Office of the Provost

AAPC - Newsletter, August 2007

A Note from the Provost
Strategic Goals
Campus Climate Culture
Academic Programs and Services
Students
Resources

A Note from the Provost

We began the last academic year with a new “Academic Affairs Strategic Plan 2006-09.”  That plan challenged us to focus activities and energies around four major goals and a number of supporting strategies.  These goals and strategies had been articulated and endorsed by the Academic Affairs Planning Committee to give UWGB the focus, agility, and capability to thrive and prosper in the years ahead.

With this plan in hand, it was time for action.  We resolved to use this plan as our guide in 2006-07, informing our actions and decision-making.  At that time we entertained hopes for the additional funding needed to enable us to grow to 7500 students, but these goals and strategies were not dependent on that funding.

Numerous faculty, staff, and administrators worked collaboratively throughout the year, according to their own interests and areas of responsibility, to move UWGB forward in these strategies.  The Academic Affairs deans and division heads also used this plan to guide their decision-making, allocation of time and energies, budget management, and responses to new opportunities or circumstances. 

The past year was one of tremendous—in some cases, ground-breaking—progress.  As a result, we begin the new academic year with additional strength, agility, and resourcefulness. 

In this “Update,” I will share with you an impressive array of accomplishments across all of the Academic Affairs divisions.  And these are only “the tip of the iceberg.” 

Thanks to all who worked so hard, both in the planning and in the doing!

We will continue to pursue this plan in the coming year, even as we review, evaluate, and refine it.  Just as we are an evolving institution and community, so our strategic plan will evolve in response to new opportunities, circumstances, and choices. 

Additional “Updates” will be issued through the year to keep you apprised of further progress and developments.  Your feedback and input are always welcome, either in person or through the Academic Affairs planning web site at
http://www.uwgb.edu/provost/aapc.htm.

As always, thank you for your interest, and welcome to the new year!

Sue K. Hammersmith
Provost 

Strategic Goals
The “Academic Affairs Strategic Plan 2006-2009” identified four goals:

  • To promote and invest in a culture of learning, professional development, and continuous quality improvement across all units.
  • To offer academic programs and services of high quality and integrity that are flexible and responsive to the needs of the region.
  • To prepare students to function as responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.
  • To acquire resources sufficient to sustain and carry out our mission.

The “Academic Affairs Year in Review” report that follows chronicles many of the experiments, accomplishments, and innovations that were achieved in the past year in pursuit of those goals.   The full strategic plan is available for review at http://www.uwgb.edu/provost/aapc.htm, the Academic Affairs planning web site    Thanks again to all who participated in these or other initiatives!

Campus Climate and Culture

GOAL:  To promote and invest in a culture of learning, professional development, and continuous quality improvement across all units.

One strategy was to align professional development opportunities with our strategic goals and priorities, emerging needs, and faculty/staff interests.

  • Dr. Jillian Kinzie (Indiana University, National Survey of Student Engagement) gave workshops for 42 faculty and 13 Student Affairs professionals on how to interpret the NSSE data and take action to enhance student engagement and active learning.
  • Dr. David McFarland (Penson Associates) provided a 2-day workshop on academic leadership skills for academic administrators and unit chairs. 
  • Dr. Sandra Cheldelin (James Mason University, Institute for Conflict Resolution) provided a 1-day workshop on conflict management in the academic workplace, for faculty chairs, directors, and administrators across Academic Affairs.  Over 30 attended.
  • All Information Services staff were able to attend at least one professional development activity.
  • A team of four Student Affairs professionals attended an intensive “Leadership beyond Management” workshop offered by the UW Madison School of Business Executive Education.
  • Student Affairs and Information Services jointly sponsored a staff retreat on resilience and change.
  • The Provost funded, through the Research Council, a course reassignment program for faculty research projects.
  • Student Affairs staff participated in an Emergency Call Center simulation.
  • Student Life introduced a women’s leadership development series.

