North Dakota State University has announced the membership of the Strategic Planning Committee, which will help define the institution’s outstanding programs as the campus prepares for the future. The group has scheduled its initial meeting for Friday, March 18.

The formation of the group is the next step in NDSU’s strategic planning process, following the completion of input through several listening groups.

The committee includes 20 members from across campus and six ex-officio members who will serve in an advisory capacity. The group’s goal is to provide criteria to identify academic and research programs that are at or near nationally, if not internationally, recognized status. These programs would be tabbed for future enhancement funding if that becomes available.

The criteria, which is to be forwarded to President Dean L. Bresciani by April 29, is expected to define programs that promote the visibility, reputation, performance and contributions of NDSU. Among them are the identification of programs that result in a stronger overall student profile, increase NDSU’s scholarly distinction and increase external support for NDSU scholarly research and activities.

In a message to the campus on Feb. 9, Bresciani said the committee members would be nominated by deans and vice presidents to achieve broad-based representation. “Reflecting NDSU's distinction as a student focused, land grant, research university, this process will be driven by NDSU's teaching, outreach and research activities,” Bresciani said.

The committee’s resulting work will be shared with the entire campus community for feedback and reaction before being finalized as guiding criteria. It will then during the summer be provided to administrators of NDSU’s academic and research areas for the solicitation of a “Top 10” set of executive briefing proposals for potential funding, if investment resources become available.

Marie Hvidsten, rural leadership specialist and Rural Leaderships North Dakota program director with the NDSU Extension Service, will serve as committee facilitator. “This a really important discussion that we have at a campus level. We always need to be looking at how we can improve our programming in academics, research and areas of excellence, which is what this work is going to focus on,” she said.

Hvidsten said the committee will use a technique called “appreciative inquiry,” where thought-provoking questions will strive to get at new thinking, and current excellent programs will be recognized.

“We will also think about our wishes and dreams for the university,” Hvidsten said. “If resources were unlimited and nothing stood in our way, what do we know about our research and academic capabilities that point out things we would add?”

Committee members and the areas they represent: 

·      Ken Grafton, dean – College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources

·      Jane Schuh, assistant professor – College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources

·      Margaret Tweten, district director – Vice President for Agriculture and University Extension

·      Chris Schauer, center director – Vice President for Agriculture and University Extension

·      Mukund Sibi, University Distinguished Professor – College of Science and Mathematics

·      James Council, professor - College of Science and Mathematics

·      Virginia Clark Johnson, dean – College of Human Development and Education

·      Margaret Fitzgerald, associate professor – College of Human Development and Education

·      Gary Smith, dean – College of Engineering and Architecture

·      Dinesh Katti, professor – College of Engineering and Architecture

·      Loretta Heuer, associate dean – College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences

·      Donald Miller, professor and chair – College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences

·      Dennis Anderson, associate vice president – Vice President for Research, Creative Activities, and Technology Transfer

·      Bret Chisholm, senior research scientist – Vice President for Research, Creative Activities, and Technology Transfer

·      Paul Brown, senior lecturer – College of Business

·      Ron Johnson, dean – College of Business

·      Tom Isern, University Distinguished Professor – College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

·      Bruce Maylath, professor – College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

·      Larry Reynolds, University Distinguished Professor – University Distinguished Professors

Ex-Officio/Advisory Members

·      Laura Oster Aaland, director – Student Recruitment/Retention

·      Lisa Hauck, director – International Programs

·      David Wittrock, dean – Graduate School

·      Michele Reid, dean – Libraries

·      Galen Mayfield, executive director – Information Technology

·      Jace Beehler – Students

To review the completed work of the NDSU listening groups, visit sp.ndsu.edu.