Strategic planners consider wish list

The first phase of Strategic Planning, the year-long project to identify and strengthen campus academics, is complete.\nFred Cate, chairman of the project, said the planning is now moving into its "contentious" phase, as committee members wrangle over which areas of campus will receive extra funding. The first phase allowed campus deans, along with the IUB Libraries, to identify key areas where resources could be infused.\n"We are now having to take things off the table," Cate said. "Everyone's not going to find something to make them warm inside."\nFunding for Strategic Planning comes from the $1,000 freshmen fees instituted this year. Over the five-year fee program, the University will raise $28 million.\nSince October, the 25-member Strategic Planning committee has met weekly to review reports from the 15 academic deans. \nThe committee members must now decide which programs on campus will define the campus academic priorities for the future. Those programs will receive special "strategic" investments. \n"This is a truly unique opportunity," Cate said.\nMember Barry Rubin said he is surprised how congenial the committee work has been so far. \n"Rather than being parochial, people are looking at the process campus-wide," he said. \nCate said that once allocating funds begins, proceedings won't be as pleasant. Not all academic areas can be emphasized.\n"At the end of the day, it will still be a fight over money," he said. \nCate said the committee's greatest challenge is uniting the priorities in a way that reflects a "distinct vision for the campus." Though new programs may be developed, most committee work has been focused on how to strengthen existing areas. \nCate said the selection process will be based on where investments can make the biggest changes. The programs selected will be the programs that make IU unique. \nThe Strategic Planning project also includes developing the first campus mission statement. The committee intends to have a draft of plans ready for campus review by the holiday break.\nBlooming-ton Chancellor Sharon Brehm, who established the project, recommended these elements to the committee for priority consideration on the Strategic Planning Home Page: undergraduate education, diversity, engagement with the state and interdisciplinary work. \nBrehm told the IDS in October, "It will be a very interesting and serious conversation. We'll all talk about specific interests and work on finding a common ground."\nThe deadline for establishing academic priorities is March 1, 2003.