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Strategic Planning Committee Minutes, August 27, 2002
Strategic Planning (SPC) Committee Minutes
August 27, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT:: Bruce Morton, Greg Johnson, Mark Sheehan, Mary Noll, Kay Chafey, Jaynee Groseth.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Brown, Betsy Centa, Jon Wraith, ASMSU representative.
OTHERS PRESENT: Ben Sharp, Kathy Attebury.
The meeting was convened by Chair Bruce Morton at 10 a.m.
There are two tasks to be completed by the committee by late September:
- Finalize the SWOT analysis
- Add additional items to each of the four, if appropriate.
- Suggest precise ways to address each item.
- Consider MSU's capacity for growth and make a statement regarding it.
To recap the last SPC meeting, there appeared to be agreement that MSU cannot rely upon growth to solve it's budgetary problems. There is a perceived tension between MSU's research agenda and instructional agenda. Are the two complementary or contradictory? Will MSU promote a culture of graduate students or post docs and what are the ramifications? It was agreed that the primary goal of the university is to provide a high quality undergraduate education.
In view of the outcome of the special legislative session and other information, it is likely that in Montana, as well as nationwide, public funding for universities will continue to decrease. Based on this information, should MSU consider a strategic assumption that by the end of the decade, state funding for Montana's university system will be X% of today's funding?
There appeared to be agreement that given MSU's financial problems, growing beyond a particular capacity might jeopardize the quality of the institution. It was stated that there appears to be a lack of connectivity between the effort to increase student numbers and to determine if there are sufficient human and physical plant resources to provide a quality experience. According to comments made by the Registrar to the committee Spring Semester, there are limitations to appropriate growth because of human resources and space, It was stated that MSU should aspire to increase the quality of the student body to improve retention. However, these students will most likely demand additional services, putting greater stress upon available resources.
By September 10, four committee members will consider Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (one per member). Additional appropriate items may be added to each. In bullet fashion, precise actions that address the items should be suggested. These will be shared and discussed with other committee members via the listserv. Using comments made at today's meeting and earlier meetings, Bruce Morton will prepare a draft statement regarding growth and distribute it through the listserv for discussion.
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