Report on Activities of

The

Strategic Planning Implementation

Teams

at

Mansfield University

Submitted and Compiled By

Anne Lavancher

January 2011

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Forward

This report is submitted as an update to the President on the activities of the Strategic

Planning Implementation Teams (S.P.I.T.) and covers activities from June 1, 2010

through December 31 of 2010. This report summarizes accomplishments related to the

Mansfield University Strategic Plan 2008-2013, goals and assessments. The work of the

8 Strategic Planning Implementation Teams is to recommend actions and priorities within

the Strategic Plan, to report these recommendations to administration and to monitor

progress towards achieving our Strategic Plan goals. All work remains ongoing and

details are included under each SPIT report. TRACDAT has been set up to include

Strategic Planning Assessment materials.

Special note: Dr. Adam Brennan has served to coordinate the SPIT teams since the

plan’s inception. During his sabbatical, Ms. Anne Lavancher has worked to coordinate

efforts of the teams and Institutional Research.

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Table of Contents

Ensure Quality Faculty and Staff……….…………………………………………………4

Student Success……………………………………………………………………………7

Leadership………………………………………………………………..………………14

Assessment…………………………………………………………………………...…..??

Community Relations……………………………………………………………………15

Safe and Sustainable Environment………………………………………………………17

Liberal Arts………………………………………………………………………………??

Financial Stability………………………………………………………………………..19

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“Ensure Quality Faculty and Staff”

Strategic Plan Implementation Team

Report – Fall, 2010

Strategic Plan Goal: Ensure Quality Faculty and Staff

I. Action Items – Fall Semester, 2010

Completed or Implemented and Ongoing ▪Recruiting employees who have the strongest credentials in their respective field and who have the best experience and creativity to offer: The purpose of the search process designed by the President’s Taskforce is to ensure the recruitment of the highest qualified applicants for each position while offering and promoting professional development and allowing for consideration of internal candidates for promotional opportunities. The designated search process is used for all regular positions and includes rating candidates with a numerical matrix tool. Development opportunities offered during Fall, 2010 include Microsoft Office 2010 for Outlook and general use. In Spring 2011, Microsoft Office 2010 courses for Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint will be offered on an ongoing basis. In addition, courses related to legal compliance, conflict resolution, performance management, employee relations and leadership will be offered. ▪Hiring individuals who express their desire to contribute to the greater good of the institution, who believe in the values we express in our Creed and who will commit to bringing these values to life in their daily interaction with our constituents: All position announcements continue to list the demonstration of a commitment to the Creed values as a required qualification and applicants are evaluated with respect to that commitment. Search teams are asked to evaluate commitment to the values expressed in the creed as part of the search process, including interviews and resume/vita evaluation using a numerical rating scale. ▪Addressing issues as a community in order to provide excellent service to all employees: President Loeschke has renewed the community discussion platform, hosting several informal employee discussion sessions; the President’s “coffee conversations” provide opportunities to think together as a university community regarding how to address budgetary challenges and other issues. Employee suggestion boxes have been placed strategically throughout the campus; the management discussion group is meeting regularly.

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With the realities of retrenchment, position abolishment and reduced budgets, additional open sessions and “coffee conversation hours” have been scheduled. The suggestions made to the President’s office or gathered through the Suggestion Boxes located throughout the campus are shared with the respective departments, reviewed by cabinet and reported to the campus via the cabinet minutes placed online or announced during open meetings. The SPIT team spent considerable time discussing how to improve communication and also listing various activities and events to ensure a positive campus climate during this difficult time. The list is attached. Explored and In Progress ▪Provide faculty and staff opportunities that foster their connection to the community: “Take Your Child to Work Day” and Student Community Service Day are two examples of such opportunities which will be continued. Other opportunities are listed in the attached document. ▪Encourage and Reward faculty and staff who, through collaborative effort both inside and outside the institution, advance society through their work (e.g. publication, collaboration, etc.) recognizing that these kinds of activities are what keep our personnel fulfilled, connected and current in their fields: The SPIT Team has been researching and reviewing Total Reward systems and expects to have recommendations early in 2011. ▪Holding employees accountable for contributing to the mission of the institution: Presently, PASSHE is taking a lead role in initiating discussions with collective bargaining units leaders to develop more applicable performance management review tools and professional development opportunities related to employee relations and management. ▪Developing mentorships, retreats, and empowering/learning opportunities for personnel to support and cultivate their efforts and actions: Please refer to the “Recruiting Employees” section above. ▪Celebrating diversity of opinion and encouraging an atmosphere of open dialogue: The Diversity Action Plan was presented to the campus, Cabinet and Council of Trustees and the implementation phase is underway. In addition, the Middle States working groups have undertaken research on various components of Mansfield University “life” and invited comment from all campus constituents, including external parties.

