Strategic Initiatives action plans and tracking April 30 ... · Five%Colleges,%Incorporated%–%Strategic%Plan:%“Optimizingthe%Consortial%Advantage,%2010A2020”% Progress%on%StrategicInitiatives%as%of%4/30/2014%

Five Colleges, Incorporated – Strategic Plan: “Optimizing the Consortial Advantage, 2010-‐2020” Progress on Strategic Initiatives as of 4/30/2014

Projects substantially completed 4/30/2014 Page 1 FCStrategicInitiative_April302014_v10.pdf

Theme Project Goals Responsible Person and Team

Deliverable/deadline Cost/ Source Progress April 2014

Category 1

Academic Excellence

More Seamless Experience

Library Electronic Resource Seamless Integration

Get Recommendations on Improved Management; Provide Broader Access

Five College Librarians Council with assistance of consultants R2, LLC

Consultants’ report received Nov. 2010 Plan for improvement adopted by FCLC, Spring 2011

Consultant cost: $75,000: Davis Educational Foundation Grant

Consultants’ report received; FCLC plan for improvement endorsed by Deans & Board of Directors March 2011.


Library: Common Discovery Tool

Improved (and common) software support for searches of the Five College catalogs and databases and of other resources

Five College Librarians Council with assistance of the Discovery Task Force

Selection and implementation of a common Discovery Tool /Summer 2011

~$20K per college/year from library budgets

EBSCO’s Discovery Service selected for the four colleges; implemented in Fall 2011.


Library: Common Subject Guides

Improved resources for students and faculty members seeking resources

Five College Librarians and their RIO committee working with program steering committees

Development of Common subject guides for all Five College programs (departments, majors, certificates) / 2011-‐2012

Staff time First guides completed 2012. Development of more library guides now underway.


Library: Rapid ILL Improved speed of response for ILL requests for journal articles

Five College Librarians Council

Likely implementation by all four campuses in 2011-‐2012 fiscal year

Set-‐up cost $18K Sustaining $5-‐8K per school

All campuses using Rapid ILL by 2012.


Library: Expand joint holdings through single or joint Five College subscriptions to selected items

Make more resources accessible to all by Five College subscriptions to some journals and e-‐books

Five College Librarians Council

Pilot installations of e-‐books and single/joint Five College subscriptions on Depository site/ Summer 2011 and Fall 2011

Staff time; low marginal costs

Began 1-‐yr e-‐Book pilot Fall 2013.


Library: Expand joint holdings through negotiated prices with vendors, particularly for databases

To provide more access to all students and faculty members to subscriptions

Neal Abraham and Five College Librarians Council

New negotiated consortium rates that provide subscription access to all five colleges even though initially only 3 or 4 are paying for subscriptions/ Summer 2012

Staff time; possible increment in cost

Early successes with Math/Sci Net and Gale Publishing; CMC negotiated with EBSCO to expand five college access to 12 databases at low marginal cost beginning Fall 2013.

Projects substantially completed 4/30/2014 Page 2

Theme Project Goals Responsible Person and Team Deliverable/deadline Cost/ Source Progress April 2014

Category 1

Academic Excellence Continued – page 2


Digitized materials Intellectual property policy alignment

Expand access from all campuses to locally digitized materials on each campus

Elisa Lanzi (SC), Kelcy Shepherd (AC), Maria Toyofuku and committee; consultant Kenny Crews

Improved and uniform policies by Spring 2011: Guidelines and Toolkit

$7,000 FCI Coordinator’s Fund

Guidelines and recommendations circulated. Taskforce discharged. Tasks moved to Digital Asset Management group (see Category 3).

Thoughtful Administrative Convergence

Library: Expand Capacity of Five College Library Print Depository/Library Annex

To provide greater shelving capacity for coordination of retained infrequently used print materials

Neal Abraham, Barbara Lucey, Five College Librarians Council, PBOs, David DeSwert (SC); special working group beginning summer 2013.

Explore options for expanded facilities 2012-‐2013; Develop funding and construction proposals 2013-‐2014; construction

$8-‐13 million; staff time; estimate costs $135,000 advanced from reserves to be reimbursed from construction budget if approved.

Feasibility study completed 2011; no options at current site; Hampshire option not suitable; local options to build or lease explored; financing with banks explored; exploring siting, funding and business models for approval May 2014.


Regional Library Print Management

To provide shared print management of monographs and journals for a wide regional group of libraries

Neal Abraham and Five College Librarians

Explore Options and business models for various shared endeavors; consider intersection with Five College Library Depository

$63,000 for planning; $50,000 Mellon grant received; balance by matching

Regional conversation July 2011, steering committee formed with 12 librarians, recruited 90 libraries, kick-‐off meeting with 108 librarians July 2013, working groups Fall 2013.

Sustainability Five College Sustainability Certificate

New Interdisciplinary certificate program

Five College Sustainability Certificate committee

Proposal submitted to the FC Deans for review in late Fall 2010

$2,000 program funding

Program launched 2012 open to students from AC, HC, MHC. Environmental Leadership

Sustainability Sustainability program resources

Create shared resources in targeted listservs; lists of courses, faculty members, programs; seminar/speaker series

Sarah Lince and Five College Sustainability Coordinating Committee (As of FY 13,

Sustainability website, listserv Fall 2010; online course listings beginning fall 2012

Time; minor program expense

Listserv, speaker series 2010-‐; website 2011; course list Spring 2013. Sustainability Coordinating Committee formed 2013.

Sustainability Joint Programming Environmental Leadership Workshop

Jan Dizard (AC), Drew Guswa (SC)

$10K/yr Thoreau Fndtn, FCI Deans

Workshops held January 2012, 13, 14.




