TEAM MEMBERS
Gil Cloud
DeWayne Frazier
Louise Scott
Karla Gavin (chair)
DOWNLOAD REPORT, PUBLIC COMMENTS & RESPONSE
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CO-CURRICULAR REPORT COMMENTS
(10 comments)
Comment 1: co-curricular
I am troubled by this portion of the strategic plan. I feel this is a 10-year wishlist. Will the university ever see a return on this investment and how will that be measured?
l.) Please explain why we would want to have artificial turf at the Eisheid Stadium when we hear we have the best facilities in the Conference. Once we become a winning team, perhaps there would be value in the upgrade.
2.) Most departments on campus need more support staffing. Since the early 1980's, many departments were cut to bare bones in order to keep UIU afloat. Will support staff size return to its 1970's level? If current enrollment is where it was in 1972, staffing is necessary to support this growth as a greater need across campus than what you propose. We all could shine if this were to happen.
3.) Global citizen? The first steps are to learn how to become a responsible community citizen - whether living in a barracks dormitory, suite living, or the community of Fayette. I think there should be a class on citizenship emphasizing what qualities are expected in being a good neighbor; what responsibilities are expected of living in each type of community and responsibilities of being a pet owner, for example. We would all benefit from respect, discipline, consideration of others, and involvement in the community. Let's get back to basics and build from there.
Becky Wadian
Comment 2: 03 October 2007
While I would like to "engage in a campus-wide dialog" as requested by Dr. Walker, I note that these pages are accessible to the general public.
Although we have nothing to hide, this dialogue may prove to be more dynamic and effective if taken off-line. While the general public can be privy to the process itself, would it not better serve the university to keep the content at this point within the university community?
I submit this comment with the utmost respect for our historic values and institutional heritage.
DSerra
Comment 3: Technology and the future
I appreciate the fact that UIU's technology will be upgraded in the future; however, my comments concern more immediate problems in Colgrove-Walker.
1) CW does not have central air conditioning and relies on window units in offices and a few window units in classrooms that do not work very well.
On many occasions, it has been so hot in the classrooms that students have difficulty concentrating. The students are the sole reason that we are all here and we must provide "user friendly" environments for them. Sweltering in one's own sweat does not qualify. We need to fix this problem, regardless of cost.
2) Only two classrooms in CW (201 and 103) have both VCR and DVD player. All the rest except 204 and 215 have VCRs only. 204 and 215 rely on a portable VCR and TV on a cart.
VHS technology is dying quickly -- national chains such as Best Buy do not even sell pre-recorded VHS tapes any more. We need functioning DVD players installed in every classroom.
Thanks for the opportunity to express my opinion.
Melle Starsen
Comment 4: Co-Curricular
While I believe that co-curricular activities do indeed enhance the college experience, I do not agree that they should take priority over an academic building on the Fayette campus that is in need of a total rennovation (Colgrove-Walker), if not a complete re-build.
Half of the $30 million plus projected budget is planned for new construction & remodel of residence halls. I'm not sure how having a deluxe dorm room "develops lives of purpose" or "life skills." Especially since current enrollment does not fill the rooms we have.
$1.7 million is planned to enhance the Athletic Department facilities -- isn't the new Recreation Center supposed to provide "social and recreational" opportunity for all students -- not just the athletes?
It is my opinion, that the smallest amount budgeted ($32,500) is the most important -- bringing speakers to the university to open students' minds and "extend the learning in the core curriculum." This bugeted amount should be increased significantly. Bringing notable speakers to campus would not only benefit the students, but enhance the academic reputation of Upper Iowa University!
Sheila Miller
Comment 5: athletics facilities
I find it interesting that the most pressing need of the athletics program is not even mentioned in the wish list presented for the Department of Athletics. I believe that what athletics needs more than anything is another gym floor. Currently in the winter, up to four different teams may be competing for use of the gym at the same time: men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Having only one gym floor for them to use results in practices occurring early in the morning or late at night, neither of which is conducive to students being alert in an 8:00 a.m. class. I would think this would be the number one priority for this area of the strategic plan.
We do not need artificial turf on Eischeid Field. At the time we applied for admission into the NSIC, we were told by the teams conducting site visits that we already had among the best athletics facilities in the conference. We do not need to pave the parking lots. Gravel is just fine and more environmentally friendly to boot. We do not need fencing around the baseball and softball fields. Who are we trying to keep out? We should be encouraging as many spectators as we can to attend games, not dissuading them with fences and high admission fees.
