1. Vision 2.0 Open Forum – Wrap Up
November 2 & 3, 2017

2. Re-grounding in the 2016 – 2020 strategic plan
Goal of the Engagement Process: To better define our collective vision for the future and align our limited resources behind those strategies that will help us to be most successful in achieving our goals

3. UMA Mission & Vision Statements
UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on- site education; excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs
*note, the name “Maine State University” was not approved for use by the Board of Trustees
The University of Maine at Augusta will become Maine State University*, a recognized national leader in distance education. Through innovation and collaboration, we will deliver undergraduate and graduate programs, on-site and at a distance, that prepare our students to succeed as engaged citizens, professionals and leaders

4. UMA values…
Survey Question #1, word cloud

5. Feedback from The Vision QueStions …

6. Feedback on the vision questions: Participation
Roundtables, 180 plus participants
3 each, Augusta & Bangor, different times/days/weeks
1 each UC Centers, plus UC Management & ID Teams
Student General Assembly
Faculty Senate
Alumni Association
Civic Engagement Advocacy Comm
First Survey, 114 participants
Total Participation, ~ 300
Survey 1 Participation

7. Students: Challenges SGA sponsored roundtable
Lack of student gathering/recreation spaces
Limited or no food service
Food insecurity for some students
Lack of safe, affordable housing
Technology outdated
Low student retention, “We can see the graduation rates, but no one is talking about it with us”

8. Students: Values represented by vision sga sponsored roundtable
Focus is online and non-traditional students
What about the f2f and traditional student experience?
Role of UC Centers in the vision/mission missing

9. Students: Learning experience sga sponsored roundtable
Choice of modality: f2f or distance
Consistency of experience regardless of modality
Improved distance modality
Real time interaction/response
Improved training for faculty, students and staff in technology
Civic engagement, experiential & service learning
Hands on/real world learning assignments
Internships, volunteer activities, service learning trips

10. Students: Student support sga sponsored roundtable
Proactive faculty advising
Awareness of student services & how to access
Career counseling
Alumni mentors

11. Students: spaces that build community sga sponsored roundtable
Recreation/gathering spaces
Residence halls
Affordable living arrangements & meal plans
Athletic facilities for our student athletes

12. Students: Value of UMA Degree sga sponsored roundtable
Build confidence in self and ability
Preparation for graduate school or work
Develop soft skills need for the workplace
Competitive credential; strong reputation in community

13. Faculty: Challenges faculty senate sponsored roundtable
Enrollment/Retention
Investment in Faculty
Time to focus on students, pedagogy and advising
Administrative, IT & instructional design support
Professional development opportunities
Ratio of full-time to part-time faculty
Departmental support for adjunct faculty

14. Faculty: values Represented by the vision faculty senate sponsored roundtable
Tension:
Who are we? diversity of modalities, populations
versus
Wherever you are – whenever you’re ready

15. Faculty: teaching & advising faculty senate sponsored roundtable
Quality across all modalities, not just online
Focus on pedagogy, “knowing content and knowing how to teach it are two different things”
Share best practices
Consistency, but “standardize structure, not pedagogy”
“Faculty should audit faculty” – peer driven
Proactive advising to improve retention
Form connections with students

16. Faculty: Other observations faculty senate sponsored roundtable
Create a sense of community
Engage students in activities
Employ badging
Community service; co-curricular activities

17. Voices from survey I & roundtables students, faculty, staff, alumni, BOV and others
Pedagogy, distance ed best practices
Consistency of experience, BlackBoard
Quality of ITV vs. utility of live & delayed viewing
Clearly defined course expectations
Modality; technological requirements; ways learners are expected to engage
Academic program design, learning outcomes

18. Voices from survey I & roundtables students, faculty, staff, alumni, BOV and others
Equity for distance students; full availability of campus services and virtual office hours
Onboarding for first-year students – study skills; onboarding for online classes – technology skills
Accessibility improvements (ADA)