Category 1


Sustainability Coordinate use of

field station resources Inventory separate campus and Five College (Hawley Bog) field station resources and develop strategies for shared use

FCI staff members Committee to be formed in 2011-‐2012; list of resources developed; policies for shared use developed by Summer 2012

Time; Hawley Bog boardwalk improvement cost $18,000 from FCI Coordinator’s Fund

Committee formed; sharing policies under development; Hawley Bog boardwalk upgraded summer 2012 for improved access.

Sustainability; More

Seamless Experience

Implement rideshare program

Provide students an alternative to buses which may promote more cross-‐registration; may also serve employees, social travel and rides to major cities & homes

Kevin Kennedy, Barbara Lucey

Spring 2013 $2,500 set-‐up fee; $7,500 annual fee for 3 years; perhaps paid by SGAs

SGAs decided in 2012-‐2013 not to fund this proposal; will review again in fall 2013.

Thoughtful Academic

Convergence

Sustainable future for less commonly taught languages in mentored and tutored formats

Wean the Center for the Study of World Languages from dependence on external grants to support core staff members and operations

Neal Abraham, Elizabeth Mazzocco, Amy Wordelman

Stable alternative revenue streams of $200,000/year by 2017-‐18

4-‐year bridge funding after grants expire: $800,000 Mellon grant

Business model developed fall 2012; proposal submitted; first program offerings 2012-‐13 and Summers 2013, 2014 with GPE @ MHC.

Thoughtful Academic

Convergence

Sustainable future for less commonly taught languages in classroom formats

Build stable and successful Five College joint language programs with integrated/parallel curricula

Neal Abraham, Nate Therien, Five College Deans

Create FC Arabic Language Initiative by 2012 with 4-‐5 full-‐time joint Arabic Lecturers; explore joint language opportunities for Russian and German

$250,000 for faculty lines in Arabic; funding shift for Russian with bridge funding from FCI

Arabic Language Initiative launched Fall 2011, fifth position added 2012; one Russian Lecturer expanded to AC, MHC, UMass for 2013-‐14; two FC Lecturers in Russian for 2014-‐16.

Thoughtful Academic

Convergence

Blended Learning Encourage more course development for student blended learning

Neal Abraham, Nate Therien; Maria Toyofuku; Rogelio Minana (MHC) project director

Support blended learning projects; showcase activities; make at least 24 awards.

$1,000,000 Mellon grant; possible Teagle grant $280,000.

Community consultations in summer 2013; Mellon Grant awarded December 2013; first project awards Spring 2014.



Deliverable/deadline

Cost/ Source Progress April 2014

Category 1


Joint Appointments Establish MOU for

appointments based at Hampshire College that allow for Five College input in reviews comparable to positions based elsewhere

Nate Therien, Neal Abraham

Spring 2013 No cost Completed Summer 2013.

Stabilize and regularize funding for Five College opera

Build richer connection to curricula

Nate Therien, Sue Dickman

2013-‐14 $15-‐20K every 3 years from FC endowment

Production successful in February 2014; complemented by three pre-‐production events.

FC Program Review Schedule

System of periodic self studies, external reviews and strategic plans for improvement

Neal Abraham, Nate Therien

Review schedule/ Oct. 2010; form Advisory committees as needed

Modest cost for external reviewers/ FC Coordinator’s Fund

Review schedule established. 2010-‐11 reviews: FCAD; NAIS, EWC; 2011-‐12 reviews: CMS, FCWSRC, FCCSWL, 2012-‐13 reviews: Mass Review, International Relations, Middle Eastern Studies; Culture, Health & Science. 2013-‐14 reviews: FCCEAS, Film Studies, African Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Asian/Pacific/American Studies, REEES, Geology, Music.

Integrated list of campus program reviews

Coordinated studies of programs; more systematic descriptions of FC resources for programs under review; sharing of outcomes

Neal Abraham, Nate Therien; Five College Deans

2010-‐2011 coordination plan by mid Fall

No cost Coordinated UMass Astronomy AQAD and FCAD review in Spring 2011; strategic planning 2011-‐Fall 2012.

Inaugurate program of FC residencies and FC visiting faculty positions

Establish stronger Five College visitor programs for guest teaching and residencies

Nate Therien and Five College Deans

Multicultural theater Spring 2011; others begin in Spring 2011 and 2011-‐2012

Use banked endowment income

Residencies for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 (Deans) including International Environmental Policy, Women’s Studies Research, Opera, Multicultural Theater, Childhood Studies, Latino studies, Public Policy, Dance Community Outreach, global climate change and diplomacy; screenwriting; digital curation.




Category 1



Museum Collection Management Website Design

To ease and improve access to collection databases for students and faculty members

Museums10 and 6 museum directors; Maria Toyofuku

Fall 2011 $1,500 / Five College Coordinator’s Fund

New website went live in Fall 2011; improvements created in-‐house in 2012, 2013, and 2014.


Museum Collection Management new system

To improve recordkeeping and standardize metadata for collection objects

Museums10 and 6 museum directors; Maria Toyofuku

Fall 2014 $50,000 transition cost

Explorations have just begun; shared discussions with Library digital resource management on new architectures.


Create Five College Academic Programs

To broaden curricular opportunities for all students

Deans, faculty governance groups, faculty interest groups

2011-‐2013 New Architectural Studies major 2012; new certificate in Queer and Sexuality Studies 2012; Five College Arabic Language Initiative; Sustainability Council; Five College Russian launched Spring 2013.


Expand and coordinate faculty development efforts

Meet needs for professional development workshops, mentoring, create cohorts of new faculty members

Nate Therien, Sarah Lince, Sue Dickman and Faculty development and teaching and learning center coordinators, esp. Mary Deane Sorcinelli

Develop specific program plan beyond summer writing workshop/Fall 2010 – Publication workshops, etc.

$5,000/yr Faculty Development directors now coordinate program information and events; events 2011, 2012; Science Teaching Workshop 2013; Jose Bowen, Kerry Ann Rockquemore visits.

