right-sizing academic affairs the new normal at appalachian state university board of trustees...

Right-Sizing Academic Affairs

The New Normal at Appalachian State University

Board of Trustees Retreat March 22, 2012

University Advancement

The New Normal

• Bleak state budget environment

• Imperative to assume more responsibility for our financial resources

• Need to graduate more students with little change in financial resources and without a decrease in quality.

• It will require: • streamlining of business processes• consolidation of services and programs• elimination of programs with low productivity and quality• transformative change


Academic Affairs: Into the Future• Begin program prioritization• Move to process of right-sizing the staff• Focus on retention & graduation rate• Renewed focus on transfer and out-of-state students• Determine the role of alternative program delivery methods:

online, hybrid and off-campus programs• Reallocate to meet strategic priorities• Determine what research will mean at Appalachian State and

develop the support infrastructure• Develop the new Strategic Plan with an emphasis on planning

& budgeting links› Strategic Planning Priority Areas: Globalization, Sustainability,

Interdisciplinary Education, Applied Research, Diversity, Retention


The purpose of this process will be to identify programs:• poised to move forward toward national excellence and

determine what resources might facilitate such a move;• with capacity to increase research funding or scholarly

productivity• with capacity to increase the service mission;• poised to add additional degrees (including possible doctoral

degrees); and,• with insufficient enrollments or productivity and evaluate

based on broader metrics than the low productivity process proposed by the General Administration. Decisions can be made based on a campus process that encompasses the values of the campus community.

Program Prioritization


The Senate Campus Planning Committee will submit no more than 3 models to be used in the process of program prioritization.

The charge to the Campus Planning Committee is to identify and recommend metrics and framework to implement the program review process.

This process will become part of the on-going assessment activities in Academic Affairs.

Program Prioritization


Program Prioritization: Sample Criteria

1. External demand for the program

2. Quality of outcomes

3. Size, scope, and productivity of the program

4. Impact, justification, and overall essentiality of the program

5. Costs and other expenses associated with the program

6. Internal demand for the program

7. Revenue and other resources generated by the program

8. History, development, and expectations of the program

9. Quality of program inputs and processes

10. Opportunity analysis of the programSource: Robert C. Dickeson, “Prioritizing Academic Programs and Services: Reallocating Resources to Achieve Strategic Balance.” John Wiley & Son, Inc. (2010)


Right-Sizing Staff

State-supported staff positions are created using operating from revenue from fees, tuition or appropriations.

Non-state supported staff positions require the revenue sources of fees, auxiliary revenue, grants, foundation earnings or gifts.

The “New Normal” will require Appalachian to:

• Evaluate staffing levels across the university

• Determine skill set for given roles › Implications for training and best-fit analysis

• Reallocate positions to areas of need

• Streamline and consolidate units and services


Right-Sizing Staff: Process

The Office of Institutional Research, Assessment & Planning is creating a summary of staffing levels for academic programs based on the following information:

Number of SPA and EPA Staff per:• Faculty FTE• Student FTE (Majors and Non-Majors)• Student Credit Hours Generated• Graduates

These ratios will be compared across units and compared to national benchmarks if those data are available.

The same analysis will be completed for Academic Affairs Support Units.


• Advising: The National Academic Advising Association recommends a ratio of 1 full time advisor for every 285 students. ASU Ratio: 1:410

• Recruitment: Range of recruiter to entering freshmen student ratio for ASU & some of its sister schools* is 1:104 to 1:425 ASU Ratio: 1:425

• SPA Faculty Ratios at ASU: College A: 1:4.9 College B: 1:6.3 College C: 1:6.8 College D: 1:11

* ECU, Western, Greensboro, Charlotte & Wilmington

Right-Sizing Staff: Examples


Retention

Attrition Rates by Year for 2007 Cohort:

1st to 2nd Year: 12.6%

2nd to 3rd Year: 9.1%

3rd to 4th Year: 3.5%

Total 25.2%


Transfer & Out of State Students Fall 2011

Transfer Students• 904 admitted• 23% of our admits• 54% are part-time students• 59% come from Community colleges• Retention rates for these students lag behind those

ASU natives

Out of State Students• 9.5% are out of state• Top 4 states: FL, GA, SC, VA• 5th largest group: International


Academic Affairs Initiatives:

Timeline

Initiative First Step Start DateProgram Prioritization Review of Senate Proposals Summer 2012

Right-Sizing Staff Data Collection & Review Ongoing

Alternate Program Delivery

Review of Existing ProgramsEstablish Departmental Incentives

Fall 2012

Transfer & Out-of State Students

Data Collection & ReviewContinued Development of transfer agreements

Summer 2012

Retention Workgroup to determine best practices and develop training for academic advisors

Summer 2012

Research Discussion Departmental & College Discussions Spring 2012

Strategic Planning Establish Strategic Planning CouncilRoll out planning process to campus

Spring/Summer 2012

right-sizing academic affairs the new normal at appalachian state university board of trustees...

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