Middlebury's 2005 strategic planning is approaching the end of the semester with 11 Task Forces and the Planning Steering Committee moving steadily toward the completion of the first phase of planning. The planning process has been characterized by broad participation of hundreds of individuals and by many dozens of contributions from Middlebury's off-campus constituencies.
Highlights of Planning Activity in March and April
Members of the campus community were invited to three open planning meetings in March. The Task Force on Composition of the Student Body, led by Psychology Professor Michelle McCauley, held an open meeting on March 9 that was attended by around 40 students, staff, and faculty. Two additional meetings, hosted by the Planning Steering Committee and chaired by Dean of Planning and Mathematics Professor John Emerson, focused on the College's academic excellence and reputation. They began with three 5-minute presentations by a student, staff member, and faculty member to help stimulate thinking about our core academic mission. Presenters on March 16 were J.S. Woodward '06; Arlinda Wickland, Director of Student Fellowships and Health Professions; and Priscilla Bremser, Professor of Mathematics. On March 30 the presenters were Eli Berman '07; Karen Guttentag, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs; and Stanley Bates, Professor of Philosophy. Combined attendance at these two meetings was over 100; the students, faculty, staff, and administration were all well represented and were active participants in the discussions.
To learn the views of many members of the community about a wide range of issues, the Task Forces and the Planning Steering Committee have developed planning surveys. One survey, administered to the College staff over the web, drew about 200 responses to questions addressing various aspects of staff development and training opportunities. Another staff survey is addressing the wages and benefits program and job performance evaluations.
Planning can contribute in various ways to our academic programs. John Emerson was a guest lecturer in two courses this term. In one of these, the students in a research methods seminar taught by Sociology Professor Peggy Nelson developed and carried out an extensive randomized survey of student opinions. Students in the course, SOAN 301, reported that most students surveyed spent about one-half hour completing the 19-page survey. Because the student researchers hand delivered and retrieved the surveys, the response rate was impressively high (over 80%). Once the data are compiled, the results will be valuable information for the Planning Steering Committee,
The Planning Steering Committee has been assisted by the Task Forces in developing surveys for the faculty, staff, and students. The surveys address many significant issues for the College, ranging from the curriculum through aspects of our financial aid programs to aspects of the culture of the Middlebury community. As this report goes to press, we are beginning to collect data using these web-based survey instruments. One novel feature of these surveys, like those sent by President Liebowitz to parents and alumni/ae, is that participants are often asked to rank several alternatives and thus to express their priorities when faced with a list of potentially attractive competing priorities. We plan to post copies of the survey questions on the Planning web page; if you are interested please visit www.middlebury.edu/administration/planning .
President Liebowitz and Vice President of Academic Affairs Alison Byerly have held informal lunches with all academic departments and programs to explore issues that are important for these groups and to talk about academic and curricular priorities. They and Dean John Emerson are now hosting a series of small lunch meetings to hear from individual faculty members about what they deem especially important for the College's future. The discussions at these gatherings are lively, stimulating, occasionally quite provocative, and always useful in generating ideas for the College's future.
President Liebowitz has completed his recent tour with meetings with alumni and parents designed in part to provide a context for, and an update on, the planning process. The tour included stops in Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Westchester County, Boston, Washington D.C., and New York. These gatherings drew large and enthusiastic crowds, with many people who have been following the planning process and who therefore had very specific comments and questions.
Moving Toward May 19
We expect to receive the reportsof the 11 Planning Task Forces by May 19, a few days before Middlebury's Commencement. In the weeks ahead, we anticipate a few more significant planning events. Our web-based surveys will be available to all constituent groups. On April 28 we will host a noontime gathering of all the Task Forces for a mini-symposium with Dr. Michael Zastrocky, Vice President and Research Director at the Gartner Group in Denver. Dr. Zastrocky will discuss how our planning ties into emerging trends and the national context in higher education.
The Planning Steering Committee will host an open meeting for all participants in the planning process and for all interested members of the College community on Wednesday, May 11. To be chaired by President Liebowitz, this meeting will enable each Task Force to preview some tentative findings and recommendations. Each Task Force will give a five-minute summary of a few findings and recommendations likely to be in the final Task Force reports.
The May 11 gathering will be the last large gathering of planning participants for the academic year. It is primarily an opportunity to bring the community up to date on the good work done so far this year, and to celebrate the completion of this important phase of our work. By inviting the College community, we will provide for the initial dissemination of some findings and recommendations. Most of all, it is a chance to affirm the importance of the contributions of so many committed members of our community to Middlebury College and to our future.
An Open Invitation
This report outlines where the planning process has come so far, but we still have a long way to go. There are plenty of opportunities for further input, both from those on campus and from members of Middlebury's extended family. The Committee on Planning Middlebury's Future invites you to add your ideas to this continuing dialogue. Please participate in the planning survey when you receive it. You may also forward e-mail to Planning@Middlebury.edu.
John Emerson
Dean of Planning
April 26, 2005