Thoughtful Academic Convergence

Coordinate efforts in digital humanities

Support innovative uses of digital humanities in teaching and student projects; foster consortium-‐wide dh group

Nate Therien, Dana Leibsohn (2012-‐2013), Marissa Parham (2014-‐16); Five College Deans

Garner funding; provide incentives through grants; hold public events

$1,000,000 over 4 years 2011-‐2015/ Mellon grant for $800,000 plus matching

Mellon grant awarded; matching promised; four rounds of grants awarded 2012-‐2014. Postdoctoral fellowship filled for 2013&2014; Post-‐baccalaureate position filled for 2013-‐14. New Director appointed Fall 2013; showcase May 2014.

Enhance ADA Accessibility (see category 2)

Improved databases for resources and software with cross-‐campus compatibility


Bridge liberal arts and graduate/professional programs

Increase connections and pathways between programs; share pedagogies

Nate Therien; Sarah Lince

Build at least 4 bridging partnerships by 2015

$700,000 Mellon grant

Partnerships in Public Policy, Architectural studies; sustainability studies.




Category 1



Streamline cross registration

To make it more convenient and responsive to student requests

Neal Abraham, Nate Therien, Maria Toyofuku, Registrars

Registrars to identify possible improvements, costs, and timelines Spring 2011 (Done)

No Cost for the study

Registrars discussed 40+ “potholes” with IT directors in Summer 2011; projects adopted for 2012, 2013, 2014. New FC course guide launched 2012; 2013-‐14 improvements added connections from FCI course guide to more detail in campus course listings.


Streamline cross registration

Cooordinate administrative academic honesty policies

Nate Therien; student integrity officers

Share/improve policies; review advising guidelines

No cost Policies shared spring 2013; Advising guidelines under review 2013-‐14.


Inauguration of 5-‐yr BA/MA programs “Accelerated MA”

Intercalated BA/MA course work in 3rd, 4th, and 5th years

Nigar Khan & Bryan Harvey (UMass) Danielle Carr (Smith)

10-‐20 programs phased in over 2 years; develop college liaisons and marketing

Template approved; 10 programs approved at UMass open to college student early enrollment;


Acquire Earthquake monitoring system

Share expenses for a Five College seismographic station as part of the national array called Earth Scope

Nate Therien and Geology chairs

Develop funding model for acquisition and maintenance; locate suitable site

$30,000 purchase, $6000 annual costs / from deans and departments

Funding approved; installed and sited at Smith Environmental Center in Whately; operating since Fall 2013.


Critical Ethnic Studies Collaborate and coordinate teaching about inter disciplinary critical ethnic studies

Asian/Pacific/American Studies Committee

Launch discussions; develop enhanced pedagogies

$6700 FCI program initiative budgets

Conference at MHC April 2014.


Latino Studies Develop Five College major or certificate

Campus leaders of area studies

Workshop leading to planning and proposal

$2500 FCI program funds

Workshop planning; information gathering.


Geographic Information Systems

GIS coordination of programs; explore accelerated masters

Charlie Schweik Reports from workshops; inventory courses using GIS

$2500 concept paper

Faculty workshops held; inventory of courses and programs in 2013-‐14.


Curatorial Studies Develop summer program and curriculum in curatorial studies

Karen Kohler Report on two digital humanities workshops

$50,000 from digital humanities funds

Two faculty workshops completed in 2013-‐14; summer program for 2014.




Category 1


Academic Excellence

Massachusetts Review

Improve journal strength and curricular connections

Editorial Board; Deans Program review; reinvestment 2013

$15,000/year Review completed; Deans approve increased investment in Managing Editor.


Intergroup Dialogue in the classroom

Strengthen use and application of IGD

Ximena Zuniga; Karen Sanchez-‐Eppler; Jaime Davila

Report on seven faculty meeting groups

$2500 Concept paper

Report expected May 2014.


Trans-‐American Photography Review

Support a refereed, open-‐access journal based at Hampshire College

Sandra Matthews Expanded collaborations in Asian Studies

$600 Concept paper

Issues published 2013-‐14; report expected April 21, 2014.


Community Based Learning – training and orientation

Develop intentional thematic focus for each Holyoke Bound

Maria Cartegena Events planned this way held in fall and spring since fall 2012

$3000 Training events planned and completed; planning for future events continuing.




Category 2

Administrative Convergence


Compliance Management

Create a shared resource of staff and services to guide each college campus’s compliance oversight and management

Business Officers, Comptrollers, Beth Carmichael, Barbara Lucey

Design and create a plan for compliance management on the four campuses; Drupal based compliance database of regulations, policies and responsible persons at each college campus to go live Spring 2012; compliance committees to be fully activated at each of the four campuses by end of Spring 2012

$110,000/yr Staff member added; compliance database released; campus compliance policy development begun Fall 2011, especially for policies on sexual harassment, sponsored research, Title IX, ADA; parallel compliance committees begun Fall 2011.

Thoughtful Administrative Convergence; More Seamless Experience

One-‐card Explore possible collaborations in vendor or interoperability that might facilitate such things as library services or dining services; or debit card use with external vendors

One card committee chaired by Bob Crowley on technical issues; Barbara Lucey working with campus representatives

Discuss technical issues on interoperability and usage of ID numbers and magnetic stripe sections; explore issues of common vendor services

UMass chose CBord in Fall 2011, in consultation with FCI and Five College IT representative, bid includes cooperative opportunities with vendor for other colleges; Smith and Mount Holyoke are reassessing their arrangements.


Print/Mail Services Identify and implement sharing of excess capacity for greater efficiency and cost savings

Barbara Lucey, Principal Business Officers, Print/Mail managers

Environmental Scan and consultant’s report to be completed in 2010-‐2011; options reviewed by Principal Business officers in 2010-‐2011; possible sharing to begin thereafter.

