Winona State University

Office of Assessment

 The team expresses concerns about the following:

1. Courses have been repeatedly added to the general education program without concern for the overall definition of the program causing it to lack focus, direction, and an articulated set of goals. No office or official appears to have direct responsibility for oversight of the general education program. The development of a new general education program must be based on themes and concepts reflecting current practice in defining this component of the baccalaureate degree, examining potentials of a CORE set of courses, prescriptive liberating studies courses and limited electives through upper division course work.

2. Detailed analysis and planning needs to be conducted in order to develop infrastructures for supporting several initiatives at WSU. The Long Range Plan expresses WSU's vision for the future and contingency-oriented analyses need to be eliminated so that scarce resources can be reallocated to new initiatives. Research needs to be conducted expeditiously so that decision-making can occur to develop specific plans and time lines for implementing the long range plan and outcomes assessment program at WSU.

3. The research and scholarly activities of the faculty do not sufficiently support the “. . .” as stated in the Minnesota State University System's mission statement; nor do they “. . . support commitment to scholarly and creative activity which enhances instructional programs and teaching excellence. . .” as stated in Winona's general goal statement.

An increasing number of faculty do participate in such activities, but the data, reports and vita reviewed by team members indicate that for a significant number of the faculty, scholarly, creative and research activities are not reflected on faculty records at a level normally expected of graduate degree-granting institutions.

4. An institution's library is the heart of academic quality. The library at WSU has experienced slow progress due to current budgetary restrictions. With future budgets promising to be even more restricted, the team is deeply concerned about the library and about deferral of collection-building at a time when the institution is focused on enhancing the quality of the learning environment.

5. The team notes the steps taken recently to strengthen the quality of all graduate programs yet is still troubled by several aspects of the graduate program. (1) There are still several graduate programs with enrollments low enough to seriously jeopardize their continued viability. This situation is especially acute at the sixth year educational specialist degree level, and in the master's degree programs in English, history and physical education. This is a pervasive long-standing problem. (2) The role of the graduate council as a primary recommending body regarding graduate program policies and programs seems ambiguous. (3) Annual election of all members of the graduate council offers the potential of a lack of continuity. (4) Some members of the graduate council are new to the institution, and have but limited previous experience in graduate level programs. (5) The role of the assistant vice president for academic affairs for graduate studies in not clearly defined by the institution.

6. The team is genuinely concerned relative to the proposed $3 million budget reduction which has been recommended by the Governor. If passed by the legislature, it could have a devastating effect on the University's ability to maintain academic quality and integrity in its programs. That concern is intensified because the institution seems intent on promoting its growth stature of recent years and is reluctant to reduce programs or personnel.

The team is concerned that with the severity of the proposed reductions in the next biennium, WSU might have to forego its Residential College, delete courses and programs with low enrollments and curtail much needed library book and equipment purchases. If the cuts are imposed, Winona State can no longer “be all things to all people” and difficult decisions will have to be made based on their long range plan.