Another strategy was to encourage and support continuing quality improvement efforts.  Each division leader was asked to select one business or academic process to be streamlined by process analysis and redesign.  Some of the results include:

  • The academic deans worked collaboratively to create a new 14-week semester model, which was approved for implementation Fall 2008.
  • The Faculty Senate approved a new “Curriculum Planning and Procedures Guide” that clarifies and facilitates the curriculum modification and approval process.
  • Student Affairs developed a process to enable on-line, self-service transcript requests, enrollment verification, and degree verification.
  • Student Affairs also revised their annual assessment process to provide greater focus and immediate application.
  • The Provost’s Office worked with staff from Human Resources, the deans’ offices, and academic units to further streamline the policies and procedures for recruiting and hiring faculty and staff.
  • Information Services worked with Human Resources and the SOFAS office to streamline the process for account creation, permissions, and account deletion, and to minimize the number of times data are entered. 
  • As part of the HLC/NCA self-study process, the Institutional Assessment Committee reviewed and critiqued UWGB’s entire comprehensive assessment plan and suggested several process improvements.
  • The Secretary of the Faculty and Academic Staff began reviewing the academic program review process for possible streamlining and improvement and will continue that initiative in the coming year.
  • Outreach and Adult Access worked with Mail Haus and the Purchasing Office to streamline their bulk mailing process.  Results are improved communication and reduced turnaround time on mailing orders and billing.

A third strategy was to engage faculty and staff in a process of self-study and feedback to guide improvement efforts.  The results included:

  • Faculty/staff teams successfully completed a candid and comprehensive self-study for the Higher Learning Commission.  Results included a new select mission statement for UWGB and a number of recommendations for further institutional improvement. 
  • The Comprehensive Program Review Task Force conducted a review of all undergraduate academic programs and invited further input from program faculty.  The results and recommendations will inform further planning and improvement efforts.
  • An Equity Analysis was conducted that identified where the largest gaps exist between the experiences of UWGB’s minority and majority student populations.  As a direct result of this study, the Provost funded, through the Instructional Development Council, a new course development program to redesign selected gateway courses. 
  • The academic deans surveyed faculty and staff, and SGA surveyed students, with respect to having a 14- or 15-week semester, and the results helped inform the Senate discussions and decision-making.  The 14-week semester was approved for implementation Fall 2008. 
  • Information Services surveyed faculty and instructional staff on classroom technology needs and as a result has implemented several upgrades to classroom technology.
  • UWGB participated in a national Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology.
  • Faculty assessed the Freshmen Year Seminar pilot, presented at several on- and off-campus meetings and conferences, and used the results for further course improvement and expansion.
  • Professional Programs in Business got input from focus groups of area employers as the foundation for curricular changes at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
  • Learning in Retirement (LIR) leaders asked deans and directors how LIR could support campus activities.  One result will be LIR members participating in Social Work class discussions on inter-generational relationships.
  • UWGB conducted a student communication survey, which is being used to guide decision-making about preferred communication methods with students.
  • UWGB continues to survey incoming freshmen and their parents and to use the results for further improvements in the FOCUS program.
  • Retired UWGB faculty and staff were surveyed, and the results were used in planning for a possible UWGB Retiree Center.

Academic Programs and Services

GOAL:  To offer academic programs and services of high quality and integrity that are flexible and responsive to the needs of the region.

One strategy was to initiate, discontinue, or modify academic programs and services in response to the changing demographics and needs of the region.  The past year was very productive indeed.  Results include:

