Update #55

TO:	The CMU Community
FROM:	Michael Rao
SUBJECT:	CMU Update 55

CMU Full Accreditation Recommended for 10 Years

A team of 13 consultant-evaluators from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association completed its accreditation site visit to CMU last week. The team plans to recommend that CMU receive full accreditation for another 10 years — the maximum allowable period — and that the next accreditation visit be in 2015. CMU met all five of the commission’s accreditation standards. The university expects to receive the team’s report in December and a formal accreditation decision will be issued in early 2006.

The external team indicated that the university is on the right path and is doing many things well — and that it needs to continue to focus on its vision and priorities. Thank you to everyone within the university who contributed to this accreditation effort. Particular thanks to Astronomy Professor Wayne Osborn, Vice Provost Catherine Riordan, and Psychology Professor Tim Hartshorne for their leadership throughout this important process. The accreditation steering committee included Wayne Osborn, Tim Hartshorne, Vice Provost Ray Christie, Associate Vice President Jonas Cook, Business Information Systems Professor and Chair Monica Holmes, Associate Vice President Maxine Kent, Journalism Professor and Chair Maria Marron, and College of Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean Gary Shapiro.

Please see http://www.cmich.edu/hlc%2Daccreditation/ for additional information on the accreditation process.

Campus Connections: SAP Campus Management Progress

At noon on Wednesday, November 9th, there will be a “Town Hall” meeting in the Bovee University Center Rotunda Room to discuss the status and plans for implementing the university’s new student information system. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend, learn more, and pose questions to the functional and technical staff working on this project. Topics to be discussed include but are not limited to: user training, user testing opportunities, security requirements, development of new web screens, and creation of reports. Questions regarding the Town Hall meeting may be addressed to the Office of the Dean of Students (989-774-3346; deanstu@cmich.edu), and information on the project itself can be accessed at http://www.sap.cmich.edu/cm/default.htm.

Carnegie Foundation to Release New Classifications

The Carnegie Foundation has developed a set of new classifications to offer new perspectives on institutional comparison, similarity, and difference. The new classifications will offer up to five different views of an institution: undergraduate program, graduate program, enrollment profile, undergraduate student profile, and size/setting. The official release date for these new classifications is November 17. In addition to the new classification schemes, a revision of the traditional classification framework is expected to be issued in December. For additional information, please visit http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/sub.asp?key=486&subkey=1170.

Funding Effort in Washington, D.C.

CMU is working closely with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow in an effort to include funding for a Center for Low-Incidence Disabilities in this year's Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. The Center will provide specialized tests and instructional materials for school districts that are specifically designed for students with low-incidence disabilities. CMU professors and graduate students will provide consultation to school staff. The center will also provide training for CMU graduate students in assessment and instruction for the children. Congress is anticipated to make a decision on the CMU request within the next couple of weeks.

Six Sigma Initiatives Underway at CMU

Ten professors in the College of Business Administration (CBA) and one from the College of Science and Technology were selected through an application process earlier this year to participate in Six Sigma orientation and training provided through CMU’s collaboration with Dow Chemical Company. These professors are now engaged in projects at CMU. One outcome will be the certification, by Dow Chemical, of the professors as Six Sigma “Black Belts.” The college also is exploring ways to add Six Sigma content to its curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The university is also looking for ways to continue the training program for additional professors and staff and to implement Six Sigma in additional projects that will contribute to improved processes at CMU.

Education Building Project Program Statement Available On-Line

The Education Building Program Statement, a document that provides very detailed information about the university’s number one capital project, is now available on-line at (http://www.academicadministration.cmich.edu/capital projects.htm).

Research Travel Fund Available

In 2001, I created a fund to support some of the expenses associated with grant acquisition exploration with funding agencies. Similar to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs’ Reimbursement Awards, the funds may be used to pay such costs as travel to meet personnel from potential funding agencies. To streamline the process, the application process is the same as that for the Reimbursement Awards (application is available at http://www.orsp.cmich.edu/pdf/grantdev.pdf). Please submit applications or requests for travel assistance up to a maximum of $1000 to the president’s office.

Colleague Research, Scholarship and Creativity

Many of you continue to generously share copies of your published books, articles, and originals, photos, or prints of creative work with me. Thank you for taking the time to deliver or send these to Warriner Hall. As you continue to make discoveries, publish, or complete your creations, would you please consider sharing these with me? I am interested in the work of faculty colleagues, staff, and students at any level. If you have any questions regarding how to transmit your work, please contact Jane Sasse (fox1jm@cmich.edu). I can honestly say that spending time with your work is among the top-ranked pleasures associated with my role.

President’s Award for Diversity Excellence

The President’s Advisory Council on Affirmative Action and Campus Equity recommended that this year’s President’s Diversity Excellence Awards be awarded to Sociology Professor Bob Newby, and Traci Guinn, Director of Minority Student Services. These annual awards were established to recognize CMU faculty, staff, administrators or units that have made outstanding contributions toward achieving diversity at CMU. Congratulations to these worthy recipients of this award.

Congratulations to Field Hockey Team

Congratulations to the coaches and the student-athletes of the women’s field hockey team, which won the Mid-American Conference Tournament last Saturday for the first time since 1990. My best wishes to head coach Cristy Freese and the team, as it plays in Boston on November 8 for a bid to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Please visit http://cmuchippewas.collegesports.com/sports/w-fieldh/cmu-w-fieldh-body.html for game results.

1st Friday for Faculty Seminars Offered

At the request of a group of faculty members last year for more opportunities to discuss informally matters of broad interest with respect to teaching and research, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) and the Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching (FaCIT) have collaborated to deliver a series of “1st Fridays for Faculty” seminars this fall to promote cross-disciplinary engagement and provide information in specific areas of interest. The seminars are listed at: http://www.orsp.cmich.edu/pdf/importdates.PDF.