CMU 2010

Progress Report - September 2008

Open Meetings for Staff to Discuss Next Strategic Plan

Although a few years still remain under the strategic directions of CMU 2010:  The Vision Plan, CMU's campus leaders and Board of Trustees are directing our attention to the next strategic plan in preparation for July 2010.  What comes beyond CMU 2010?  In which initiatives does CMU need to focus more attention and energy? Several Open Meetings have been scheduled this fall for staff members; faculty and student feedback will be collected at a later time.  The current schedule is as follows:

  • Friday, October 3, 8:00-9:00am, UC Lake Superior & Lake Michigan Rooms
  • Wednesday, October 8, 8:00-9:00am, UC Lake Superior & Lake Michigan Rooms
  • Monday, October 20, 8:00-9:00am, UC Lake Superior & Lake Michigan Rooms
  • Monday, October 20, 4:00-5:00pm, UC Lake Superior & Lake Michigan Rooms
  • Wednesday, October 22, 8:00-9:00am, UC Lake Superior & Lake Michigan Rooms
  • Wednesday, October 22, 4:00-5:00pm, UC Lake Superior & Lake Michigan Rooms

We welcome you to join us in our collaborative effort to improve our current strategic plan, and bring it to the next level.  The provost and other vice presidents will be hosting these events and would encourage you to participate in these forward-looking discussions of future university directions.

KPIs

Key Performance Indicators are CMU's gauge to how well we are realizing our strategic plan.  Over the course of the last month, many of our measures have been updated with new data.  The data displayed on our KPI webpages indicate fairly consistent trends, and in many cases, we're performing at or above where we had hoped to be in FY 2008 based on our target trend line.  More specific breakdowns are described below. 

We are performing above our 2008 target on academic expectations (first-year and senior), senior student engagement with faculty, off-campus undergraduate enrollment, doctoral enrollment (on- and off-campus), faculty from underrepresented groups, six-year graduation rate for students from underrepresented groups, campus climate (first-year and senior), on-campus international students, community service participation, student satisfaction, and fiscal integrity as measured by the CFI.

We are on-target for first-year student engagement with faculty, student-faculty ratio, and external awards in support of service.

We have more work to do to increase on-campus undergraduate enrollments, enrollment in our Master's programs (both on- and off-campus), staff from underrepresented groups, study abroad program participation, off-campus international students, student research activity (SRCEE), expenditures in support of research, and external grants and contracts in support of research.

KPIs that have been updated with FY08 data are listed in the right-hand navigation panel.

Spotlight on Mischief Managed: A Scholarly and Performative Conference on Harry Potter

Many times the projects that come to mind when we think about CMU 2010 closely align with one or two priorities and have been funded by Vision Funds.  While the Vision Funds have been helpful in bolstering nearly thirty projects on campus that are having a great impact on CMU, our strategic plan is also influencing other programs on campus in other, less traditional ways that have the potential to spread across even more priorities.
For instance, Mischief Managed is a scholarly and performative conference on Harry Potter, a popular fictional character based on the novels by J.K. Rowling.  Faculty, staff, students and others 12 or older are welcomed to register for this two day event at CMU, beginning at 6 PM on Friday, October 31, through Saturday, November 1, at 10 PM.

A number of activities to engage the Potter-loving crowd will be included:  Model Wizard World (similar to the idea of Model United Nations) will address global issues described in the Potter series that are aligned with real world issues, "A Visit to Diagon Alley" with different stations inspired by the Harry Potter books, such as the Sorting Hat Corner and Tonks’ Beauty Academy, and performances by  “wizard bands.”
While it isn’t always easy to find a link between an entertaining conference and CMU 2010, Lauren McConnell, assistant professor in Communications and Dramatic Arts, has discovered several.  It can be tied into Teaching and Learning, in that  the Mischief Managed conference, unlike many academic conferences, is structured to encourage students to interact and participate. While the setting is whimsical, the issues the conference will address (prisoner abuse, environmental degradation, and basic rights) are serious. The Model Wizarding World activities will provide a fun format for students to debate current issues. It will also provide students with creative and expressive outlets through performance and role playing.
Similarly, the conference addresses an appreciation for diversity and global perspectives.  One of the main themes of the conference is respect for the diversity of beings within the magical realm of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels. The conference will include a debate on the rights of house elves (which mirrors labor struggles in the U.S.) and a discussion about whether or not Azkaban prison should be shut down (similar to debates on Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp). Conference participants and speakers come from a variety of international locals.
If this doesn’t classify as “creative activity,” it is hard to say what does! Mischief Managed will succeed due to the creative and scholarly involvement of CMU students and faculty. Those involved with the conference have already learned a tremendous amount in organizing it, and this expertise will undoubtedly help the success of future projects.

The conference encourages community engagement, and locals have been involved in its planning. It is a "Sober in October" activity (an alcohol-free event) promoted by Student Resident Life, and it will enhance goodwill and interaction between the university and the community.
Finally, the conference promotes integrity, by examining the choices we make and the beliefs we hold.  Issues addressed at the Mischief Managed conference will encourage participants to take a serious look at our own world. It will promote critical thinking and ethical responses to global problems.

If you have any questions about this conference, please visit the Mischief Managed website www.mischiefmanagedcmu.org or contact Lauren McConnell directly (mccon1lb@cmich.edu or ext. 7673). Register today!

How to Become a Spotlight Project

Since July 2006, we have included "Spotlights" on several projects that are helping CMU 2010 move forward.  Please note that we are interested in ANY project that allows CMU to realize our Vision, not only those that have been funded with CMU 2010 Vision Funds. 

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!  Thank you.