Minutes - RAPS Meeting, Oct 2, 2017
RAPS
Intro to A&S Strategic Planning Process by David Brown
- History of A&S process
- Work of committee to date—draft vision statement
- Schedule for committee’s work
Intro by Jeff Cox
- Intro on teaching and reaching visioning
- Laying out of fall work
- Role of Committee and Report
Comment: There is a coordination issue between Academic Futures and other processes such as Foundations of Excellence. RAPs need to be represented in all these processes.
Comment: Use white papers to cross-fertilize between processes
Comment: I love the idea of compassion in the A&S vision statement.
Comment: Last year was painful for faculty in A&S and in the RAPS in particular. To avoid that:
Expertise needs to be acknowledged
Institutional data needs to be treated like research data
All requests for data should be honored.
Make sure missing data from old IR pivot tables are restored to website
What is the status of the RAP task force report?
Q: Are we breaking up A&S?
- That is not the goal of either process. Both processes will discuss whatever topics participants raise.
Q: Why shouldn’t we be cynical?
- The people behind these processes do not like to waste their own or others’ time. This is an opportunity to have a say in the future of the university. Transparency and multiple modes of communication are designed to help people be less cynical.
Comment: A&S needs a conversation about what it means to be committed to the arts and sciences. Older faculty all came out of the ivy league and other elite undergraduate schools dedicated to the liberal arts. We are losing that vision as we become a research university made up of faculty trained at research universities.
Comment: RAPS are pro liberal arts.
Comment: Not clear that society still respects the liberal arts. We need to figure out what the liberal arts will be in 2030.
Comment: RAPs are a key to first-year experiences; they create communication.
Comment: Use the process to build bridges between units.
Comment: I’m excited about interdisciplinary teaching.
Comment: In discussions of interdisciplinary teaching, think about allowing moments of contemplation in all classes. Bring the arts and humanities to all classes.