I do think the proposal to remodel the remaining dressing rooms in Dorman Gym is a necessary one.
-- Erik Olson
Comment 6: Athletics
I place great value on the co-curricular learning that occurs when students are involved in competitive athletics.
However, very few UIU student-athletes go on to careers as professional players in their competitive sports. To ensure their future success after they leave UIU, we must all be united in our support of their academic goals and achievements.
From a strategic perspective, athletics is an important component in recruiting students, especially on the Fayette campus. Many students who start at UIU as competitive athletes remain after they are no longer on the team. Is it possible to know how many of our students originally came to UIU for athletics?
As a faculty member, I need better mechanisms and institutional support for working with coaches and student-athletes. For instance, the method for excusing team members from classes for team travel is well ingrained in the system. A quick email to all faculty, and that's it. But if I need to get a student out of study table or out of practice to complete work that has been missed, I must make all of those arrangements individually. There is no institutional support for the process. I suggest one option - an Academic Practice Waiver that can be used to arrange makeup work sessions for athletes. This should be accepted by a coach as readily as faculty are expected to excuse class absences.
Taking a more long-term perspective, by using the full (seamless) range of UIU academic offerings we should be able to assist athletes in achieving their academic goals. Athletic competition and practice require synchronous physical presence -- but there are many modes of distance learning that do not. (One of the most versatile of these is the BOOK.) What if athletes' academic schedules could accommodate their travel and practice schedules? What if they took only online courses during some terms? What if they took specific general education courses as a block schedule, and perhaps their instructor(s) would travel with them? Of all the funding suggested for athletics, none of it goes toward meeting (even indirectly) the academic needs of athletes. They need specialized equipment to compete, and maybe they need specialized equipment to learn. Can students read and study on the bus? Is there appropriate lighting on the busses? Are there lap desks? Should there be laptops on the busses? Wireless connectivity at hotels? On the bus? Can course sessions be captured on video or audio? Can my lecture be downloaded to iPods? Could students on teams that start practicing in August take a course before Fall term 1 starts?
Some courses may be best taught in the face-to-face environment. Can these courses be taught on schedules that would enable any athlete in any sport to take them?
Through addressing the needs of student-athletes in managing their dual priorities, UIU would go a long way towards shaping them as global citizens (and might improve their CLA scores, too.)
Okay, enough of that. I notice that the plan to play an exhibition basketball game overseas does not mention a need for travel funding. How is that possible?
What is safer for student-athletes -- artificial turf or grass?
K. McCarville
Comment 7: Office of Career Development/Alumni
Regarding New Position #2 on page 10.
I would very much like to see UIU broaden the perspective and language surrounding students' families and family members. Many students already come from homes that do not reflect a nuclear family situation, and this is likely to be more and more interesting as we encounter cultures from outside the US where family structures may be quite different than we are used to.
Taking a global perspective requires attention to language and assumptions like this. Another example is "First name, Last name" -- we might need to consider terms like "Family name" and "Given name" on forms and etc.
We should probably be using the term "family" instead of "parent" almost all the time.
Most of us can use some training/development in this area. Do we have experts internally that we can leverage?
K. McCarville
Comment 8: New Position #1 - Career Development
Could this person be housed/officed at an EU center or even (gasp) overseas?
What are the qualifications? U.S. citizen? Or global citizen?
K. McCarville
Comment 9: Outside speakers
I support increasing the funding to bring external speakers to UIU locations (as Sheila Miller suggested). It's important to open up to new ideas and new people.
But I also know that within UIU (RU, EU, International) there are some dynamic and interesting speakers. These include students, faculty and staff who are doing all kinds of interesting things. I would like to see some funding for honoraria and logistics (refreshments are good, too) so that UIU can get to know its own "shining stars" from around the globe.
K. McCarville
Comment 10: One-stop center for student academic needs
How will this help EU or International students? All of these functions are potentially needed across the entire university. Will there be video conferencing from desktops? 24x7 tutoring and writing assistance?
K. McCarville
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS:
1/8/08--PUBLIC COMMENT RESPONSE FROM C0-CURRICULAR TEAM:
I am troubled by this portion of the strategic plan. I feel this is a 10-year wishlist. Will the university ever see a return on this investment and how will that be measured?
Response:We firmly believe that an annual review of facilities is important to stay competitive academically, athletically, in student life, for retention and for growth. We need to continually improve to attract students to the RU and the EU.
l.) Please explain why we would want to have artificial turf at the Eischeid Stadium when we hear we have the best facilities in the Conference. Once we become a winning team, perhaps there would be value in the upgrade.
