| PART ONE: ADVOCATING FOR MnSCU AND ITS STUDENTS
|
|
ADVOCACY GOAL:
|
Advocate for and secure resources to enhance educational excellence throughout
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, consistent with
the needs of students and the state of Minnesota.
Product: Reinforce match between the State System's educational
programs and the needs of students and the state.
|
| Goal A-1: |
The chancellor will serve as MnSCU's chief ambassador by visiting
all areas of the state to promote the system and its institutions. |
| |
Product:
|
Increased awareness and visibility of MnSCU across constituencies.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Schedule and complete visits with all members of MN legislature by
late March 2002.
Visit all MnSCU institutions and their communities by late March 2002.
Meet with key MN corporate/business leaders by late March 2002.
Meet regularly with MnSCU's student, faculty and staff constituencies
(ongoing).
|
| Goal A-2: |
The Office of the Chancellor will work with the
colleges and universities to develop strategies to identify and remove real
and perceived barriers to participation in higher education |
| |
Product:
|
An action plan to systematically address barriers to participation
by September 2002.
A study of the feasibility of financing out-of-state undergraduate
tuition.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Commission Committee of university, college, and Office of the Chancellor
leadership, i.e. a Leadership Council of Presidents and Chancellor's direct
reports, to address participation in October 2001.
Report from Leadership Council to Chancellor in June
Chancellor reports recommended changes to Board of Trustees, September
2002.
|
| Goals A-3: |
The Office of the Chancellor will work with the System's constituencies
to improve statewide, regional and local partnerships to better serve the
economic development needs of the communities and regions it serves, as
detailed in Improvement Goal 2 of this Work Plan. |
| Goal A-4: |
MnSCU will pursue sufficient financial and capital resources
through the state budget process to provide excellent, affordable higher
education opportunities to Minnesotans. |
| |
Product:
|
An integrated master planning process, directed by academic programming
themes and incorporating attendant facilities, fiscal and technological
perspectives.
A biennial capital budget for the 2004 legislative session reflecting
institutional, regional and statewide academic requirements.
A biennial budget for the 2003 legislative session reflecting an institutional,
regional and statewide learner-centered strategy.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Review (by Leadership Council and Office of the Chancellor staff)
local and regional approaches to master planning in November 2001.
Include an examination of regional efforts to coordinate academic
and/or technical programming.
Open discussions on coordinated master planning at the state
and regional levels with Leadership Council and other campus and Office
of the Chancellor staff in January-February 2002. Include
an examination of the Office of the Chancellor role fostering local and
regional efforts in an effective and efficient manner.
Review development of 2004-2005 systemwide technology initiative
by March 2002.
Present an integrated statewide/system master planning process
(academic, fiscal, facilities and technology) based on MnSCU strategic
plan to Board of Trustees by July 2002.
Complete integrated campus master plans, directed by academic
programming themes and incorporating attendant facilities, fiscal and
technological perspectives for each campus by December 2003.
Review 2004-2005 biennial budget, reflecting MnSCU System
principles and priorities by August 2002.
Develop 2004-2009 biennial capital budget guidelines by September
2002.
Approve 2004-2005 biennial budget by September 2002.
Review 2004-2009 capital budget by May 2003.
Approve 2004-2009 capital budget by June 2003.
|
| Goal A-5: |
MnSCU will pursue comprehensive authority through the state
budget process to recruit, retain and further develop excellent faculty,
staff and administrators to serve Minnesota's higher education and advanced
training needs. |
| |
Product:
|
An improved faculty/staff/administrators recruitment, retention
and development process aimed at achieving a new partnership in serving
students. |
| |
Timeline: |
Engage the faculty and staff associations in substantive
discussions through the existing meet and confer/meet and discuss process
(ongoing). |
| |
|
|
| PART TWO: DEFINING MnSCU's FUTURE |
|
FUTURES GOAL 1:
|
Provide excellent, affordable higher education opportunities
to students from Minnesota and nearby states. |
|
Goal F1-1:
|
The Office of the Chancellor (i.e. System Office) will work
with the colleges and universities to develop and implement new majors,
programs and certificates to better serve students. The Office of the Chancellor
will use this process to inform the strategic plan. |
| |
Product:
|
An operational plan to encourage responsive MnSCU programmatic
development, including intra-system academic programming articulation and
collaboration. |
| |
Supportive Initiative: |
Board of Trustees approved evaluation of program approval
and review. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
and her Advisory Council with a preliminary assessment and process development
by December 2001.
Identify existing programmatic gaps and needs and supplementary
resource needs by January 2002.
