Strategic Planning Committee Minutes, February 18, 2002

Strategic Planning (SPC) Committee Minutes
February 18, 2002

Members Present:: Bruce Morton, Mark Sheehan, Betsy Centa, Jon Wraith, Greg Johnson, Mary Noll, Jaynee Groseth, Kay Chafey

Members Absent:: Bill Brown, Michelle McLendon, John Carlsten

Others Present: Kathy Attebury, Ben Sharp

The meeting was convened by the Chair, Bruce Morton. A three-page handout was distributed (Difference between Strategies and Tactics, Some Fundamental Questions to Be Asked Regarding Strategies).

The committee discussed Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for MSU-Bozeman. After adequate discussion, a list of three items in each category will be forwarded to UPBAC as the elements SPC sees as primary to FY03 budget deliberations. The following is a preliminary SWOT list.

Strengths and Weaknesses are internal to an organization. Opportunities and Threats are external. Some Working Assumptions will also be made.

STRENGTHS

People - students/staaff/faculty
Land grant mission - constituents
Location (also a drawback?)

WEAKNESSES

Recruitment/retention
Lack of focus (and marketing plan)
Infrastructure
Complacency/defensiveness
Level of investment in faculty

OPPORTUNITIES

Exploit location (12 months)
Economic development/partnerships
Distributed learning environments
Student recruitment (out-of-state and international)
Mobilize constituencies

THREATS

Unstable policy, planning and fiscal environment - loss of IDC returns
Tuition and scholarships
Competition and inefficiency among MSU campuses
UM morphing to become MSU

WORKING ASSUMPTIONS

Legislature - populism
Board of Regents

On Friday, February 22, SPC will discuss physical plant infrastructure and capacity with Director of Facilities Services Bob Lashaway.