Consultant Study completed spring 2011; Hampshire using UMass for mail services; Smith selectively using UMass mail and print services since spring 2011. Vendor for multi-‐function devices proposed cost savings in Fall 2013. Smith piloting vendor recommended techniques for reducing print and printer load and costs.




Category 2

Administrative Convergence – page 2


Projects under investigation: Non-‐res alien svcs Accounts Rec/Pay Payroll Fleet management Internal audit Grant accounting

Budget Coordination

Identify and implement administrative collaborations and consolidations that achieve economies at same or better service

Barbara Lucey and Principal Business Officers; Controllers

Specific collaborative projects to pursue identified Fall 2010; Fall 2011 Investigation of specific opportunities/ Spring 2011 and continuing

Transition costs to be funded by return on investment

ADP review of potential for savings in Accounts Rec/Pay completed summer 2011; UMass HR coordinating periodic update on non-‐resident alien compliance practices; AC/MHC share grant accountant; AC re-‐examining campus notes on best practices in Fall 2013. 5-‐campus budget coordinators met April, 2013 and semi-‐annually thereafter to share best practices and reduce redundancy in aligning FCI budget assessments with campus budgets (particularly joint faculty appointments).


ADA and Assistive Technologies

Improved services for students needing learning assessments and/or assistive technologies. Explore accessibility software for conversion, SensuAccess – Robo Braille

Neal Abraham and Principal Student Affairs Officers and ADA Academic Disability Services Directors

Draft RFP and hire consultant to advise/Spring 2011; plan for improved assessment process and shared equipment and software

Cost shared among student affairs offices and FCI. Two-‐year pilot funded from $10K campus assessments in FY14 and FY15.

Consultant visit; report April 2011. Service planning ongoing; shared services, including text-‐to-‐braille software and resource database for 2013-‐14 in phased roll0ut, first at HC.


Patent assessment and tech transfer

Expand invention/patent assessment and filing and tech transfer licensing for the colleges and their faculty members

Five College Deans and Board of Directors

Exploratory discussions with outside vendor and with UMass Vice Chancellor Mike Malone 2011

Per service basis Smith has engaged the UMass Outreach Office to handle a patent case, Fall 2011.




Category 2



Federated Procurement

Multi-‐institutional federated on-‐line procurement for choice and deeper discounts through committed volume

Barbara Lucey & PBOs working w/ The Boston Consortium (Tufts lead) and meta-‐consortium group; Christopher Rust of Mount Holyoke and Marge Dunehew of Hampshire

Monitor Trial project at TBC/ 2010-‐2014; explore joint if option is reopened

Source: savings Demos to PBOs in April 2011; to staff in June 2011; Fall 2012 TBC suspended discussions, not taking outsiders until 2015 at earliest. BL, CR, and purchasing managers renewing participation in MHEC’s enhanced contracts; MHC and HC contracted with ESM (tied to E&I contracts) for replacement joint marketplace model, continuing 2013-‐14 with good ROI on initial rollout: use of marketplace vendors and employee-‐originated transactions increasing.


Health Management Initiative

Negotiate with insurance providers for deeper discounts if employees provide lifestyle information for targeted interventions

Barbara Lucey and PBOs working with The Boston Consortium and other meta-‐consortium group

Monitor Trial/ 2010-‐2014 Observation of pilot continues; will be integrated with health insurance captive.


CoHIP Cooperative Health Insurance Program: CEVoNE, Collaborative Education Ventures of New England; EdHealth (Vermont Insurance captive)

Cooperative insurance of health cost risks

Barbara Lucey and PBOs working with The Boston Consortium and meta-‐consortium group; Kevin Kerwood; Ernest LeBlanc; Beth Carmichael

Monitor TBC Trial/2010-‐14 $50K for board seat may be repaid from savings; $20K per school; additional $20,000 then $33,000 (latter refused)

3 Colleges signed on with Smith as Founding Member, with Board seat Summer 2011; providers chosen: Tufts and Harvard Pilgrim Fall 2011; Services launched for selected schools July 2013; Smith not participating until 2015; Insurance providers have since offered competitive (reduced!) rates to campuses.




Category 2


Sustainability; Thoughtful Administrative Convergence

Sustainability (Energy management, recycling management, other)

Find and share best practices; and share management services where appropriate

Barbara Lucey; Principal Business Officers; Facility Directors

Following resignation of shared energy manager and recycling manager, new proposals and ideas solicited from campus communities in spring 2012

Facilities Directors continue to explore joint alternatives to solid waste disposal as local landfills close.


Multi-‐College Consortium larger than the five colleges

New peer groups for sharing business services

Carol Christ; Neal Abraham Exploratory NE regional meeting Fall 2010 with Accenture; Spring 2011; Summit meetings of leaders of 14 Pioneer Valley higher education colleges to explore collaboration; meetings with school superintendents and senior staff in 2011-‐2012

No cost Accenture meeting in Hartford March 2011; three summit meetings of leaders of the 14 PV campuses identified priorities; Newsbank subscriptions for 300 Western Mass libraries; Fall 2013; explorations continue on library depositories.


*Library Electronic Resources project (see Category 1)


Library cataloging and acquisition processing

Unified work stream for cataloguing and processing non YBP books and gifts

Alex Wirth-‐Cauchon (MHC), Jay Schafer (UMass)

Trial operation at UMass to provide services to MHC for 2010-‐2011

Trial satisfactory; renewed for 2011-‐2013.


Coordinated Emergency Response and Management

Establish new and refined plans and procedures for mutual assistance and coordinated emergency response.

Emergency Response/ Management Committee

Revised protocols and MOU 2012; improved communication procedures 2012; appropriate training and rehearsals 2012-‐2015

$10-‐100K training expense; grants and local funds

MOU approved 2013; communications plans revamped and tested regularly 2012, 2013; training exercises held June 2013.



