I. Introduction.

The planning context for 2001-2002 is difficult to assess.  Lower than expected state budget  support and the approaching end of UPG's remarkable enrollment growth, are several of the factors affecting the campus' immediate future.

Despite these concerns, UPG continues on a rapid pace of progress.  The quality of the student population rises each year. The Academic Village concept is tremendously successful and has already become UPG's signature program.  The first phase of our fund drive has produced nearly three million dollars in gifts.  Our international initiatives are opening more opportunities for our students to travel and study abroad. Better press coverage has significantly raised UPG's image in the region.   Physically, the campus is in excellent shape.  Our new general education curriculum is now being implemented as are new degree and certificate programs.  And, of course, UPG is a leader in linking students and faculty through technology.

This will be the fifth annual Campus Agenda since I became President.  Like its predecessors, it is based on our strategic plan titled Investing in Excellence.  The plan states six long-range objectives for UPG:

 
1. To increase the academic quality of our existing programs, curriculum, and academic support services and to develop appropriate new programs serving the needs of our community, including graduate programs extended from the Pittsburgh campus.

2. To enhance and enrich the quality of undergraduate life at UPG so that every student has the opportunity to develop his or her full potential as a person and as a leader.  In this endeavor, UPG must develop a more diverse student population to mirror the realities of the cosmopolitan world in which our students must live, work, and compete.

3. To continue building excellence in our faculty by providing the resources and opportunities for them to grow as teachers and scholars.

4. To place UPG on a firm financial footing through good management, the focused use of campus-generated resources, and a growing program of private financial support, dependent on the efforts of our alumni, the UPG Foundation, and the UPG Advisory Board.

5. To make UPG a vital part of the community it serves through its educational and cultural programs as well as by establishing alliances with area businesses and institutions whereby resources are shared to mutual advantage.

6. To continue developing the physical plant to support a growing student population and UPG's academic and extracurricular programs.

The organization of this year's Campus Agenda differs from those of the past in which items were arranged by category according to the objectives stated in Investing in Excellence.  Instead, the Agenda begins with eight items of broad significance to the future of UPG.  Then, a number of very specific items are presented organized around the major administrative units of the campus.  Taken together, the campus-wide and administrative unit specific agenda items lay out an ambitious action program for the year that will lead to important progress.  As always, specific individuals and groups are held accountable for carrying out each agenda item.

II. Agenda Items of Campus-Wide Significance.

    A.     Develop a comprehensive Facilities Plan for UPG.

    B.     Analyze the problems and opportunities for UPG when it reaches its enrollment cap.

    C.     Prepare a plan for integrating technology into the curriculum.

    D.     Develop plans to engage fully commuter students in the life of the campus, recognizing that 50% or more
             of UPG students will continue to live off campus.

    E.     Develop a long-range plan to expand international study opportunities to all students.

    F.     Develop a plan to attract and retain more minority and foreign students to UPG.

    G.     Assess UPG's image in the community and review public relations strategies in light of that assessment.

    H.     Prepare detailed plans for phase II of the fundraising campaign.

III. Agenda Items for Academic Affairs.

    A. Continue Progress in Enrollment Management.

        1. Set and meet enrollment goals for Fall >02.

        2. Complete brochures on UPG academic majors.

        3. Explore CD-Rom packages as part of UPG's presentation to potential students.

        4. Implement a series of student recruitment visits to the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.

        5. Initiate plans to increase evening and summer enrollments.

        6. Develop better statistical profiles of the student body and the faculty.

        7. Increase student recruitment visits to high schools in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

    B. Faculty Development.

        1. Successfully complete new and reopened faculty searches.

        2. Organize and implement reappointment and promotion prep sessions for junior faculty.

        3. Continue terminal degree completion project.  The goal is for every UPG faculty member to
            possess the terminal degree.

        4. Continue an active program of teaching workshops.

    C. Curriculum.

        1. Develop Secondary Ed certification partnership with appropriate regional institutions.

        2. Gain university approval for the certificate program in Information Sciences.

        3. Explore establishing new academic majors in Spanish and Chemistry.

        4. Complete reviews of all UPG majors.

    D. Grant Work.

        1. Develop a major grant proposal to link technology and classroom teaching more fully.

        2. Develop at least six institutional grant proposals to strengthen the UPG academic program.

        3. Increase the number of grant proposals prepared by UPG faculty.

    E. International Studies.

        1. Implement UPG Spring Week Abroad for three locations.

        2. Host faculty and students from the University of Guanajuato in central Mexico as
            part of the exchange agreement with that institution.

