Implementing the Strategic Plan

A second-year report on meeting targets

1996-1997

Contents

Introduction

Goal 1: Comprehensive Strength in Undergraduate Programs

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Goal 2: Premier Graduate and Professional Programs in Significant Number of Areas

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Goal 3: A Faculty of National and International Distinction

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Goal 4: Distinguished Research and Scholarship

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Goal 5: A Culturally Diverse and Inclusive University Community

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Goal 6: Strong Ties Between the University and External Constituencies

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Goal 7: A High-Quality Academic and Working Environment

• Targeted Indicators
• Progress Indicators

Implementing the Strategic Plan

A second-year report on meeting targets

1996-1997

In December 1996 the Iowa State Board of Regents approved an enhanced version of Achieving Distinction 2000, The University of Iowa's strategic plan for 1995-2000, with the understanding that the new section on Core Values, Indicators of Progress, and Strategic Focus Areas should be further strengthened by the association of specific targets with the plan's seven goals. In May 1997 the Board approved these targets, the first in the University's history to be so defined, as part of our institutional strategy for implementing our plan.

This report inaugurates an annual series to be presented to the Iowa State Board of Regents each fall. It charts both targeted indicators* and progress indicators** as a broad gauge of the University's standing in relation to the baseline year of 1995-96. We understand that no indicator can measure quality directly; those we have selected, taken together, register indirect and collateral evidence that will help us determine where we should concentrate effort and invest resources in the years ahead.

The selection of indicators benefited from lively discussions among representatives of the faculty and staff in the Strategic Planning Committee, at collegiate and departmental levels, and in the President's Council on Strategic Implementation. As a result, we are confident that the targets we have chosen are sensitive registers of year-to-year changes of genuine significance; over a five-year period, these annual readings will reveal with some precision how far we have come toward achieving our goals.

In developing these targets, the community-building process of deliberation and self-examination was at least as important as the quantification effort itself. So, too, has been the gathering of data for this first annual report, during which we uncovered a few discrepancies in baseline figures presented in May and made corresponding adjustments in targets. The entire process has served as a collective reaffirmation of our institutional commitment to quality. This commitment, which is one of the University's core values, is grounded in the love of learning and the ethic of service that mark our institutional identity. Our targets help us set our sights and refine our aim, but in the end our motivating force is the core value of quality, under which the institution "measures itself by exacting standards, honors high aspiration and achievement, and expects all persons associated with the University to strive for excellence."

Mary Sue Coleman
President, The University of Iowa

* As we reported last year, we have defined "targeted" indicators as those quality-related measures that can be associated with time-specific numerical objectives.
** We have defined "progress" indicators as additional paints of reference that cannot be set at predetermined levels but are useful in tracking the institution's direction and rate of improvement.

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Goal 1

Comprehensive Strength in Undergraduate Programs

TARGETED INDICATORS

Target lA: Increase 4-year graduation rate from 32.6% to 40%.

During 1996-97, the graduation rate increased to 33.8%.

• For 1996-97, the 4-year rate is calculated as a percentage of the 1993 UI freshman cohort who graduated by the end of 1997. This figure excludes those who transferred to, and graduated from, other institutions and 1997 UI graduates who did not enter as freshmen.
• For many decades, the UI's 4-year graduation rate, thus calculated, has hovered around 30%, while the 5-year rate has hovered around 57%.
• The 1992-96 4-year median graduation rate for public Big Ten institutions (excluding Purdue, for which data are unavailable) is 32.7%. In that group the UI ranks 5th (the median).
• For the freshman cohort entering in 1990, the UI's 6-year graduation rate was 63%, 7th among public institutions in the Big Ten. Comparative data for 5-year rates are not yet available.
• Four-year graduation is not for everyone. The advantage of cost-effectiveness must be weighed against opportunities for internships, cooperative education experiences, study abroad, extracurricular activities, or part-time employment.

Target 1B: Increase the number of National Merit Scholars in the freshman class from 24 to 50, and the number of high school valedictorians from 123 to 160.

During 1996-97, the number of National Merit Scholars in the freshman class decreased to 21 and the number of high school valedictorians increased to 144.