Coordinate regional cooperation for health and safety emergencies

Emergency Response/ Management Committee and local agencies

Obtain support and lead or guide planning activities for regional response

Time; funding for exercises

Training exercise April 2014. $100K grant for 2015 regional training.




Category 2




Establish new and refined plans and procedures for mutual assistance and coordinated emergency response

Emergency Response/ Management Committee

Increase sheltering supplies for colleges and surrounding towns

$80,000 grant to UMass for 800 cots

4 trailers strategically located, 200 cots each; considered regional resource.



Coordinate emergency notifications

Campus IT; Emergency Response Committee; Maria Toyofuku, Kevin Kennedy

Create automatic (RSS) feeds of each campus’s emergency announcements (weather emergencies, public health, safety) to headlines on Five College homepage

Staff time RSS feeds of emergency announcements for 4 of 5 campuses now automatically posted to FCI homepage (spring 2014) 5th promised for June 2014.



Increase training for students Emergency Response/ Management Committee

Create peer-‐education tools for training students in small group settings

Grant funding; peer educator time

Grant received. Pilot sessions Spring 2014. Wider use 2014-‐15.


New Sustainability Projects: Blue Sky Brainstorm

Find good opportunities for collaborative effort to reduce climate impact, save money, and offer student learning experiences

Neal Abraham, Jonathan Lash, Beth Hooker

Blue Sky Brainstorm Initiative 2011-‐2013; project selection by Spring 2013

$50,000 allocated by campus CEOs.

500 Ideas proposed, and vetted. Focus on sustainable and local food.

Thoughtful Administrativ Convergence

Five College Library Print Depository/ Annex Expansion (see category 1)

Expanded Affiliates to over 180 other libraries.




Category 2



Coordinated Title IX Policies and Procedures

Review policies and procedures for Title IX incidents and handling of cross-‐campus events

Title IX coordinators; Beth Carmichael

Audit of changing policies and procedures for gaps and possible better alignment

$25,000 from campuses and FCI

Beth Carmichael convened coordinators in 2012; coordinated sexual harassment prevention training provided in 2012-‐13 and continuing; Outside investigators identified and utilized on a regular basis by the Colleges. Audit commissioned 2013.


Diversity Recruitment and Retention

Improve diversity in candidate pools for mid-‐level exempt staff positions; improve diversity of employees; improve retention

HR Directors; Diversity Directors; Neal Abraham; Barbara Lucey

Create a pipeline for diverse candidates with the outcome of a long-‐term improvement in five colleges as welcoming and supportive environment for diverse staff members.

Diversity directors’ and HR directors’ annual contributions

New recruitment position proposed in 2012, not recommended for funding by PBOs; Spring 2014 project approved for consultants to advise on community and marketing


Export Control Compliance with complex US laws and regulations related to export of software and technology

Beth Carmichael and FC risk management committee

Visual Compliance software shared solution at discount with annual subscription

$14,000 annually/ from assessments

FC risk management committee and PBOs recommend and approve funding beginning summer 2013.


Explore Affordable Care Act implications for college (employer) provided benefits and college-‐provided student health insurance programs

Explore responsibilities and costs related to ACA; plan and budget accordingly

HR Directors, Barbara Lucey Follow how others are implementing the law (until specific precedents or regulations are approved) and review current employment classifications; and monitor student and family usage patterns of expanded coverage.

$14,000 from assessments

Fall 2013, engage consultant/attorney to review legal and economic implications of new laws and practices related to definitions of full-‐time employees and student health.



Deliverable/deadline Cost/Source Progress April 2014

Category 3

Identity and Community


Shibboleth Federated Identity Authentication

Efficient recognition of members of the five college communities for access to on-‐line resources

Maria Toyofuku and teams from each campus

Amherst & UMass pilot in Fall 2010; all other campuses before Fall 2011

Davis Educational Foundation Grant proposal funded

All campuses now operational. Phase II of authentication and authorization underway. All campuses joined In Common by 2012; UM, AC, SC now in EduRoam.


Shibboleth production: UMass Microsoft Licensing

Campus Team Implement for Fall 2010 In-‐house UMass staff members

Completed.


Shibboleth production: Amherst Account Provisioning

Maria Toyofuku and Amherst Team

Implement for Fall 2011 Amherst and partner IT staff time

Implemented.


Shibboleth production: Hampshire Moodle Hampshire authorization; multiple services

Maria Toyofuku and teams from each campus

Implement for Fall 2011 Hampshire and partner IT staff time

Implemented.


Shibboleth production: to provide library resources

Develop more straightforward access to library services such as catalog; e-‐books; and discovery service

Maria Toyofuku and teams from each campus; Steve Bischof

Develop first instance, probably for the EBSCO discovery service shared by 4 colleges by Fall 2012

Staff time; subscriptions for all to In-‐Common $5,000 each

Implemented.


Shibboleth production; expand services

Continue to adapt more local campus software services to Shibboleth for ease of use by those with other campus credentials

Maria Toyofuku and campus IT-‐Shibboleth teams

Identify new projects and develop Shibboleth-‐compatible interfaces

Staff time.

FC Image study with consultant

Clearer statement of Five College value for students, faculty members, other employees

Kevin Kennedy; and Five College Communication Directors; broadened committee to include admission, advancement, faculty & student input

RFP developed/summer 2010; consider consultant/ fall 2010

$50K -‐ $100K FC Directors: pursue in separate campus communication assessments; and student surveys.




Category 3

Identity and Community-‐-‐page 2

Expanded FC sub-‐

community resources

Support all FC sub-‐communities with listservs, websites, course lists and support staff as needed

Maria Toyofuku, Nate Therien, Sarah Lince

Create directory and all listservs/Spring 2011

FCI staff member Provided since 2013.


