Periodic Updates - Update #62
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
August 21, 2006
As most readers know, this is one of many periodic updates posted on the web to communicate and to help engage members of the university community in current events and areas of interest. Some readers may not have had the opportunity to review an update that was posted during the summer, which includes topics such as:
Encourage Student Engagement
At CMU, the learning experience can reach beyond rigorous classroom work to afford unmatched opportunities in global education, public service, research, and cultural enrichment. Please help me encourage students to consider:
Advocacy for equitable per-student funding for CMU continues to be critical. The university can only benefit from continued support of its many constituents who write to legislators and the governor to encourage their commitment to equalize funding among similar universities. Please visit http://www.cmich.edu/govrelations for talking points, sample letters, addresses for government officials, and other information. Thank you for your help.
Higher Learning Commission Follow-up
Last November, a team of consultant-evaluators from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association completed its accreditation site visit to CMU. The external team identified no issues, indicating that the university is on the right path—and that it needs to continue to focus on its vision and priorities. While receiving full accreditation for another 10 years, there were a number of constructive comments contained in the report on which I continue to reflect. The activities associated with CMU 2010, the work of the university budget advisory committee (UBAC), current studies of ProfEd off-campus programs, and the university’s current focus on general education are helping to engage the community in issues contained in the reports. We are developing a matrix that includes the HLC team’s comments and CMU’s efforts toward continuous improvement in the areas referenced.
ProfEd Off-Campus Programs
As discussed previously in Updates 52 and 58, the university continues to study its off-campus programs, which has experienced declining enrollments in an increasingly competitive environment. Projections indicate that ProfEd’s ability to continue to provide more than $4 million annually to CMU’s general fund is in serious jeopardy. We also are reminded of the HLC team’s concern about CMU’s dependence on these funds. ProfEd engaged consultants to provide business plans for two options—restructuring existing programs or creating a new entity for off-campus programs. I will be calling upon several resources, including the Academic Senate, as information continues to be gathered for these two options so that a decision can be made in the near term regarding ProfEd’s future.
General Education Committee
In June, a team of CMU professors and administrators attended the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Institute on General Education to engage themselves in conversations about general education programs. The team drafted a mission statement for general education at CMU, developed a plan for restructuring of general education, and conceived the general outline of an improved curriculum. I look forward to further implementation of an action plan for reinvigorating general education at CMU during this academic year. Please join me in thanking Tanya Domina, Joyce Henricks, Melinda Kreth, Jane Matty, and Catherine Riordan for their work this summer on this important project.
CMU 2010 Vision Plan
A second round of requests for proposals for fiscal year 2007 funding remains open until October 2. For the latest information about the CMU 2010 vision planning process, please visit the CMU 2010 web site at http://www.planning.cmich.edu/Updates.htm.
Energy Efficiency Continues to be Critical
As a community of many thousands, CMU continues to be dependent on your help in conserving energy on the main campus. In addition to being personally concerned about human dependency on traditional energy sources, the university faces utility costs that continue to increase significantly, taking away resources that could otherwise be spent to enhance learning and the learning environment. While on campus recently in the evening, I noticed many buildings with lights on and seemingly no activity. I ask again that you kindly turn off lights whenever you are the last person to leave a room or when you see a room or area not in use and adjust thermostats to 68 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer. Update 28 has a more complete list of suggested actions.
Ben and Marion Celani and Fabiano Family Residence Halls Open This Semester
Opening to students this week are two new residence halls, named in honor of Ben and Marion Celani and the Fabiano Family. CMU’s Residence Life system, of which these halls are the latest addition, provides important academic benefits to on-campus students. Statistics show that students living in on-campus housing progress toward graduation faster, have a higher retention rate (10-20% higher at CMU), and are more engaged and academically successful. The Celani and Fabiano residence halls will be formally dedicated at 2 p.m. on August 31.
Also part of the residence halls project was the complete remodeling of the Woldt residential restaurant and kitchen. I have been informed that construction delays beyond the control of CMU will delay the opening of the Woldt residential restaurant. More information is available at http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMW/CMU/Locations/WoldtRestaurantUpdates.htm.
SAP Campus Management Implemented
CMU implemented its new student system called Campus Management (CM) in July. This replaces the outdated Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) and is an important resource by positioning the university to enhance technology in support of educational and business activities. I offer thanks again to the many individuals and offices that implemented this system successfully and efficiently. The SAP implementation team issued important reminders as the academic year begins, which may be found at http://www.sap.cmich.edu/cm/default.asp, along with additional information about the system. Since this is a new system, some problems will undoubtedly be encountered and addressed. Campus Management will continue to be developed and refined in the months ahead and the SAP team appreciates your input on any changes you feel should be made or problems you encounter and your patience as they deal with these issues.
Capital Projects Continue on Campus
Several construction projects continue that will improve the learning environment. More information about current projects is available at http://fmgt.cmich.edu/pep-summer-2006.html, which also includes a link to planning for the Education Building Project.