Identify opportunities for inter-institutional and/or
systemwide programmatic collaboration opportunities, based on statewide
needs, and the complementary resources needs by January 2002.
Assess the preliminary report by Leadership Council by February
2002.
Report to the Board of Trustees by Chancellor by April 2002.
|
| Goal F1-2: |
The Office of the Chancellor will work with the colleges and
universities to make it easier for students to transfer from one institution
to another, as referenced in the Higher Education Omnibus Bill of 2001 (Special
Session S.F. 11). |
| |
Product:
|
Report on and strategy to address transfer to MnSCU Board
of Trustees. |
| |
Timeline: |
Report progress on transfer initiative in January 2002.
Report on transfer to MnSCU Board of Trustees, September
2002.
|
| Goal F1-3 |
The Office of the Chancellor will work with the colleges and
universities to reach out to those traditionally under-represented in the
ranks of higher education students and personnel. |
| |
Product:
|
Improved recruitment of students from groups traditionally under-represented
in higher education by September 2002.
Implement a reporting and accountability framework for implementing
the action plan by September 2002.
Integrate diversity principles into a President/System Staff
management evaluation framework by January 2003.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Commission Committee of Leadership Council to address diversity by
October 2001.
Report to Chancellor by Leadership Council on June 2002.
Report recommended changes to Board of Trustees by Chancellor,
September 2002.
|
| FUTURES GOAL 2: |
Listen to the people of Minnesota and craft a strategic
plan to achieve their vision for higher education. |
| Goal F2-1: |
The Chancellor will name a Citizens Advisory Commission
to assess the current realities and assist in identifying the future direction
of the MnSCU system as it seeks to serve the people of Minnesota. The Citizens
Advisory Commission will reflect MnSCU's principal constituents -- students,
faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, business and corporate leaders, legislative
and executive branch leaders, Minnesota's tribal communities, Minnesota's
established and emerging communities of color, and its rural, suburban and
urban citizens. Previous MnSCU strategic plans will be utilized as a foundation
for the proposed revitalized plan. |
| |
Product:
|
A revitalized strategic plan to guide MnSCU through the
decade, 2002-2012. |
| |
Timeline: |
Name and charge Citizens Advisory Commission by August 2001.
Convene first meeting of Citizens Advisory Commission by end
of September 2001.
Establish and charge working groups of Citizens Advisory Commission
by September 2001.
Involve working groups in public forums, December 2001-January
2002.
Report to Commission from working groups by February 2002.
Report to Chancellor by Citizens Advisory Commission in March
2002.
Report to the Board of Trustees from Chancellor, April 2002.
|
| Goal F2-2: |
The Chancellor and his senior staff will conduct public forums,
meant to inform the strategic plan, in at least six locations around the
state between August 2001 and February 2002. |
| |
Product:
|
Input to MnSCU's revitalized strategic plan. |
| |
Timeline: |
Complete MnSCU's strategic plan-related public forums by February
2002.
Inform the strategic plan by March 2002.
|
| Goal F2-3: |
The Chancellor will schedule visits with all 201 legislators
and key business and corporate leaders to understand their concerns about
higher education and MnSCU. Solicit input and advice on the strategic plan
and on continuous improvement strategies. |
| |
Product:
|
Input to MnSCU's revitalized strategic plan. |
| |
Timeline: |
Complete scheduled visits by March 2002.
Inform the strategic plan by March 2002.
|
| Goal F2-4: |
The Chancellor will visit every MnSCU institution by March
2002 and, at each, engage with students, faculty and staff in a dialogue
about their vision for higher education in Minnesota. Use this input to
inform the strategic plan. |
| |
Product:
|
Input to MnSCU's revitalized strategic plan. |
| |
Timeline: |
Complete institutional visits by March 2002.
Inform the strategic plan by March 2002.
|
|
PART THREE: IMPROVING MnSCU's CURRENT EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
|
|
IMPROVEMENT
GOAL 1:
|
Ensure that MnSCU institutions and the Office of the Chancellor
will be accountable for achieving statewide higher education objectives,
maintaining fiscal integrity and improving student success. |
| Goal 1-1: |
The Office of the Chancellor will work with the colleges and
universities to develop measurable accountability standards including the
following areas: graduation rates, success of first-generation college students,
successful transfer rates, customized training, five most important programs
and other measures of student success. |
| |
Product:
|
Improved accountability. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge a Systemwide Working Group with a review of the proposed MnSCU
accountability standards by October 2001.
Develop and assess the proposed MnSCU accountability standards
by February 2002.
Report to the Legislature as required by February 2002.
