QEP Meeting Summary

1/24/07

On January 22, a QEP phase II subcommittee met to discuss the literature review that was conducted by Fred Rovai, Marta Lee and Dail Fields. The meeting was called to order by Dean Alan Arroyo of the School of Education. The goal of the meeting was to make a recommendation on the topic and title for the QEP given the previous faculty input at the 2007 Fall Faculty Retreat and beyond.  Attendees included John Munday, Fred Rovai, Norm Mintle, Sherri Stocks, Shauna Tonkin, Marta Lee, Amanda Wynn, Bob Stacey, Mara Crabtree, Doug Cook, Ginger Zillges, and Mihai Bocarnea.
Dean Arroyo asked if any one part of the literature review stood out. Norm Mintle commented that the subject of cross-cultural awareness on page 11 seemed very significant and related to the goal of a Quality Enhancement Plan. Ginger Zillges mentioned that Global Learning seemed appropriate given that we are an institution with strong online growth initiatives. Fred commented that these two areas stood out to him as well.

Doug Cook thought the global reach emphasis is good but cautioned that it should be affordable and doable. The term "global reach" needs to be carefully defined as do all the components. Dean Arroyo challenged the group to identify the components of the QEP. Shauna Tonkin said that since we’re focusing on learning outcomes as it seems the QEP should, we ought to focus on the global impact that this plan is going to have. Fred Rovai added that global reach ought to be considered even as we construct the learning outcomes. He explained that if we involve a more diverse audience to collaborate on these types of outcomes, it’s going to be richer than if only Americans had designed them. 

Dean Arroyo mentioned that many schools are already doing activities that support a global perspective, but the difference will need to come with how knowledge is shared across the institution. A program assessment piece is part of the QEP, warns Fred. Therefore, we need to mention such activities in the goals and report on them in the assessment piece. John Munday suggested that the components seem like those items identified in the framework on page 21: Global Perspective, Global Reach and Global Impact.  He raised the question as to whether there was a particular sequence to the components. The group seemed to be in consensus about the three areas being key to what we accomplish with global perspective as the first step, global reach the second step, and global impact the third step. It seems likely that the plan may unfold into different phases. 

As titles were brainstormed considering these three distinctives, Mihai Bocarnea added that we should think about what the acronym will be. Doug Cook suggested that we tie the title back into our mission which is Christian Leadership. Shauna Tonkin suggested the title Global Learning. Discussion ensued on whether it should be Global Learning for Christian Leadership in the 21st Century. Sherri Stocks suggested that they keep the title as short as possible. Dean Arroyo reminded the group of one of the catchy titles that came up at the faculty retreat, "RU Global." Some people worried that wasn't quite academic enough, but Dean Arroyo said that it would serve as more of a slogan than the broad title. Whatever title is recommended today should be examined by Sherri Stocks, Assistant VP for Marketing & PR so that she can offer feedback.  At last, all settled on Global Learning for Christian Leadership. The plan would develop over time and Regent would report on the assessments as they occur and decide future directions. Perhaps there would be a three to five year plan and we could start on one aspect and grow into the others. We would start with Global perspective. 

All agreed this would be a good approach. Fred Rovai, Shauna Tonkin, and Alan Arroyo will create a short presentation to the full QEP Steering committee in mid February suggesting the title as Global Learning for Christian Leadership with the sequential components/phases of Global Perspective, Global Reach, and Global Impact.  They’ll recommend the development of a three to five year plan taking all factors into consideration.