From the grassroots
CMU 2010 began about three years ago as a result of a CMU self-study, which revealed “an acute need for centralized planning,” Riordan said. “People were really enthusiastic about being here at CMU and wanted to improve the institution. People wanted to be included, wanted to be a part of the planning process – that’s part of CMU’s culture.”
The Board of Trustees adopted a vision statement in 2004: “Central Michigan University will be a nationally prominent university known for integrity, academic excellence, applied research, and public service.” The university moved forward to fulfill the vision with a plan called CMU 2010.
From an initial Vision Planning Steering Committee grew the Institutional Strategic Planning Committee (ISPC) and its five “priority committees,” each addressing one aspect of Vision 2010: Teaching and Learning, Diversity and Global Perspectives, Research and Creative Activity, Public Service, and Integrity. Provost Tom Storch and Riordan are co-chairs of the ISPC.
“We had already identified specific initiatives for the first year. We knew we needed some early successes,” Riordan said.
Early successes
More than $200,000 of the $1 million earmarked for FY06 funding went to projects such as evaluating the Honors Program and first-year programs, hosting a consultant on the recruiting of underrepresented students, and increasing support for student-centered research. A budget of no less than $1 million is anticipated for 2010 proposals for each fiscal year until 2010. Any remaining unused funds for each fiscal year will be carried forward.
“For the second year, we really went to the campus community and asked, ‘What do you want to do?’ We were interested in significant projects, and they needed to be well-thought out, collaborative efforts,” Riordan said.
FY07 proposals were submitted to committees in March before going on to the ISPC, which will make final recommendations to the president.
All proposals were required to be at least $25,000. Of those submitted, Riordan said proposals range from the $25,000 minimum to more than $2 million. They address everything from “a direct focus on students’ learning to supporting large parts of the university infrastructure.”
Each proposal needed to address key performance indicators, with clear and measurable outcomes.
Creating a ripple effect
Riordan said the impact of CMU 2010 initiatives will be more far-reaching than their awarded dollar amount; the proposals will create a ripple effect that will be felt throughout campus for years to come.
The deadline for FY08 proposals will be in the late fall 2006 semester. Riordan said faculty and staff should begin thinking about proposals over the summer.
“If you have big ideas for proposals for next year, talk to the ISPC or the priority committees,” she said.
Faculty and staff also can get involved by reading about the progress of 2010 initiatives. The Web site, planning.cmich.edu, includes regular updates.
“We want this to be a transparent process,” Riordan said. “Even if people can’t come to meetings, they can see what is going on. We’ve intentionally used technology throughout the planning process to promote engagement, information sharing, and timeliness.”
Overall, Riordan has been pleased by how people are adopting 2010. A recent campus survey showed that 70 to 80 percent understand the plan and see the work of their units in it.
“We’ve been really impressed with the progress on 2010, especially after so many years of budget cuts,” Riordan said. “I wasn’t sure so many people would embrace the 2010 vision. But we can see people’s enthusiasm and their ideas. It really is a grassroots effort. We’re seeing people reaching out across campus and forming new collaborative efforts – all in pursuit of realizing the priorities within CMU’s vision.
“A wide array of resources, including both special proposal funding and general operating funds, are supporting the five CMU 2010 strategic priorities.”
|
Catherine Riordan, vice provost for
academic affairs, discusses CMU 2010,
a plan she considers a “grassroots”
approach to long-term university planning.
Riordan co-chairs the Institutional Strategic
Planning Committee (ISPC) with Provost
Tom Storch.
|