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Update on Program Prioritization Task Force
January 20, 2010

Dear Members of the Campus Community:

We thought it was time to update the campus on what our committee has been doing since we were charged to begin our task in December. Academic programs are at the heart of the university's mission and program prioritization is entirely about academic programs at Gallaudet, so this process will drive what happens elsewhere on campus.

In this email is an overview of our proceedings so far; including the charge to the committee, the membership of the committee, and what we have accomplished. We will send out periodic updates as we have items of substance to report, and provide ample opportunities for members of the community to provide input and feedback to the process. Please email this address at any time if you have questions, comments or suggestions or the group. Thank you.

Overview of Program Prioritization at Gallaudet University
Charge to Program Prioritization Task Force (PPTF)
By the Provost as part of the Board-mandated
Gallaudet Strategic Plan

Identify all academic programs within Academic Affairs
(Note: Does not include academic support units or CPSO programs).
Based on common practice in higher education, finalize common criteria, data indicators, and weight by which each program will be examined for recommending growth, restructuring, merging, or discontinuing
Collect quantitative and qualitative data from various sources such as departments and institutional research that could support recommendations.
Review data based on the criteria developed by the committee
Make recommendations for each program to Provost and President
Develop standards and recommend a structure for program viability and set baseline metrics that would trigger review and action plan for growth.
Create a process for analyzing the viability and cost/benefit of new programs targeted at previously untapped markets, particularly high-growth professions, deaf-service professions, and/or those that utilize acute visual, spatial, and kinesthetic aptitudes.

Program Prioritization Task Force

Members are:

Khadijat Rashid, Chair and Professor, Department of Business
(PPTF Co-Chair)

Pat Hulsebosch, Executive Director, Office of Academic Quality
(PPTF Co-Chair)

Isaac Agboola, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Technologies

Teresa Blankmeyer Burke, Faculty, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Beth Benedict, Faculty, Communication Studies

Carol Erting, Dean, Graduate School and Professional Programs

Caroline Finklea, Staff member, Undergraduate Enrollment

Dennis Galvan, Faculty, Department of Psychology/Council on Undergraduate Education

Jan Hafer, Faculty, Program of General Studies/Faculty Welfare Committee

Susan King, Director, Graduate Admissions

William J. A. Marshall, Faculty, Department of Administration and Supervision

Gaurav Mathur, Faculty, Department of Linguistics/CGE

Ann Powell, Associate Provost for Diversity

Lauri Rush, Associate Dean for Student Support Services, representing the Career Center

Meetings: The PPTF met two times during the week of January 11. The first meeting was facilitated by Larry Goldstein, strategic resource allocation consultant. Dr Goldstein is President of Campus Strategies, LLC. and he formerly served as National Association of College and University Business Officers' (NACUBO's) senior vice president and treasurer (SVPT). As SVPT, he directed advocacy and program activities related to accounting and finance, business operations, and institutional effectiveness, in addition to overseeing NACUBO's management information systems and internal accounting operations.

The 2nd PPTF meeting of the week was an overview of the program prioritization process.

Regular meetings of the PPTF will be Fridays, 2-4:30, with at least two all-day meetings this semester on 1/29 and 2/26

Webinar: The PPTF co-sponsored with the Office of Academic Quality, a Webinar on Program Prioritization on Tuesday, January 20. More than 40 members of the campus community attended this informative session which dealt with many of the issues currently facing Gallaudet and other institutions of higher education.

Timeline: The President, Provost, Board of Trustees and PPTF members are working on a timeline for completion of the group's work.

Focus: The PPTF will focus only on academic programs (not support units).

Student input to PPTF: PPTF is currently requesting input from the SBG and GSA on how they view the nature of their involvement in the program prioritization process.

Decision-making: Major PPTF decisions will be by supermajority (must have approval of at least 3/4 of the voting members).