Periodic Updates - Update #55
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
November 8, 2005
| TO: | The CMU Community |
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| FROM: | Michael Rao |
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| 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.
