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Weber State University

2004-2005 Progress Report

 

The following are accomplishments reported by WSU departments, units and divisions toward the achievement of  overarching institutional goals during the 2004-2005 academic year.

 

Goal 1:            Create an outstanding, learner-centered experience in multi-campus environment

 

Institutional Accreditation Reaffirmed:

 

!                    The university=s institutional accreditation was renewed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities following a highly successful visit by an academic accreditation team in October 2004.

 

!                    Accreditation commendations praised the university for:

 

<                     a remarkably strong and coherent sense of mission

 

<                     providing enhanced educational opportunities through successful fund raising efforts

 

<                     outstanding facilities planning, maintenance and construction

 

<                     greatly improved access to library resources and services

 

!                    Accreditation recommendations were:

 

<                     that regular and systematic assessment of the general education curriculum be conducted and documented

 

<                     that improvement be made in the mentoring and professional development of part-time faculty

 

Student Engagement:

 

!                    The second annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and Celebration was held in March 2005.  A total of 179 students participated with 104 posters and oral presentations.  That represented a 19.5 percent increase in the number of presentations compared to the 2004 event.

 

!                    WSU student Eric Gabrielsen was one of 60 students nationwide (and the only one from Utah) selected to present the results of their undergraduate research at the CUR Posters on the Hill session in Washington, D.C.

 

!                    During 2004-05, 78 students presented 54 papers highlighting their undergraduate research projects at the annual student research conference hosted by the Sociology/Anthropology Department.

 

!                    Faculty-student collaboration facilitated the efforts of WSU students to excel in the regional and national events including:

 

<                     the Mock Trial (fourth place at University of Virginia tournament)

 

<                     the Moot Court (second place at the ACMA Western Regional Tournament and third place at ACMA National Championship Tournament)

 

<                     the Ethics Bowl (first place at the regional tournament at California State University - San Jose)

 

<                     the Model United Nations of the Far West

 

 

First-Year Success:

 

<                     A formal proposal to require that all incoming students be required to undergo placement testing has been developed and presented to the leadership of the WSU Faculty Senate.

 

Assessment:

 

!                    Numerous academic programs and departments completed or initiated formal assessments efforts during 2004-05. Those efforts included:

 

<                     Comprehensive assessments of the effectiveness of offerings in Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Masters of Criminal Justice and Sociology programs

 

<                     The Moyes College of Education took significant steps to align its assessment efforts with accreditation standards; to ensure that assessments are performance- or outcome-based; and to develop/improve databases for storing, manipulating and displaying assessment data

 

<                     Four new outcome-based assessment measures were developed to determine the progress of students majoring in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Education

 

<                     Assessment activities by several programs within the seven academic departments of the College of Science have been modified to focus on their effectiveness in preparing students for immediate employment or entrance into graduate/professional programs

 

!                    Responsibility for the faculty and student course evaluation processes was transferred to Institutional Research to facilitate future improvements, including multi-year departmental/college comparisons and online survey completion.

 

 

Student Support:

 

!                    WSU department chairs have participated in coordination meetings to benefit students through the development of improved statewide course articulation.

 

!                    The academic standing of Weber State=s 317 student-athletes has increased significantly, with 102 earning GPA=s of 3.5 or higher.  Five athletes were also recognized as regional or district All-Academic honorees.

 

!                    The average GPA for participants in WSU club sports was 3.02.

 

Multi-Campus Developments:

 

!                    Measures of success recorded at WSU-Davis during 2004-05 included:

 

<                     The number of course sections offered at WSU-Davis increased  by 13 percent (238 sections in Fall 2004 compared to 210 sections offered a year earlier)

 

<                     The number of students attending classes at WSU-Davis increased by 4 percent (3,353 students in Fall 2004 compared to 3,222 students a year earlier)

 

<                     The WSU Nursing and Education programs expanded their degree offerings at WSU-Davis.

