Meeting of the USF Student Affairs
Planning & Assessment Committee
November 5, 2008
Attending: Regina Young Hyatt, Chair; Steve Milburn; Dorie Paine; Olga Skalkos; Gary Manka; Charlene Herreid
Chair Regina Young Hyatt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Regina welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.
Regina gave a history of the Strategic Planning Initiative in the Office of Student Affairs. Two years ago, the Strategic Planning Committee was given a charge to develop a strategic plan for the Division of Student Affairs. The Committee produced the document called “University of South Florida Division of Student Affairs 2007-2012 Strategic Plan.” This document included a draft mission statement, values, vision, four divisional strategic goals and multiple strategies for achieving each strategic goal tied to the overall University Mission Statement.
The document was presented to the Student Affairs E-team at the beginning of the summer and the E-team prepared its response during the fall term, 2008. Regina passed out copies of the Draft Strategic Plan document and the E-team’s response to the document. It was agreed that in the interests of time, the Committee would review the E-team’s response and offer feedback that would be recorded in the committee minutes rather than create another iteration of the items. Regina noted that the related products (mission, vision, values, etc.) would be reviewed at the November 20, 2008 SALT meeting so there would be a chance for more input at that time.
The group first discussed the draft Mission Statement. Members asked about use of the word transformational as it related to leadership, service and change. Charlene and Regina, who had attended the E-team discussions about the draft Mission Statement, noted that they thought this meant that USF students would use opportunities to lead and serve to transform themselves and others, rather than just be satisfied with the status quo. The question arose of whether services provided by student affairs would be covered under the term learning opportunities or whether services should be specifically noted in the Mission Statement. It was questioned whether growth rather than simply change should be specified in the Mission Statement. Could we say “provides learning opportunities and environments?” Also “service, leadership and learning opportunities” was suggested. Another suggestion was to change the wording to: The Division of Student Affairs at the University of South Florida provides learning opportunities for students to discover, integrate and apply knowledge that transforms the student’s capacity for leadership, service, and change.
In discussing the Vision statement the following comments were offered. Are the elements “each and every student” and “resulting in lifelong success” too bold? Can we really do this? It was noted that the vision should be an ideal state to which we aspire. We may never reach that state, but it is the picture of what the Division would want to be like if all of our goals as a division were attained.
In discussing the Values statement, the statement that Student Affairs is hoping to produce healthy, capable students struck some as a limited goal. A disconnect between the goals for the Values and Vision statements was noted. Does the values statement cover learning environments?
Labels and short descriptions for the four Division Strategic Goal topics were discussed. It was asked whether “Organizational Integrity” was meant to include efficient, effective and ethical operations. If so, it was suggested that this might be stated more explicitly. For “Globalization” it was asked how global and international communities differ and whether both are needed in the label. Should this goal refer only to students or is it necessary for employees and staff to participate in this activity to achieve true globalization? No comments were offered for the goal topics of “University Community” and “Learner Centered.”
The committee had to adjourn at this time so that a student group could use the room and so did not have time to review the draft student learning outcomes.
Regina noted that this committee will assist in the implementation of the Division’s Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment processes. One the processes are established, the committee will continue to serve to review unit strategic and outcomes assessment plans submitted by the units for completeness and appropriateness, and also to review unit strategic plan and outcomes assessment reports for the same. The committee was informed that its help would be needed in determining the follow issues related to the implementation of both Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment in the Division of Student Affairs:
• Governance and Administration,
• Process,
• Technology,
• Documentation, and,
• Training
The Committee will be working on these issues through the rest of the Fall 2008 term and the Spring term 2009.
The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Charlene Herreid
Director, Student Affairs Planning, Evaluation and Assessment