Provost Alison Morrison-Shetlar speaks at the 2014 Opening Assembly.
Provost Alison Morrison-Shetlar highlighted in her Opening Assembly remarks initiatives to strengthen curriculum and online work flow processes, grants support and success, the university-wide reaccreditation process and support for faculty and staff to “step forward” to lead and to share their ideas and perspectives.
She lauded recent leadership development opportunities on campus including a one-day retreat that drew more than 200 participants from across campus as well as the WCU Leadership Academy, which recently completed its first year. Twelve faculty and staff members participated in the year-long academy to gain a deeper understanding of leadership and WCU. The program’s capstone was a regional tour in which a group of 30 people, which included participants and other WCU leaders, visited businesses, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations throughout Western North Carolina.
“We learned about what we as an institution – as Western Carolina University – can do to support, help, mentor and be there for our community,” said Morrison-Shetlar. Members of the Leadership Academy’s second class, which will meet throughout the 2014-15 academic year, were recently announced.
She emphasized the importance of making sure all faculty and staff members are growing professionally as individuals. Coulter Faculty Commons continues to offer support and educational opportunities that support teaching faculty and staff development, and workshops have been held for employees ranging from staff members who are Subject to the Personnel Act, or SPA, to department heads and deans, she said.
Morrison-Shetlar also announced the rollout of a new initiative for the year in which more than 150 kits that include Stephen Covey’s book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and supplementary materials have been purchased. Coulter Faculty Commons and the Department of Human Resources are collaborating on the effort and staff and faculty are encouraged to participate.
“I look forward to you stepping forward to be part of this initiative,” said Morrison-Shetlar.
She also discussed at the Opening Assembly work underway to deepen and strengthen curriculum and online work-flow processes, including the implementation of Curriculog. According to the website, the Curriculog comprehensive software “integrates student information with degree audit systems, streamlines curriculum approval processes and makes approved courses and programs available for catalog publishing.” Among the benefits, when fully implemented, will be a more effective and efficient work-flow process resulting in a current and accurate catalog for WCU students, said Morrison-Shetlar.
In addition, she talked about WCU’s recent success with grants, noting a 67.4 percent increase in the amount of dollars in proposals and a 60.1 percent increase from $3.4 million to $5.5 million in awarded dollars between fiscal year 2013 and fiscal year 2014. She commended all faculty and staff who have sought external funding and the Office of Sponsored Research, which recently completed a reorganization, for supporting those efforts. The office offers a range of assistance from mentorship programs to workshops for those interested in applying for grant funding.
To further such endeavors, Morrison-Shetlar said that $50,000 was made available at the end of the year for seed grants of up to $10,000 each, and those were directed to seven projects across disciplines. Another $100,000 from the offices of the chancellor and provost indirect funds will provide seed funding throughout the current fiscal year.
“The outcomes of the seed grants will not only be the energizing of our pedagogy and our scholarly and creative activities, but will also encourage people to look for external funding,” said Morrison-Shetlar.
Other initiatives discussed include:
A commitment to creating a vibrant and robust summer school focusing on student success.
A new “WCU Away” program pioneered by Lowell Davis, assistant vice chancellor for student success, to support students to “study away” internationally or in other national and local communities; to “work away” at internships, co-ops or other opportunities that will increase their marketability; and to “serve away” by participating in service learning nationally and internationally.
The start of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges reaffirmation of accreditation process under the direction of Stephen Miller, associate professor of economics.
Mike Smith, the Joe W. Kimmel Distinguished Professor of Construction Management and head of the Department of Construction Management, as chair of the SACS COC reaccreditation compliance committee.
A new communication structure with the creation of an Academic Affairs Council, Provost Council and Provost Executive Council.
Monthly Academic Affairs newsletter, focusing on updates on current initiatives and celebrating faculty, staff and student successes.
Employees hired within the last year including Brandon Schwab, associate provost for academic affairs; Lowell Davis, assistant vice chancellor for student success; Tim Metz, assistant vice chancellor for institutional planning and effectiveness, Dale Carpenter, dean of the College of Education and Allied Profession; and Jeff Ray, dean of the Kimmel School.