Site Team Report

2. Purposes and Planning

Michigan Technological University meets the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education Criterion One. The University has clear and publicly stated purposes consistent with its mission and appropriate to an institution of higher education. The mission is stated in the Constitution of the State of Michigan (1964). Michigan Tech also has a vision statement, which is a 1991 interpretation of the constitution developed by the University Direction and Planning Committee. The mission statement of the University and its Vision are printed in the Undergraduate Catalog.

The University's curriculum was originally focused on the state's mineral industry located for the most part on the upper peninsula. Subsequent to the decline in mining and the growth of knowledge in science and technology in the mid to late 20th century, the University interpreted its mission to include a balance of education, research, and public service in the disciplines of engineering, science, and related areas including environmental studies and engineering. The University's stated vision is to be leader in undergraduate and graduate education and research in science and engineering.

The emphasis on science and engineering in the mission and vision statements is mirrored in the predominance of programs in the College of Engineering, the emphasis on science in the College of Sciences and Arts, and the past decisions to expand with Schools of Technology and Forestry. The University's mission to apply science to industry is reflected in the applied orientation of many curricula in its colleges and schools, including the School of Business and Economics.

The University's vision is the product of several planning initiatives including the recent Strategic Plan, entitled 1998 and Beyond. A strategic planning process in the mid-1990's generated eight strategic goals and a number of related short term objectives. The University has an annual strategic planning process which utilizes and refines the eight strategic goals. The annual process involves departmental units, the campus Academic Forum (Deans and Department Chairs) as well as offices of the Provost and the Director of Planning and Budgeting. Subsequent to the generation of objectives and possible budget scenarios, the Executive Vice President and Provost holds a series of meetings with academic and administrative units to review University strategies and encourage the development of initiatives within departmental, College and School levels to achieve measurable strategic initiatives. The entire process culminates in the annual budgeting cycle in the spring or summer.

The University does link planning with budgeting in substantive and meaningful ways. [Commendation 4] Faculty concern about lack of their involvement, however, has led to the creation of the University Senate Finance and Budget Oversight Committees. The team suggests that the current strategic planning and budgeting process be adjusted to included the Senate Committees at a formative point in the planning cycle. The process should also permit faculty input into the evaluation of the appropriateness and adequacy of the eight strategic goals. [Suggestion 9]

Faculty evaluations of the senior administrators were above average in 1996 and the Administration has demonstrated a commitment to shared governance appropriate for a University environment.

The Board of Control is scheduled to meet six times a year, with five meetings in Houghton. The January meeting is usually held in the Detroit area because of weather conditions, but a special effort was made to schedule the meeting to coincide with the team meeting. Unfortunately all members of the Board except two canceled due to the press of other business. The team especially appreciated the presence of the two members who did come, and found their insights helpful. It is apparently not an uncommon occurrence for Board meetings to be canceled due to lack of a quorum at the scheduled time. [Concern7]. This forces the Board to conduct its business by telephone conference calls.

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