Site Team Report

15. Strengths and Concerns

1. Michigan Technological University is commended for recruiting and retaining a talented and committed faculty who have expanded graduate education and research while remaining dedicated to undergraduate education. (Ch. 1: Introduction, Ch. 6: Faculty)
2. Michigan Technological University is commended for attracting bright, articulate, industrious, and fairminded students who are concerned both for their own intellectual development and for the welfare of the institution. (Ch. 1: Introduction, Ch. 4: Recruitment and Retention)
3. Michigan Technological University is commended for its accomplished and dedicated professional and support staff who provide essential services to the institution. (Ch. 1: Introduction, Ch. 9: Professional and Unionized Staff)
4. Michigan Technological University is commended for the leadership of its senior administration and their commitment to linking academic and financial planning, and to major development efforts. (Ch. 1: Introduction, Ch. 2: Purposes and Planning, Ch. 12: Financial Environment)
5. Michigan Technological University is commended for developing shared governance among students, faculty, staff, and administration. (Ch. 5: Student Life, Ch. 6: Faculty)
6. Michigan Technological University is commended for its attractive and well-maintained physical plant. (Ch. 11: Physical Plant)
7. Michigan Technological University is commended for creating a self-study report that is linked to its strategic plan. It is both informative and comprehensive about strengths and weaknesses of the institution. (Ch. 1: Introduction)
8. Michigan Technological University is commended for developing innovative responses to the distance education needs of the Michigan corporate sector. (Ch. 13: Distance Education)
9. Michigan Technological University is commended for its warm and healthy community – both internal and external. (Ch. 1: Introduction)

1. The general education program is in flux because of the change to the semester system and cannot be reviewed at the present time. Plans for assessment of student learning in general education need to be developed and executed. (Ch. 3: Undergraduate Education)
2. The University has not yet addressed concerns expressed by the 1988 North Central review of the library, and current plans are inadequate. A progress report is required. (Ch. 8: Research, Ch. 10: Information Technology, Ch. 11: Physical Plant)
3. The University may not fully appreciate the implications of its goal to move to the status of a Carnegie Research University II in terms of infrastructure demands such as: grants monitoring, environmental monitoring, and additional demands placed on the library. (Ch. 7: Graduate Education, Ch. 8: Research, Ch. 8: Research, Ch. 10: Information Technology, Ch. 11: Physical Plant)
4. The size of the physical plant and scope of programs at the student union are inadequate. (Ch. 5: Student Life, Ch. 11: Physical Plant)
5. The University appears not to have a detailed plan to cover ongoing costs of existing and projected programs. (Ch. 8: Research, Ch. 11: Physical Plant)
6. The University has not yet extended its newly-established schedule of periodic reviews of graduate academic programs to the research institutes and to undergraduate programs. (Ch. 3: Undergraduate Education, Ch. 8: Research, Ch. 8: Research Institutes)
7. Delays by the Board of Control in implementing University policy and procedure leads to frustration on the part of those who have worked hard to prepare materials for Board consideration. (Ch. 2: Purposes and Planning, Ch. 7: Graduate Education)
8. Distance education activities at the present time are sound and relatively modest. It is recommended that a broader range of faculty become involved in the development of distance education. The University should develop protocols for the approval of courses and degrees offered by distance education. A progress report is required. (Ch. 7: Graduate Education, Ch. 13: Distance Education, Ch. 14: NCA Criteria/College of Engineering)
   
   
   
   
   

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   Last Revised: 10 April 1998
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