Office of the Provost: 1999-2000 Annual Report
Provost Kermit L. Hall initiated many processes during his first year. His first step was the restructuring of the Office of the Provost to meet the challenge of advancing the quality of academic support programs. A Committee chaired by Dean Nino Masnari reviewed the structure and people and issued their findings reaffirming Provost Hall's goal of clarifying lines of authority and responsibility, and raising critical functional areas to appropriate levels of involvement and authority. Provost Hall also instituted a Leadership Agenda, Principles/Elements of Leadership, Budget Principles, Enrollment Change Principles, a Quarterly Awards Program, displaying employee successes on the "Wall of Honors," and Upward Evaluations of not only the Deans but also the Vice Provosts. Provost Hall has completed Compact Plans and Codicils with the Vice Provosts and the College Deans. In addition, from his discussions with these units, he has compiled the Compact Plan for Academic Affairs.
The Office of the Provost has also seen personnel changes in 1999-00. Assistant Provost Rebecca Leonard and Associate Provost William Grant returned to the faculty. National searches were also successfully conducted for the Dean of the College of Textiles, the College of Education and Psychology, and the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Searches for the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Vice Provost for Diversity and African-American Affairs, and the Vice Provost for Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications are also underway.
Academic Affairs
This year marked the first full year of operation under an improved organization providing focus on faculty development. Academic program development and review and academic regulation administration were transferred to the Division of Undergraduate Affairs.
The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), in its second year, continued to provide pedagogical development support to faculty. The close collaboration between the FCTL and the Learning Technologies Service provides a strong and growing base of support for faculty development in teaching. Significant progress was made on four major compact initiatives: graduate student instructional development, special approaches with high failure rate courses, curriculum diversity, and department-based instructional development. The developmental support offered by the FCTL complements efforts for competitive faculty recruiting and retention and improves and clarifies the reappointment, promotion and tenure process. A spousal assistance program was initiated along with added encouragement and support for searches identifying the most attractive candidates. With the support of the academic leadership, useful changes in the reappointment, promotion and tenure process were implemented focusing on increasing faculty involvement and process accountability. This year, 127 cases were reviewed, and each case included thoughtful and serious written assessments. The Faculty Senate supported the need for a thorough examination of the criteria and procedures for reappointment, promotion and tenure and commissioned a special select committee. The work of this committee will shape the definition of scholarly accomplishment by elevating the expectations and recognition for scholarship in faculty professional work. At the strong recommendation of the Committee on the Evaluation of Teaching, a pilot study of a university-wide student evaluation of teaching instrument was designed and will be carried out during the fall. This approach will compare student perceptions of teaching across units for all courses giving faculty a basis for improvement and providing more consistent representation of teaching. University-level teaching awards, including the recipient of the BOG Award for Excellence in Teaching, 6 new alumni distinguished undergraduate professors, and 19 members of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers were selected. A new departmental award was established, presented to the two academic departments demonstrating the highest accomplishment in teaching and learning. The departments of History and Botany were recognized this year, with each receiving a continuing base budget increase of $15,000 and a one-time award of $5,000 to continue their outstanding work. The Leadership Education for Academic Departments Series (LEADS) was continued this year with the inclusion of a leader among heads on the steering team. The involvement of faculty in the governance of the university is a key area in which the office supports the work of the Faculty Senate and the operation of the University Standing Committee system (25 committees); efforts were launched to review the charges and compositions of the committees and to further refine the functions and utility of the Committee on Committees. An associate vice provost for faculty development position was created. As a result of a campus wide search, Dr. Judy C. Peel was appointed effective July 1, 2000.
Academic Administration, Budget & Personnel
The good news in personnel were: 1) the BOT's approval to deregulate EPA personnel processes, thus reducing the number of steps in making a hire, and 2) the positive decisions from phase II of the BOG's senior academic and administrative officers' (SAAO) review. The EPA personnel load remained great as 12,500 EPA personnel actions were handled, all under the new PeopleSoft system.
The Compact Plan process provided an excellent opportunity to focus future activities. Among these are: implementation of budget principles and enrollment change budget principles; establishment of an annual budget process for colleges and units in academic affairs; the design of model budgets; the creation of space principles, a space request form and process, and a staff support work group for the University Space Committee; a plan to index the Faculty Handbook; revisions to new employee orientation; policy review, revisions, and release of step-by-step guides for faculty titles; and standard language for EPA appointment and reappointment letters, and overload and summer school pay.
Karen Acree was hired as an Office Assistant after Kristine Henry accepted a position with Price Waterhouse Coopers; Anita Smith began as a Customer Service Representative; Jason Petters was hired as a 6-month, time-limited position to revise the Provost's web; Leslie Collins resigned effective June 19, 2000 to work in RTP; Vicki Pennington was a Provost's Quarterly Recognition Award recipient for winter 2000; Jevonda Greer was a recipient of the Provost's Unit Award for the Awards for Excellence for 1999-00; and Bruce Mallette served as chair of the Policy & Priorities Committee of the American Council on Education's Council of Fellows Executive Committee and served as interim chair of UNC-GA's Human Resources Advisory Board for EPA Personnel.