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Recommendations for 2010/11 include: Re-purposing of the MLK Center for greater access and vitality; use of a common calendar and development of a clearinghouse for events; development of guidelines for group advisors; etc. ▪Communicating clearly our expectations for participation in achieving our mission as we hire new employees with collaborative support of our various collective bargaining units: A cabinet member is assigned to each collective bargaining unit as the University’s lead liaison. This structure continues to work well in that the University has the lowest number of filed grievances in the PASSHE system and generally positive working relationships exist with each of the units, even in this time of employee complement contraction. ▪Evaluating resource allocation and working to ensure that we can deliver all of our programs with excellence: This item is addressed through the budget and strategic budget process, and is a perpetual action item.

II. Focus for Next Year

Recognizing that the next two years will bring unprecedented levels of economic stress to MU, the Quality Faculty and Staff SPIT will focus its energies on identifying how best to achieve the eleven identified Strategic Plan goals, focusing on those items identified as strategic and essential, providing maximum effect vs. those that are likely to net positive results but on a narrower, less or non-essential basis; in addition, the SPIT will focus on completing its 3-5 year plan, again taking into account the likely economic challenges MU faces. Please refer to the attached list of recommended actions for improvement in the campus climate and morale.

III. Suggested Amendments or Additions to the Strategic Plan - None

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Student Success Strategic Planning Implementation Team

Action Plan Update

December, 2010

Committee members include: Brian Barden (chair), Judi Brayer, Steve Plesac, Chuck

Colby, Karri Verno, Deb Rotella, Suzanne Murphy, John Cosgrove, Collen Ribble,

Nichole Lefelhoc, Adrianne McEvoy.

During fall 2010, the Student Success SPIT reviewed and tracked progress on 25

identified low-cost/no-cost action items to improve student success at Mansfield

University. Assessments for many of the action items were discussed and established.

Progress has been noted and areas for further action have been identified. Discussions

have continued regarding MAP-Works (student retention software). These included

assessment and effectiveness of the program and staff/faculty usage to work with students

who, through responses in MAP-Works, self identify as at risk for leaving the institution.

Assessment and evaluation of progress on action items will continue into the spring

semester. The committee will be working with respective departments to continue work

on SPIT action items.

Student Success SPIT Action Items

RECRUITMENT

ACTION ITEMS – Long Term (prioritized)

Serious program analysis needed on graduate and undergraduate levels –

assess, evaluate, and restructure current graduate and undergraduate

degree offerings to ensure programs coincide with occupational

trends/cultural and workforce development needs.

o Assessment: Using historical enrollment data as well as workforce

trend data, assess current academic programs for future viability

and identify new academic programs meeting regional demands in

alignment with University resources and mission.

Progress: Spring-Fall 2010 Provost Office worked with IR

and academic departments to identify programs for

moratorium due to low enrollment and interest in programs.

Four programs are being placed in moratorium.

Faculty positions were reviewed for possible retrenchment

based on program/course enrollment data.

Graduate education programs have begun work to bring

their programs into the online environment by summer

2011.

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Sociology/Anthropology and Spanish have been asked to

retool their programs with the intent to build enrollment.

Enrollments in these programs will be reviewed in 2012.

Discussion for revitalization and direction of summer school is necessary.

Based on that discussion, marketing needs to be retooled to target niche

markets.

o Assessment: Review longitudinal enrollment and financial data to

determine summer school enrollment trends and profitability.

Progress: Summer terms were modified to provide two six

week sessions and a twelve week session, eliminating the

three week option for summer 2010. Exceptions would be

considered by the Deans if an academic department had a

justifiable rational to offer shorter term courses.