Response:The artificial turf for Eischeid Stadium is needed due to factors that have changed in our recruiting area. We currently surrounded by institutions that have made a commitment to their athletics program and installed artificial turf. The lack of use and the expenditure annually that we have committed to maintain the grass turf is out weighted when one realizes that we could use the stadium for a variety of events if we did not have to protect the grass turf. We could use the stadium for not only football but also intramurals, baseball, softball and soccer practices on bad weather days as well as football practice every day.
Another important reason would be to maintain the competitive position in the recruitment of quality student athletes. We can't win or recruit to top prospective student athletes if our facility is not up to the standards we are currently recruiting against.
In conclusion, it would appear to me that if we could use Eischeid Stadium over 100 times a year as opposed to 5-6 times a year it would be cost effective for the university.
3.) Global citizen? The first steps are to learn how to become a responsible community citizen - whether living in a barracks dormitory, suite living, or the community of Fayette. I think there should be a class on citizenship emphasizing what qualities are expected in being a good neighbor; what responsibilities are expected of living in each type of community and responsibilities of being a pet owner, for example. We would all benefit from respect, discipline, consideration of others, and involvement in the community. Let's get back to basics and build from there.
Response: We would agree that we need to define for the University Community what we believe a Global Citizen to be. Then we need to implement strategies to assist students in meeting our definition of a Global Citizen.
The Office of International Programs sees the need in helping codify a written statement on what makes a global citizen. In response to the feedback from the public forum, the Senior Vice President for International Programs will convene a committee representing various university constituencies to help develop a clear definition and with precise requirements. It is our hope this will help guide many parts of the strategic plan.
I appreciate the fact that UIU's technology will be upgraded in the future; however, my comments concern more immediate problems in Colgrove-Walker.
1) CW does not have central air conditioning and relies on window units in offices and a few window units in classrooms that do not work very well.
On many occasions, it has been so hot in the classrooms that students have difficulty concentrating. The students are the sole reason that we are all here and we must provide "user friendly" environments for them. Sweltering in one's own sweat does not qualify. We need to fix this problem, regardless of cost.
Response:We agree that the classrooms need to be conducive to learning just as living facilities should be a conducive learning environment in which to live.
2) Only two classrooms in CW (201 and 103) have both VCR and DVD player. All the rest except 204 and 215 have VCRs only. 204 and 215 rely on a portable VCR and TV on a cart.
VHS technology is dying quickly -- national chains such as Best Buy do not even sell pre-recorded VHS tapes any more. We need functioning DVD players installed in every classroom.
Response: This request has been addressed by Ron Crooker and the Physical Plant Maintenance Staff.
While I believe that co-curricular activities do indeed enhance the college experience, I do not agree that they should take priority over an academic building on the Fayette campus that is in need of a total renovation (Colgrove-Walker), if not a complete re-build.
Response: We believe we should look at all needs and prioritize based on how we can best utilize all our facilities while we build to replace those with the greatest need. Can classes be held in other buildings and at other times? We have to realize that co-curricular activities or lack there of influence retention. Spaces that can accommodate the number of students on campus are in limited supply.
Half of the $30 million plus projected budget is planned for new construction & remodel of residence halls. I'm not sure how having a deluxe dorm room "develops lives of purpose" or "life skills." Especially since current enrollment does not fill the rooms we have.
Response: The issue is not “deluxe” residence hall rooms or numbers of students in residence. The issue is breaking water and sewage pipes, an over abundance of mice, inadequate ventilation resulting in mold and peeling ceilings and inconsistent heat.
$1.7 million is planned to enhance the Athletic Department facilities -- isn't the new Recreation Center supposed to provide "social and recreational" opportunity for all students -- not just the athletes?
Response: The statement is absolutely correct. The Recreation Center is for the entire student body. That means that the less time spent in that facility by athletics teams creates more time for all students, faculty and staff. The turf project as well as other facility improvements would enable us to provide other areas for athletics and free up more time in the Recreation Center for other student activities.
It is my opinion, that the smallest amount budgeted ($32,500) is the most important -- bringing speakers to the university to open students' minds and "extend the learning in the core curriculum." This budgeted amount should be increased significantly. Bringing notable speakers to campus would not only benefit the students, but enhance the academic reputation of Upper Iowa University!