Research Travel Fund
Available through the President’s Office is a research travel fund (currently budgeted at $13,500 annually), used to make one-time awards of up to $1000 for travel to pursue external grant funding. Please visit http://www.orsp.cmich.edu/pdf/grantdev.pdf for more information.
Research, Scholarship, and Creativity
Many of you continue to generously share your published books, articles, 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 publish your work and document your creativity, would you please share copies with me? I am interested in the work of my colleagues and students at any level. If you have any questions regarding how to transmit your work, please contact Jane Sasse (fox1jm@cmich.edu).
CMU Receives Institutional Academic Achievement Award
CMU has received the Institutional Academic Achievement Award for the fifth year in a row (and nine of the last ten)—an honor presented to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) member that has the highest overall grade-point average for student athletes competing in MAC sponsored sports. The award was first presented twelve years ago and CMU has received it ten times. This is the result of hard work and dedication by student athletes, coaches, professors, and staff. Congratulations again! (Please see http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=537165&SPID=4281&SPSID=46931 for more information.)
Performance Evaluations Required for all Employees
CMU policy requires an annual written performance evaluation for all regular and provisional staff employees beginning in 2006-2007. This policy aims to foster a review process that involves frequent two-way dialogue between supervisors and their staff members throughout the year as opposed to a one-time evaluation. The overall process should provide regular opportunities to discuss work related issues, clarify goals and expectations, communicate recognition for work well done as well as opportunities for growth and improvement. Candid conversations will help link CMU priorities to daily work and increase productivity through clarified goals and expectations, accountability, and improved support. For additional information, please visit http://www.hrs.cmich.edu/er/perf-mgt.htm.
ADA Coordinator
Associate Vice President Maxine Kent has been appointed to serve as the university’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator. This is an important responsibility that Maxine will perform well. In her role, she also will chair the Accessibility and Disability Advisory Council (ADAC). ADAC’s mission statement reads: “In response to disability legislation, the Central Michigan University Accessibility and Disability Advisory Council will prioritize and recommend responses through development, education and coordination of programs, services and activities.” Please see http://www.cmich.edu/ada/ for more information.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
August 21, 2006
| TO: | The CMU Community |
 |
|
| FROM: | Michael Rao |
|
|
|
| SUBJECT: | CMU Update 62 |
As most readers know, this is one of many periodic updates posted on the web to communicate and to help engage members of the university community in current events and areas of interest. Some readers may not have had the opportunity to review an update that was posted during the summer, which includes topics such as:
- 2006-2007 State Budget
- CMU 2010 Request for Proposals
- Campus Connections: SAP Campus Management Update
- Budget Restructuring Review Committee Concludes Work
- Broomfield Road Safety Project
- Personnel Changes
- NCAA Athletics Certification
- Student and Colleague Honors
Encourage Student Engagement
At CMU, the learning experience can reach beyond rigorous classroom work to afford unmatched opportunities in global education, public service, research, and cultural enrichment. Please help me encourage students to consider:
- Studying abroad (http://www.oie.cmich.edu/StudyAbroad/)
- Volunteering time and talents to help others (http://stulife.cmich.edu/volunteer/programs.shtml)
- Engaging in research as an undergraduate student (http://www.orsp.cmich.edu/studentprg.htm)
- Taking advantage of resources related to history, educational and artistic events, and indigenous culture in the Mt. Pleasant area (a few helpful web sites include http://www.ccfa.cmich.edu/; http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/chsbs/news.htm; http://www.sagchip.org/; and links from these to related sites)
Advocacy for equitable per-student funding for CMU continues to be critical. The university can only benefit from continued support of its many constituents who write to legislators and the governor to encourage their commitment to equalize funding among similar universities. Please visit http://www.cmich.edu/govrelations for talking points, sample letters, addresses for government officials, and other information. Thank you for your help.
Higher Learning Commission Follow-up
Last November, a team of consultant-evaluators from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association completed its accreditation site visit to CMU. The external team identified no issues, indicating that the university is on the right path—and that it needs to continue to focus on its vision and priorities. While receiving full accreditation for another 10 years, there were a number of constructive comments contained in the report on which I continue to reflect. The activities associated with CMU 2010, the work of the university budget advisory committee (UBAC), current studies of ProfEd off-campus programs, and the university’s current focus on general education are helping to engage the community in issues contained in the reports. We are developing a matrix that includes the HLC team’s comments and CMU’s efforts toward continuous improvement in the areas referenced.
ProfEd Off-Campus Programs
As discussed previously in Updates 52 and 58, the university continues to study its off-campus programs, which has experienced declining enrollments in an increasingly competitive environment. Projections indicate that ProfEd’s ability to continue to provide more than $4 million annually to CMU’s general fund is in serious jeopardy. We also are reminded of the HLC team’s concern about CMU’s dependence on these funds. ProfEd engaged consultants to provide business plans for two options—restructuring existing programs or creating a new entity for off-campus programs. I will be calling upon several resources, including the Academic Senate, as information continues to be gathered for these two options so that a decision can be made in the near term regarding ProfEd’s future.