Summer school marketing included Facebook ads targeting

regional and local students as well as regional TV and

radio.

Recommendation: Once financial analysis is completed for

summer 2010, review of longitudinal data should be

compared.

Promote study abroad programs to American students to increase

exchange ratios and make creation of new exchange programs easier.

o Assessment: Evaluate the number of marketing events and students

participating in study abroad programs.

Progress: Two study abroad events were coordinated by the

International Student Services Office during spring 2010

focusing on ISEP and other exchange programs with

limited turnout. Study Abroad for fall 2010 is up 500% to

12 students over fall 2009.

Recommendation: Continue promotion and marketing of

available study abroad experience. Seek ways to work

collaboratively with academic departments to build such

experiences into programs.

ACTION ITEMS – Short Term (prioritized)

Engage students in early awareness/preparation and collegiate success

skills.

o Assessment: Review number of dual agreements in place and

resulting enrollment by term. Evaluate number of early

intervention programs and participants.

Progress: Currently, we have three agreements in place

covering Southern Tioga School, Canton, and Northeast

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Bradford School districts. Dual enrollment is up 71.4% for

fall 2010 (24 students) over fall 2009.

The Admissions Office sponsored 20 early intervention

programs during spring 2010 bring nearly 1,000

elementary, junior and senior high school students on

campus.

Design and implement opportunities for academic departments and faculty

to take a proactive role and ownership in recruitment and persistence

initiatives.

o Assessment: Evaluate and assess number of recruitment and

persistence initiatives in which faculty are involved.

Progress: For the 2010/2011 academic year, seven Spend-a-

Day programs have been coordinated with academic

departments compared to five for the 2009/2010 year.

Academic & Human Develop have sponsored advising

webinars for faculty during the fall 2010 semester.

Academic & Human Development, along with Enrollment

Services sponsored a “Dine With an Advisor” event in

November 2010. Limited participation.

Recommendation: Continue to advertize and promote

faculty and student participation is these types of events.

Identify and implement new ways to increase participation.

SUSTAINABILITY

ACTIONS ITEMS – Long Term(prioritized)

Assess UNV needs for transfer students. This may help those students

who already have college experience succeed at Mansfield.

o Assessment: Identify changes made to UNV based on data

available for transfer students.

Progress: With anticipated changes in general education

impacting the first year seminar course, this may be a moot

point.

Departments could sponsor an Alumni Day, similar to Communication’s

“Com Day” in which alums come back to campus and give talks about

what they have been doing since graduating from Mansfield.

o Assessment: Evaluate the number of department events involving

alumni as presenters.

Progress: Alumni Relations is working with academic

departments to set-up “Alumni Groups” within their online

community for graduates.

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Alumni Relations is coordinating efforts with academic

departments to have table displays at Homecoming’s

Alumni Welcome tent. The Geography and Chemistry

departments had tables at the October 2010 Homecoming

football game.

Alumni Relations is working with academic departments to

host events for alumni at Alumni weekend. Social Work

hosted an event at the 2010 Alumni Weekend.

Career Center and Alumni Relations are researching the opportunity of an

alumni mentoring program.

o Assessment: Assess development and implementation of an

effective alumni mentoring program.

Progress: The Career Center and Alumni Relations are

working informally with students to connect them with

alumni in their respective fields.

The Career Center and Alumni Relations have reviewed

several models of formalized mentoring programs at other

universities. They have participated in webinars on the

topic of “Developing an Alumni Mentoring Program”. At

this point, it seen as unfeasible to put into place a formal

program due to limited personnel and budgetary resources.

On a smaller scale, Senior Seminar courses could bring recent alums to

class to be guest speakers.

o Assessment: Determine number of alumni participating in senior

seminar courses from year to year.

Progress: Alumni Relations is coordinating collaborative

opportunities with academic departments to involve alumni

in classes. They have connected alums from NASA, Dow

Jones, PNC Bank with Career Center staff – as potential

speakers and internship/job opportunities. They assisted in

coordinating campus visits for alums i.e. Ethicon, State

Farm, Linda Long ’65 (Vegan, Nutrition), Charles “Bob”

Todd ’66 (Steinway) and more.

