UNH Planning Council Report (DEC-1995)

APPENDIX A: Revised Mission Statement, as Proposed by the Academic Chairs, Deans, and Directors

The University of New Hampshire is the state's only public research university. It provides high-quality education to its students and to the citizens of New Hampshire in the liberal arts, the fine and performing arts, the sciences and the professions. To meet this responsibility the University affords faculty and students a setting in which they actively engage concerns of state, regional, national and international communities.

The University is the most comprehensive educational institution in the state and the sole doctoral-granting public university.
To achieve its objectives of teaching, scholarship (comprising both research and creative artistry), and public service, the University offers a broad array of undergraduate, graduate, professional and research programs.

The University regards teaching as the core of its academic life, combining fundamental learning and proficiency with the essential freedom of the faculty and students to pursue their scholastic interests fully.

The specific knowledge, skills, and values found in the student's major course of study, are enhanced by a program of general education, assuring a broad exposure to other ideas, perspectives and fields of inquiry.
The moderate size of the University offers students at every level the advantage of close contact with individual faculty and the opportunity to take an active part in ongoing scholarly and creative work across the full scope of the curriculum.

The University recognizes that ongoing scholarship is essential not only to provide original contributions to human understanding and expression that are at the foundation of knowledge but also as the principal means by which we expand and share that knowledge with students.

As part of its dedication to educational excellence, the University has a responsibility as a public institution to advance its full potential for basic and applied research and to involve both undergraduate and graduate students in that pursuit.
As a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant institution, the University has a special obligation to conduct research and educate students in applied areas that serve the needs of the state.
The University has the further obligation to report its findings to the wider national and international scholarly and creative communities.

The University is committed to advancing its public service function through active and extensive involvement with the state and the community and with its constituent disciplines and professions.

The University serves the state broadly through faculty outreach, continuing education, cooperative extension services, artistic enrichment, economic and professional development and through a variety of other forms of research and consultation on particular needs of New Hampshire citizens.
The University has the additional responsibility through its undergraduate and graduate curricula to prepare citizens for full and active participation in a culturally diverse and democratic society that is increasingly dependent on advancing technology and human understanding.

In all its pursuits, the University is dedicated to the free and open exchange of ideas and prizes the scholarly virtues of integrity, honesty and concern for humanity.

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APPENDIX B: Additional Academic Programs Under Review

As noted above, responsibility for instigating and implementing the findings of these reviews has been assumed by the Provost. For the reason that reviews are pending, specific budget impacts have not been reckoned as part of the Academic Programs Task Force goal; nonetheless, any budgetary reductions achieved through these reviews will be recovered at the level of the University and will count against the bottom line of the deficit. Academic program changes can invoke the faculty contract procedure on "displacement" of faculty, in which case comprehensive reviews by specially appointed committees would be indicated.

M.S. in Music Education (Liberal Arts): consider elimination, as proposed in the Graduate School review

M.S. in Biology (COLSA): consider elimination, as proposed in the Graduate School review

M.S. in Entomology (COLSA): consider elimination, as proposed in the Graduate School review

Thompson School (COLSA): consider reducing instructional costs. The historical mission of the Thompson School is to provide distinctive, vocationally-oriented A.A.S. programs to New Hampshire students. The University should emphasize this mission and at the same time reduce instructional costs in the Thompson School by downsizing or eliminating programs to the extent that they do not fulfill this mission. A focus for this proposal may be the Applied Business Management program. More generally, the relationship between Thompson School programs and four-year programs should be reviewed with an eye to potential reduction in instructional costs. Finally, the New England regional compact tuition discounts for Thompson School students should be assessed to see if savings might be possible. The Dean of COLSA has been charged by the Provost to consult with the Director of the Thompson School and submit a plan to reduce costs, consistent with these goals.

Hospitality Management (WSBE), Recreation Management (HHS), Tourism (COLSA), and Food Service Management (Thompson School): consider consolidating these departments and programs in a new unit, directly affiliated with the New England Center. A proposal of this kind could diminish administrative perhaps instructional costs, attract new enrollments, serve the interests of the state and regional economy, and capitalize on distinctive features of the University. The Deans of WSBE, COLSA, and HHS have been charged by the Provost to discuss such a proposal and report to the Deans' Council.

Adult and Occupational Education (COLSA): consider reducing degree program offerings to either the graduate or undergraduate level. The Dean of COLSA has been charged by the Provost to evaluate this proposal and submit an appropriate plan.

Geography (Liberal Arts): consider eliminating the undergraduate major. Geography courses are valuable in General Education and for majors outside the department, but the number of Geography undergraduate majors is small. The Dean of Liberal Arts has been charged by the Provost to evaluate this proposal and submit an appropriate plan.

Languages (Liberal Arts): on the basis of comprehensive reviews, to be completed in December, consider reducing the number of languages majors and reducing beginning language enrollments (driven by the language requirement in the B.A. Degree). The Dean of Liberal Arts has been charged by the Provost to submit an appropriate plan.

Political Science and Education at UNHM: on the basis of program reviews already initiated in Durham departments, consider eliminating these degree programs in Manchester. UNHM may not have the resources necessary to sustain the development of these programs. The Deans of UNHM and Liberal Arts have been charged by the Provost to submit an appropriate plan based on these reviews.

Center for International Education: review the dual major program in the context of a new plan for funding teaching (see above), and more broadly consider the possibility of coordinating instruction in languages with international programs of study under a single administrative umbrella, consolidating staff. The Dean of Liberal Arts and the Director of the Center for International Education have been charged by the Provost to submit an appropriate plan.

Nashua Graduate Center (CEPS): review the financial viability of programs oriented to professional training. These programs have great utility to the technology companies in the Merrimack valley, but resources may not be available to insure quality and success. The Dean of CEPS has been charged by the Provost to complete this review and submit an appropriate plan.

Nursing at Keene (HHS): review the viability of this program in light of necessary reductions (see below). The Dean of HHS has been charged by the Provost to conduct this review and submit an appropriate plan.

Medical Laboratory Science (HHS): consider affiliation with another laboratory science department, such as Animal and Nutritional Science or Microbiology. The quality and demand indicators for this program are high, but faculty numbers and credit production are low; this department is unique as a laboratory science department in HHS. Affiliation, which can take various forms, may not only strengthen this program but save in administrative and instructional costs, through cross-teaching. The Dean of HHS has been charged by the Provost to review this prospect and submit an appropriate plan.

Library and Computing and Information Services: consider coordinating and consolidating functions. The University Library and Computing and Information Services report through different branches of the University. New directors have recently been hired for both entities, and high on their agendas should be defining a strong working relationship between them. The University Librarian is charged by the Provost to consult with the CIS Assistant Vice President and define their administrative relationship, including possible consolidating of specific functions and cost-sharing.

Library Branches: consider incorporating the science branches into Dimond Library, displacing additional materials to an expanded storage facility insuring round-the-clock access to Dimond, and developing electronic access to library data from faculty offices and academic department "kiosks." The University Librarian has been charged by the Provost to explore this proposal and to submit an appropriate plan.

Engineering Technology (CEPS): consider relocating this program away from the Durham campus, closer to the industries with which it is associated. The Dean of CEPS has been charged by the Provost to submit an appropriate plan.

Kobe Exchange Program (Liberal Arts): consider cost savings as an alternative to program elimination. The Dean of Liberal Arts has been charged by the Provost to submit an appropriate plan.

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