• The UI historically has offered fewer merit-based scholarships, in proportion to the size of its undergraduate student body, than its peer institutions. In 1996-97, the University developed a plan for restructuring and expanding its merit-based scholarship program; this improvement, coupled with more intensive recruitment efforts, should help attract more high-achieving students to the UI.
• Increasing the number of highly-motivated, exceptionally well-prepared students will enhance the quality of undergraduate education for all students, without compromising the UI's historical commitment to broad access.
• Recognizing that scores on the Educational Testing Service's National Merit and National Achievement (for Black and Hispanic students) examinations are only one indication of academic potential, the UI also seeks students who meet non-traditional merit-based criteria of "unusual intellectual or creative talents, leadership gifts, or significant service to school and community."

Target 1C: Increase undergraduate participation in the Honors Program from 3,130 to 3,500; in the Study Abroad program from 323 to 500; in Cooperative Education from 959 to 1,200.

During 1996-97, Honors Program participation increased to 3,401; Study Abroad participation increased to 364; Cooperative Education participation decreased to 925.

• In addition to these three targeted educational-enhancement opportunities, the UI offers a variety of departmental and collegiate individual development programs and experience-based educational opportunities such as internships, practicum placements, independent research projects, laboratory and studio participation, supervised volunteer activities, and other experiences that can significantly enrich the total educational experience of undergraduates. Numbers of students participating in internships during 1996-97, for example, in creased from 373 to 403.

Target 1D: Increase percentage of undergraduate credit hours taught by tenured/tenure-track faculty from 56.3% to 60%; increase percentage of senior faculty teaching undergraduates, in undergraduate colleges, from 79.7% to 87.5%.

During 1996-97, the percentage of credit hours taught by tenured and tenure-track faculty remained the same at 56.3%; the percentage of faculty teaching undergraduates increased to 85%.

• These targets reflect a commitment to improve what are already high standards for undergraduate teaching in a research university; target percentages are consistent with the faculty's graduate teaching and research responsibilities and the UI's role in educating the professors of the future.
• Baseline and target values have been adjusted to show the percentage of faculty teaching undergraduates over the entire academic year. The baseline reported in May 1997 was for fall semester only.

Target 1 E: Increase number of technologically equipped classrooms from 22 to100.

During 1996-97, the number of classrooms equipped with advanced teaching technologies increased to 43.

• Two important classroom buildings came back on line during 1996-97, the expanded and renovated Pharmacy Building and the renovated Schaeffer Hall. Both projects included retrofitting older classrooms with the latest in instructional technology, providing models for future renovations.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Progress: Track "best value" ratings in national magazine annual college guides.

• Runner-up in Time / The Princeton Review's college guide, "The Best College for You"; one of six colleges and universities nationally to receive this honorable mention.
• 31st in U.S. in "Best Value" rankings in Money's "College Guide '97" (1996); up from 35th place in 1995.
• 6th best value for "sticker price" among national universities in US News & World Report, 1996; up from 23rd in U.S. among "Best Buys" in 1995.
• 9th best value among public universities in Kiplinger's Personal Finance in 1997.

Progress: Track reputational rankings of selected undergraduate programs in national college guides.

• 55th among all universities in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges, 1998" (1997).
• Entire University ranked 15th among public universities in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges, 1998" (1997).
• College of Business Administration ranked 24th nationally (up from 31st in 1995), U.S. News & World Report, 1997.
• College of Pharmacy ranked 19th nationally (unranked previously), U.S. News & World Report, 1997.

And among graduate programs:

• College of Engineering ranked 54th among schools with Ph.D. programs, U.S. News & World Report, 1996.
• College of Medicine primary care program ranked 8th, U.S. News & World Report, 1997.

Progress: Institution-wide samplings; rating systems within departments.

