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Phase I - FY09-FY11

Background

The importance of the task made selection of participants a critical first step in the NIU strategic planning process. To that end, Provost Alden developed a set of ideal characteristics to be considered by campus groups nominating task force members. They included:

  • a broad understanding of the context and role of public higher education;
  • ability to view one’s role from a university-level perspective rather than a college- or discipline-specific one;
  • willingness to be creative, think big, and value both historic strengths and emerging opportunities;
  • a track record for timely fulfillment of responsibilities and willingness to take on new challenges; and
  • a strong sense of ownership about and pride in NIU and a commitment to make the university a better place

Armed with those requirements, NIU colleges, divisions, and shared governance units nominated a broad cross-section of faculty, staff and students to serve on the task force; ultimately 45 members and ex-officio members were chosen.

Members of the Task Force were divided into four workgroups charged with specific areas of inquiry related to NIU's teaching and learning environment, research clusters, regional impact and campus/community culture.

Links to draft recommendations from each group appear below. Each workgroup was asked to identify specific goals and objectives; resources needed to achieve those goals and objectives; and metrics needed to measure progress in each area.

During the Fall 2007 semester President Peters established two presidential Task Forces to begin topically focused strategic planning. The members of the Task Forces developed several recommendations for the President, Provost, Provost’s staff, and Council of Deans to consider in moving forward in the strategic planning process.  The recommendations of the Task Forces were numerous and several were selected for implementation.

The Final Report of the Presidential Task Forces on Student Success and Curricular Innovation
is posted below. It is in three files: