Environmental Scan and Input

The strategic planning process included a two−phase environmental scan. The first phase was completed before the plan was drafted and the second, which incorporated feedback to the draft plan, was done during the drafting process. This section describes the environmental scanning process including SWOT analysis, trend analysis, input from constituents, and opportunities for feedback.

The Strategic Planning Committee generated a list of the University’s perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Four groups were formed, one for each area, to generate these lists. After the initial lists were developed, the items were rank ordered by sub−group of the committee, i.e., the list of strengths was ordered by the group that generated the list of weaknesses and so on. At the end of the exercise the, committee concluded that the lists represented an internally focused view of the University and that another SWOT analysis was needed to represent an external view.

Trends were studied by reviewing a number of documents, including:

Batelle Report (pdf) "The State of Iowa–Biosciences Path for Development," Batelle Memorial Institute, June 2004

Transforming e-Knowledge: A Revolution in the Sharing of Knowledge. Norris, D., Mason, J., & Lefrere, P. (2003). Transforming e-knowledge: A revolution in the sharing of knowledge. (The National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). Ann Arbor , MI : Society for College and University Planning

Evaluating and Improving Undergraduate Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fox, M.A., & Hackerman, N. (Eds.). (2003). Evaluating and improving undergraduate teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. National Research Council of the Academies, Center for Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington , DC : National Academies Press

Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates by State, Income, and Race/Ethnicity Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. (2003, December).

Are College Students Satisfied: A National Analysis of Changing Expectations Low, L. (2000, February). Are college students satisfied: A national analysis of changing expectations. Washington , DC : USA Group Foundation New Agenda Series.

The Condition Of Education 2003 The National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). The condition of education 2003 (NCES 2003-067). Washington , DC:

Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Issues and Options Wolanin, T. R. (2003, March). Reauthorizing the higher education act: Issues and options. Washington , DC : The Institute for Higher Education Policy.

Diversifying Campus Revenue Streams: Opportunities and Risks Hearn, J. C. (2003). Diversifying campus revenue streams: Opportunities and risks. Washington , DC : American Council on Education Center for Policy Analysis.

Leading the Learning Revolution: Iowa State University... committed to the promotion, improvement and advancement of learning... ISU faculty

Executive summaries: "Reports of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges . (January 2001). Returning to our roots: Executive summaries of the Kellogg commission on the future of the state and land-grant universities. Washington , DC:

BLS Releases 2000-2010 Employment Projections Bureau of Labor Statistics. (December 2001). BLS releases 2000-2010 employment projections. Washington , DC

Beyond Dead Reckoning: Research Priorities for Redirecting American Higher Education National Center for Postsecondary Improvement. (October 2002). Beyond dead reckoning: Research priorities for redirecting American higher education. Stanford , CA

The New Professoriate: Characteristics, Contributions, and Compensation National Center for Postsecondary Improvement. (October 2002 ). Beyond dead reckoning: Research priorities for redirecting American higher education. Stanford , CA

What Americans Think About Higher Education Selingo, J. (May 3, 2003). What Americans think about higher education. The Chronicle of Higher Education, pp. A10-A17

Renewing the Covenant: Learning, Discovery, and Engagement in a New Age and Different World National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. (March 2000). Renewing the covenant: Learning, discovery, and engagement in a new age and different world. Washington, DC

Access & Persistence: Findings from 10 Years of Longitudinal Research on Students Choy, S. P. (2002). Access & persistence: Findings from 10 years of longitudinal research on students. Washington, DC: American Council on Education Center for Policy Analysis

Investing in People: Developing All of America's Talent on Campus and in the Workplace American Council on Education. (2002). Investing in people: Developing all of America 's talent on campus and in the workplace. Washington, DC

Shaping the Future: The Economic Impact of Public Universities National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges . (August 2001). Shaping the future: The economic impact of public universities. Washington, DC

Student Financing of Undergraduate Education: 1999-2000 U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Student financing of undergraduate education: 1999-2000, NCES 2002-167 by Lutz Berkner, Ali Berker, Kathryn Rooney, & Katharin Peter. Project Officer: Andrew G. Malizio. Washington, DC : 2002

Report of the ISU Extension Futuring Committee: Submitted to Vice Provost Stanley Johnson -- March, 2003 Iowa State University Extension. (March 2003). Report of the ISU Extension Futuring committee. Ames, IA

Focus Groups:
A number of focus group discussions were held both on campus and in other parts of the state. Discussion was guided by the following questions: What is your vision for ISU in the next 5-10 years? What do you see as major opportunities and challenges, or key issues facing ISU in the next 5-10 years?

3-23-04     Iowa State Foundation Board of Governors
3-26-04     All University Open Forum
4-09-04     Faculty Senate Resource Policy and Allocation Council
4-09-04     Department Chairs Cabinet
4-16-04     Information Technology Steering Committee
4-20-04     Faculty Senate Executive Board
4-22-04     Provost Advisory Group
4-28-04     Ames Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
4-28-04     Ames Economic Development Commission
4-29-04     All University Open Forum
4-29-04     Council of Deans
4-29-04     President's Advisory Committee on Diversity
5-17-04     President's Cabinet
5-21-04     Iowa State Alumni Association Board of Directors
5-21-04     Iowa State Foundation Board of Governors
5-24-04     Graduate and Professional Student Senate
5-25-04     University Professors
5-27-04     Distinguished Professors
6-03-04     Des Moines area Business and Civic Leaders
6-11-04     External Affairs Collaborators

Position Statements:
Position statements were collected from a number of campus groups including, for example, High Performance Computing, Undergraduate Deans, "Greening" of ISU.

Feedback:
In the second phase of the environmental scan, constituencies were asked to respond to the draft of the strategic plan developed by the committee.

An analysis of the feedback for the first draft of the strategic plan resulted in the following:

Strategic Plan Feedback for Draft I

Top 5 issues for increased emphasis
1. The role of arts and humanities (social sciences, too)
2. Stronger inclusion of diversity
3. Globalization/ International Perspective
4. The role of extension and land grant responsibilities
5. The use of patents as a performance measure

Other issues for increased emphasis
1. Environment
2. Various student outcomes
       Critical Thinking
       Innovation
       Ethics
3. Ethics (not just for students)
4. Life-long learning
5. High Ability Students
6. Athletics
7. Costs of Tuition
8. Dwindling resources
9. Campus Climate, Family-friendly policies
10. Support for teaching excellence

Strategic Plan Feedback for Draft II

Top Issues
1. "Land Grant Ideal" needs to be defined better – relevance today?
2. P & S and Merit Staff Value
3. Too "inward looking"
4. Globalization is underemphasized
5. Diversity – not strong enough commitment
6. Needs to have bolder language
7. Sciences and Humanities integration not emphasized enough

All feedback was compiled and posted on the web and also distributed to facilitation group members and the President. Following is a summary of the groups that provided feedback.