From: Dr. Matthew Gerlach, interim provost and dean of faculties
Several academic project teams have been hard at work this summer planning for the transitions necessary to ensure student learning and success in light of our future academic portfolio plans. This important work — by many of our colleagues at the College — began in June. (For the last update, see the June 28 Cardinal Update article.) Work plans developed by the teams were created and approved by The BRAVE (Budgeting and Redesign for Academic Vitality and Enrollments) Implementation Steering Committee.
Project #1: Teach-out Process and Plans for Majors & Minors Being Phased Out
Affected students will receive an email Aug. 8 updating them about 1-1 advising support, offering the registrar and student success as contacts for questions, along with other pertinent information. We are clear that these students will be able to graduate with their declared majors and minors. As stated previously, incoming freshmen will be allowed to declare one of the majors or minors slated for phase out this year only.
The team is working on short-term and longer-term staffing of the classes required for the majors and minors. For the short-term, securing quality term-faculty to teach unstaffed courses is a priority. The team is committed to coordinating specialized advising training for these faculty (and in some cases staff) who may serve as primary or secondary advisers for our students. We also plan to work with the registrar, deans, and department chairs on course projections and staffing of classes that the students will need over the next few years.
In September and October, deans and departments will finalize the Spring 2023 class schedule based on projections of the courses needed. Advisors will meet with all affected students, including new students, for successful Spring 2023 class registration. Advisors, department chairs, and deans will be working together to ensure students are properly advised on the majors of those being phased out.
Project #2: General Education Redesign & Teach-Out
The teach-out of Integratus requires cooperation with team #1 and is dependent on student and faculty data that will be more complete at the start of the fall semester. The intent is to have all current and incoming Fall 2022 students complete Integratus, rather than moving current students to a new program.
Course projections and a more detailed plan will need to be in place in time to inform scheduling and staffing for Spring 2023 and for subsequent terms.
A new liberal arts-based, mission-centered general education program will be brought to the Curriculum Committee during the Fall 2022 semester. This will be in time for an approved program to appear in the catalog and be implemented, beginning in Fall 2023.
The project team will continue to consult with a variety of individuals and groups, especially the directors’ of the Honors Program, Transfer Operations, Writing Services, and (once on contract this fall) program directors and chairs. Possible adjustments will be made before the plan can be shared, but the goals are to retain the current outcomes of Integratus in the new model, maintain approximately 40 credits of coursework, and use courses already in the catalog where possible.
Project #3: College Operational Effectiveness
This project team has begun identifying critical areas in need of improvement related to the college structure and overall operations (policies, procedures, systems, etc.). The goal is to be able to recommend particular, concrete solutions for greater educational effectiveness – keeping the student at the center. While planning is underway, more significant changes are not expected to materialize until June 1, 2023. Smaller improvements may occur this academic year but the basic organizational structure of the schools and departments is expected to remain the same throughout 2022-2023. Anything that would require a faculty handbook change would go through the appropriate approval and change process.
Project #4: New Ideas AND Enriching Co-Curriculars (focus: fine and performing arts)
As mentioned in earlier communications, this critical effort will officially get underway in early fall. We will be looking to disseminate a fuller plan for fall ‘23 and beyond. There has been initial outreach through various communications channels and meetings with Winona arts organizations. We have received affirmation about a desire to continue our partnerships and build on what will be most valuable and appreciated by students. To that end, engagement sessions are being scheduled starting in September to bring together students, faculty, and the local arts community to develop a vision and plan for co-curricular arts programming for the 2023-2024 school year. Planning sessions will continue through the fall and proposals will begin being drafted with the fall 2023 launch in mind.
We are grateful for the work of so many college faculty and academic leaders this summer as implementation of the BRAVE work is critical. Special thanks goes to the Implementation Committee co-chairs, Dean Darren Row and Dean Michelle Wieser. I continue to welcome input and discussion about the future direction of the College. The many conversations I have had have been enlightening and valuable and are impacting our future state and the student experience.
