Information for Submission of College Plans

November 3, 2003

The following information is provided to clarify content and format to be used in the attached college plan instructions.

1. If the college does not include all initiatives put forth by department plans, will the college be able to lift initiatives from department plans at a later date as opportunities arise?

A realistic planning process calls for making choices and prioritizing those choices at all university levels. At the college level, deans will review department plans and discuss with chairs initiatives from department plans that will be part of the college plan. Not all initiatives proposed by academic departments should be included in the college plan.

If, for example, your college has four Ph.D. programs it is considering, only two of which are currently viable, the college plan should contain the two viable programs, and the other two programs should remain in department plans (if departments so choose). These initiatives can be included in the college plan at a later date in a regular update of the strategic plan as they become more viable, and there is an opportunity for funding.

2. How long should the college plan be?

College plans should follow the 5-10 page suggestion listed under “General Instructions” for unit plans. Otherwise, those reading across plans will have great difficulty in gathering appropriate information. Deans should consider whether they are including minor departmental/college initiatives or operational strategies if plans become extremely long.

3. How should I prioritize college initiatives that require funding?

We realize that some colleges need to concentrate on the “maintenance” of current programs and initiatives, while other colleges may want to focus on new initiatives. In the college introduction/executive summary (outlined in #5 of this document) deans will list their college’s top priorities requiring new funding, after determining the appropriate balance between maintenance and new initiatives in the college. In their discussions with the VPAA, deans will have an opportunity to justify their choices. Deans should not assume that there are “preconceived” categories that will be funded more readily than others. For example, new initiatives are not necessarily funded more readily than existing ones. Development initiatives will not automatically be considered for funding more than diversity initiatives. At this stage of the process, colleges must establish their own recommended priorities.

4. The plan format provided does not allow me to use a matrix for the maintenance category. Can I use a matrix anyway?

Yes. After receiving feedback on this issue at the department level, we included in the instructions the option of using a matrix for the maintenance section. Simply use the matrix that was made available for the planning categories and change the title to “Part III: Maintenance Categories.”

5. Where do I list new major initiatives that require no new funding outside the department/college?

We realize that there are important initiatives that the department/college undertakes that require time and effort, but that do not require funding external to the college. The planning format allows for reporting these initiatives. In Part IV of the “Instructions and Format for Unit Plans” each planning category contains a question asking the college to list (1) new resources, if any, needed for the proposed program, and (2) to indicate how the college plans to obtain those resources.? Simply enter “zero funds” or “from department or college” when answering these questions and include any such initiatives at the appropriate place in the college’s listed priorities.

6. What will the college plan actually look like? What’s the format?

Because we have received feedback from deans asking for more direction on what content to include, we have made some changes. Generally, the “Instructions and Format for Unit Plans” will be the same format used by deans. The only exception to that format is the revised introduction section of the plan. Instead of using the format provided for unit plans, colleges will use the variation below to provide clarity and consistency across colleges. The introduction is now titled “Introduction/Executive Summary.” The Introduction/Executive Summary format is outlined below and is included in a separate attachment entitled “Instructions and Format for College Plans.”

I. Introduction/Executive Summary

Please outline your college’s “vision” for the 2004-2009 planning cycle by addressing the following:

A. In light of your answers to the planning questions, describe what you expect your college to “look like” (e.g., student undergraduate and graduate mix, number of full and part-time faculty, administrative staff, advising) in 2009.

B. List criteria the college used for ranking priorities.

C. Taking priorities from both the maintenance categories (Part III) and planning categories (Part IV), list, in priority order, the college’s top initiatives, listing no more than fifteen major initiatives requiring funding. For each initiative, estimate new funds required.

D. Based on the priorities outlined above, list the number of new (not replacement) faculty lines you plan to request in the 2004-2005 academic year and in 2-5 years.

E. Based on the college priorities outlined above, estimate the total amount of new funding, excluding faculty lines, which your unit will need in the 2004-2005 academic year and in 2-5 years.