Academic Affairs - Minnesota State University Moorhead

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
FOCUS GROUP SUMMARY

DATE: April 7, 1999
TIME: 3:00 pm
PLACE: CMU
FACILITATOR: Nathan Davis
NOTE-TAKER: Melanie Nordick

STRATEGIC GOAL: TRANSITIONS

1. Based upon any information you have, how would you assess Moorhead State’s performance regarding the transition goal?

There is documented improvement; however, it was strongly suggested we continue this goal and give it continued attention as we are still in our infancy and searching for things to connect students to campus. There is a need for connection from advising to service. We are still 10 years behind other comparable institutions.

2. How could transitions to MSU be improved?

3. How could MSU excel to a greater extent in terms of meeting the needs of students?

A proposal for an MSU advising & resource center with Paula Ahles as the Director was discussed. This would be for undeclared students only to provide a "home" for them similar to those of students who have declared majors. This would provide a university "attachment" and a positive connection to MSU.

FYE has been a positive experience in providing a vehicle for transition. If this is to continue, operating funds will need to be allocated. Those students who have gone through FYE, need to be monitored for retention to protect our investment of the dollars already spent with them.

The Alumni Foundation also needs to have students "connected" for them to become alumni who are "connected" to MSU.

Suggestions are to provide service "with a smile" and let students know they are always in the right place and their questions are always important.

Rather than treating the student as a customer (although that’s all right), it was suggested we treat them as peers and follow the golden rule. It was felt we have lost the feeling of politeness and civility, not only among peers, but throughout the campus.

4. What barriers exist for students in their transition to MSU?

Students standing in line for long periods of time, whether for financial aid, registration, or questions at the business office - at specific times of the semester might be combated or at least had more attention paid those students. Suggestions included, offering lemonade & cookies and/or some conversation with personnel from that office or others who were available (administration?).

5. How could MSU excel to a greater extent in terms of productive faculty and student interaction?

In order for interaction to improve between faculty and students, it was suggested the sense of community within MSU (goal 5) be addressed. A suggestion was to establish a phone tree - so within minutes, anything from legislative information to a faculty celebration or emergency or news about a particular student’s accomplishments or emergency situation, could be relayed via faculty to all faculty.

Faculty are overloaded now, but recognizing personal strengths and acting on that when needed may be part of an answer.

6. How could MSU excel to a greater extent in terms of academic advising?

When surveys of students have been done in the past, the number 1 reason why they chose to attend MSU has been "academics". However, their number 1 concern has been "poor advising".

Although some faculty are wonderful advisors, some are not and there seems to be the perception that advising is not a part of the job. (from a faculty member): Perhaps a rewards/punishment system needs to be determined in order for advising to be considered a more important part of our job. Another suggestion was to give some faculty alternative assignments.

Dragon Days registration which fall on non-duty days for faculty continue to be a problem. Faculty don’t feel they need to be there and students go away with bad feelings not having been welcomed and helped by faculty in "their" department of choice. Again, the loss of professionalism was mentioned.

7. If you were to identify a new strategic goal for MSU, what would it be and why?

It was suggested a new strategic goal would be for a pilot program to input dollars for release time (1-2 credits). It was thought adjunct could be hired for teaching load and have others do more advising versus teaching.

8. What to do about this goal: Transitions?

Re-write it leaving out the things which are working and fund them annually.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION NOTES

The lack of collegiality was seen as the combative feeling at the Meet & Confer meetings between the Faculty Union and the MSU Administration versus a "what can we all do to work together to get the job done" attitude. A feeling of suspicion and acting more like a trade union than a professional union was a strong criticism. It was felt we could be a strong union and still maintain civility, acting as professionals and doing things for the good of the University. As it is, the external local community view of faculty seems to be that we are overpaid, belligerent and won’t do anything beyond the letter of the contract without extra compensation.

Another note on faculty was regarding review of each other. It was felt there is not enough external review and that it has become too inbred. There needs to be another way of doing it within the confines of the contract. It was suggested the Union Executive Boards talk about special initiatives for collegiality - which, by the way, is a criterion for review. In fact, some would like it to appear in the goal(s) and/or mission statement. There is definite need to encourage all things positively.

A discussion of the Convocation as a more positive activity was begun. First, it was strongly felt it should be held the first day of classes, with class time canceled although the group would meet and be taken to convocation by the faculty member. It was suggested the whole Convocation be re-thought to the point of having an outside speaker and giving students a responsibility to participate in their education and getting them excited about doing it.

We’ve had a change of identity which needs to be dealt with. We’ve moved from a teaching college to a liberal studies university and are continually evolving as an institution. It is necessary to "catch" the student in the first three weeks or we lose them.

consensus training - make sure everyone is heard
outreach/distance education was discussed briefly ending with the announcement there is already an accredited University on the Internet. Jones International University in Colorado was accredited March 9 by the NCA.