ACTIONS ITEMS – Short Term(prioritized)

Improve communication on available services to all students.

o Assessment: Create a survey to assess level of student knowledge

of available services.

Progress: Survey has been created by staff in Enrollment

Services. To be implemented spring 2011.

Recommendation: Use survey data to make adjustments in

communication as needed and appropriate.

Set up special UNV sections for commuting students and/or nontraditional

students (who are almost exclusively commuter students).

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o Assessment: Assess number of sections available for non-

traditional/commuter students.

Progress: With anticipated changes in general education

impacting the first year seminar course, this may be a moot

point.

Career Center would like to partner with academic departments to increase

involvement in programs.

o Assessment: Evaluate and assess number of Career Center

presentations and collaboration with academic departments.

Progress: Social Work requires all students in the

Professional Communication Skills course to have their

resume reviewed by the Career Center.

Students in the TRiO and MAAP programs are able to use

Career Center events and appointments as participation

hours to remain eligible for the programs.

All incoming undeclared freshmen were registered for

FOCUS, an online career assessment program and asked to

complete the assessment and schedule an appointment with

the Career Center if they had additional questions.

All students enrolled in the Introduction to Career

Development course are required to register for and

complete FOCUS as a class assignment.

Many UNV1100 instructors require students to come to the

Career Center to register for FOCUS as an assignment for

the course.

A presentation was made to all Graphic Design students

regarding the process for applying and importance of

completing an internship.

The Career Center has been asked to speak in 14 classes

during the fall 2010 semester (12 UNV, 2 Oral

Communication).

Pilot the assessment instrument developed for advising by Francis Craig

and Susan Sweet.

o Assessment: Determine impact of new advising strategies

developed based on data received from advising assessment

instrument.

Progress: Advising assessment tool is being reviewed by

the Provost.

Create a list of advising training activities with stated objectives.

o Assessment: Review list of advising training activities and stated

objectives to ascertain number of activities established and

implemented.

Progress: List has not been created. However, several

activities have been noted, including three advising

webinars have been made available this semester. “Dine

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With an Advisor” event was hosted at Manser in November

by The Advising Center and Enrollment Services.

Recommendation: Further action is needed to develop the

list.

Have faculty not only hold classes in the residence halls, but also have

them hold office hours in there.

o Assessment: Identify number of classes and office hours scheduled

in the freshmen residence hall.

Progress: Four first year classes were offered fall 2009 in

the freshmen level residence hall. Due to insufficient

facilities and lack of faculty support, classes were not

offered fall 2010.

Recommendation: As new residence halls come on line,

such opportunities need to be designed and promoted.

Seek to unify our voice of diversity on campus, especially for the students.

o Assessment: Evaluate campus communications to assess messages

regarding the voice of diversity across campus.

Progress: Alan Zellner, from Social Equity and

Multicultural Affairs, is coordinating efforts through the

President’s Task Force on Diversity and Diversity SPIT.

Review “Freshman Booklet”.

o Assessment: Review booklet for current information updates.

Progress: Aaron Hackman reviewed and updated booklet

for fall 2009. The booklet was not used for the fall 2010

class.

Recommendation: The First Year Experience Committee

should review for updates as needed. Viability and need for

such a booklet should be determined. Could be placed on

the web as an electronic resource for UNV.

Increased faculty lectures/presentations in the residence halls.

o Assessment: Monitor the number of faculty lectures/presentations.

Progress: No presentations reported to date for the fall 2010

semester.

Recommendation: Academic Affairs and Residence Life

should assess this and identify ways to promote

opportunities for faculty involvement in the residence halls.

Career services programming information should also be communicated to

Director of International Student Services.

o Currently, we do not have a Director of international Student

Services to coordinate such opportunities.

Recommendation: Academic Affairs should identify

staffing and opportunities to share career information with

our international students.

Train the campus community (faculty, staff, and students) on the diverse

challenges international students may face.

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o Assessment: Survey international students to identify and assess

levels of campus awareness and cultural sensitivity to their unique

needs.

Recommendation: Without a person coordinating

international student services, a committee should be

created to facilitate the assessment of international student

issues and identify and implement appropriate solutions.