19. Voices from survey I & roundtables students, faculty, staff, alumni, BOV and others
Civic engagement, embed in the curriculum and support faculty; internships
Stepping stones to degree; certificates & associate’s degrees
PLA process improvements; reverse internships; professional experience portfolios; credit for lifelong learning

20. Voices from survey I & roundtables students, faculty, staff, alumni, BOV and others
Create a sense of community
Engagement vs. Access
More/better student spaces
“Value of community is reflected in our physical spaces”
Social presence for distance learners
More f2f classes, especially for first year
Family events: students, faculty & staff
Alumni mentoring program; career counseling

21. Emerging themes: focus on the learner experience
Expand on UMA’s learner-centered legacy
Quality in teaching & learning, regardless of modality
Student engagement in learning
Experiential learning opportunities

22. Emerging themes: Provide a supportive environment
Access to student services, regardless of modality
Proactive faculty & staff advising
Career counseling & alumni mentoring

23. Emerging themes: Build community & foster engagement
Welcoming spaces
Relationships with faculty, staff, learning community
Engage with broader community
Civic engagement
Be a resource to the community for knowledge & culture

24. Emerging themes: Create value for the credential
Create milestones with stackable certificates & associate’s degrees
Prepare graduates
Knowledge of discipline
Confidence with soft skills
Workforce/graduate school readiness
Competitive credential; strong reputation in community

25. Call to action: Expand uma’s learner-centered legacy
Create a community that embraces new experiences to:
Enhance student learning
Provide a supportive environment
Foster engagement and a sense of belonging
Prepare students for life and work

26. Call to action: Learning – faculty & academic admin
Pursue best practices in teaching & learning to ensure a quality, engaged learning experience for students regardless of modality or location:
Faculty/student interaction in distance and f2f courses
Pedagogies that enhance engaged learning
Consistency and quality of student experience
Blackboard navigation
Use of technology to enhance learning

27. Call to action: learning – faculty & academic admin
Continued…
Experiential learning opportunities; civic engagement; badging
Faculty advising; faculty/student relationships
Stackable certificates and associate’s degrees to provide milestones to degree completion
Exploration of graduate program opportunities
Engagement with and support of adjunct faculty

28. Call to action: learning – faculty & academic admin
Pilot Academic Programs of the Future:
Emphasizing the best practices identified in the previous slides, identify one or more academic programs to engage in a pilot to align and enrich the learning experience for distance and f2f students through pedagogical design, technological platform, and assessment of learning outcomes
Provide faculty with incentives and support for pilot participation

29. Call to Action: Student & faculty Support - Admin
Offer a welcoming and supportive environment, with a cohort experience for all students
Enhance career counseling and engage alumni as mentors
Provide administrative support for civic engagement and internships
Create community through enhanced physical & digital spaces; explore meal service and housing

30. Call to Action: Student & faculty Support - Admin
Provide all students with seamless access to services:
Integrate UC Center staff and value their role as UMA navigators for distance students
Engage New Ventures Maine to provide complementary student support in education and career planning, financial literacy, leadership and civic engagement
Develop a “Cyberspace” Master Plan to provide all students with digital pathways to services & support

31. Call to Action: Student & faculty Support - Admin
Provide faculty with support to pursue best practices in teaching and learning
Promote opportunities for pedagogical and online/distance professional development
Integrate UC instructional design team into Academic Affairs
Improve technology, enhance IT training and classroom support
Explore other options to support faculty

32. Survey II: Review & final Input
ed Survey Tool
Nov 3rd – Nov 13th

33. final recommendations
Due November 20th
Faculty Senate
PEA
CEA
SGA
BOV
Senior Administration
November 20

34. President’s cabinet: Nov 28th
Review of Final
Recommendations
Adopt Revised
Vision & Plan

35. Revised Vision, plan & Strategies
Dec 8th
Share with
UMA Community

36. Thank you for joining this journey
2020