Office of Academic Affairs

June 1, 2007

Academic Priorities: Next Steps

Spring Symposium 2007

Activities Timeline

Retreat Discussions

Sept. – Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. – Apr. 2007 Academic Years 2007-12

Symposium

May – June 2007

• What has been the process leading to this symposium?  

PSU is the Leader in

Engagement

Students

Students

Faculty/Staff

Faculty/Staff

Community

Community

Globally relevant, regionally focused.

Portland State University’sCore Leadership Position

Portland State University’s

1.Improve student success through engaged learning experiences.

2.Expand innovative scholarship/creative activities that address regional issues & have global significance.

3.Enhance educational opportunity in the Portland Metropolitan Region.

4.Advance selected programs that establish our leadership.

Academic Priorities

Our 3 - 5 Year Academic PrioritiesOur 3 - 5 Year Academic Priorities

Activities Timeline

Retreat Discussions

Sept. – Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. – Apr. 2007 Academic Years 2007-12

Working Groups

Symposium

May – June 2007

• Form working groups to further develop priorities.

• Working group recommendations are used to develop directives for each priority

• Integrate working group progress into budget process – to the extent possible.

Portland State University’sAcademic Priorities

Student SuccessStudent Success

ScholarshipScholarship

ProgramsPrograms

PrioritiesPriorities

OpportunityOpportunity

Portland State University’sAcademic Directives

Student SuccessStudent Success

• Improve student success by increasing completion rates

• Improve student success by increasing completion rates

• Identify a set of specific, measurable and integrated learning objectives

• Identify a set of specific, measurable and integrated learning objectives

DirectivesDirectives

Portland State University’sAcademic Directives

OpportunityOpportunity

• Develop pathway programs which increase participation of diverse populations in higher education

• Develop pathway programs which increase participation of diverse populations in higher education

DirectivesDirectives

Portland State University’sAcademic Directives

ProgramsPrograms

• Implement a process to advance and nurture high-quality instructional and research programs that demonstrate our leadership in engagement

• Implement a process to advance and nurture high-quality instructional and research programs that demonstrate our leadership in engagement

ScholarshipScholarship

DirectivesDirectives

Activities Timeline

Retreat Discussions

• Hold June Symposium to discuss directives and themes and to propose initiatives

• Establish and begin process for identifying academic leadership programs.

• Identify academic themes

Sept. – Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. – Apr. 2007 Academic Years 2007-12

Working Groups

Symposium

Identifying Leadership Programs

May – June 2007

• Form working groups to further develop priorities.

• Working group recommendations are used to develop directives for each priority

• Integrate working group progress into budget process – to the extent possible.

Activities Timeline

Retreat Discussions

Sept. – Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. – Apr. 2007 Academic Years 2007-12

Working Groups

Symposium

Identifying Leadership Programs

May – June 2007

Guiding the Institution

• Create working groups to advance initiatives • Base administrative decisions on core leadership position and priorities.

• Develop unit level goals and activities

• Select and invest in program development.

• Form working groups to further develop priorities.

• Working group recommendations are used to develop directives for each priority

• Integrate working group progress into budget process – to the extent possible.

• Hold June Symposium to discuss directives and themes and to propose initiatives

• Establish and begin process for identifying academic leadership programs.

• Identify academic themes

• Directives were selected for each academic priority based on recommendations from the Working Groups

• Your task now is to help identify specific actions we might take to address the directives

• We’re calling these initiatives

• Initiatives are specific actions taken to address directives

Directives and InitiativesDirectives and Initiatives

• See the back of your agenda to select a table group that corresponds to the directive you wish to discuss

• Select possible initiatives appropriate for your directive

• Include specific outcomes for each initiative showing how we’ll make progress

• Once you’ve selected several initiatives, rank them in order of priority

• Use the form to record and report your work (the blue form should be handed in at the end of the session)

• Report on the first suggested initiative not already discussed

Directives and InitiativesDirectives and Initiatives

• Represent the intellectual dimension of the academic priorities

• Broad but generally understood statement describing of areas of intellectual strength and depth at the University

• Represent topics of particular relevance to the region but are also of significance nationally and globally

• Trans-disciplinary due to the nature of the issues addressed

• Provide a clear connection between the University and the Community and a basis for enhanced engagement

What Are Themes? What Are Themes?

• Guide the development of programs of study that prepare students for their role in addressing relevant and significant global and regional issues

• Provide the basis for discussion of undergraduate learning outcomes and a focus for our general education curriculum

• Build stronger and more focused connections with our selected communities

• Guide the selection of programs for development and enhancement, demonstrating our leadership position in engagement

• Align with resource allocation and investments

How Can We Use Themes?How Can We Use Themes?

• Creating innovative educational programs and systems that are effective for a changing global society

• Enhancing the cultural vitality of the metropolitan region

• Providing leadership in emerging science, technology and entrepreneurship in a global economy

• Creating and applying innovations in science, policy, and practice to support healthy, resilient families and communities

• Developing processes and practices to promote and support sustainable development

Working Set of Academic ThemesWorking Set of Academic Themes

• See the back of your agenda to select a table group that corresponds to the theme you’d like to discuss

• Think about ways that you and several colleagues might work together in an area of concentration around the theme

• Think about the external partners with whom you are already working or with whom we might engage in this concentration

• As a group, prioritize your list of possible concentration areas

Themes and ConcentrationsThemes and Concentrations

Part Three: Suggestions on Themes

• Establish working groups for each of the initiatives

• Begin selection of members immediately, in consultation with faculty governance

• Begin work over the summer where appropriate, especially as it relates to student success

Next Steps: Initiative Working GroupsNext Steps: Initiative Working Groups

• Templates are being developed to gather data and focus planning

• Process asks how units are aligning their goals and activities with the university’s priorities

• Asks for a list of programs for development and advancement

• Supports the alignment of program planning with the budget and resource allocation process

Next Steps: Unit Level PlanningNext Steps: Unit Level Planning

• Program selection will begin this fall

• Visit the OAA website for details about the process for program selection

• We encourage you to be thinking about how you might respond to the process

• Consider identifying colleagues to work with over the summer in anticipation of the process

Next Steps: Program SelectionNext Steps: Program Selection

• Fall symposium, September 19

• Focus on Student Success

• Keynote address by Carol Geary Schneider, President of AAC&U

• Dr. Schneider launced the LEAP (Liberal Education and America’s Promise) report

• Dr. Schneider also headed the initiative: American Commitments: Diversity, Democracy, and Liberal Learning

Next Steps: Fall SymposiumNext Steps: Fall Symposium

Office of Academic Affairs

June 1, 2007

Academic Priorities: Next Steps

Spring Symposium 2007