Joint Strategic Planning Committee

Thursday, February 5, 2004

10:30 a.m. -12:10 p.m.

Green Hall Conference Room

Attendance: Robert L. Carothers, Beverly Swan, Tom Dougan, Judy Beckman, Faye Boudreaux-Bartels, Steve Grubman-Black, Celest Martin, Michael Rice, Bill Rosen, Ann Morrissey, Abu Bakr, Michael Sutherland, Earle Degraphenried and Soledade Surrette.

Announcements: Faculty Senate Chairperson Judy Beckman announced that Professor Faye Boudreaux-Bartels had agreed to serve as Vice Chairperson of the Faculty Senate for the remainder of the academic year. She introduced Professor Celest Martin who had been elected to the Executive Committee at the January 29 Faculty Senate Meeting.

President Carothers discussed the recent State of the State address by Governor Carcieri and the Governor's call for a five-year plan in investment in the sciences at URI. President Carothers said that he hoped that the group involved in devising the plan sees it as an investment in the University in line with the state of Connecticut's investment in UConn and would focus on endowed chair positions for faculty chairs rather than on new construction. The President also announced that the University has hired Mr. Peter Keenan as the new Controller. He said that Mr. Keenan would begin on March 8.

Provost Swan reported that the Board of Governors is very interested in outcomes assessment for graduates of URI, RIC and CCRI as part of the continuing effort with regard to assessment of K-16 education. She said that the Board will require each department to develop outcome goals, which could be assessed at a later time.

Academic Assessment: Senate Chairperson Beckman reported that the JSPC Task Force, which was expanded to include Dean Jayne Richmond, Ms. Deborah Grossman-Garber and Mr. Chris Wessells had met with Tom Murphy the previous afternoon. She said that it was clear to her that Mr. Murphy was making a real effort to listen to the quality issues identified by the faculty members. She said that the next step would be to give the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans and members of the faculty an opportunity to define and refine the underlying values, quality, and cost factors upon which the model will be based.

Professor Boudreaux-Bartels asked that the JSPC find a way to come to closure on issues where pros and cons had been debated. Prior to it being reported that the JSPC has made a decision on a particular matter, there should be a specific mechanism in place to validate that a consensus of the JSPC had indeed been reached. President Carothers said that he would ask the group if some form of closure had been reached on an issue before moving ahead.

It was agreed that discussion and subsequent approval of the Minutes also provide the opportunity to summarize a consensus about what had been discussed.

Consistent with the previous discussion, President Carothers asked if the JSPC concurred that Mr. Murphy's model might provide a more comprehensive approach to program review and that it was time to move away from the PCA.

There was general agreement with the President's statement.

JSPC Planning process timelines: Ms. Morrissey shared with the group an overview of the University Planning Process, which had been prepared by the PSPD. Suggestions were made with regard to clarifying some of the items and Ms. Morrissey agreed to make the revisions and to bring the document back at a subsequent meeting,

Fiscal Planning for '05 and '06

The JSPC reviewed materials prepared by Professor Rosen, which gave an overview of state support for administrative units, including higher education.

Discussion ensued as to the various cost-cutting or revenue-enhancing activities that might help the University manage potential reductions in revenue from the State. No consensus was achieved.

The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.