Continuing Studies
The Division of Continuing Studies met the diverse educational needs of a broad-based constituency during 1999-2000. Over 516 distance education courses (18% increase) were delivered to 2,288 locations for 5,606 registrants (38% increase). Lifelong Education (LLE) on-campus enrollment reached 4,898 with Summer Sessions reflecting an enrollment of 12,879 students. Eight hundred seventy-three previous LLE students matriculated as graduate or undergraduate degree candidates. Membership in the Encore Center for Lifelong Enrichment was 633 (9% increase) with 1,614 enrollments in the sixty-seven college-level non-credit course offerings. Continuing and Professional Education served a total of 153,400 participants with 6,874 of these enrolling in Computer Training Unit classes and 146,043 utilizing the McKimmon Conference and Training Center. The Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services completed several significant studies and surveys particularly in the areas of mental health and substance abuse, with a success rate of better than 90 percent for proposals submitted that were approved and funded.
The level of efficiency and quality of student services were significantly improved through the affiliation of Instructional Telecommunications (OIT) staff with Adult Credit Programs, and based on OIT managing distance education enrollment campus-wide with the exception of VBEE, TOTE and Study Abroad. The Encore Center will have a limited amount of venture capital given its success in attaining the $25,000 minimum principal required to officially establish the Korte-Encore Endowment. A joint initiative between the Division and Distance Education will provide a state-of-the-art two-way interactive production capable classroom in the Center, accommodating credit offerings.
Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications
The University recognizes that students' educational programs and resources through technology is becoming imperative to effectively serve students. NC State is the leader in the delivery of distance education credits for the UNC system, producing 15,900 student credit hours, accounting for approximately 25% of system-wide enrollments. These credit enrollments have grown by 84% over the past two years, and are projected to grow by 45% for the upcoming year.
To guide and support the university's growth in this area, a new division of Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications (DELTA) was established. Dr. Tom Miller, who served as Special Assistant to the Provost for Time-Enhanced Learning, has been appointed Interim Vice Provost for Distance Education and Learning Technologies effective July 1, 2000.
A major challenge this year was the management of appropriated funds to support the distance education enterprise. The transition from a self-funded model to a state-supported model for distance education has presented organizational and financial challenges. The Time-Enhanced Learning (TEL) committee has been developing plans to improve the process.
In the area of learning technologies, the campus has adopted two on-line course management environments: WebCT, a market-leading commercial system; and WolfWare, an internally developed environment providing a high level of integration with our campus technology infrastructure.
Enrollment Management and Services
The Division of Enrollment Management and Services, which includes Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, Registration and Records and Lifelong Education, plays a critical role in the success of the University.
Admissions met all enrollment targets for fall 1999 enrolling 3553 freshmen (goal 3500) and 1085 transfer students (goal 1050). Freshman quality was at an all-time high 3.86 GPA, 1179 SAT, and average top 17% rank. Admissions is on target to meet or exceed the increased goals of 3650 freshmen and 1100 transfers for fall 2000 and projects further quality increases. African American new student numbers for fall 2000 will show a significant rebound from 1999's disappointing results (359 freshmen in 1999, project 430 in 2000 [+17%]). Cutting edge web applications include a new automated degree audit system, on-line course registration, grade checking, class roster information, academic progress reporting, electronic grade reporting and an admission "virtual tour". Admissions also developed a new yield/recruiting CD ROM. A classroom utilization study is currently underway.
Financial Aid continues to experience significant increases in the demand for aid, awarding over $94 million annually; a 270% increase in just eight years. A new accountant position was filled in 1999-00 greatly enhancing the important accountability function required by federal law.
New freshmen African American enrollment confirmation deposits show an increase of 14% over 1999 (437 v. 383). Other under-represented student groups show even greater increases. Initiatives to enhance student diversity include: Chancellors Leadership Awards, College Board Student Search, African American Visitation Day, Native American Visitation Day, and the only NC sponsor of Venture Scholars program to identify high quality under-represented students.
Equal Opportunity, Equity, and Diversity
Due to the restructuring, the volume of OEO-related activities has more than tripled. Specifically, African-American Affairs, Diversity Programs, and Disability Services for Students were moved administratively to OEO. Major initiatives from the OEOED compact plan dealt with diversity, improvements to the search process, a pilot faculty retention study, and more efficient operation of Disability Services for Students. OEO has greatly enhanced its web site to provide additional information regarding equal opportunity, equity, and diversity to its internal and external customers.
OEO concentrated on enhancing search activities. The University has had a record number of tenure track faculty vacancies this past year and some 117 searches are in varying stages of completion. With nearly 75% of the searches completed, resulting hires will provide additional ethnic and gender diversity among the faculty. The SPA Equal Opportunity Plan was submitted to the Office of State Personnel in March 2000 and included minor modifications of the new workplace harassment policy and prevention plan.