 

<                     Student service efforts at WSU-Davis included 2,600 tutoring sessions; 2,300 hours of supplemental instruction; and the administration of more than 3,400 tests

 

!                    A planning group has been formed to explore the possibility of cooperating with the Davis School District to build a joint-use academic building on the WSU-Davis campus.  The goal of this effort is to increase daytime enrollment at WSU-Davis; provide additional classrooms for evening use; and strengthen ties with the Davis School District.

 

!                    WSU received approval to expand its West Center to include improved testing facilities, additional classrooms, faculty offices and a computer laboratory.

 

!                    A WSU testing center was established at a new site in Morgan County.

 

 

Goal 2:            Support students, faculty and the community through technology, administrative systems, outstanding service and the physical campus

 

Facilities:

 

!                    Preparations for the renovation of the Swenson Building were completed, including finalizing design plans and relocating the HPHP faculty, staff and programs.  Construction work on this project began in May 2005.

 

!                    Planning and programming has begun for a classroom building to replace Buildings 1 and 2 on the Ogden campus.

 

!                    A redesign of the entrance of the Stewart Library was completed and work began on that project in May 2005.

 

!                    Legislative approval of the remodeling of the Shepherd Union Building was obtained and programming/design work for that project was initiated.

 

!                    Installation of a sprinkler system for fire protection began in Promontory Tower.

 

!                    A project to replace the rigging and Afly@ systems in both theaters in the Browning Center was initiated to provide better support for community and university events.

 

!                    Federal funding was obtained to install electronic access control systems in Lampros Hall and on exterior doors of major academic buildings. Planning for this project was initiated.

!                    Planning was initiated for new exterior signage and a wayfinding system on the Ogden campus.

 

!                    Numerous improvements to facilities on the Ogden campus included such projects as:

 

<                     New research and instructional facilities were created in the Engineering Technology Building, including additional laboratories, a technology enhanced mathematics classroom and faculty offices

 

<                     A new, state-of-the-art digital projection system was installed in the Ott Planetarium

 

<                     New multi-media consoles were installed in 20 classrooms, bringing the number of classrooms with full multi-media capability on the Ogden campus to 118 (39 percent of the total of 300 classrooms)

 

<                     Remodeling of the Betty Hess Lampros Board Room in the Miller Admin Building was completed with private funding

 

<                     Replacement of potable water, steam and condensate return lines was completed in the Technical Education Building

 

<                     A new Track and Field locker room was added to Stewart Stadium

 

<                     Upgrades and renovation of landscaping features were completed at several locations

 

<                     A new, larger transformer was added to the primary electrical distribution system to provide back-up capability for the campus

 

Technology:

 

!                    The transfer of 360 WSU Online courses from the locally developed Legacy learning management platform to the WebCT  Vista  platform was completed in December 2004.

 

!                    Progress toward completion of the university=s Information Technology Infrastructure Project included:

 

<                     completion of Lynx/Banner implementation

<                     installation of critical hardware and software upgrades

<                     Conversion of major student processes to Banner (Admissions, Financial Aid, Registration)

<                     Resolution of Banner/Luminis/Vista integration issues

 

!                    Progress toward completion of university networking plan included:

 

<                     completion of the campus ring

<                     achievement of fully redundant Internet access

<                     upgrading all switching equipment to Gigabit Ethernet

<                     implementation of robust/secure wireless facilities

 

!                    Server clustering and improved network filtering  was implemented to improve the functionality and reliability of the university E-Mail system

 

!                    An improved user interface for the Web Content Management System was implemented and numerous departments adapted their web sites to the new protocol

!                    Progress continued toward implementation of the university new Pinnacle Telecommunications Management System and database (completion scheduled in fall, 2005)

 

!                    Significant progress on the Mobile Internet Access Device (MIAD) project included:

 

<                     Implementation of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Groupwise

<                     Implementation of enhanced support for BlackBerry pilot project users

 

!                    Progress on the alternative desktop computing environment project included:

 

<                     Enhanced Mac user support

<                     Enhanced Novell SuSe Linux support

 

!                    Progress continued on role-based identity management, including implementation of a single user ID for all users (the WildCat ID or WICID)

 

!                    A project was initiated to certify all WSU faculty, staff and lab desktop computers for compliance with university network security standards

 

!                    New contracts were identified or negotiated to provide telecommunications services at lowest possible costs, including a contract for lower long distance rates for all WSU telephone users

 

!                    The WSU Bookstore completed implementation of the PRISM computer system to facilitate inventory control and integrated accounting procedures.

