The Office of the Provost has created a website for those interested in keeping abreast of the Academic Affairs Program Prioritization (AAPP) process. It is at http://academic-prioritization.wsu.edu.
“The goal is to be as transparent as possible,” said Ken Casavant, professor of economic sciences and a co-chair of the AAPP phase II task force. The other co-chair is Larry James, associate executive vice president.
According to Casavant, all of the materials created by the phase I task force and all of the materials created for the phase II task force will be available online.
That will include each program’s self-assessment, as well as the college dean’s (or unit leader’s) analysis and recommendations. Via the website, people will be able to comment on the assessments and the recommendations, offering support or a differing opinion.
Casavant, who joined WSU in 1968, said this is the most systematic and comprehensive assessment of WSU’s strength and potential for growth that he has seen.
“WSU is my life and my livelihood and I’m pleased to be able to help,” he said. “If this process goes well, it could have a significant impact on the future stature of this university.”
The AAPP process consists of three phases. The first phase focused on the development of an evaluation framework to be used by each academic program.
The second phase began in mid-January when leaders of the various academic programs were given the evaluation framework; it will end on April 15 when an independent phase II task force submits to Provost Robert Bates recommendations for areas ranging from investment and growth to phase-out.
During the third phase, the provost will consider the recommendations and formulate a universitywide plan for future growth that will be forwarded to the president and the regents.
According to the phase II flowchart, colleges and universitywide academic units such as WSU Libraries and the Graduate School have until March 15 to gather information from their programs, review the information and forward recommendations to the provost’s office.
The phase two task force will then begin reviewing the self-assessments and recommendations and may also contact colleges and units for additional information or clarification.
On April 3 the phase two task force will convene a half-day forum where deans, administrators, chancellors and the provost will meet with the task force to discuss program priorities as well as opportunities for consolidation and reorganization across and within colleges.
The task force will then consider that information, as well as feedback from the WSU community posted on the AAPP website and the review done by the Faculty Senate, to formulate its final recommendations to the provost.
According to James, there are 16 members of the phase two task force who have been split into four teams. Each of three teams will review the programs of three colleges and the fourth team will review the programs of the universitywide units.
Four members of the phase one task force were asked to serve on the phase two task force to provide continuity and to act as resource personnel for questions about process and intent.
• March 21: Phase II task force begins reviewing self-reviews, materials provided to the Faculty Senate and posted on AAPP website. Comment period begins on AAPP website.
• April 3: Deadline for Faculty Senate and AAPP website comments
• April 15: Phase II task force presents recommendations to Provost, also posted on AAPP website.
Phase II task force members:
Larry James and Ken Casavant, co-chairs
Nancy Blossom
David Cillay
Diane Cook
Hal Dengerink
Len Foster
Howard Grimes
Rachel Halverson
Mike Kallaher
Erich Lear
Matt McClusky
David McClean
Jon Newkirk
Dawn Shinew
Matt Skinner
Bryan Slinker
John Winder
Nancy Blossom
David Cillay
Diane Cook
Hal Dengerink
Len Foster
Howard Grimes
Rachel Halverson
Mike Kallaher
Erich Lear
Matt McClusky
David McClean
Jon Newkirk
Dawn Shinew
Matt Skinner
Bryan Slinker
John Winder