  • A new Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) degree was approved by the Faculty Senate and Board of Regents.  This degree paves the way for those who have earned technical college applied associate degrees to transfer into the Interdisciplinary Studies Adult Degree Program as juniors.  To date, almost 70  students have been admitted into the BAS program, and enrollments are expected to grow.
  • A new First Nations Studies major was approved to open Fall 2007.
  • A new Global Studies minor was approved to open Fall 2007.
  • A new ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language) Institute was implemented Summer 2007.
  • A Hmong Studies Center was established Summer 2007. 
  • The Masters of Social Work program will add a part-time MSW program opening Fall 2007. 
  • The Interdisciplinary Studies major added an emphasis in Emergency Management.
  • UWGB faculty designed and piloted a new Freshman Seminar program—with great results. 
  • The Institute for Learning Partnership and the Education faculty began discussions aimed at integrating the Institute’s Professional Development Certificate into Education’s master’s degree program.
  • Business Administration faculty worked to revise the Masters in Management program to make it more responsive to regional needs.
  • The Business Administration program, in collaboration with Modern Languages, approved a new International Business minor. 
  • Outreach and Adult Access instituted a Spanish Immersion Summer Camp for young people as well as a very popular “Spanish Immersion for Professionals” program in Door County, which enrolled over 100 professionals from 6 states.
  • The academic deans continued to grow their summer course enrollments to meet regional needs.
  • UWGB has opened an Adult Access Center in Appleton, which will enable us to expand our student recruitment, marketing, and academic offerings in the Fox Valley.
  • The Phuture Phoenix program was integrated into the Institute for Learning Partnership and the Professional Program in Education.  As a result, all of the future teachers who graduate from UWGB will have had the opportunity to work directly in the K-12 schools with ethnically and socioeconomically diverse students. 
  • UWGB Summer Camps drew more than 3,000 students, including 100 out-of-state campers.  
  • More than 1000 K-12 teachers attended Outreach courses or noncredit programs dealing with such topics as Spanish language and culture, classroom management, assessment, literacy, leadership, and American Indian studies. 
  • More than 400 officials from municipalities throughout Wisconsin attended Outreach’s Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute, and faculty in our Public and Environmental Affairs program collaborated with

Outreach to place PEA majors in summer internships with municipal clerks and treasurers throughout Wisconsin.

  • We assisted Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College in their development and implementation of a new General Studies Certificate Program that facilitates their students’ transfer into UWGB as sophomores.
  • Three new articulation agreements were established with Fox Valley Technical College.

Another strategy was to pursue active and productive partnerships that help us meet the changing needs of our community, region, and professions, including economic development efforts.  Results included:

  • UWGB partnered with other NEW ERA institutions to sponsor a year-long Faculty Dialogue group that brought together faculty from UWGB, UW-Oshkosh, and the UW colleges and technical colleges of Northeast Wisconsin.  Over 100 faculty from NEW ERA institutions participated in a spring conference hosted by this group.  At the urging of last year’s participants, the Faculty Dialogue group will continue and expand in the coming year.
  • UWGB’s engineering faculty and administrators began discussions to enable us to join the UW-Plattville/UW-Fox Valley consortium, enabling our pre-engineering students to complete Plattville’s ABET-accredited engineering programs without leaving the region.
  • Outreach’s College Credit in High School (CCIHS) program last year partnered with 12 school districts across Northeast Wisconsin to offer 28 courses approved by UWGB faculty. 
  • UWGB partnered with the Brown County Public School District, St. Norbert College, and NWTC to deliver college credit courses in three local high school academies.  These academies are in International Business, Health Care, and Engineering/Technology. 
  •   Outreach worked with local school administrators to host a two-day Anti-Bullying Conference with an internationally-known speaker to focus on issues of school safety and strategies for reducing bullying.  More than 150 educators from eight Brown County school districts participated.
  •   Outreach partnered with multiple educational agencies in the region, including the CESA districts, Green Bay Botanical Garden, Space Education Initiatives, and individual school districts.
  • Professional and Graduate Studies partnered with NWTC in submitting and securing a federal Title VIB grant to promote International Business education.
  • UWGB’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) actively partnered with many other organizations to promote economic development and leadership development in Northeast Wisconsin.  These partnerships included:
  • Economic development corporations from the counties of  Door, Shawano, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc as well as the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
  • The City of Green Bay and the Business Assistance Center, to offer an “Entrepreneurship Connection” Conference.
  • The Wisconsin Department of Commerce, to offer an Entrepreneurial Training Program in Manitowoc, Door, and Brown Counties. 
  • UW-Oshkosh to provide regional business training for human resource professionals and for high-impact clients seeking business plan development.
  • The SBDC counseled more than 100 business clients, 35 of whom started businesses this year.
  • The SBDC director serves on the Board of Directors for Downtown Green Bay, Inc. as well as on the New North Small Business and Entrepreneur Council, and is chair for the New North Leverage/Communication sub-committee.
  • PGS faculty and staff were also engaged in a variety of economic development activities, including  working with the New North to provide business and marketing development activities.

