Cabinet Highlights: Oct. 8, 2012

KNAU general manager John Stark gave a presentation the station’s latest ratings numbers, which make KNAU the No. 1 station in northern Arizona out of the 35 competitors. It also is the second highest rated NPR station in the United States behind Vermont. Stark also announced plans to create a mobile phone emergency app in association with Coconino County and the Arizona Daily Sun.

President John Haeger and Fred Hurst, senior vice president for Extended Campuses, were in Washington, D.C., last week to meet with media outlets and members of the U.S. Department of Education to discuss a number of higher education issues, including competency-based learning, also called personalized learning.

The Phoenix Biomedical Center’s grand opening was celebrated last week, with several NAU representatives in attendance. Haeger said NAU will capitalize on the need to expand NAU’s offerings in the medical field.

Planning for the possibility of faculty and staff salary increases continues, according to Provost Laura Huenneke and Diane Verkest, associate vice president for Human Resources. NAU is hoping to launch a pilot program that would give additional compensation for “exemplary” performances. Performance increases or workforce planning changes would not go into effect until January.

Roy St. Laurent, head of the Academic Chairs Council, expressed concern about the timeline for implementing performance increases. He also presented the councils report, which included discussions about rethinking student success.

Allen Reich, president of the Faculty Senate, presented his group’s report concerning assessment bylaws and liberal studies outcomes. The senate is continuing its discussion regarding personalized learning.

The Arizona Board of Regents should be announcing a new president within the week.

Pat Haeuser, vice president for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, said the Arizona Board of Regents has approved the universities’ budget proposals for fiscal year 2014.

NAU is considering implementing a hotline for employees to report ethics and compliance issues, announced Jennus Burton, vice president for Finance and Administration. The $5,000-a-year project would be similar to those at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.