FC integrated directory of faculty members

Integrated faculty directory with information on interests and specialties

Maria Toyofuku Automatically populated directory; More automated update of directory entries

FCI staff; campus output generation

Information sharing okayed; Prototype launch Oct. 2013.


Restore Calendar alignment

Restore alignment of campus calendars, particularly starting of classes in second semester

Campus Registrars; Deans; Board of Directors

Complete calendar approval through 2016-‐17/ Fall 2010

Closer spring start dates adopted Fall 2010 for coming five years; Revised calendar alignment and planning policy approved 2013; adopted at UMass spring 2014.


Transportation and Class scheduling improvement

Launch trials with express buses between Mt. Holyoke and Smith

Neal Abraham and Nate Therien

Express buses for high demand interchange Fall and Spring 2010/2011; add more for 2011-‐2012. Fund from campus assessments as ridership supports new bus schedule.

$70,000 in FY11-‐13; FY14: $36,000/year added assessment; $35K from Transportation Reserves

Private express buses added, 2010-‐11; replaced by expanded PVTA service 2011-‐14 bus 39E with 9 express runs each way each day M-‐F. Ridership up 50% Fall 11 to Fall 12. Support given to PVTA plans to expand routes on Rt. 116 in summer and connecting to Holyoke.


Transportation and Scheduling Study and comprehensive improvement

Study transportation needs and how best to match them to class schedules, and bus service


Analyze data for current interchange and bus needs in Spring 2011/ Negotiate changes with PVTA & Seemo

No cost

Improved Five College schedules on Bus 38 from UMass to MHC and 39 for SC to HC; launched Fall 2011 (shorter total trip by 10 min., never more than one class period). Total Five College Bus ridership up 5% FY13.


Student Brochure on Five College Opportunities

Create a better promotional tool describing Five College opportunities for students

Kevin Kennedy; Five College Admission Directors

New Brochure: The Power of Five/Spring 2011

Shared New Brochure “Power of Five” published May 2, 2011.




Category 3

Identity and Community-‐-‐page 3

Five College Aspects

to New Student Orientation

Create programs within each campus’s new student orientation for presentation of Five College opportunities; midyear event as well

Kevin Kennedy; Five College Student Coordinating Board; Five College Orientation Directors

Five College new student orientation event / Fall 2011; Five College all student event January 2012

Shared FC Student Coordinating Board organized both Fall 2011 and January 2012, 2013; FC Student Government Tea, 2011, 2012.

Five College Faculty Advisory Council

Create a new forum for faculty feedback to consortium administrators about Five College programs already in place and about ideas for new programs


Form a Five College Faculty Advisory Council with 5-‐6 members from each of the five campuses by Fall 2010 and convene meetings at least annually thereafter

Meal for 25 once or twice a year / Coordinator’s Fund

First meeting of the Five College Faculty Advisory Council in Nov. 2011; compilation and discussion of ideas for improvements and new initiatives; second meeting April 2012; third meeting December 2012.

Sustainability; Thoughtful Administrative Convergence

New Sustainability Projects: Blue Sky Brainstorm

Engage all members of campus and neighboring communities in proposing possible sustainability initiatives

Jonathan Lash, Neal Abraham, Beth Hooker

Solicit proposals 2012; winnow and refine proposals 2012-‐13; select best opportunities for reduced climate impact, savings, and student learning

Depends on selected project; $50,000 for planning and early initiatives

500 proposals received; narrowed to 18; study groups continuing work. Recommendations from steering committee to Directors Spring 2013; plan for 2013-‐14.


Improve Cross-‐Registration

See above (category 1: Academic Excellence).


Rideshare See above (category 1: Academic Excellence)


Directory of employees

Provide aggregated employee directory to allow finding of peers by subgroup interests

Maria Toyofuku Arrange automatic campus directory information feeds; allow individuals to update their profiles; Fall 2014

Staff time Campus directory feeds established; prototype directory launched.




Category 4

Information Technology

FC IT inventory and assessment

Update records of projects and services on each campus

Maria Toyofuku and FC IT Directors

Complete inventory/Fall 2010

Completed Spring 2011; to be continued annually.


FC IT planning review and consultant

Gain external perspective on collaboration opportunities and IT trends

Neal Abraham, Maria Toyofuku, FC IT Directors

Complete RFP/Summer 2010; Study/Fall 2010

Consultant cost: $38,000// Mellon Presidential Grant; Coordinator’s Fund

Completed January 2011; IT Directors’ plan endorsed by Deans, Directors and PBOs in May 2011, for 2011-‐2012.


Integrated KeyServer Implementation

Improved possibilities for shared software licenses

Maria Toyofuku and campus team leaders

Standardize implementations/ Spring 2011

Davis Ed funding; standardizing configurations of instances for data collection on usage.

Summer workshop 2011; Project parked until it becomes more feasible under licenses.


Virtual Computer Laboratory (VCL) Implementation

Improved possibilities for sharing desktop computer images and associated licenses


Implementation of VCL/ Spring 2011

Davis Ed funding Implemented at AC and HC, Fall 2011; expanding to UM. Now in individual campus workflows and project lists.

Marketing dark fiber of FCN

Use excess capacity; spread maintenance costs over more users

Maria Toyofuku, Barbara Lucey, Neal Abraham

Retail leases of fiber/ Spring 2011; rfp for wholesale lease 2012-‐2013.

$50,000 upfront investment/FCN budget assessments

Marketing contractor discharged 2010; CDH 10-‐year lease for gross $75K/yr., net $60K/yr, signed January 2013. Buildout completed; CDH now seeking expansion; Crocker-‐HitPoint lease for $10,000/yr initial revenue, with possible growth as Crocker retail-‐markets fiber, completed Spring 2013. Crocker-‐Chicopee HS lease approved March 2013 for $5000/yr; further Crocker partnerships possible.