General Education Committee
In June, a team of CMU professors and administrators attended the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Institute on General Education to engage themselves in conversations about general education programs. The team drafted a mission statement for general education at CMU, developed a plan for restructuring of general education, and conceived the general outline of an improved curriculum. I look forward to further implementation of an action plan for reinvigorating general education at CMU during this academic year. Please join me in thanking Tanya Domina, Joyce Henricks, Melinda Kreth, Jane Matty, and Catherine Riordan for their work this summer on this important project.
CMU 2010 Vision Plan
A second round of requests for proposals for fiscal year 2007 funding remains open until October 2. For the latest information about the CMU 2010 vision planning process, please visit the CMU 2010 web site at http://www.planning.cmich.edu/Updates.htm.
Energy Efficiency Continues to be Critical
As a community of many thousands, CMU continues to be dependent on your help in conserving energy on the main campus. In addition to being personally concerned about human dependency on traditional energy sources, the university faces utility costs that continue to increase significantly, taking away resources that could otherwise be spent to enhance learning and the learning environment. While on campus recently in the evening, I noticed many buildings with lights on and seemingly no activity. I ask again that you kindly turn off lights whenever you are the last person to leave a room or when you see a room or area not in use and adjust thermostats to 68 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer. Update 28 has a more complete list of suggested actions.
Ben and Marion Celani and Fabiano Family Residence Halls Open This Semester
Opening to students this week are two new residence halls, named in honor of Ben and Marion Celani and the Fabiano Family. CMU’s Residence Life system, of which these halls are the latest addition, provides important academic benefits to on-campus students. Statistics show that students living in on-campus housing progress toward graduation faster, have a higher retention rate (10-20% higher at CMU), and are more engaged and academically successful. The Celani and Fabiano residence halls will be formally dedicated at 2 p.m. on August 31.
Also part of the residence halls project was the complete remodeling of the Woldt residential restaurant and kitchen. I have been informed that construction delays beyond the control of CMU will delay the opening of the Woldt residential restaurant. More information is available at http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMW/CMU/Locations/WoldtRestaurantUpdates.htm.
SAP Campus Management Implemented
CMU implemented its new student system called Campus Management (CM) in July. This replaces the outdated Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) and is an important resource by positioning the university to enhance technology in support of educational and business activities. I offer thanks again to the many individuals and offices that implemented this system successfully and efficiently. The SAP implementation team issued important reminders as the academic year begins, which may be found at http://www.sap.cmich.edu/cm/default.asp, along with additional information about the system. Since this is a new system, some problems will undoubtedly be encountered and addressed. Campus Management will continue to be developed and refined in the months ahead and the SAP team appreciates your input on any changes you feel should be made or problems you encounter and your patience as they deal with these issues.
Capital Projects Continue on Campus
Several construction projects continue that will improve the learning environment. More information about current projects is available at http://fmgt.cmich.edu/pep-summer-2006.html, which also includes a link to planning for the Education Building Project.
Research Travel Fund
Available through the President’s Office is a research travel fund (currently budgeted at $13,500 annually), used to make one-time awards of up to $1000 for travel to pursue external grant funding. Please visit http://www.orsp.cmich.edu/pdf/grantdev.pdf for more information.
Research, Scholarship, and Creativity
Many of you continue to generously share your published books, articles, 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 publish your work and document your creativity, would you please share copies with me? I am interested in the work of my colleagues and students at any level. If you have any questions regarding how to transmit your work, please contact Jane Sasse (fox1jm@cmich.edu).
CMU Receives Institutional Academic Achievement Award
CMU has received the Institutional Academic Achievement Award for the fifth year in a row (and nine of the last ten)—an honor presented to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) member that has the highest overall grade-point average for student athletes competing in MAC sponsored sports. The award was first presented twelve years ago and CMU has received it ten times. This is the result of hard work and dedication by student athletes, coaches, professors, and staff. Congratulations again! (Please see http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=537165&SPID=4281&SPSID=46931 for more information.)
Performance Evaluations Required for all Employees
CMU policy requires an annual written performance evaluation for all regular and provisional staff employees beginning in 2006-2007. This policy aims to foster a review process that involves frequent two-way dialogue between supervisors and their staff members throughout the year as opposed to a one-time evaluation. The overall process should provide regular opportunities to discuss work related issues, clarify goals and expectations, communicate recognition for work well done as well as opportunities for growth and improvement. Candid conversations will help link CMU priorities to daily work and increase productivity through clarified goals and expectations, accountability, and improved support. For additional information, please visit http://www.hrs.cmich.edu/er/perf-mgt.htm.
ADA Coordinator
Associate Vice President Maxine Kent has been appointed to serve as the university’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator. This is an important responsibility that Maxine will perform well. In her role, she also will chair the Accessibility and Disability Advisory Council (ADAC). ADAC’s mission statement reads: “In response to disability legislation, the Central Michigan University Accessibility and Disability Advisory Council will prioritize and recommend responses through development, education and coordination of programs, services and activities.” Please see http://www.cmich.edu/ada/ for more information.