Recommend specific standards measures for System and institutional
accountability to the Chancellor by April 2002.
|
| Goal 1-2: |
The Office of the Chancellor will establish a procedure to
ensure the reliability and validity of data for research, planning and evaluation.
|
| |
Product:
|
Improved data quality. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the Student Data Integrity Group with a review of the MnSCU
management data framework by August 2001.
Assess Office of the Chancellor data reporting functions by
September 2001.
Assess Office of the Chancellor internal research and management
reporting capacity by October 2001.
Recommend improvements in MnSCU data systems and/or data warehouse
by November 2001.
Recommend improvements in Office of the Chancellor research
and management reporting by November 2001.
Implement an Office of the Chancellor management-reporting
framework by January 2002.
Provide training and communicate expectations to campus staff,
including senior administrators, by June 2002.
|
| Goal 1-3: |
Maintain fiscal accountability as measured by balanced capital
and operating budgets and audited financial statements. |
| |
Product:
|
A balanced budget across MnSCU at the close of each year.
Improved Office of the Chancellor, college and university
financial management.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Review of the MnSCU allocation Framework Continuous Improvement effort
by November 2001.
Present first audited financial statements by December 2001
(subsequently ongoing).
Present first quarterly balanced budget report by January
2002 (subsequently ongoing).
Develop Business Activity Reporting Framework January 2002.
Develop post-occupancy review program by March 2002.
Develop third-party financing policies by March 2002.
|
| Goal 1-4: |
Preserve taxpayer investments and provide safe, accessible,
energy efficient and environmentally compliant facilities for students through
careful stewardship of campus physical assets. MnSCU facilities will be
regularly maintained to provide for the programmatic needs of the institution,
as well as outstanding learning and working environments. |
| |
Product:
|
MnSCU system policy on facilities maintenance and repair
budgeting. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge MnSCU institutions and Office of the Chancellor staff
with developing appropriate institutionally-based operating budget lines
for facilities repair and maintenance. Reporting goal: June 2002.
Charge MnSCU institutions and Office of the Chancellor
staff with developing an operating budget initiative for the FY2004/2005
biennium for facilities maintenance and repair. Submission by November
2002 for the budget cycle.
|
|
Goal 1-5:
|
Assess institutional and Office of the Chancellor roles and
make adjustments as necessary to improve efficiency and effectiveness. |
| |
Product:
|
An assessment of the MnSCU Office of the Chancellor's role and scope,
including alternative models for the delivery and cost assessment of services
to the campuses.
An assessment of MnSCU as a statewide or regionalized operating
system, including an examination of differing and/or distinctive institutional
missions.
An assessment of alternative models for the delivery and cost
assessment of services to the campuses.
An Office of the Chancellor budget reflecting MnSCU System
principles and priorities.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Charge a System-level Quality Steering Committee (comprised of representatives
of all constituent groups) in October 2001 with an assessment of
the System's organization and configuration to be completed by May 2002.
Charge an Office of the Chancellor Organizational Assessment
Task Force comprised of Leadership Council, the System Office Quality
Steering Committee and select campus administrators, in October 2001 with assessing the current and future role and scope of the Office
of the Chancellor by March 2002. This work will build on previous studies
(e.g. the System Office Study Task Force of January 2000), suggestions
presented in compiling this work plan and testimony to the Citizens' Advisory
Commission.
Review the MnSCU Office of the Chancellor budget for FY03
by April 2002.
Present Chancellor's recommendations on System and Office of the
Chancellor organization and processes to the Board of Trustees, April
2002.
|
| Goal 1-6: |
Establish a culture that fosters continuous improvement (ongoing). |
| |
Product:
|
A continuous improvement plan for the MnSCU System utilizing practices
built upon Baldrige criteria and core values.
An action plan to initiate a systematic accountability program
throughout the MnSCU organization.
Implement a Board/Chancellor/President management-reporting
framework based upon continuous improvement principles.
Implement a President/System Staff management evaluation framework
based upon continuous improvement principles.
An evaluation of the Minnesota shared governance model of
higher education.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the System Office Quality Steering Committee, by August 2001,
with developing a preliminary continuous improvement plan for the Office
of the Chancellor by fall 2002.
Commission Committee of Leadership Council to address an accountability
and management-reporting framework in November 2001.
Commission Committee of Leadership Council to address management evaluation
framework in January 2002.
Report by Committee of Leadership Council to Chancellor on an
accountability and management-reporting framework by June 2002.
Convene a joint faculty-administrative group to review and assess
shared governance practices across MnSCU with the intent of presenting
the Chancellor with a report by June 2002.
Discuss accountability/management reporting framework report with
appropriate constituencies, July-August 2002.
Report to Chancellor by Committee of Leadership Council on management
evaluation framework by August 2002.