        3. Explore Western European exchange relationships with one or more universities.

        4. Explore creation of an European Union Studies Certificate.

        5. Review and formalize orientation and risk procedures for students and faculty participation in
            our International Studies program.

    F. Miscellaneous.

        1. Strengthen academic component of the St. Clair Lectureship.

        2. Launch La Cultura, an intensive and cross-disciplinary exploration of  Italy in the Age of DaVinci.

        3. Strengthen learning and outcomes assessment procedures for our academic programs.

        4. Institute a campus-wide discussion on creating a UPG Honors Code.

IV. Agenda Items for Student Services.

    A. Athletics.

        1. Continue to implement the five-year plan titled Excellence & Stability.

        a. Complete fourth year NCAA provisional membership requirements to become a full member of Division III.

        b. Implement a new student athlete academic monitoring system.

        c. Expand and improve intramural and recreational programs.

        d. Develop and implement a detailed indoor and outdoor recreational/athletic facility plan.

    B. Career Services.

        1. Explore ways to increase coordination of UPG Career Services with employers in the western Pennsylvania region.

        2. Increase networking activities at job fair consortia and area chambers of commerce as well as site
            visits, referrals and contacts with alumni.

    C. Academic Villages.

        1. Help develop detailed annual program plans for each Village and Rossetti International House in
            cooperation with the Village Council.

        2. Assist in planning for one or more new academic villages.

    D. Conferences and Camps.

        1. Implement campus-wide room scheduling software.

        2. Increase marketing efforts for camp and conference services in this region.

        3. Increase the number of camps/conferences and total income.

    E. Diversity.

        1. In cooperation with the Special Assistant to the President for Minority and Diversity Affairs,
            create an ongoing forum on making the African-American, Asian, and Hispanic student experience
            at UPG a positive one.

    F. Leadership.

        1. Continue and expand opportunities for students to learn about and exercise leadership.

        2. Increase the amount of student involvement in our leadership program by expanding and improving
            our Emerging Leaders Program.

        3. Begin collecting data on how many UPG students have had leadership training and have exercised
            significant leadership.

    G. Orientation.

        1. In cooperation with Academic Affairs, explore new ways to offer freshmen summer placement
            testing and transfer student orientation.

    H. Residence Life.

        1. Increase collaboration between academic advisors and residence-life staff to identify students at risk
            academically.  Create a program targeted to these individuals to help them succeed.

    I. Volunteerism.

        1. Expand student volunteer opportunities by increasing the number of community service projects
            in the Greensburg area.

V. Agenda Items for Administrative Affairs.

    A. Improving Campus Services.

        1. Complete installation of another electronic classroom.

        2. Complete installation of computers in the new Behavioral Science dormitories.

        3. Install two text telephones (TTY) on campus for use by hearing-impaired students.

        4. Improve campus security by initiating a formal training program for security officers.

        5. Develop and implement a staff orientation program to acquaint newly hired staff with
            the procedures of the University and the UPG campus.

    B. Improving Campus Facilities.

        1. Complete construction of the Behavioral Science Village and Village Hall Expansion.

        2. Complete the construction of the Natural Science Village Hall.

        3. Complete and publish the UPG Ten-Year Facilities Plan and seek appropriate revisions to
            the University of Pittsburgh Facilities Plan.

        4. Complete the installation of signs supporting the campus directional signage plan.

        5. Complete the renovation of the Physics/CAPSTONE laboratory and the Engineering laboratory.

        6. Complete the Smith Hall cooling tower and the Lynch Hall boiler replacement projects.

        7. Implement the newly developed preventative maintenance program.

        8. Develop a plan to renovate the pedestrian bridge at McKenna Hall.

        9. Complete Phase II of the University Court kitchen renovation project.

        10. Begin Phase I of the University Court bathroom renovation project.

        11. Complete formal garden project.

        12. Complete minor remodeling in Rossetti International House.

        13. Plan and build boccie and croquet courts.

VI. Agenda Items for University Relations and Institutional Development.

    A. Plan and execute a major fundraising dinner as part of La Cultura.

    B. Conduct a review on the design and effectiveness of campus publications directed to off-campus constituencies.

    C. Prepare and publish tabloid in Tribune Review on Westmoreland Heritage and the St. Clair Lectureship.

    D. Assist Alex Graziani, Executive Director of the Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County,
         in organizing  a major fall conference.

    E. Continue implementation of Phase I of UPG's capital campaign and begin planning for Phase II of the campaign.
 

___________________________________
Dr. Frank A. Cassell, President
July, 2001

 Return to UPG homepage