DATE: 4-13-99
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: CMU 208
FACILITATOR: Martin Grindeland
NOTETAKER: Iris Gill

Q1. Based upon any information you have, how would you assess Moorhead State's performance regarding the quality goal?

• Sees improvement in computer availability, most people have one.
• Need to look farther forward.
• Can't stay status quo, that's like taking a step back.
• Problem-solving mode in past. Need to decide what programs we need for future. Need to move faster in that direction.
• Used to think we were best, then fell into thinking we were not the best. Need to realize what we are good at.
• Growing problems with bureaucracy, namely MnSCU and legislature. Need simplification of processes (core problem).
• Saw quality change when phone registration became reality -- great (student view).
• Student believes she is getting good education. Never thought of "quality" before just had good relations with professors.
• Are we keeping facilities at a quality level?
• MSU has a quality reputation but we don't realize it and publicize it. We need to blow our own horn more. We don't perceive how good we are.

• Is TQM a valid test of quality for MMA?
• Need better measures or benchmarking of quality.

• All we do is for the student. If they don't like things, then we lose them. We all need to work toward keeping students -- realize this is our "job," our "business."

• Class size good.
• Advising system working well.

• Surprised that Bookstore was not open evenings or that the Union is so closed up on weekends (off-campus person).

Q2. How could the achievement of quality at MSU be improved?

• Set goals for quality on paper every two years (longer term goals). Identify goal, identify resources needed. Do across campus (outside of strategic planning). Then how did we do?
• Many different customers (all facets), need to satisfy all segments.
• Identify steps to being named "best" university.

• Focus more on fewer projects.

• Maybe we should be more of a 7-day a week operation.

Q3. What barriers to quality exist at MSU?

• Area that needs help does not have time or resources to solve it themselves. Need broader framework to oversee big picture.
• Need more independence from MnSCU interference (don't micro-manage).
• Communication is barrier. Need to specify when facility work is going on and that it might cause noise problems. Don't change plans during construction. Realize changes cause major resource allocation problems.

• In supplemental instruction classes you have only people who want to be there. In regular classes you have people who don't want to be there.

Q4. How could MSU excel to a greater extent in terms of doing the right things and doing them effectively?

• Better communication to students about what we are trying to accomplish for them, as students don't know about strategic goals.
• Have mechanism to recognize the things we DON'T need to do anymore so we don't waste people's time on them.
• Update that survey done in the past that asked students what they perceive as quality at MSU.

Q5. How could MSU excel to a greater extent in terms of using the best practices regarding teaching and learning?

• Relationship setting is the most important aspect -- improve it.
• Large classes interfere with relationship setting. Get class sizes down.
• Find alternatives to classroom setting -- combination of classroom setting, CD-ROM, small groups, tapes. This would reduce the effective class size.
• Advisors need to be more involved with students, not just 10 minutes per term.
• Offer more courses off campus, like West Acres or at businesses, to reach people who wouldn't normally think of attending MSU.
• Make taking classes more convenient -- off-site teaching, module teaching, creative scheduling.
• Be more creative in teaching delivery -- we should be the fore-runners in this regard rather than resisting change. Business world does "what is necessary" to stay in business.
• Always look for better ways to do our job.

17. Should we keep Quality goal?

• Only if we have total commitment of University leadership and rest of University community buys in also.
• Need more specific projects to achieve quality.
• We believe in the quality goal. Some want it part of every goal, some want as separate goal.

17. Should any of other goals by dropped?

TRANSITIONS

• Transitions seems to be limited and should be expanded.
• Combine Transitions with Careers.
• Cooperate with University of Mary to be feeder or finisher of their programs.

CAREERS

• Ambivalent about Careers goal -- really want to focus on "education" not job.
• But MnSCU graduate follow-up survey forces us to be job oriented.
• Change Careers goal to "Life-long Learning."
• Try to make students choose us because we are the best rather than just because we are here and handy.

TECHNOLOGY

• Yes, technology should very much remain a goal.
• Education should be front runner in introducing young people to technology.

COMMUNITY

• Yes, it should remain.
• What is impetus for staff to represent MSU in community? How many do this? We have fewer than Concordia and NDSU. Improve this.
• Have pride in being from MSU.
• Push harder to have students do internships. Eliminate internship barrier that requires a student to be a junior to do one. Would like to see students doing internships throughout their academic career.

QUANTITY

• Expand our hours of operation.
• Saturday youth acting class went over big.
• More outreach opportunities.
• If class gets too big, split it.
• Find things that are popular and find ways to offer them, give them priority.

BETTER COMMUNICATION

• Communication is enough of a problem that it needs to be goal of its own.
• Use red and white flowers at all events. Flaunt our colors and our logo.
• Hold an MSU day once a month where everyone wears red and white.
• Hold an MSU Day which might include a tour of the tunnels.
• Involve Board of Directors in more MSU functions. They need to know how we really operate.
• Hard for outside person calling in to find right person to talk to. Need better presentation of ourselves to public.
• We don't know what other people do, so it is hard to refer people correctly.
• People don't know each other well, so they don't develop relationships.
• Segregation of functions is a problem, sometimes preventing people from helping each other.
• People are rude on phone and in person. People tend to get their "heads chewed off" when asking for things. People don't seem happy.
• Need to humanize our goals, humanize MSU.
• Ask people before we do things.
• Students don't like Maintenance coming into their rooms to fix things when student is not there. Have someone from hall desk accompany maintenance people into room.
• Students move off campus because it's such a hassle to live on campus -- no food after such and such a time.
• Need package that tells new student or new faculty where to go to get things done, who to call.
• Students need more time with their advisors.

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