A third strategy was to use assessment and survey information to guide improvements in academic programs and services.  Results included:

  • Faculty participating in the Freshman Seminar pilot did extensive student assessment and use the result to expand and improve the program for Fall 2007.
  • Institutional Research provided special NSSE reports for academic units and for Student Affairs, which contributed to a successful fall series of mini conferences discussing interdisciplinarity and student engagement.
  • A team from Student Affairs, LAS, PGS, and Institutional Research conducted an Equity Analysis for UWGB students.  Results were presented to the Chancellor’s Cabinet and to governance groups, were utilized and incorporated into UWGB’s Plan 2008 progress report.
  • NSSE and Equity Analysis results formed the basis for an initiative to support course redesign in selected high-volume gateway courses to emphasize active learning pedagogy.
  • The English Composition program piloted an assessment of  ICT Literacy in freshman writing classes and used the results to evaluate the effectiveness of three alternative instructional strategies.
  • Information and Computer Science faculty piloted an advanced ICT Literacy assessment program with their upper-level students, using the results to improve instruction and student advisement.

  • UWGB was accepted to participate in a 4-year-long Academic for Assessment of Student Learning, sponsored by the Higher Learning Commission, starting in February 2008.

Students

GOAL:  To prepare students to function as responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.

One strategy, in keeping with the changing demographics of our region and our global economy, was to increase the number of students, faculty, and staff who are members of minority groups or citizens of other countries.  Results included:

  • Enrollment Services targeted recruitment of local Latino, Hmong, and Indian students, and actively followed up on applications from 504 minority students (up from 488 last year).  Specific activities included Opportunity Knocks, on campus multicultural visits, Red Carpet Tours, Multicultural intern in Admissions Office, Wisconsin Indian Education Conference, Green Bay Hispanic Information Fair, Madison Hispanic Youth Career Day, Waukesha Hispanic Youth Career Day, Oneida Nations Career Fair, Celebrating Success, and targeted high school visits.

  • We hired 7 new faculty and staff who are minorities—3 in Liberal Arts and Sciences, 3 in Student Affairs, and 1 in Information Services.
  • The Office of International Education stepped up its recruitment of international students by forming new recruiting relationships in the Far East. 
  • For Fall 2007, the number of new international degree-seeking students is expected to more than double.  These numbers are still modest (26-30 new students), but this is a significant start!

  • Human Resources and Provost Office representatives attended a national conference to obtain ideas about how HR can more effectively assist units in this regard.  As a result, our hiring procedures have been modified, and effective Fall 2007 HR will refocus attention from approving forms and interview materials to actively recruiting qualified minority applicants.
  • High school international exchange students from across the state visited the UWGB campus for an International Diplomacy conference.

  • Student Affairs was awarded a federal grant of $1.5 million to fund our Upward Bound program.  Historically, the graduates of this program have been highly successful in attending and graduating from college. 

  • Over 200 underrepresented students participated in five summer precollege programs on the UWGB campus.

  • Outreach and Enrollment Services worked actively to promote student transfer and articulation agreements with the College of Menominee Nation and with the Wisconsin Technical College System (including campuses with higher minority populations).

Another strategy was to provide students, faculty, and staff with greater access to multicultural and international educational experiences.

  • Our Professional Program in Education has integrated the Phuture Phoenix program into its curriculum, providing UWGB teacher education students with a rich array of opportunities to work with Green Bay Public School’s diverse student population and in their schools.

  • UWGB offered Conversational Spanish classes for UWGB employees (enrollment of 47).
  • UWGB initiated a number of new international education curriculum options, including:
  • A semester-long Italian program at the British Institute in Florence, Italy, starting 2007-08.

  • A study abroad program in Mexico—in an area from which many of our local population have come—for education students.

  • A service learning internship in Guatemala for Social Work students.

  • On-campus classes in Italian and Arabic starting Fall 2007. 
  • UWGB hosted two International Visiting Scholars who interacted with students, faculty, and community members.
  • Urban and Regional Studies established a Hmong Studies Center, and Humanistic Studies continues to offer classes in Hmong Language and Culture. 
  • UWGB developed the University of Wisconsin International Information Network (UWIIN), funded by a US State Department Grant.