Present Chancellor's recommended policy changes to Board of Trustees
in October 2002.
|
| Goal 1-7,: |
Review Office of the Chancellor and campus professional development
opportunities and develop a plan to improve current activities by January
2002. |
| |
Product:
|
An action plan to improve professional and leadership development
opportunities for all exempt staff |
| |
Timeline: |
Commission Committee of Leadership Council, Office of the Chancellor
human resources professionals and select affected administrators, in November
2001to assess MnSCU's excluded management professional development opportunities
by May 2002.
Recommend action on MnSCU professional development practices to
Chancellor by June 2002.
Implement actions approved by the Chancellor by September 2002.
|
|
IMPROVEMENT
GOAL 2:
|
Support the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in
playing a major role in strengthening the partnerships that build the economic
vitality of their regions and the state. |
| Goal 2-1: |
MnSCU institutions will enhance and/or expand their partnerships
with statewide and regional businesses and industries (e.g. building on
the lessons learned from the Targeted Industry Partnerships) that contribute
to MnSCU's strategic role in the workforce and regional economic development
spheres. |
| |
Product:
|
An improved understanding of MnSCU's educational, economic
and workforce contributions to the State and its well being.
An operational plan for MnSCU's participation in meeting
the economic development needs of the communities and regions it serves.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Name and charge a Work Group on Economic Development as part of the
Citizens' Advisory Commission in September 2001.
Charge the MnSCU Office of the Chancellor and the System institutions
with benchmarking existing partnerships by November 2001.
Integrate identified measures of need into master planning
process, February-March 2002
Undertake and complete Chancellor/staff meetings with key
Minnesota corporate/business leaders by June 2002
Initiate interventions, fall 2002.
Assess business/corporate response to efforts during Winter/Spring
2003 legislative session.
Assess legislative response to efforts during Winter/Spring 2003
legislative session.
|
|
Goal 2-2:
|
MnSCU will collaborate with the University of Minnesota and
other institutions of higher learning in the state to provide new higher
education opportunities to all citizens (ongoing). |
| |
Product:
|
An improved understanding of MnSCU's educational contributions
to the State.
Parallel Effort: Metro Master Academic Plan with University of
Minnesota pursuant to legislative mandate (due February 2002).
|
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the MnSCU Office of the Chancellor and the System institutions
with benchmarking existing partnerships (annually by February Board meeting).
Establish biannual meetings between the Chancellor and the President
of the University of Minnesota.
Establish biannual meetings between the Chancellor and his Private
College Council counterpart.
Establish biannual meetings between the Chancellor and the Director
of the Higher Education Services Office (HESO).
Assess University of Minnesota response during March-April 2003.
Assess Private College Council response during March-April 2003.
|
|
Goal 2-3:
|
MnSCU will collaborate with the state Department of Children,
Families and Learning (DCFL) and pre-kindergarten to high school
educational systems to expand opportunities for advanced learning in MnSCU
institutions and improve the alignment of teacher preparation programs with
educational system needs. |
| |
Product:
|
An improved relationship with DCFL and the pre-K-12 educational
systems in the State leading to a seamless pre-K-16 structure. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the MnSCU Office of the Chancellor and the System institutions
with benchmarking existing partnerships (annually).
Establish regular meetings between the Chancellor and the Commissioner
of the Department of Children, Families and Learning in calendar 2002.
Establish regular meetings between the Chancellor and representatives
of the State's pre-K-12 educational systems in calendar 2002.
Assess Department of Children, Families and Learning response
during March-April 2003.
Assess the State's pre-K-12educational systems' response during
March-April 2003.
|
|
IMPROVEMENT GOAL 3:
|
Enhance MnSCU's public image to build support for the system and its
institutions among students and prospective students, alumni and key policy
makers. |
| Goal 3-1: |
Enhance the public image of MnSCU among prospective students,
key opinion leaders and community leaders, public officials and citizens
by implementing an effective marketing and communications plan. Assess the
effectiveness of the resulting plan. |
| |
Product:
|
Improved public image of MnSCU across constituencies.
An assessment of the MnSCU "brand" and its recognition.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Inform and enhance MnSCU statewide, regional and local marketing plans
with input from strategic planning process in July 2002.
Initiate effective ongoing communication plan (based on results
of visits noted above in 3-1) in July 2002.
|
| Goal 3-2: |
Improve MnSCU's presence and effectiveness in Washington,
D.C. by developing and implementing an effective federal relations plan.
|
| |
Product:
|
Improved competitive presence in Washington D.C. funding
arena. |
| |
Timeline: |
Assess MnSCU's Federal presence/effectiveness by December 2001.
