Department Heads Meeting
Monday, April 1, 2002
Minutes

I.  Call to Order.  Chancellor Cohen called the meeting to order reviewing the scheduled agenda items.

 II.  Presentation on Purdue Calumet Facilities Projects.  Chancellor Cohen reported on the presentation to the Hammond City Council and administration on March 7 that included PUC’s strategic vision, some background information, our future vision, goals, and review of upcoming capital projects.  The PowerPoint presentation of this presentation is attached for your information.

III.  Strategic Responsibilities.  The status reports of strategic responsibilities of the vice chancellor areas was distributed and reviewed.  Deans have been thorough in addressing reallocation with department heads; plans are for the vice chancellors to provide by July 1 the campus plans for reallocation of resources and that it is more likely that we will be “re-directing” resources.  The status reports of the vice chancellors are meant to give some idea of each area’s part in the strategic plan, to move along at a reasonable pace with accomplishments within five years.

IV.  Campus Budget Process.  Chancellor Cohen said this review of the process is to help understand the timeline of how we will be working on the budget and provide an update on the state financial plan.  Charts on the Annual Budget Operating Funds Process & Strategic Initiative Funding Request for 2002-03 and the Budget Reduction Proposal for FY 02, FY03, and Biennial Total with the As-Appropriated Amounts were distributed with Vice Chancellor Newsom reviewing the process.  Mr. Newsom reported that plans are to develop a template for budget operating requests and strategic plan initiative requests with specifications.  The Budget Reduction Proposal indicates a $2.7 million reduction in appropriations for FY 02-03 for PUC.  Chancellor Cohen said budget balances on June 30 will be rolled over into FY 02-03; review is planned of changes in routine rather than staffing; and, that tuition increases equal operating dollars so it is important to achieve additional enrollment.  Vice Chancellor Bryant said we need to encourage departments, campus-wide, to contribute to the enrolment management plan and that plans will be communicated on ways departments may coordinate efforts with the Enrollment Services Center.

V.  Administrative Services Customer Satisfaction Survey Results.  Vice Chancellor Newsom reported on the survey results, customer contact principles, and the 2001 to 1999 results comparison.  Improvement occurred in all areas.  Mr. Newsom reviewed the comments received and the performance/importance gap analysis, and the strategic response and targets planned.  Chancellor Cohen expressed his appreciation to the time and effort spent on the study to improve services and encouraged response to surveys in support of those efforts.

VI.  Announcements, Q & A.  

Chancellor Cohen announced that the report on Customer Service Standards of phone contacts will be presented by Colleen Robison and Shelby Topping at the May 6 meeting.

Paul McGuinness reported on the upcoming Career Fair and encourages high school visitations.  He also reported on a new publication, “Students Who Inquire,” a newsletter to high school counselors, and that space is available to include items of interest from other departments.

Chancellor Cohen announced the plans for a Town Hall Meeting at 9:00 a.m., April 26, at The Center, to cover the budget process and reductions, and said to encourage staff to attend.

Chancellor Cohen announced that the AQIP (Academic Quality Improvement Project) team will be attending a Strategy Forum April 17-20.  This alternative accreditation process is based on a 7-year cycle and requires significant commitment to the self-assessment process of accreditation.  Additional details of this process were provided with the minutes of March 4, 2002.

Chancellor Cohen announced that the monthly meetings for deans, directors and department heads will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m., Alumni Hall, beginning September 20, 2002.  Until then they will remain on the first Monday of the month, 8:00 a.m.

Vice Chancellor Newsom said he is pleased to report that Colleen Robison has been accepted as a Baldridge examiner.  The focus of the Baldridge system is an organization’s overall performance management system and standards for total quality management.

Dr. Yahya Kamalipour announced the Department of Communication and Creative Arts initiative of the radio show “Purdue Calumet and You” having a permanent home with station WYIN on Sundays at 8:00 a.m.  The programming will include news and contributions from all departments with expansion from other areas and the community.  The program will also be run on south suburban channel and Gary channels; future announcement is planned about access on-line of the PUC radio news.  Dr. Kamalipour said WYIN is currently looking for a new home. 

Vice Chancellor Sandra Singer announced the recent Department of Defense research award under the DoD Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program, coordinated by EMS Drs. Gealt, Gerber, Tseng and Zhou, in collaboration with the University of Chicago and Northwest University, for issues related to homeland security, i.e., development of bio-molecular, sub cellular radio frequency sensing.  Dr. Tseng’s research as investigator will be funded for approximately $1.4 million over a three-year period,  $3.5 million over five years.

Peggy Kienzle announced the PUC website listing users of The Center for those questioning, “who’s using The Center?”   She encourages utilizing The Center for your department’s organization board meetings.

Linda Baer announced the ribbon cutting of the new Student ID Center scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 in the vending area of the SFLC building.  The project is the result of a lengthy partnering of many areas across campus.

Vice Chancellor Leo Bryant introduced the new Director of Upward Bound, Joseph Flores, former principal of elementary and junior high schools of this area.  Dr. Bryant recognized Roy Hamilton as interim coordinator of that area.

Interim Vice Chancellor Dolores Steuer-Wagner introduced the new Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement, Bill Lieber, who joined us on April 1.  Mr. Lieber comes to PUC from the American Cancer Society and previous family business, has a degree in finance from Notre Dame University.

VII.  Adjournment.  With no further business the meeting was adjourned.  Next meeting is scheduled on May 6, 2002.