Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Annual Work Plan Summary

Actions for 2002-2003

The annual work plan is predicated on the strategic plan, A Plan for Serving Students and Communities

Priority

Increase Access and Opportunity.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will continue to recruit students from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, yet focus more intensely on the recruitment and retention of those who have been under-prepared for or traditionally under represented or under-served in higher education, including students of color, first generation college students, students for whom English is a second language and low income students.

1. Identify and remove barriers to participation in higher education to improve recruitment, retention and graduation rates for students of color, first-generation students and low-income students, as well as other under-served populations.
2. Initiate new pre-kindergarten through college (P-16) collaborative structures to improve student preparation for and transitions into college and work.
3. Attract and retain more diverse faculty, staff and administrators.

Priority

Increase Support.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will work to increase support for public higher education in order to maintain the core educational mission while keeping tuition reasonable and addressing the needs of the state.

1. Analyze how Minnesota's policy on student financial aid is affecting Minnesota State Colleges and Universities students and develop and implement a strategy to obtain legislative changes that benefit public higher education students.
2. Advocate for responsible management of fiscal, facilities and technology resources.
3. Work to obtain more non-state funding.

Priority

Expand High Quality Learning Programs and Services.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will provide students with a full range of high quality learning programs and services that respond to student needs and document student achievement.

1. Continue to provide a liberal arts foundation enabling students to develop lifelong learning, critical thinking and citizenship skills in preparation for the constantly changing world they will encounter.
2. Provide up-to-date education and training through well-equipped laboratories and effective curriculum models based on 21st century demands of students, employers and the community.
3. Expand professional development opportunities for faculty, staff and administrators.
4. Continue development of distance and technology enhanced education opportunities to improve the system's ability to respond to learner needs.
5. Provide and expand graduate education and practical research and development, particularly in applied fields of study.

Priority

Strengthen Community Development and Economic Vitality.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will help meet the state's critical workforce and community needs in collaboration with statewide and local leadership groups.

1. Provide enhanced capacity and flexibility in key workforce areas through flexible scheduling and alternative delivery, including partially or fully online credit and non-credit courses and information sources such as ISEEK.
2. Respond to critical workforce needs in such areas as teaching and health care careers.
3. Improve system ability to respond rapidly to accelerated or sudden change experienced at the industry, company, employee or community level.

Priority

Fully Integrate the System.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will become a more efficient, effective and fully coordinated higher education system while respecting the differences and distinctiveness of the individual colleges and universities.

1. Establish the capacity to integrate academic, strategic, financial, technology and facilities plans at the institutional, regional and system levels.
2. Implement collaborative planning to better serve students, to expand opportunities for the institutions in the system and maintain the quality and scope of programs and services.

Across-the-Board Priority - Measurement.

1. In consultation with key internal and external stakeholders, develop a system of performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of the system as a whole and its individual institutions.