Report of the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Committee (SPBC)

September 24, 2007

President Wilson convened the first SPBC meeting of 2007-2008 at 12:00 p.m. He began by summarizing the role of the Committee with respect to planning and budgeting. In regards to planning, the SPBC will monitor and assess progress toward each of the goals in the strategic plan. At subsequent meetings, a vice president will report to the Committee regarding implementation of goals within their respective area and solicit reactions and advice. In regards to budgeting, the Committee will provide general advice to the campus administration on the use of available resources to advance the goals of the Strategic Plan. In addition, the SPBC will provide advice on specific issues like tuition increases and salary policy.

Turning to other agenda items, the President asked the Vice President for Public Relations, Matt Kurz, to provide an update on the Lawlor Identity Assessment. Vice President Kurz began by stating the rationale behind the assessment, namely to compare how the stated vision for the University is viewed by various constituencies. Data were collected to allow us to examine how different internal and external groups view the University in terms of current and aspirational identity. The report consists of both qualitative and quantitative data, which were collected in spring, 2007. Those surveyed included faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, high school counselors, and prospective students and their parents. Data from approximately 160 campus interviews, 3,300 Web surveys, and 100 e-queries were collected.

On August 28, a summary of the findings from the study was presented to the Identity Advisory Group (IAG) and the President’s Cabinet. The summary will be presented to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees on September 26 and to the full Board on October 22-23. Two campus forums will be held on October 30 for faculty and staff. Reactions from these meetings will be used by IAG to define identity goals for the future and actions to be taken to achieve those goals.

Professor Streeter asked what exactly would be done with the results of the Identity Assessment. Vice President Kurz explained that he could foresee multiple uses, including establishing directions for University communications materials generally and for campaign materials specifically.

Professor Balser inquired about the plan for communicating the IAG recommendations and action items to the campus after receiving input from various groups. Professor Morris requested that more detailed information be provided on the results of the assessment. Vice President Kurz assured the committee that the Identity Assessment and the IAG conclusions and recommendations would be discussed widely on campus. Trustee French asked how the Identity Assessment related to the role of SPBC. President Wilson stated that the assessment is tied directly to elements of the Identity Goal in the Strategic Plan and also relates to other goal areas such as student recruitment.

Moving on to the final agenda item, Vice President for Advancement Marty Smith provided an update on the Campaign Feasibility Study. As part of that study, approximately 60 alumni, friends, and donors were contacted over the summer for their thoughts on various IWU priorities and our overall readiness for a campaign. The findings will be presented to the Board of Trustees in October and used to refine the list of priorities for the campaign which was developed last year.

The current list of campaign priorities was distributed to committee members. President Wilson commented on the relatively high priority assigned to endowments for scholarships, professorships, and programs. He provided some additional comments on items listed that were not entirely self-evident. The Promise Scholarship Awards are intended to fulfill IWU’s promise to meet 100 percent of student need while the Titan Awards are intended as merit and need-based scholarships at different funding levels. He also commented on the Wesleyan Fellows Endowments (to support post-doctoral faculty members) and Named Speaker Series Endowments that would allow individual departments to host scholars and artists on campus. In regards to the Endowments for Excellence subsection, the President highlighted several of the program-related pieces that are tied to the Strategic Plan: writing, student leadership, advising, and undergraduate research. In addition, he indicated that the areas of environmental sustainability, social justice, and international programs are included in the category labeled as the Global Initiatives Fund. Finally, President Wilson described the facilities portion of the campaign, which could include one or more of the following structures: classroom, performing arts center/theatre, and a student apartment complex. He also added that decisions regarding the future of Sheean were yet to be made and that all of the gift levels shown on the campaign list were still being discussed and should be considered as test numbers at this point.

Professor Streeter asked if the performing arts center would be geared more towards theatre only or whether a music site would be involved. President Wilson replied that a decision in this regard had not been made, but may be proposed in two stages as money is available – theatre first and music at a later date on the same site.

Distributed to all faculty and staff: October 18, 2007