1999/2000 Fall Semester

Strategic Planning Focus Group

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

FOCUS GROUP SUMMARY

DATE: October 19, 1999                   TIME:  3:00 pm           PLACE: CMU 214

FACILITATOR: Martin Grindeland

NOTE-TAKER: Melanie Nordick

STRATEGIC GOAL: IMPROVE COMMUNICATION

1. Based upon any information you have, how would you evaluate Moorhead State?s internal and external communication?

Internal communication was viewed as so overwhelming that important notices were often lost in the masses of paper and junk e-mail. Evidently the "official list" is not working quite as well as anticipated. There is a need for a vehicle for "very important" items opposed to "nice to know" information.

Better ways of communicating with the non-traditional students need to be developed as well as access to offices/departments at the times they are on campus (other than the normal work day).

There is a definite need for positive media coverage for those MSU-sponsored events and involvement by MSU employees and/or students, particularly participation in community activities.

A need was also cited for a central, easily accessed by all employees, database for student information such as e-mail addresses, addresses, phone numbers, majors, advisors, etc.

2. In looking at the objectives for this goal, which are the most important and why?

Objective #3, revised: Improve student and employee transitions into the university as well as improve progress within the academic community and into careers.

Objective #5: Improve marketing.

3. Are there any objectives that were not listed by the strategic planning committee which should have been included?

Effectively use a variety of appropriate channels, including marketing, deal with internal & external communication, effectively use/learn technology, to have access to communication resources, make competent decisions about what communications to use.

Improve communication between MSU & broader academic discipline of which we are a part/community.

Promote a climate of accuracy in communications and instill the importance of communicating in a multi-culturally diverse community.

4. What measurable outcomes should be targeted regarding the objective given first priority by your group? (Transitions?)

There is a need for a central location for origination of information to the university community to assure accuracy & accountability.

Every employee should have an orientation to the university upon arrival including being given the mission statement, a tour of campus, global training regarding committees as well as FERPA & other federal, state, and local regulations.

There is a need for a web-based system to allow Careers & Placement to have students registered and resumes on the web in order to compete in the job market.

Advising: every student should have a high level of satisfaction with the advising experience.

Faculty members would be actively engaged in scholarly research or some creative activity.

There should be greater student participation and satisfaction in campus committees.

Improve communication or linkage between MSU committees and the MSU community.

Increase traffic between employers and MSU students and graduates.

5. What measurable outcomes should be targeted regarding the objective given second priority by your group? (improve marketing?)

MSU should be sponsoring and participating in more off-campus cultural community events such as involvement with the Fargo Theater productions.

We need to find out who are the stakeholders and what product they want from us. Become more engaged in the marketing process.

Improve the perceived match between our image and our identity.

Increase awareness of who we are and who we want to be.

Increase awareness of MSU's philanthropic activities.

Improve the level of satisfaction with our communication process in terms of internal and external communication as well as the coordination with scheduling.

Improve access to communication technology.

Increase the centralization of our communication process.

Enhance the coordination of scheduling and communication.

General Comment for Improvement on campus.

Improve student transcripts to show specific areas to more easily fill out graduation papers and assist in the advising procedure.

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