INFRASTRUCTURE

ACTIONS ITEMS (prioritized)

Greater coordination needed amongst all of the groups at the cabinet to

prevent overlap. CABINET

Organizational chart of responsibilities and reporting structures.

CABINET

Find a way to ensure that idea sharing and communication stays as open as

possible. CABINET

Request that Human Resources reinstitute process of informing campus of

new hire/retirees.

o This is currently in place.

A clearer delineation of responsibilities for diversity needs to be

communicated to the campus. CABINET

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Leadership SPIT

December, 2010

Below are the items relevant to tracking quantifiable strategic plan data from the

Leadership SPIT:

1. M.A. in Organizational Leadership enrollments - “freeze date” numbers

(headcount):

a. Fall 2009 – 32 students

b. Fall 2010 – 41 students

2. Minor in Leadership Studies enrollments - “freeze date” numbers (headcount):

a. 2007 – 2 students

b. 2008 – 3 students

c. 2009 – 4 students

d. 2010 – 7 students

3. Leadership scholarship money awarded:

a. 2009-2010: $42,400 awarded

4. Mountaineer Leadership Program utilization - has been on-hold this past

semester, so there’s no new data to report there. Below is the MLP data available

from previous years.

Fall 08 Spring '09 Fall '09 Spring '10

Total for all 4 semesters

Bronze 24 8 9 3 20

Silver 7 14 1 3 18

Gold 7 6 4 2 12

TOTAL 38 28 14 8 88

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Community Relations December 2010

The Community Relations SPIT is operating under the following direction:

Committee Charge

Mansfield University will commit to forming mutually beneficial partnerships with the

local, regional, state and global communities.

To advance the strategic priority as noted above, the Community Relations SPIT has been

continuing to work on and advocate the original priorities as identified in their first

several meetings. Specifically, the top three priorities of the committee are listed below

with the associated progress or outcome:

o We will utilize our Council of Trustees, Alumni, Faculty, Staff and

Students as resources to our broader community and will seek to build

positive relationships and partnerships that foster entrepreneurial

development opportunities, a more vibrant campus life, and a

revitalization of our local community.

The committee has been working closely with community

organizations such as the Lion’s Club, Chamber of Commerce,

local churches, Borough, etc.. The committee has been working in

partnership with all organizations to help lend support to the

community’s number one priority: The 4th of July Celebration.

This past summer the committee was heavily involved in the 4th

of

July Celebration and for next year (2011) the university has been

committed to manage the 4th of July parade. This will provide an

excellent opportunity to link the university with the community

event. The committee is trying to involve the university

employees and students to help with desperately needed person-

power. So far, little support has been forthcoming and there is

great concern that the help may not be available further hindering

the efforts to create the joint relationship so desired.

o We will develop a centralized location for all campus information to

assist visitors and students alike.

This request was presented to the Cabinet on several occasions but

has not been addressed because of funding issues. This is the

number one priority given the feedback from community

representatives. The belief is this position would be more

beneficial for the strengthening of community relations than all

other efforts.

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In general, the plans and recommendations are in place but the resources are not being

focused on this strategic priority. The committee is finding itself in a somewhat

hypocritical position with the community members as we pledge the support and

commitment of the University to improving and developing community relations but are

unable to dedicate any resources either in funding, equipment, or personnel to the

projects.

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Creating a Safe and Sustainable Campus Environment SPIT Bi-Annual Report

December 22, 2010

Prepared by Jimmy Guignard (Chair)

The SPIT currently has sixteen members and has met three times during fall 2010

semester. (Also, to correct the record, the SPIT met once during spring semester 2010.)

The SPIT continues to be productive in the following ways:

The recycling program continues to grow. Because of the success so far, NTSWA

will begin picking up recycling weekly during spring semester 2011. The latest

recycling numbers indicate that MU is recycling approximately 18% of its waste.

This is an improvement over previous years. Currently, NTSWA is conducting a

waste audit of MU in order to help MU firm up recycling numbers. Sodexo has

not supplied any recycling numbers.

Honeywell improvements are fully installed and operational. The upgrades appear

to be saving MU approximately $995,000 dollars in the first year of use, but these

numbers need to be confirmed.