Response: We totally agree and believe we should bring major speakers to campus, but we are in need of faculty / staff support to help us boost attendance at these events. We want to insure that our money is being well spent, so required class attendance and / or extra credit points would assist us in that effort. Currently, when we bring speakers to campus, the only students in attendance are those required by clubs and organizations. Having a new university center with appropriate venues to host speakers and other events to campus would also help boost interest and attendance. We would also encourage the university to investigate how other private schools handle convocations and other campus event requirements.
I find it interesting that the most pressing need of the athletics program is not even mentioned in the wish list presented for the Department of Athletics. I believe that what athletics needs more than anything is another gym floor. Currently in the winter, up to four different teams may be competing for use of the gym at the same time: men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Having only one gym floor for them to use results in practices occurring early in the morning or late at night, neither of which is conducive to students being alert in an 8:00 a.m. class. I would think this would be the number one priority for this area of the strategic plan.
We do not need artificial turf on Eischeid Field. At the time we applied for admission into the NSIC, we were told by the teams conducting site visits that we already had among the best athletics facilities in the conference. We do not need to pave the parking lots. Gravel is just fine and more environmentally friendly to boot. We do not need fencing around the baseball and softball fields. Who are we trying to keep out? We should be encouraging as many spectators as we can to attend games, not dissuading them with fences and high admission fees.
I do think the proposal to remodel the remaining dressing rooms in Dorman Gym is a necessary one.
Response: We would certainly support another indoor gym for activity related to all of our programs. The turf project affects the greatest number of student athletes and is more cost effective than the construction of a building that would at a minimum cost between 2 and 3 million dollars depending on the size.
Gravel parking lots are not very facility friendly or patron friendly when patrons must walk through them to enter all of the buildings on campus on cold, rainy or snowy days. Tracking the gravel, sand and grit into the buildings leads to more maintenance in those building which costs more to maintain the quality of those buildings. It should be noted that the parking areas at all athletics or recreational facilities are gravel. Dorman Gym, Recreation Center, Softball Complex, Baseball Complex and Eischeid Stadium and Pattison Soccer Fields.
We currently can not host any NCAA or NSIC post season softball or baseball tournaments without having to rent fencing so that admission can be charged. Even the high school events for softball and baseball that we could host for the State Activities Association shy away from our facilities due to our lack of crowd control fencing.
The opportunity to create revenue for spring sports would help with the budget and enable us to provide the facility to others for use in the community.
Vandalism has been a problem for us as well and the fencing might put up another barrier to help in facility security.
I place great value on the co-curricular learning that occurs when students are involved in competitive athletics.
However, very few UIU student-athletes go on to careers as professional players in their competitive sports. To ensure their future success after they leave UIU, we must all be united in our support of their academic goals and achievements.
Response: We do. We provide, through our membership in D II, the Life Skills program that is designed the assist student athletes entering their junior and senior years in preparing for life after athletics. We provide study tables two nights a week and provide one on one interview with all student athletes during the academic year to evaluate their progress toward a degree and current academic status.
The NSIC funds a two day seminar for all student athletes on campus that deals with life after athletics. Career planning as well as career searching is emphasized in this program.
From a strategic perspective, athletics is an important component in recruiting students, especially on the Fayette campus. Many students who start at UIU as competitive athletes remain after they are no longer on the team. Is it possible to know how many of our students originally came to UIU for athletics?
Response: Last year in addition to the 347 student athletes, there were an additional 67 students who where no longer participating in intercollegiate athletics but were still enrolled on the residential campus.
That makes the total 414 students recruited by athletics who are currently enrolled.
As a faculty member, I need better mechanisms and institutional support for working with coaches and student-athletes. For instance, the method for excusing team members from classes for team travel is well ingrained in the system. A quick email to all faculty, and that's it. But if I need to get a student out of study table or out of practice to complete work that has been missed, I must make all of those arrangements individually. There is no institutional support for the process. I suggest one option - an Academic Practice Waiver that can be used to arrange makeup work sessions for athletes. This should be accepted by a coach as readily as faculty are expected to excuse class absences.
Response: That is certainly something that can be discussed. The call to a coach regarding a student should work in most cases. If that does not work the instructor should contact Gil Cloud or Kent McElvania for assistance. If we are not aware of the problem, we can not solve the problem.
We are proposing for the fall of 2008 that a three prong attack on the communication situation be used. (1)We will continue to post the travel plans of all teams on the athletics web site, (2) we will have each student athlete take a written document to each instructor, to be read and signed by the instructor with comments concerning the number of excused missed classes the schedule will has and (3) the five day notice will still be sent from the assistant athletics director for internal affairs to each instructor.
