Crossing Boundaries for Academic Excellence
Development of Pacific's Academic Plan continues . . .
We have made solid progress toward developing our academic plan which will set the academic priorities for the next three to five years as we continue to implement Pacific 2020. Our overarching theme of "Crossing Boundaries for Academic Excellence" builds on the collaborative momentum begun out of the Academic Planning and Alignment process last year: faculty launched exciting conversations in different parts of the University to collaborate across disciplines to redesign programs, build new interdisciplinary programs, provide new internship opportunities for students, and create joint scholarship projects.
Faculty, staff and students across the university engaged in rich discussions last semester about the ways Pacific could cross-boundaries to achieve three big goals proposed for the academic plan [link to prior graphic framework pdf]. Participants identified elements they would want to spend time working on, discussed "what's missing" from the proposed framework, and brainstormed ways to find better language to capture our aspirations for Pacific students in the next five years.
Thank you to all who participated in various planning conversations throughout the fall semester. All of the ideas voiced during the cross-unit conversations in October and November were transcribed and made available online for viewing and discussion through December 5th. The materials posted on the site will remain available for viewing through February 2015.
The ideas gathered from these cross-unit conversations, as well as ideas from discussions in the schools/college and conversations with the Provost Leadership Council, were all coded and synthesized to create a draft outline of key goals and strategies [link?] for the academic plan. This draft outline, of keywas then vetted at a cross-university Academic Planning retreat in December. Retreat participants included the Provost Leadership Council, four faculty representatives (two from Academic Council Executive Board and one each from the San Francisco and Sacramento campuses), two representatives from Student Life, and a representative from Business & Finance, Development, who else?
During the retreat, participants discussed impactful initiatives to build Pacific's reputation over the next 3 - 5 years. Using a from a detailed synthesis of major ideas from the Fall conversations corresponding with the goals and strategies, the retreat concentrated on prioritizing initiatives for two of the three key goals proposed for the plan: "Quality Academic Programs that Address Societal Needs" and "Graduates Prepared to Lead Successful Lives."
Instead of retreat participants proposing initiatives for the third goal of the plan, "Active and Engaged Faculty," the Provost asked the Academic Council, in concert with faculty in the individual units, to take the lead in recommending initiatives for the faculty to advance Pacific's reputation. This includes recommendations for wordsmithing the goal, since the wording does not yet capture accurately the aspiration for the faculty role in advancing Pacific's reputation.
The first draft of the academic plan will be disseminated to the university community in mid-January, accompanied by additional cross-unit conversations. Please join the Provost and your colleagues to discuss the draft plan at one of the following conversations in January.
In addition, you will be able to contribute online again during this next phase of engagement in January. The draft academic plan will include all the details you'll need to participate in the online discussion forum. For additional information, please visit our Academic Planning site.
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