 

!                    The Facility Focus computerized maintenance management system was successfully integrated with the campus-wide Lynx/Banner system.

 

!                    Hardware firewalls were installed on all workstations and servers where sensitive data is stored.

 

!                    An online AWildcat Cash@ service was developed and implemented, allowing students, faculty and staff to use their Wildcards in lieu of payment at vending and copy machines on campus.

 

!                    The Uniprint system was developed and implemented to facilitate cost savings by tracking student printing across the Ogden campus.

 

!                    APutting Students Through@ and the Crystal Crest nomination/selection processes were conducted online for the first time.

 

 

Training/Services:

 

!                    The LEARN Catalog was published to serve as a clearinghouse for training and educational opportunities available on campus for faculty and staff.

 

!                    A web-based, campus-wide Purchasing Card training program was implemented to facilitate periodic re-certification of P-Card holders.

 

!                    Nearly 500 WSU personnel and approximately 50 vendors participated in the Purchasing Vendor Fair in fall, 2004.

 

!                    780 students participated in leadership training opportunities hosted by Student Activities both on- and off-campus.

 

Goal 3:            Develop a campus environment of support and engagement for students, faculty and staff

 

Support for Faculty and Staff:

 

!                    The number of faculty members participating in collaborative research projects increased significantly as a result of revisions to the guidelines and review processes for Research and Professional Growth grants and Hemingway funding.

 

!                    Eighty-one WSU faculty members attended workshops offered by the Teaching and Learning Forum.  Fourteen of those participants attended four or more workshop sessions.

 

!                    Donor gifts totaling more than $3.8 million were received for programs in the academic colleges and Stewart Library.

 

!                    The first annual Faculty Forum celebration of scholarship and creative activity was held in February 2005.  A total of 22 poster and 33 oral reports were presented.

 

!                    The Forum for Teaching & Learning sponsored retreats for new faculty and adjunct faculty in the summer and fall of 2004.

 

!                    The Forum for Teaching & Learning sponsored 25 book discussions groups for faculty with more than 140 participants.

 

!                    Special funds provided by the state for faculty support were used to help retain key faculty and boost faculty morale.

 

!                    More than 50 percent of WSU faculty responded to the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute=s survey of faculty satisfaction.  Notable findings of that survey include:

 

<                     84.8 percent of WSU faculty reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, compared to 75.4 percent of faculty at four-year public institutions nationwide

 

<                     WSU faculty reported being more satisfied than their nationwide peers in 14 of 16 survey categories

 

<                     70.3 percent of WSU faculty reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with their relationship with the university administration, compared to 54.6 percent of faculty at peer  institutions

 

<                     Less than half of WSU faculty (44.6 percent) indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their teaching loads

 

!                    Institutional performance and assessment data for compensation, benefits, training, employment and wellness were collected and reported.

 

!                    A web-based staff satisfaction survey was developed to measure overall satisfaction with the work environment, interactions, relationships, support and values. Key findings were:

 

<                     89 percent of WSU faculty and staff who responded to the staff survey agreed that they were Aproud to work for WSU@ (464 out of 520 respondents to this question)

 

<                     90 percent of WSU faculty and staff who responded to the staff survey said that they feel that they Acontribute to student success@ (379 out of 420 respondents to this question)

 

<                     87 percent of WSU faculty and staff who responded to the staff survey agreed  that Aall things considered, I=m happy working at WSU@ (470 out of 537 respondents to this question)

 

<                     47 percent of WSU faculty and staff who responded to the staff survey felt that compensation for their work was inadequate (211 out of 448 respondents to this question)

 

!                    Uniform institutional processes were developed to select and orient adjunct faculty.

 

!                    Faculty and staff salaries were augmented by one percent with second-tier tuition support from students.