Category 4

Information Technology–page 2


FCN – network equipment upgrade

Replace and upgrade obsolete optical and electronic equipment on the shared high speed fiber optic network; raise bandwidth to 10 Gb/s

Barbara Lucey, Maria Toyofuku, IT Directors

Purchase Feb 2013; purchase by March 2013; install by August 2013

$1,300,000 to $1,700,000; staff time for installation

Purchase approved March 2012; cost contracted at $850,000; with bundled maintenance; completed May 1 2014.


Common and interoperable Videoconferencing equipment

Investigate replacing obsolete equipment jointly installed 10 years ago; ensure maximum interoperability

Maria Toyofuku; IT Directors; appointed task force

Recs. by spring 2012, pilot purchases in summer and fall 2012; shared testing 2012-‐13

$50K -‐ $100K per campus

Studies 2012; standards approved; Mount Holyoke and Smith purchased and installed pilot systems for 2012-‐13; expanded 2013-‐14; compatible systems at Amherst and UMass.

On-‐line paperless application management tool for FC searches

Streamline application processes; share application materials with committees

Maria Toyofuku and Barbara Lucey; Smith HR department

Transition for staff searches complete, Fall 2011

Temp solution for Spring 2011; Implementation through Smith HR services began 2011; adopted Smith faculty search software for FC fellowships, fall, 2012. Use of Interfolio, Spring 2013.


Shibboleth Federated Identity Authentication

See above (category 3 entries) Implementation and production items


Move to applications: HC-‐CMS; AC-‐CMS; explore library catalog needs

Phase 1 implemented at all five campuses for many new web-‐based e-‐services. Phase II underway.

Digital Humanities (see entry in Category 1: Academic Excellence)


FC Drupal UG Exchange ideas, news, expertise

Maria Toyofuku First group meeting in Oct, 2011; FC group meeting regularly; align with regional group.




Category 4

Information Technology–page 3


Align intellectual property polices for digitized materials (see Category 1)

Maria Toyofuku and FC Library Taskforce – Five College Librarians Council

Guidelines developed and shared.


Digital Materials Preservation/ Digital Asset Management

Explore best practices and develop shared services for preservation of digital materials (artifacts, docs, art, photographs)

Digital Asset Management Force appointed by the Five College Library Directors with liaisons to the Five College IT Directors

Preliminary Assessment and next step proposals by December 2013

Staff time Task force formed late fall 2012; aligning with library and museums interests in Fedora.


Share/Hosted UM Data Center


Exploring costing models and space in new UMass Science buildings; other mutual sharing possible. UMass option parked for space and cost reasons; alternatives to be explored.


Local Moodle UG Exchange ideas, news, expertise

Maria Toyofuku Joined the start-‐up of local Pioneer Valley Moodle group. Extends to other area colleges; met April 2012. For 2013-‐14 new FC group will explore federation.


Moodle – Federated FC view for students

Preliminary exploration Academic Deans, FC IT Directors

College and FCI staff time

Preliminary exploration.




Category 5

Local and Regional Engagement

Inventory

engagement activities and partners

Identify opportunities and gaps

FC CBL; Teacher education; FC College/Schools Partnership

Draft comprehensive list/Fall 2010

List of 14 college tutoring programs, Fall 2012. FC-‐CBL committee developed tracking system (spring/fall 2013). FC-‐CBL and FC Partnerships Director meet regularly to coordinate, beginning Fall 2013. Updated version of placements in preparation.

Coordinate tutoring initiatives

Explore tutoring best practices and training

Marla Solomon, Partnership Advisory Council, FC-‐CBL tutors, campus tutors

Develop best practices lists; coordinate and/or share tutor training; coordinate locations served

Staff time for coordination

FC Partnership Advisory Council completed an inventory of tutor preparation strategies Spring 2014. Also shared best practices and on-‐line resources for tutors.

Open Five College Presence with UMass in Springfield

Begin to apply Holyoke Compact ideas to Springfield community service efforts from a base office in Springfield

Coordinate with John Mullin and Maryann Lombardi; Nate Therien and FC CBL committee

Support nascent Springfield Bound program. Identify location and staffing/Fall 2010

Staff costs; Holyoke office costs; programming costs.

Regularized Springfield Bound. Five College coordinator to work in Holyoke and Springfield; designated space too expensive as of 2011-‐2012.

Support new routes to teacher preparation

Aid paraprofessional staff members in Amherst and Holyoke to gain teaching licenses

Marla Solomon, Partnership Advisory Council; HCC; Beverly Bell MHC teacher education; Holyoke PS and Amherst-‐Pelham PS HR directors; UMass UWW

Determine interest among para-‐ professionals and their initial credentials; design subsequent program needs

Staff costs; tuition support

Completed survey of interest in Amherst-‐Pelham and Holyoke Public Schools. Designed BA completion route with HCC and colleges or UMass UWW. Designed pathway to licensure through coordinated enrollment in new MHC MAT.

Open Five College presence with HCC in Holyoke

Provide hosting and staffing for Holyoke Compact in Holyoke

Coordinate with Jeff Hayden, HCC; Nate Therien and FC CBL committee.

Identify location and staffing/Fall 2010

$31,000/ FC reserves moving to assessments

FCCBL space at the Holyoke Transportation Center in Fall 2011; coordinator added Fall 2011. Exploration of Holyoke Design Ctr. Spring/Fall 2013.



Deliverable/deadline

Cost/ Source Progress April 2014

Category 5

Local and Regional Engagement-‐-‐page 2

Develop options for

coordinated express transportation to and from Holyoke

Improved employee and student transportation; improved access for community service; economy

Neal Abraham, CBL committee; PVTA

Proposed trial routes/fall 2010; implement Fall 2011

PVTA: $60,000/ FC Transportation reserves; $19,000 move to assessments of AC, HC, MHC, and UM in 2013-‐14

New PVTA bus routes to serve HTC 2011-‐2012 unsuccessful; replaced by UMass field trip buses 2012-‐2014: revised routes successful.