The SPIT has planned a Sustainability Week in order to educate students about

MU’s efforts at sustainability and what they can do to help. The Sustainability

Week will involve the library, Sodexo, student groups, and other interested

parties. Due to the departure of Vinnie Nykiel, this plan is on hold.

The SPIT expressed the need for a person designated on campus as a

Sustainability Officer. Vinnie Nykiel checked into the possibility; however, his

departure has halted the discussion.

The new residence halls have broken ground.

MU has implemented a more user-friendly and effective Emergency Notification

System. According to Jim Welch, the new ENS has cut time to notification during

an emergency.

The SPIT discussed at length its concerns about MU selling water to the natural

gas industry. The SPIT drafted a Position Statement (attached) and shared it with

the university administration.

Other ongoing projects include a presentation on going paperless, the construction

of trails on campus, a panel on cyber-bullying, and other concerns about safety

and sustainability.

The SPIT is concerned on many levels about the departure of Vinnie Nykiel. He has been

the driving force behind much of this work, and the SPIT wants to express its

appreciation for Vinnie’s work and stress the importance of finding someone who can

take on some of his responsibilities and initiatives.

Creating a Safe and Sustainable Campus Environment SPIT/November 2010

Position Statement On MU Selling Water for Hydrofracturing

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The Creating a Safe and Sustainable Campus Environment SPIT has learned recently that

the university is considering selling a portion of the university’s water for hydrofracturing

the Marcellus shale. We understand that the university uses approximately 30% of the

amount it is permitted to draw from Corey Creek, and that during summer hydrants are

routinely flushed to help ensure that the water meets purity standards. We also understand

that the potential financial benefits to the university could be considerable, an important

development in the current economic climate.

As a committee, we hold differing views on hydrofracturing and the growth of the natural

gas industry, much like the conflicting views held by the Mansfield community at large.

However, we do think there are questions worth raising about this issue in terms of safety

and sustainability. Primarily, we are concerned about the environmental impacts. We

know little about the long term effects of hydrofracturing, beyond the fact that the

practice requires a tremendous amount of water. From an environmental perspective, this

deeply concerns us. The health of an ecosystem or watershed depends upon its water.

Once the natural gas industry removes water from the Corey Creek watershed, mixes in

the chemicals, and pumps it into the ground, they have effectively taken millions of

gallons of water out of the ecosystem and contaminated it. While we don't know what the

long term effects may be, we are concerned that we may be compromising the long term

health of the campus, community, and the surrounding land by removing the water from

the watershed.

Another related issue stems from the university's involvement with the gas industry itself

and the potential for negative PR. Selling the university's water for use in hydrofracturing

could conceivably send the message to the community and our students that we support

this practice. While we do think that the university should serve the students and

community in performing an educational function regarding the gas industry, we

encourage you to consider the possible messages we may be sending by selling a vital

and necessary resource. At a time when we are building a growing environmental

consciousness on campus, we question whether selling the water will teach students the

lessons about sustainability that we need them to learn. We wonder if students will be

less likely to support efforts to conserve university and other resources if the university

then sells the water for profit. We are also concerned about the reactions of the local

community. How might we as a university deal with such PR concerns?

In terms of student, staff, and faculty safety, we are concerned about the access to the

water itself. Heavy truck traffic near campus is already causing significant traffic issues.

Water removal from campus may compound the problems with traffic flow and the

condition of roads in the neighborhoods surrounding campus and make the roads less safe

for commuters and pedestrians. If selling university water leads to an increase in truck

traffic around campus and the surrounding neighborhoods, the response from the

community could possibly be negative. How will the university deal with the increased

traffic to ensure safe conditions for drivers and pedestrians?

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We recognize that this is a complex issue, and we ask that, as you consider financial

aspects, please keep safety and long term environmental impacts in mind. We also

encourage you to have a robust conversation about possible implications of selling water

to the gas industry with the campus community.

Thank you for considering our concerns.

Creating a Safe and Sustainable Campus Environment SPIT

Insure Financial Stability

Action Plan (December, 2010)

Chair: Mike Reid. This committee is in moratorium. (See below).

With the absence of an Institutional Advancement Officer and current financial issues

across the Commonwealth, this SPIT remains in moratorium until such a time as

administration deems it appropriate to reactive this SPIT and resume pursuit of the

related Strategic Planning goals.