Cabinet Highlights: Aug. 28, 2012

Enrollment edges upward; new weapons policy under review

NAU enrollment appears to be on the verge of another record-breaking year, according to David Bousquet, senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and Laura Jones, director in Planning and Institutional Research. The incoming freshman class will be around 4,100, which would be a record. Total Flagstaff enrollment should be up around 700 students, bringing Flagstaff to about 18,200 and 26,000-plus statewide. The official enrollment numbers are sent to the Arizona Board of Regents 21 days after the semester begins.

Legal counsel Mark Neumayr discussed the university’s update of two separate but related policies. With cross-campus input, the university is updating its policy banning weapons on campus, excluding specific individuals and activities. The updated policy will be announced to faculty, staff and students in the near future and posted on a variety of websites.

Neumayr also discussed the university’s review of practices and policies regarding minors on campus. The review will result in new procedures for some faculty and staff as well as provide an inventory for the many activities at NAU that involve minors.

The Higher Learning Commission has announced changes to its accreditation process and criteria. Karen Pugliesi, vice provost for Academic Affairs, said the process will be considerably different than in 2007 when NAU was awarded a 10-year accreditation. The long process to re-accreditation will begin in 2014.

Fred Hurst, senior vice president for Extended Campus, reported that the Personalized Learning initiative has received a grant from the Next Generation Learning. Personalized Learning at NAU will allow motivated students to jump-start certain bachelor’s degree programs by pre-testing to determine what they already know, allowing them to receive credits for prior learning and experience. He also reported that the university is working toward accreditation of the program.

The three state universities will be submitting their FY14 budget requests to the Arizona Board of Regents in September. NAU will be requesting both parity and performance funding, said Pat Haeuser, vice president for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness. NAU is expecting enrollment growth funding as well.

Diane Verkest, associate vice president for Human Resources, announced that the workforce planning process is open until Oct. 1.

The strategies and successes for University Marketing were presented by Mason Gerety, vice president for Advancement. The annual report demonstrates that marketing’s tactics and strategy are data driven, using internal and external research sources. The updated NAU website, created through the EDEN Project, has seen unprecedented success in site visits and staying time.

Executive Vice President MJ McMahon said the annual United Way campaign will begin in earnest in September. She is encouraging campus leadership to attain a Summit Society level of donation—$500.

The next President’s Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 17. The change to Mondays is a result of frequent conflicts with regents committee meetings.