College of Education looks toward future

by Mark McGowan

NIU’s College of Education is formally plotting a course for the next five years while the university conducts its own strategic planning.

Dean Christine Sorensen, who delivered her semi-annual All-College Speech last week, told the assembled administrators, faculty and staff to let their imaginations run wild.

The college’s long-time roadmap – “Shaping the Future with PRIDE,” which encompassed partnerships, research, innovation, development and evaluation – has served well “as a vision” and “has helped set our direction,” Sorensen said.

“Now is the time to dream, the time to think big ideas. Now is the time to begin planning for the future, to begin thinking about the direction of your program, your department, your college, and your university,” she said. “We are headed for the future and looking to build a new world here at NIU.”

It begins with questions.

Sorensen offered plenty as launching points for discussion and, she said, it is equally valuable to share thoughts on where programs should not go.

“What are the directions in your field? Where are programs such as yours headed? What are the specific strengths your program has, and what are its competitive advantages compared to other programs?” she said. “Are there particular opportunities that your program could take advantage of or opportunities that you anticipate in the future? What are the external and internal demands on your program?”

Four members of the College of Education family are taking part in the university-wide strategic planning task force including Richard Orem, a professor in Literacy Education, Sharon Smaldino, the college’s endowed professor of teacher education, and Lemuel Watson, department chair in Counseling, Adult and Higher Education as well as acting associate dean. Janet Holt, a professor in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment is representing the Faculty Senate. Several others are participating in roundtable talks.

Considerable change is already in the air.

The college will welcome Carol Logan Patitu in March as its new associate dean. Patitu comes to DeKalb from the State University of New York-Buffalo.

Meanwhile, searches are in progress for 15 new faculty members and two department chairs: Pam Jackson, retired professor from the College of Health and Human Sciences, continues to serve as interim chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning. Wilma Miranda, longtime chair of the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations is retiring this spring.

Jackson’s former College of Health and Human Sciences colleague, Sherilynn Spear, also is taking a job in the College of Education. Spear, former chair of the School of Allied Health, will head up the new College Leadership Educational Opportunity program.

As many as a dozen senior faculty will participate in a summer retreat and monthly meetings during the next academic year to interact across department lines, learn more about college and university operations and discover potential opportunities for faculty leadership roles.

For her part, Sorensen said she will begin spending more of her time in fundraising activities through continued cultivation of relationships with alumni and friends who have the means and potential to establish endowments.

The college will establish an endowment for academic excellence this spring that could provide dollars for research by students and faculty or support special program needs.

“Now it is time for us to work. The semester is under way,” Sorensen said. “Together we will begin to explore new frontiers.”

1-16-07