Inside NAU is adding a new feature to its story lineup. The newsletter will start running highlights from the President’s Cabinet meetings, which occur about once a month. Inside NAU begins with these highlights from the Nov. 10 meeting:
- The university is exploring ways to facilitate and expedite the process of transferring course credits to the Flagstaff campus.
- Karen Pugliesi, vice provost for Academic Affairs, and Roy St. Laurent, associate professor of mathematics and statistics, presented an analysis of factors that affect student retention. Their report is available here.
- Mikhael Star and David Spivey of the Gateway Student Success Center provided an update on the pilot Grade Performance Status, an academic early alert system in which faculty communicate directly to students via e-mail about their academic progress. Students also are pointed to available resources, as needed, and advisers provide additional support based on the GPS feedback. The plan is for all Flagstaff campus students to be part of GPS by fall 2010.
- The president reiterated that the $1 million Innovation Fund is intended to support truly transformative ideas for the university. The final deadline for proposal submission is Jan. 15, although proposal will begin to be reviewed Dec. 1.
- Provost Liz Grobsmith will chair the Academic Policy and Practice Audit. David Bousquet, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, will chair the Business Policy and Practice Audit. Faculty and staff are encouraged to submit ideas for greater efficiency to either or both groups.
- Pat Haeuser, vice president for Planning, Budget and Institutional Research, discussed the list of priority projects that might be funded with $23.5 million in one-time funds. The university already has committed about $12.7 million to a variety of projects that include the faculty retirement incentive plan, mediation of furloughs, the Innovation Fund and investments in research needs.
- Diane Verkest, director of Human Resources, presented the modified workforce planning for FY 2010.
- The president noted the university will be looking for a new faculty athletic representative, as Wayne Sjoberg is stepping down from the position in June.
- The Arizona Board of Regents will be discussing its search for a new executive director.
Notes from previous President’s Cabinet meetings are available here.