness and acceptance of assessment routines, and program improvements are emerging. All college self-studies include assessment summaries with some reflective analyses. Dr. Street then provided the group with some recommendations: The university needs a comprehensive assessment plan; we need to commit to an annual assessment process; it would be helpful to have a comprehensive list of all the surveys we do at CWU; and assessment needs to be built into the ongoing life of the university.

Dr. Patsy Callaghan gave a brief history of general education at CWU and then an update on assessment with regard to general education. General Education Reform at CWU includes five stages: defining the student population and engage stakeholders in an inclusive and open process; defining the institutional context (value set and SWOT analysis); collecting and defining the relationship of general education to the campus mission and vision; redefining and aligning mission and vision with goals and areas of study; and crafting shared outcomes for meaningful assessment. In May 2008, the Faculty Senate passed general education framework, including mission and goals. Developments in the general education program between 2007-08 included: resolution of former barriers to integrated learning through SAFARI; connection of courses and course areas to goals were clarified; and the stages of general education reform were analyzed. Dr. Callaghan added that several assessment initiatives will take place during the 2008-09 school year.

Dr. Backlund added that he sees four areas of concern with regard to assessment. Those include: history of assessment; with this lack of history, do we have something in place to assist with history down the road; when it comes to student learning outcomes, we need to separate this piece from overall assessment; and assessment implies data gathering, so how is this happening, and what does the data actually mean? Dr. Backlund commended Tracy Pellett for the web sites that have been developed for assessment and program review. We are definitely heading in the right direction.

Dr. Backlund then gave a quick update on NWCCU accreditation. We are approximately half way through the process. We have a complete draft and approximately 350 exhibits. He is very pleased with our progress and proud of the folks who have been working on the standards. He asked cabinet members to thank folks in their areas for all the hard work they have done. The mock review is October 13-14, 2008. In the next couple of weeks, the standards chairs will be asked to provide a summary of things that look good and things that are of concern. The draft will be available on line (password protected) by some time next week. Dr. Backlund asked cabinet members to provide feedback as soon as possible. It was suggested that a university-wide forum regarding NWCCU accreditation be incorporated into Dr. McIntyre´s State of the University Address this year. Ms. Dawson will work with Dr. Backlund to find a date. Dr. Backlund also commended Shirley Sadler for all of her work on the accreditation process. She has done a wonderful job.

VI. Executive Reports

Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs:
Dr. Quirk reported that he met with a group yesterday and charged them with developing a strategic plan for the CWU University Centers.

Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs:
Mr. Corona distributed a draft form that was developed for exceptions to out of state travel and personal service contracts. Cabinet members were asked to send feedback to Mr. Corona as soon as possible so that the new process can be put into place.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management:
No report.

Vice President for University Relations:
No report.

Chief Planning Officer:
Dr. Street reminded folks that she needs performance agreement data as soon as possible.

President:
No report.

VII. Progress Reports

1. Accreditation
Accreditation was discussed as part of agenda item V.

VIII. Cabinet reports on community events and meetings attended

Dr. McIntyre: Economic Development Group Board Meeting, Takashoku University Reception, Shimane University Reception, Moss Adams Alumni Event, Council of Presidents Meeting and dinner for Rep. Helen Sommers, Native American Indian Advisory Council Meeting and Summit

Dr. Quirk: Native American Indian Advisory Council Meeting and Summit, CWU football game

Mr. Corona: No report

Dr. Tullos: Ellensburg Business Authority Board Meeting, Native American Indian Advisory Council Meeting and Summit, Economic Development Group Board Meeting

Dr. Hall: Native American Indian Advisory Council Meeting and Summit

Dr. Street: Annual Rodeo Breakfast, Native American Indian Advisory Council Meeting and Summit