February 15, 2005

1
Dialogue with the Provost
Dr. Robert C. Bates
February 15, 2005
2
Academic Plan Strategic Areas

• The Undergraduate Experience
• The Graduate Experience
• Research and Scholarship
• Societal Impact

3
The Graduate Education Commission

• Co-commissioned by the President and Provost to
  consider mechanisms to enhance and evolve
  graduate programs
• Provides an opportunity to position WSU at
  forefront of thinking about graduate education.
  Within PAC-10, Stanford has begun a similar
  initiative

4
The Graduate Education Commission Expectations

• Our progress improving student quality and
  programs at the undergraduate level, combined
  with a parallel effort at the graduate level, has
  tremendous potential to enhance the overall
  quality and academic reputation of Washington
  State University.

5
The Graduate Education Commission Goals

• Position WSU at the forefront in delivering the
  highest quality programs to graduate students
• Attract outstanding and diverse students into
  these programs
• Function as a university wide think tank

6
Major Questions For the Graduate Education
Commission

• Where do we want to be in 2010 at the doctoral
  level?
• Do we offer the best range/nature of programs?
• How can we enhance our programs for national
  impact?

7
Major Questions For the Graduate Education
Commission

• Do our programs provide exceptional opportunities
  for training the next generation of leaders?
• How do we advance cutting edge interdisciplinary
  programs?

8
Academic Organizational Structure Review
Is our current organizational structure optimal
to achieve our goals and address 21st century
challenges? An optimal structure should

• Encourage synergies in teaching and creative
  activities
• Eliminate duplication
• Create more effective, coherent units
• Create units that have the potential to be more
  visible at the national or international level

9
The Process

• Strategic and academic planning process suggested
  that our structure may not be optimal.
• The realignment process is not driven by budget
  considerations.
• Faculty Senate and Provost jointly appointed a
  committee to consider realignment. Committee
  chaired by Chuck Pezeshki and Fran McSweeney.

10
The Process cont.

• Gather information from faculty and other sources
  including an invitation to submit white papers
  describing proposed realignments (completed)
• Integrate information into a report (ongoing)
• Gather public comments on the report
• Consideration of report and its recommendations
  by the Faculty Senate and the administration

11
Realignment Proposals With Most Support

• Reorganization of the College of Liberal Arts
• Organization of a unit devoted to health or
  medical sciences
• Organization of a unit devoted to the environment
  and natural resources

12
Searches

• Associate Vice Provost for International Programs
• College of Agricultural, Human and Natural
  Resource Sciences
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Engineering and Architecture
• College of Pharmacy

13
Showcase April 1, 2005

• Academic Showcase Juried Poster Session (900
  noon). Deadline for abstract submission Feb 25,
  2005.
• Luncheon presentation of the 2005 Distinguished
  Faculty Address (noon 130 pm). Lunch is free
  with advance registration.
• Celebrating Excellence Recognition Banquet (530
  pm). Cost is 30 per person except honorees.
• Visit www.showcase.wsu.edu for information

14
Provosts Progress Report

• February 16, 2005
• Available at www.provost.wsu.edu/communications

15
Dialogue with the Provost
Dr. Robert C. Bates
February 15, 2005