Recommend a MnSCU federal relations plan in January 2002.
Implement necessary action steps in March-April 2002.
|
| Goal 3-3: |
Enhance the capacity of MnSCU institutions to build strong
alumni organizations by June 2002. |
| |
Product:
|
A survey of alumni and their willingness to volunteer services to
MnSCU institutions.
Improved ability to mobilize resources for System enhancement.
|
| |
Timeline: |
Review internal (Office of the Chancellor) outreach/networking efforts
in fall 2001.
Assess campus/institutional outreach/networking efforts by March-April
2002.
Assess campus and Office of the Chancellor responses by June 2002.
|
| Goal 3-4: |
Enhance MnSCU's capacity to secure higher levels of non-state
revenue by June 2002. |
| |
Product:
|
Improved "external" funding of MnSCU initiatives which
are not directly competitive with the interests of the individual campuses. |
| |
Timeline: |
Assess willingness and capacity of Northstar State Colleges and Universities
Foundation to coordinate the attainment of external financial resources
by May 2002.
Work with Northstar Board to develop a plan to build external
fundraising capacity by October 2002.
|
| IMPROVEMENT GOAL 4: |
Make the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities a leader
in using technology to serve students in new markets. |
| Goal 4-1: |
By July 2002, refine and implement strategies to move effectively
and successfully into the eLearning market. |
| |
Product:
|
An operational plan to move MnSCU into the eLearning arena. |
| |
Supportive Initiative: |
FIPSE project. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs,
through the eLearning Task Force, with the presentation of a preliminary
assessment of available options by October 2001.
Review of preliminary report by Leadership Council by December
2001.
Chancellor's Recommendations to the Board of Trustees, July 2002.
|
|
Goal 4-2:
|
Improve the information technology capacity of MnSCU to better
serve its internal and external customers. |
| |
Product:
|
An operational plan to improve information technology within
MnSCU. |
| |
Timeline: |
Charge the Information Technology Roundtable with an in-depth preliminary
assessment of MnSCU's information technology capacity by October 2002.
Review of the preliminary report by Leadership Council in
November 2002.
Implement actions approved by the Chancellor by January 2003.
|
| Goal 4-3: |
Use technology to reach new market segments with eLearning
Services. |
| |
Product:
|
An operational plan to use technology in reaching new market
segments. |
| |
Timeline: |
The eServices Group will develop a preliminary assessment of untapped
market segments by June 2002.
Conduct market research to identify target market segments
by September 2002.
Assessment of preliminary report and research findings by
Leadership Council by December 2002.
Review preliminary assessment with administrators, faculty,
students and citizen advisory groups in March-April 2003.
Chancellor's Report to the Board of Trustees, June 2003.
|
| |
|
|
|
NOTES
|
|
WORK PLAN:
|
The work of the Office of Internal Auditing, because of its
direct reporting relationship to the Board of Trustees, is not clearly identified
in the Work Plan. The Office of Internal Auditing, however, has submitted
an audit plan to the Board to allow for flexibility in support of the Chancellor's
approved work plan and the resulting strategic directions. The office provides
assurance, consulting and fraud inquiry/investigation services and professional
advice to the Board, Chancellor, presidents and managers in accordance with
Board Policy 1.D. |
| Goal A-4 |
See also Office of the Legislative Auditor, The MnSCU Merger
(August 2000), pp. 29, 35. |
| Goal F2-1 |
See also Recommendations 1 and 3 of the Management Analysis
Division' s MnSCU Board-level Administration and Management (February
2001) and Office of the Legislative Auditor, The MnSCU Merger (August
2000), pp.45-48, 58-60. |
| Part Three |
See also Office of the Legislative Auditor, The MnSCU Merger
(August 2000), p.4. |
| Goal 1-1 |
See also Office of the Legislative Auditor, The MnSCU Merger,
Chapter 2 and Special Session S.F. 11 (the Higher Education Omnibus Bill
of 2001), Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 3, Subd. 3 and Ch. 1, Art. 2, Sec. 26. |
| Goal 1-1 |
For the accountability standards, please see the Accountability
Principles List produced by the Chancellor's Task Force on Institutional
Accountability in April of 2000. |
| Goal 1-5 |
See also Office of the Legislative Auditor,
The MnSCU Merger (August 2000), pp. 39-40 and pp. 11-16 of Report and
Recommendations from The System Office Study Task Force (January
2000). |
| Goal 4 |
See also Office of the Legislative Auditor, The MnSCU Merger
(August 2000), pp. 31-33. |
| Approved unanimously by the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities Board of Trustees on July 18, 2001. |
