Student Affairs Communications Group Minutes

December 15, 2010

Attendance: Eric Hanson, Lacy Moore, Gabe Merrell, Colleen Schlonga, Kent Sumner, Jennifer Gossett, Lisa Hoogesteger, Larry Roper, Susan Bourque, Mike Olson, Anne Gillies

Today

1.  Larry Roper led a discussion about the Student Affairs Strategic Plan and the planning process.

  1. The process has intentionally been fluid and ambiguous, what is going to be produced is uncertain at this point. The University is in a place of stability, which has allowed this process to begin with legitimacy.
  2. A plan for the future direction of the success and sustainability of the division of Student Affairs will be developed. The plan will shape the next 4-5 years of work for the division.
  3. The strategic planning team has been offering focus groups and asking about the possibilities for the programs within the division.
  4. The process has been informed by reactions, energy, and input of the student affairs community.
  5. The plan is not a budget cutting exercise. It is about “pursuing a future rich in possibilities.”
  6. Kent brought up the idea that we should create an online forum for feedback. Eric and Jennifer will work on creating a blog, available on the student affairs website.

2.  Anne Gillies from affirmative action discussed unintentional bias both in general and in relation to marketing. Two handouts were provided, one on unconscious biases and the other was a partial list of cognitive biases. The group then critiques Jennifer’s Academic Coaching brochure and Eric’s Life On-Campus booklet looking for ways the publications could be improved. The group thought that using SA Comm Group Meetings to critique and provide suggestions for marketing materials was a good use of the time, and potentially something that could be organized in the future.

3.  We did not discuss topics for next term due to lack of time.

Click here to download the handouts from today’s meeting

Next meeting of the Student Affairs Communications Group will be January 15th 2011, 9 a.m. -10:30 a.m., location and topic TBA.