LaG                  LaGrange College

           Institutional Planning Council

 

 

 

January 20^th, 2004

 

Members in attendance: Kim Barber, Loren Pinkerman, Maranah Sauter, Linda McMullen, President Gulley, Jay Simmons, Phyllis Whitney, Dean Hartman, Andy Geeter, Jimmy Herring, Sylvia Smith, Bill McCoy, Larry Love (substituting for Mia Allen), Bob Boozer, Marty Pirrman, Kim Myrick, Greg McClanahan (substituting for William Paschal), Shirley Harrington, Sandie Johnson and Laurel McDaniel. 

 

President Gulley opened the meeting with a welcome to all present.  Dr. McCoy offered a prayer.  Mr. Pinkerman moved for adoption of the minutes of the November 18^th meeting, Dean Simmons seconded the motion and it was approved.

 

Dr. Boozer advised of the schedule of meetings for the remainder of the academic year.  Within the schedule he addressed the planned items to be discussed during the sessions.  The calendar and information was emailed prior to this meeting.  The core of today’s discussions to be held is the Strategic Plan.  Consideration is to be given to the initial proposals for goals and objectives of the three initiatives that were previously adopted.  Those initiatives are:

Enrollment: The College will promote the enrollment of an academically strengthened student body approaching 1200 by fall 2008.

Curriculum: The College will foster a more rigorous and challenging academic community characterized by exemplary student achievement, undergraduate research, and faculty scholarship.

Learning Center: The College will secure funding and construct a new learning center sufficient to meet the needs of a growing institution and support the rising academic expectation of its faculty and student body.

The committee addressing the enrollment initiative is chaired by Kim Myrick.  Working with her are: Linda McMullen, Lisa Adams, Sylvia Smith, Andy Geeter, Brenda Thomas and Bob Boozer.  This group has identified several goals to date.  These goals are:

·        Improve the academic quality of each new freshman class.

·        Enhance the look, feel, and utility of the LaGrange College web site.

·        Initiate a coordinated marketing and promotional campaign.

·        Improve admission operations.

·        Develop financial aid and scholarship programs.

Within these goals, some highlights are reaching enrollment of 1200 students, improving SAT scores 10-15 points per year, reaching 1100 by 2008; admitting only students that complete College Prep programs; and initiating an interview procedure in the application process to allow selection of students that are a better fit to LaGrange College.  President Gulley requested that this group address the possibility of adding football to the College athletic program, should that be a suggestion that returns from the advisory group.  Proper recruiting and handling of transfer students was questioned. Transfer students cannot be recruited with the same tools used to recruit high school seniors.  The code of ethics for the admission profession states that recruiting students already enrolled at another four year college or university is unethical—the student must initiate contact.  The academic quality of this group should be reviewed, recognizing the admission requirements for transfers and new first year students are different. 

The committee addressing the curriculum goals is headed by Dean Simmons.  His committee members are: David Ahearn, Kim Barber, Greg McClanahan, Sandie Johnson, Maranah Sauter, Loren Pinkerman, and Jimmy Herring.  The group has identified the following goals:

·        Professional development of the faculty

·        Writing across the curriculum

·        Enhanced academic challenge

·        Diversity programs

·        Honors program

Improving the value of the LaGrange College degree is a key factor for this initiative.  Exemplary student achievement, undergraduate research and faculty scholarship will be the characteristics of the curriculum objectives.  Items for teaching and scholarship are identified; as are ways to increase rigor of the curriculum and improve advising.

The initiatives for the Learning Center are being compiled by a team chaired by Rev. Rowe.  Working with him are Loren Pinkerman, Linda Buchanan, Chuck Anderson, John Riley and Bob Boozer.  Mr. Pinkerman reported the progress of the group on behalf of Rev. Rowe.  The goals are as follows:

·        Funding

Develop a compelling Case Statement.

Acquire funding.

·        Construction

Develop an architectural design.

·        Function

Develop a use plan for affected buildings.

We are currently working on the acquisition of funding, having produced a draft case statement that is being refined for distribution to potential donors.  Ranking and selection of architects has been completed and four architects will be on campus later this month to display conceptual drawings.  A use plan for the affected buildings (Banks Library, Quillian Building, Smith Hall and the Learning Center) will be developed by the architect to show how each building benefits the Campus environment. 

 

President Gulley spoke about the 2004-2005 Budget.  He shared that there are some confounding issues that prevent presentation of a preliminary budget at this time.  These issues are being scrutinized by the Cabinet, and will be much of the discussion during tomorrow’s meeting and a substantive portion of the IPC’s discussions at the February meeting.

 

The next meeting for the IPC is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17^th, 4:00 PM in the Assembly Room.