  • Of the 8 sabbaticals we expect the Board of Regents to approve this fall, 6 involve a significant international component.

A third strategy was to offer the public and residents of Northeast Wisconsin, including UWGB employees, activities and educational opportunities that help them function more effectively in a multicultural community and a global economy.  Results included:

  • Outreach co-sponsored a “Diversity and Justice across Communities” Initiative.
  • UWGB established an Arabic Language Institute at the University of Jordan.  This summer program, funded by the U.S. State Department, gives high school students from Wisconsin and other states the opportunity to live and study in the Middle East. 
  • A “Boys in Crisis” Conference hosted by the Institute for Learning Partnership drew over 500 educators and business leaders, who explored opportunities for increasing academic achievement and appropriate social engagement among boys.
  • Outreach offered a number of conferences and classes to enable area educators and other professionals to function more effectively in our multicultural region.  These included:
  •  “Exploring Hmong in Transitions: Enhancing Teaching and Learning for Hmong Students and Community.”
  • “Spanish at Work,” a customized language class designed to meet specific on-the-job needs.
  •  “Spanish Immersion for Professionals,” a one-week intensive language/learning course in Door County, enrolled over 100 professionals in education, law enforcement, and human services from across Wisconsin and 4 other states.
  • “Discovering Italian Language and Culture Advanced Placement Conference,” sponsored by the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago, Belgiosio Cheese, Wisitalia, and the Club Italo Americano in Green Bay.
  • Over 200 minority students from across Wisconsin attended the 7th Annual Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN) Student Leadership Conference on the UWGB campus.  The three-day event was coordinated by Outreach in partnership with the Green Bay Area Public School District Board of Education and St. Norbert College.
  • UWGB hosted a Citizen Diplomacy Summit (sponsored by the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy) which was attended by students from across Wisconsin.
  • The Office of International Education formed a Friends of International Education Association to promote involvement of interested community members with our international students and programs.

Resources

GOAL:  To acquire resources sufficient to sustain and carry out our mission.

This is a long-term goal that will require sustained effort over many years.  We had identified several long-range strategies.  One was to garner external support for new initiatives and quality improvements.  Another was to generate state and tuition revenues sufficient to sustain our core instructional activities.  A third strategy was to continually align and realign resources and activities to assure quality and to meet campus priorities, critical needs, student demand, and state support.  Actions that have been undertaken to move us forward toward this long-range goal—even as we await the ultimate outcomes—include the following:

  • Academic Affairs faculty and staff rallied to support the Chancellor’s and UW System’s “Growth Agenda.”  
  • Student Affairs, Information Services, and the Provost’s Office all provided analysis and data needed for our Growth Agenda legislative funding request.
  • Numerous faculty and staff engaged in civic discourse or testimony in support of the funding request.
  • Our Growth Agenda funding request was supported by UW System Administration, included in the Governor’s budget, and supported by and large by the State Senate’s Joint Finance Committee. 
  • Anticipating a favorable outcome when the State budget is approved, UWGB has prioritized and initiated searches for the first round of “growth agenda” faculty.
  • We have budgeted for a Strategic Enrollment Management consultant to advise us in the coming year as we develop a new enrollment management plan and recruitment/marketing plan.
  • As our capital campaign turned into its second, academic phase, many faculty and staff worked diligently, either behind the scenes or directly with donors, to support the campaign.   UWGB has received additional funding for scholarships, named professorships, academic resources, and campus improvements.  And the foundation has been laid for additional requests in the future.
  • The Institute for Research continued to support faculty and staff grant/contract submissions averaging 1.27 applications per week.  Resulting awards for 2006-2007 amounted to $2,521,652.
  • The Comprehensive Program Review Task Force completed its report and recommendations which were shared with the academic programs for additional information and insight.  These will provide an important source of information to guide future decisions and resource allocations, including new opportunities that may arise as a result of the Growth Agenda, philanthropic support, other resource development. 
  • The Enrollment Management Committee shifted its primary focus from simple headcount to tuition revenue targets.