CMU 2010

Progress Report - November 2007

Target Recommendations

Target recommendations, provided originally by the Communications Committee and later by the Priority Committees and a group of data experts called together by Provost Shapiro, have now been introduced to the ISPC.  The ISPC discussed the proposed targets and will formalize a final recommendation document indicating their endorsed set of targets for further circulation to the president within the next few months.

KPIs

All of the available 2007 fiscal year data have been added to the Key Performance Indicators, so if you have not visited the site recently, you may want to review our KPIs.  While progress is evident in many cases, it seems we would benefit from giving additional attention and support to the areas that we are not doing as well as we'd like.  Those challenging points are listed below:

Open Forum Summary

On October 17th, representatives of CMU 2010 held an Open Forum to discuss topics with the campus community.  Featured topics included an overview of our eighteen chosen KPIs and how they were established, suggestions for ideas to promote CMU 2010 participation on all levels within the university, and  a brainstorming session for participants to use critical thinking to find their role in the Vision.  We also answered questions regarding the RFP process, introduced our websites, discussed proposal ideas, and promoted other events we plan to use to spread awareness of CMU 2010 - Fireside Chats.  Thanks to all that participated in our event!  We appreciate the thoughtful questions and comments made throughout the presentation.  For your review, the Open Forum PowerPoint presentation and distributed handouts have been posted online.

Fireside Chat

If you couldn't attend the Open Forum or still seek clarification with a topic associated with CMU 2010, mark your calendars for the Fireside Chat, being held on November 15th, from 1:30-2:30 in the UC Fireside Room.  At this event, we will informally discuss CMU 2010 and answer any questions you made have in small groups for a more personalized setting.  We look forward to seeing you on the 15th!

Spotlight on A Project to Explore Racial/Ethnic Diversity at CMU

For the November Update, what better project to spotlight than the Project to Explore Racial/Ethnic Diversity at Central Michigan University.  As promised in the Fall 2007 CMU 2010 Newsletter, the first periodic formal update on project progress has recently been finalized. 

On November 8, 2007, Mary Senter, sociology, along with colleagues Angela Haddad, sociology; Christopher Owens, and Cherie Strachan, political science; Lisa Patterson, communication and dramatic arts; Ulana Klymyshyn, Multicultural Center; and Danielle Tate, Minority Student Services; released their first formal report to the campus community in an attempt to better understand and improve the climate for diversity.

During the spring 2007 semester, over 700 students were surveyed for their opinions regarding campus climate at Central Michigan University.  Below, key findings from the report have been identified:

  • The vast majority of CMU students recognize the value of diversity in higher education.

  • Students of color are more likely than white students to enter college already having had experiences with people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

  • Similarly, at CMU, students of color continue to have more varied and intimate contact with ethnically and racially diverse people than their white peers.

  • Students of color are more likely than their white peers to engage in diversity-related events and to use university offices.

  • Students of color are more likely than their white peers to experience a hostile environment on- and off-campus.

Subsequent reports will be based on surveys with community members, as well as focus groups and interviews with students, faculty, and staff of color.  An analyses of student organizations will also contribute to our understanding of diversity at CMU.  We will keep you updated as these reports become available.

For more information and supporting statistics, we strongly encourage you to consider reviewing the formal report or executive summary.  Thanks to the persistent initiative of Mary and her group, the campus community can begin to better understand how diversity plays a role in Mount Pleasant.

How to Become a Spotlight Project

Over the past few months, we have included "Spotlights" on several of the Vision Plan funded projects.  To share your success with the CMU community, please email CMU2010@cmich.edu.   Feel free to identify the month you would like to be featured and a short summary of progress or list of highlights to be displayed.  We are more than willing to assist you in documenting your spotlight, so you may provide the name of a contact person and the best way to reach this person for a short interview as an alternative.  We are very grateful for those that volunteer early!  Thank you.