Expand community service in Springfield

Improved access and planning for community service; via transportation, information and training.

Neal Abraham, CBL Committee; PV14 group

Explore possible routes; explore possible coordination; implement strategies in 2014

Expensive to add buses; other more modest projects take conversation and staff time

Regularized Springfield Bound; providing targeted joint funding for shuttles as needed; exploring use of Springfield College CBL center.

Provide internet support to UMass & Five College spaces in Springfield

Maria Toyofuku (FCI); Dan Blanchard (UMass); Chris Misra (UMass)

PARKED.

Sustainability Joint community-‐campus Sustainability Projects: Blue Sky Brainstorm

Recruit community members for ideas and participation in new sustainability initiatives See entry under Category 2 and Category 3:


Build networks to support regional math-‐science K-‐12 partnerships

George Avrunin, Sue Thrasher (FCI) now Marla Solomon; Farshid Hajar; Harriet Pollatcek; school colleague PIs

NSF funding; Five College matching funds

NSF $300,000 for 2-‐yrs of Western Mass Math Partnership April 2011; week-‐long workshops in June 2011, 2012; $7M NSF grant proposal Dec 2012; not funded June 2013; continued with Five College matching funds; new $7.5 million proposal submitted March 2014

Assist in connection to the MBI network and its middle mile program

Maria Toyofuku (FCI); Donna Baron (MBI)

Discussions continuing 2010-‐13 with MBI staff and network operator. PARKED. Not available model or opportunity.




Category 5

Local and Regional Engagement–page 3

Work on outreach

and planning for the Holyoke High Performance Computing Center

Maria Toyofuku, Neal Abraham, Rick Adrion, Marla Solomon

Discussions continue for Holyoke Innovation District. Five College representative now on Executive Committee of the PV STEMNET. Exploring connection options for college projects.

Help to place visiting writers, artists, musicians in school activities

Share the intellectual and artistic talent coming to the Five Colleges to strengthen regional schools

Nate Therien; Sue Thrasher then Marla Solomon

Use of FC Lecture funds

Pete Tridish – Community Media workshops (Public Policy Residency Fall 2013); DuBois in our Time, Fall 2013. Barbara Fields lecture (ISP) for teachers Spring 2014.


Coordinate Museum programming such as “Table for 10”

Joint marketing identity Cultural identity for Western Massachusetts

Melissa Breor then Taliesin Nyala, Kevin Kennedy

Coordinated advertising, publicity, and marketing

$40,000 Grant funded by MCC

Project completed January 2011. Working with area hotels and restaurants via HCRTC to create Museums month in Feb 2015.


Five College Collaboration with groups to promote regional tourism

Build on initiatives of Museums10 for similar regional partnerships

Kevin Kennedy, with other regional groups (Chambers of Commerce, etc.)

Formation of a Regional Tourism Council / Spring 2011

None New HCRTC formed; joint Museums10 and HCRTC FCI employee hired, Jan 2013. KK served on HCRTC board 2010-‐13.

Civil War Centennial program for the Pioneer Valley by “Five College Learning in Retirement”

Provoke thoughts on civil conflict and the causes/consequences of US Civil War

5CLIR – Chuck Gillies Sue Thrasher

Programming planned for Fall 2011

Grant funding, LIR funding, modest FCI Coordinator’s Fund

MCC and other funding received; program successfully completed in October 2011 with Spring 2012 reprise.




Category 5

Local and Regional Engagement–page 4


Develop coordinated services to support K-‐12 Education in Pioneer Valley

Work with superintendents to identify their needs and ways the colleges can better coordinate offering services; coordinate with regional 14 colleges and universities as possible partners

Neal Abraham, Sue Thrasher/ Marla Solomon, Five College CBL committee

Complete preliminary discussions in Fall 2011; develop specific initiatives in Spring 2012

Coordination is low cost; seek funding once initiatives are selected

Meetings with Holyoke and Springfield Public School leadership groups by January 2012; meetings with rural superintendents in 2011-‐2012; survey of superintendents Spring 2013; met new Holyoke superintendent Sept. 2013.

Plan strengthened support for local community schools

Inventory needs and ensure coordinated support for local school systems

Sue Thrasher/Marla Solomon and School district representatives

Plan for support of Amherst school needs/fall 2010; plans for other local schools/spring 2011

None Supporting Amherst Schools superintendent advisory group; Five College support for Minority Student Achievement Network meeting Fall 2013. Supported grant proposal for new ARPS Family Center Spring 2014.

Sustainability Riverscaping Project Work with the community to identify best practices in community and government for protecting watershed and environment of Connecticut River in Western Mass

Nate Therien, Karen Kohler, Thom Long

Greater community engagement; new partnerships; regional planning; 2010-‐2012

$200,000/ EU grant Project funded by US rep of EU; project completed with two exchanges and international conference; four local built projects.

Sustainability Local food sourcing Support local farms and food producers, including from on-‐campus sources. Provide fresher food.

Dining Services Directors

Collect statistics to document current use and use that to improve.

As part of colleges‘ dining services budgets; Kendall Foundation grants

AC farm; UM natural food dining; HC farm-‐dining connection.

Establish ways for community members to access FCI secure electronic services

Improve engagement of community members with Five College working groups and communities

Maria Toyofuku and FC IT staff members

Create Open ID for links to IT services by Fall 2013

Staff time. Implemented.

Documents

Strategic Initiatives action plans and tracking April 30 ... · Five%Colleges,%Incorporated%–%Strategic%Plan:%“Optimizingthe%Consortial%Advantage,%2010A2020”% Progress%on%StrategicInitiatives%as%of%4/30/2014%