Notable among OEO's continuing efforts to promote diversity at NC State were the following activities. Staff support was provided for the Chancellor's African-American Community Advisory Council. OEO coordinated the Chancellor's University-Community Brotherhood Dinner and co-sponsored several conferences and speakers with varied departments on campus. A race awareness seminar is scheduled for June. An advisory committee for curricular diversification was established to oversee a two-year pilot program designed to institutionalize curricular diversity efforts. Workshops were conducted on providing accommodations to students and staff with disabilities. OEO expanded "gender equity" programming including providing a gender equity web site; administrative support for the Council on the Status of Women, the Coalition for Women in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, the Sloan Pre-Tenure Leave Fellowship Program, the Bridges Program; and sponsored NC State's first "Take Our Daughters to Work Day." OEO worked with University Planning & Analysis and an external consultant to revise the existing "Salary Equity Study." This activity will continue into the next fiscal year and culminate in the development of a "faculty compensation plan." OEO reconvened the ad hoc committee concerning maternity leave and "stopping the tenure clock" policies.
OEO conducted successful national searches for an Assistant DSS Coordinator, a Coordinator of Assistive and Information Technology (shared with Information Technology), a Coordinator of Diversity, and a half-time Program Coordinator.
Proactive leadership in the area of affirmative action and equal opportunity is needed to ensure we meet our legal obligations. OEO strongly recommends continued training opportunities, especially in the areas of employment procedures, ADA obligations, and complaint resolution. Progress toward fulfillment of affirmative action goals set by colleges and administrative units should become an integral part of the performance evaluation of senior academic and administrative officers of the university.
Honors Council
The University Honors Council went through a major planning process and structural transformation leading to the founding of the University Honors Program. Using the Compact Planning Process, the Honors Program has established the Honors Colloquia (Honors 101 and 102), Honors Seminars (five sections of Honors 296 and 297), and additional Honors sections of basic courses in chemistry, English, animal science, zoology, and biology. It also recruited, identified, and enrolled 106 students for its inaugural year.
The Honors Council again hosted the annual Honors Convocation (with speaker Carol Geary Schneider of the Association of American Colleges and Universities), sponsored the Summer Enrichment Grant Program, hosted visits from a team from the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Truman Foundation, and took leadership in organizing a more effective process for supporting national scholarship candidates (receiving a Mitchell, Udall, and a Goldwater), and conducted the Holladay Medal process.
Information Technology Division (ITD)
In July 1999, Samuel Averitt became Vice Provost for Information Technology. The Information Technology Division then launched a concerted effort to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of technology to the academic missions of NC State. At the same time, ITD continued to support and improve the world-class networking and system infrastructure that are essential to NC State's day-to-day operations and strategic to the university's future as a leader in distance and technology-enhanced education.
Among the significant achievements for ITD this year, over 500 NC State and UNC system faculty, staff, and students attended the fourth annual NC State Instructional Technologies Expo. ResNet celebrated completion of wiring of all residence halls in August 1999; and ITD staff provisioned wiring closets, further enhancing high-speed network access for student subscribers. Resonate Central Dispatch Web server technology was implemented to provide for successful Web-based education endeavors. The campus fiber-optic network backbone was completely upgraded, and because of our leadership role in state-of-the art national and regional networking we were awarded the Internet 2 Abilene Test and Evaluation Center site. Jason Young was honored with a University Award for Excellence and went on to win the North Carolina Governor's Award for Excellence.
NC State plans to adopt open source technologies as a strategic direction for academic computing and as a compelling philosophy for the teaching and learning environment.
Computing Services launched a Basic Information Technology (BIT) initiative to focus on the need for all students to have the requisite IT skills to succeed at NC State. The Learning Technology Service, under its new director Dr. Joanne Dehoney, launched an initiative to create an online teaching/learning infrastructure for campus. ITD invited Dr. Kenneth C. Green, noted expert on national trends in computing in higher education, to evaluate the computing support environment.
Undergraduate Affairs
The reorganization of the Division of Undergraduate Affairs (UGA) has meant a significant shift in responsibilities to the division, including at the specific level the oversight for academic policies and regulations, the community college articulation agreement, honors, and academic program review, and at the more grandiose level, the vision for undergraduate education at NC State.
The most significant aspects of our compact plan reflect the assignment to UGA of all matters regarding academics and undergraduate students. Our major initiative is articulating the vision for the NC State undergraduate academic experience. In our compact plan, we propose an academic and curricular experience that will result in 21st Century Renaissance Learners, distinguished by (1) technological literacy, (2) communication skills (3) research skills, and (4) enhanced appreciation for diversity.
John Ambrose, Professor of Entomology, was appointed the new Director of the First Year College and Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs. Roxanna Staton McGraw, New Student Orientation Coordinator, received the Provost's Quarterly Staff Recognition Award for Outstanding Service and the University Award for Excellence for Outstanding Service to the University Community. Vice Provost James Anderson was named to the Board of Trustees at Villanova University.