Graduate Council Session
Here is the summary of the discussion held by the Wayne State Graduate Council who examined four of the strategic directions contained in the current plan. Faculty members focused on the learning experience, pre-eminence in research and scholarship and the engaged university.
1. Learning Experience: Establish and sustain a superlative learning experience that builds upon the unique values and attributes of WSU.
The Graduate Council offered the following suggestions for revising this objective:
- Revise admissions policies and closely examine the value of reaching 40,000 in student enrollment.
- Increase funding for scholarships and loans.
- Provide more financial resources for global education.
- Increase and expand concept of learning communities currently used for undergraduates to include graduate students, particularly teaching assistants from other countries.
- Increase research into effective teaching methods.
- Reward excellent teaching with financial incentives such as bonuses.
- Examine relationships with community colleges
- Need to ensure that incoming PhD students are prepared for the rigors of doctoral studies.
2. Pre-eminence in research and scholarship: Strengthen our performance as a nationally recognized research university by focusing on our competitive advantages, enhancing our scholarship, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to research, and collaborating with government, industry and other institutions to enhance economic growth and the quality of life.
- Use measures other than National Science Foundation rankings to determine research ranking. For example, consider number of PhDs graduated and total number of research dollars spent at university.
- Upgrade the university’s infrastructure to support research and scholarship by providing more technical support for research while advancing plans for the construction of a university conference center.
- Transform perceptions of WSU’s institutional culture.
- Revised strategic plan should be inclusive and recognize that not every research project is interdisciplinary or focused on urban issues.
- Expand research focus beyond urban and metropolitan issues since many researchers have a different focus.
- Find and identify other forms of tuition relief for graduate students.
- Assist smaller academic departments with student recruitment.
- Recognize that not every undergraduate program involves research.
- Omit goal 2.23 from current plan since faculty promotion and tenure is currently based on national standards.
- Reconsider the wording on this strategic goal and consider the use of “eminence” in research and scholarship rather than “pre-eminence.”
3. Quality of Campus Life: Enhance the quality of life on campus by nurturing a culture of success and excellence.
- Conduct an analysis to determine needs in areas such as housing and student services.
- Create vibrant campus communities at satellite campuses, including the Macomb and Oakland centers.
- Continue efforts to make the central campus a user-friendly, 24/7 environment.
- Improve athletic facilities and look at targeting specific sports, particularly women’s sports, with additional resources.
- Institute a comprehensive customer service program and conduct surveys to determine customer satisfaction.
- Preserve historic structures and maintain green space.
5. Educational Opportunities for Renewal and Advancement: Enhance and increase educational opportunities for both the benefit of Michigan citizens and to attract others to the state from throughout the world.
- Work to increase WSU’s US News and World Report ranking.
- There are currently not enough faculty, facilities and infrastructure to support an enrollment of 40,000 students.
- Increase availability of dual-degree bachelor’s and master’s programs.
- Capitalize on the growth of Macomb County.
- Tighten standards in the WSU Honors Program.
- Expand programs and internships with business as well as non-profit organizations.
- Assess success of distance learning and Web-based courses and expand if needed.