Members of the two task forces met for the first time (see website for those participating in each Task Force).
After introductions, Provost Ray Alden presented the Charge to the Task Forces. He indicated that the task forces are viewed as Steering Committees which will seek information and ideas internal and external to NIU. A goal of the task forces is to develop a list of “best practices” and get these ideas to various parts of NIU’s shared governance environment for comment and acceptance. He viewed this five-month exercise as a period of exploration, where ideas should not be judged by the level of resources needed to implement them, rather on how they will improve the learning environment at NIU. He indicated that these task forces should continually place their ideas on the Strategic Planning Website.
The chairs of the two task forces, Carolinda Douglas (Student Success) and David Changnon (Curricular Innovations), discussed the philosophy of the task force, how information would be communicated among members of the task forces (11 face-to-face meetings, email groups and blackboard), what the deliverables will be (written reports and presentation to Provost Alden), and the timetable of task force meetings. The chairs reiterated that success of the task forces would be based on participation of all members. Further, the focus of the task forces and the recommendations made from the task forces ought to be student-centered.
Douglas and Changnon then handed out an “assignment” where task force members were asked to identify member’s interest and expertise in tasks and begin the brainstorming process to identify necessary resources, data, and material needed to evaluate the current state of student success and curriculum innovation as well as identify best practices, ideas and initiatives on and off campus to enhance student learning at NIU. The members were asked to get their “assignments” back to the chairs by November 26. The next meeting of the task forces will be Friday, November 30, 2007 from 10 am to noon with Changnon’s group meeting in Altgeld 225 and Douglass’ group meeting in Altgeld 203.