 

!                    Faculty and staff participated in a survey assessing their satisfaction with Information Technology support

 

 

Support for Students:

 

!                    Donor gifts totaling nearly $2 million were received for annual and endowed scholarships and fellowships.

 

!                    With approval of the student body, the Student Government and Student Activities merged into a new organization called the Associated Students of Weber State University.

 

!                    Weber State athletes won the Big Sky Conference Women=s All-Sports Trophy for the fifth consecutive year.

 

!                    The women=s soccer team won the Big Sky Tournament and advanced to the NCAA tourney for the first time in school history.

 

!                    The women=s Indoor Track and Field team won the Big Sky Championship in February 2005.

 

!                    Ten WSU club sports teams earned top-ten national rankings.

 

!                    A project was initiated to collect student and financial aid data to develop data-driven pricing and financial aid strategies to maximize awards and enrollments.

 

!                    A successful depression screening event for students was hosted by Psychological Services.

 

!                    The hourly childcare service provided by Nontraditional Student Programs received accreditation from the National Association of Education of Young People.

 

!                    An emergency loan program for students facing extraordinary circumstances was jointly established by the Dean of Students and the Alumni Emeritus group.

 

!                    New programs implemented for nontraditional students included a book fair, family nights, movie screenings, educational workshops and a local fishing trip.

 

!                    The ATake a Wildcat to Lunch@ program matched 100 alumni mentors with current students.

 

Support for Campus Community:

 

!                    Student Activities hosted 224 educational and social events that attracted more than 27,000 participants.

 

!                    Utilization of the Wilderness Recreation Center increased by 31 percent.

 

!                    More than 1,070 individuals participated in WSU intermural sports, an increase of 10.6 percent.

 

Goal 4:            Foster connections and support with/from external communities

 

Community Connections:

 

!                    External financial support for Weber State included:

 

<                     More than $10.2 million in gifts from 3,976 donors.

 

<                     a $1,025,000 pledge from Intermountain Health Care to support the statewide expansion of nursing education efforts and the needs of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program

<                     research funds obtained through the Office of Sponsored Projects increased by 18 percent for a total of more than $7.6 million

 

!                    Weber State participated in several regional and local planning initiatives, including a transit study by Ogden City and UDOT=s analysis of the expansion of the I-15 corridor.

 

!                    Coordination and cooperation between the Ogden/Davis campuses and neighboring fire departments was enhanced to reduce false alarms.

 

!                    Four local doctors are staffing the Campus Health Center at WSU-Davis on a volunteer basis.

 

!                    More than 1,900 WSU students contributed 17,500 hours of service to 35 local community groups.

 

!                    The university=s  public relations staff revised messages to emphasize the quality of the WSU educational experience following analysis of opinion surveys of 200 households each in Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties conducted during summer of 2004.

 

!                    More than 1,400 alumni responded to an online survey focusing on their connections to the university.  New programs being developed by Alumni Relations and the Alumni Association as a result of that polling included:

 

<                     A partnership with Career Services to offer day-long seminars on career advancement with follow-up workshops on specific job search skills

 

<                     Enhanced efforts to engage out-of-state alumni by identifying new membership benefits that are equally available to alumni wherever they reside

 

<                     Greater efforts by the WSU Alumni Association to provide service to local communities

 

!                    Alumni participated in a variety of Alumni Relations activities during 2004-05, including:

 

<                     More than 300 alumni and friends attended a series of seven AClasses Without Quizzes@ lectures hosted by the Alumni Association

 

<                     Nearly 1,200 alumni and friends attended events associated with various reunions hosted by the Alumni Associations during the 2004-05 academic year

 

<                     Nearly 300 alumni and friends participated in the Alumni Classic golf tournament and the 5K race sponsored by the Alumni Association, raising more than $10,000 for student scholarships

 

<                     More than 420 alumni and friends attended the WSU Salutes and Dixon award events.

 

Educational Connections:

 

!                    A scholarship program established by Services for Veterans Students has awarded six grants to outstanding students attending Department of Defense Dependents Schools overseas.

 

!                    Representatives of WSU Services for Students with Disabilities made p