1 Responding to Extreme Changes between Self-Study and the Evaluation Visit Dr. Andrew Thompson, Provost Dr. Richard Resch, Provost (Retired) The American University of Rome MSCHE ANNUAL CONFERENCE December 9, 2010 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2 OR STUFF HAPPENS!

3 Self-Study Closing Date Visit 6 Weeks – Update Letter To 3 Months - Addendum

4 5 MONTHS!!!! A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN 5 MONTHS

5 Things that can happen in 5 Months: Natural disaster Violence on Campus Your daughter elopes Unexpected presidential vacancy Change in ownership Faculty or staff union strikes Extreme change in financial environment

6 Case: The American University of Rome (AUR) Candidacy Visit – November 7-9, 2007 Granted Candidacy – March 2008 Self Study Closing Date – June 30, 2009 Accreditation Team Visit – December 2009 [Granted Accreditation – March 2010]

7 Self-Study Taking Place During Fiscal Crisis Embedded Culture of Planning-Assessment Budget Understanding of Core Values and Priorities

8 Goals To survive To revise Strategic and Financial Plans quickly and implement Demonstrate to MSCHE that AUR could weather this storm and come out even stronger

9 Obstacles After a year-and-a-half of downsizing, could we get everyone on board with more? Timing – Could the changes required be accomplished over the summer, approved by the Board of Trustees in the fall and incorporated into the addendum to the SS by mid-October so it could be sent to the Visiting Team six weeks prior to the visit?

10 Process Use the Planning-Assessment-Budget process already embedded as part of AURs culture of assessment developed over nearly a decade Focus on the core values of the University to preserve the best of what had been developed during an extended period of growth.

The JAC: Joint Advisory Committee on Planning and Budget The JAC considers the mission and goals of the institution and how these may be refined and better achieved. It links the assessment, planning and budget processes and unites the three main groups that make up AUR -- faculty, administration and students. Membership: President, ex officio (chair) Provost, ex officio Chief Financial Officer, ex officio Director of HR and Physical Plant, ex officio Director of Assessment and IR, ex officio Director of Student Life and Study Abroad ex officio Other Administration representatives (two) Faculty representatives (five) Student Government representative (one)

Functions of the JAC Receives and reviews all OA documentation for the institution; reviews the outcomes and performance measures of the previous years Strategic Plan; conducts a mid-year annual review of progress in achieving the institutional priorities identified in the current years Strategic Plan; reviews and updates the Strategic Plan including the mission and institutional goals; holds budget hearings during the budget forming process and recommends priorities consistent with the Strategic Plan; recommends budget allocations for the following year, based on outcomes assessment data and strategic planning decisions; reviews priority areas / projects to identify key elements necessary to meet institutional goals

13 Process FORM: Subcommittee [Strategic Task and Finish Force (STFF)] of JAC to rethink the fundamental model of the University. CHARGE: Prepare a framework for new Strategic and Financial Plans in light of the continuing effects of the global financial crisis, and especially the US recession, on AUR.

14 Process Membership of STFF: President Provost CFO Director of IT (also representing the staff union) Chair of Faculty Senate One other faculty member Meetings: Faculty, staff, students, full JAC

15 Process Meetings: Faculty Staff Students JAC

16 Result A new Framework for SP and FP adjusting to lower enrollment by reducing fixed costs of facilities, staffing, academic programs and faculty. A new Academic Plan featuring a more focused yet flexible curriculum, greater interdisciplinarity, and more efficient class scheduling

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