Taking a more long-term perspective, by using the full (seamless) range of UIU academic offerings we should be able to assist athletes in achieving their academic goals. Athletic competition and practice require synchronous physical presence -- but there are many modes of distance learning that do not. (One of the most versatile of these is the BOOK.) What if athletes' academic schedules could accommodate their travel and practice schedules? What if they took only online courses during some terms? What if they took specific general education courses as a block schedule, and perhaps their instructor(s) would travel with them? Of all the funding suggested for athletics, none of it goes toward meeting (even indirectly) the academic needs of athletes. They need specialized equipment to compete, and maybe they need specialized equipment to learn. Can students read and study on the bus? Is there appropriate lighting on the busses? Are there lap desks? Should there be laptops on the busses? Wireless connectivity at hotels? On the bus? Can course sessions be captured on video or audio? Can my lecture be downloaded to iPods? Could students on teams that start practicing in August take a course before Fall term 1 starts?
Response: The athletics department would be in favor of the opportunity to take classes on online, however with the university structure with the extended, online and residential campuses student athletes are not allow to be enrolled in an online course as it does not count toward his or her full time enrollment.
Most certainly student athletes do and can study on buses and at hotels. When we are on the road for extended periods the teams conduct mandatory study table sessions all the time.
We would support online or video presentations. Laptops can be taken on the road and most hotels that we book have free wireless hookups.
Some courses may be best taught in the face-to-face environment. Can these courses be taught on schedules that would enable any athlete in any sport to take them?
Response: We believe this is currently happening through the advising process and by faculty utilizing the myUIU portal and other means to accommodate all students.
Through addressing the needs of student-athletes in managing their dual priorities, UIU would go a long way towards shaping them as global citizens (and might improve their CLA scores, too.)
Okay, enough of that. I notice that the plan to play an exhibition basketball game overseas does not mention a need for travel funding. How is that possible?
Response: Fund Raising by the team and our external affairs office.
What is safer for student-athletes -- artificial turf or grass?
Response: The studies indicate because of the technology that has been developed during the past ten years the difference is negligible. The synthetics now are designed to simulate grass while keeping a uniform surface whether wet or dry.
The inclement weather causes more injures due to the instability of the natural surface as it breaks down due to the wet weather conditions.
Foot lock is the most common cause of ankle and knee injuries. The new artificial products today have almost eliminated this one most critical factor in the protection of the student athlete.
Office of Career Development/Alumni Regarding New Position #2 on page 10.
I would very much like to see UIU broaden the perspective and language surrounding students' families and family members. Many students already come from homes that do not reflect a nuclear family situation, and this is likely to be more and more interesting as we encounter cultures from outside the US where family structures may be quite different than we are used to.
Taking a global perspective requires attention to language and assumptions like this. Another example is "First name, Last name" -- we might need to consider terms like "Family name" and "Given name" on forms and etc.
We should probably be using the term "family" instead of "parent" almost all the time.
Most of us can use some training/development in this area. Do we have experts internally that we can leverage?
Response: We believe we have worked hard to use the term “family” in our literature and programming in the Office of Student Development and the Office of International Program in particular. We would encourage continued training and educational programming for the entire University community on this topic.
New Position #1 - Career Development
Could this person be housed/officed at an EU center or even (gasp) overseas?
Response: Before we made a decision on where to have this person we would need to determine where the greatest need existed. Once the need was assessed, location could be determined on cost effectiveness.
What are the qualifications? U.S. citizen? Or global citizen?
Response: Qualifications would be based on understanding both US & International job markets and skills needed to positions in those markets.
Outside speakers
I support increasing the funding to bring external speakers to UIU locations (as Sheila Miller suggested). It's important to open up to new ideas and new people.
But I also know that within UIU (RU, EU, International) there are some dynamic and interesting speakers. These include students, faculty and staff who are doing all kinds of interesting things. I would like to see some funding for honoraria and logistics (refreshments are good, too) so that UIU can get to know its own "shining stars" from around the globe.
Response: We agree that this option should be explored.
One-stop center for student academic needs
How will this help EU or International students? All of these functions are potentially needed across the entire university. Will there be video conferencing from desktops? 24x7 tutoring and writing assistance?
Response: The one stop center for student academic needs was in relation to the Fayette campus but it is in issue for all students and we see no reason not to use technology to address all students’ needs for these services. We would want the stakeholders from EU, RU and International Programs to assess the need and work to accommodate all of our students.
