Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Annual Work Plan for 2004-2005

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The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System is dedicated to serving the people of Minnesota through its academic programs, applied research and specialized workforce training. Both as a system and through the individual colleges and universities, we commit to the following:

To enhance educational programs and services by

• Continuously improving programs and services for students, workers and employers
• Advocating for a strong liberal arts foundation
• Supporting innovation and quality
• Providing efficient and effective credit and student transfer

To contribute to Minnesota's economic vitality by

• Providing access to certificate and diploma programs and associate, bachelor's and master's degrees
• Sustaining career and technical education
• Conducting applied research

To strengthen performance by

• Demonstrating accountability
• Aligning college and university programs, services and business processes
• Efficiently and effectively using facilities and technology
• Expanding private fund raising
• Aggressively seeking an appropriate level of state funding
• Increasing the diversity of students, faculty, staff and administrators
• Pursuing partnerships and collaboration

In addition to these ongoing objectives, the following priorities have been identified for academic year 2004-2005.

1. Strengthen the system's ability to respond to the changing needs of students and Minnesota communities.

College and University Responsibilities

• Assess the impact of demographic changes in college and university service areas.
• Address retention and recruitment in enrollment management plans.

Office of the Chancellor Responsibilities

• Evaluate how system resources are used to meet changing student needs.
• Develop a strategy to meet Minnesota's educational needs over the next five years, especially in at-risk populations and in communities with fast-growing and declining populations.
• Identify the types of students served by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and help the colleges and universities develop plans to reach these groups.


2. Align college and university priorities, programs, services and business practices to improve service and manage costs.

College and University Responsibilities

• Provide smooth credit and student transfer.
• Adopt best practices, policies and procedures to align colleges and universities with other system institutions.
• Benchmark program development, student services and business practices against the most efficient and effective processes within the system and in colleges and universities across the nation

Office of the Chancellor Responsibilities

• Support policies and procedures that encourage smooth credit and student transfer.
• Develop system-wide frameworks for college and university business practices.
• Identify best practices for program development, student services and business practices--within the system and in colleges and universities across the nation. Make this information readily available to the colleges and universities.


3. Strengthen teacher preparation and professional development programs; work to assure that high school graduates have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college and work.

College and University Responsibilities

• Develop strong working relationships with basic education and post-secondary partners.
• Work with local schools and school districts to encourage middle and high school students to prepare for college.
• Implement programs and processes to encourage recent high school graduates to enroll in a college or university.
• Deliver programs to prepare new teachers and upgrade the skills of current teachers.

Office of the Chancellor Responsibilities

• Strengthen statewide partnerships to prepare students for college success.
• Create a system-wide Teacher Center to deliver innovative, responsive and high-quality courses and programs for Minnesota teachers.


4. Fully develop and launch Minnesota Online.

College and University Responsibilities

• Support Minnesota Online Collaborative standards.
• Continue to develop online courses, programs and student services.
• Work with other colleges and universities to develop and offer online courses, programs and student services

Office of the Chancellor Responsibilities

• Communicate and support Minnesota Online Collaborative standards.
• Provide support and tools to develop online courses, programs and student services.
• Organize forums to help colleges and universities collaborate on online courses, programs and student services.
• Manage the Higher Learning Commission accreditation process for approving online programs.
• Increase the number of corporate partnerships for online learning and training.
• Train faculty and provide resources for online curriculum development


5. Build recognition of and support for the system among key stakeholders.

College and University Responsibilities

• Continue to build relationships with business, legislative, educational and community leaders.
• Communicate system messages to local audiences.
• Anticipate and respond to the needs and expectations of stakeholders

Office of the Chancellor Responsibilities

• Continue to build relationships with key business, legislative, educational and community leaders in collaboration with presidents.
• Communicate important system messages to business, legislative, educational and community leaders.
• Articulate clear and consistent messages about the system's value for system representatives and college and university leaders to use among key audiences

Approved by the Board of Trustees, 06-16-04