• ACT Student Opinion Survey: 1995 spring-fall sample (1,864 responses); one out of 42 questions dealt with "Instruction in your major field"; UI rated 3.82 on a 5-point scale, with 4 representing "satisfied." Plans call for repeating the Student Opinion Survey in 1999.
• In Fall 1997, the UI Student Government initiated the UISG Teaching Tele gram program to provide students an opportunity, anonymously, to comment on course quality throughout the semester rather than just when the course is over. The purpose is to help the faculty make improvements while students are still taking the course.
• The Assessing Classroom Environment student questionnaire will be initiated during the 1997-98 academic year. Workshops are being planned to in form faculty about the ACE instrument and to discuss the difference between evaluation for administrative purposes and instructional improvement.

Progress: Encourage more colleges and programs to gather data on placement of graduates.

• Placement rate is set one year after graduation; for this indicator, the baseline year is 1994-95.
• The rates reflecting graduates during the 1995-96 academic year show engineering and pharmacy holding steady at 100% placement and increases for education, from 84% to 87%; business, from 80% to 84%; and nursing, from 90% to 93%.

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Goal 2

Premier Graduate and Professional Programs in a Significant Number of Areas

TARGETED INDICATORS

Target 2A: Raise quality of entering students from mean Graduate Record Examination composite (Verbal + Quantitative + Analytical) score of 100 points above national mean to 130 points above national mean; increase mean grade-point average of entering students from 3.27 to 3.35.

During 1996-97, the composite scores of entering graduate students increased to 106 above the national mean; the mean grade-point average increased to 3.28.

• In order to minimize random fluctuations in annual mean scores, the University follows the GRE recommendation of using three-year "rolling" mean scores for the preceding three-year period as the reported mean score for a given year: that is, for 1996-97, the reported mean scores (both UI and national scores) are the mean scores for the period 1993-1996.

Target 2B: Decrease overall median time to completion of Ph.D. degree from 6.3 to 5.5 years.

During 1996-97, the median time decreased to 5.8 years.

• Baseline and target values have been adjusted following an analysis of the time from first enrollment in a UI graduate program to conferral of degree for students completing doctoral degrees during 1995-96 and 1996-97. This new analysis provides the basis for a new baseline (adjusted from 7.8 years) and a new target (adjusted from 7.0 years).

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Progress: Consistently high rankings; placement in top tier of public universities.

• National Research Council rankings, the "gold standard" of graduate pro gram ratings, cannot be reported annually; they appear at intervals of approximately ten years and do not cover all fields in which graduate degrees are awarded. In the most recent rankings (1993 surveys, rankings made public in 1995), the UI had 5 programs in the top quartile (including one, Physiology, in the top 10%), 15 in the 2nd quartile; 12 in the 3rd quartile; none in the bottom quartile. 15 of the UI programs rated by NRC in both 1982 and 1993 rose in rank; 2 remained the same; 3 declined.
• Graduate and professional program rankings in national newsmagazines, although they do not rate all programs annually and employ questionable methodologies, are widely influential and provide a rough guide to quality The 1997 U.S. News & World Report national rankings included the Iowa creative writing program (Writers' Workshop), first in the country; the Iowa printmaking program, first; other fine arts MFA programs in the School of Art and Art History, 6th; physical therapy, 2nd; pharmacy, top 20; education, 14th; nursing, 14th; engineering, 46th; ophthalmology, 6th; orthopedics, 7th; otolaryngology, 3rd; gynecology, 26th; law, 18th; counseling psychology, 5th.
• Other graduate program rankings. Various disciplines also issue rankings that are helpful in tracking progress. In 1996-97, rankings included music, 5th in combined publications by faculty and research activity of graduate students (Journal of Research in Music Education); law, 19th (National Law Journal) and 6th (American Bar Association Journal); accounting, 14th, based on research of program graduates (Advances in Accounting) and MBA program, 16th in category of "Quickest Payback on an Education" (Business Week).

Progress: Scores above national average in all appropriate disciplines.

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Goal 3

A Faculty of National and International Distinction

TARGETED INDICATORS

Target 3A: 20 members of national academies (base: 12).

During 1996-97, five additional members of the faculty were elected to national scholarly academies.

• The national academies considered in this target are the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• The Provost is considering an additional target in this category: "Number of faculty elected to national scholarly academies that are discipline specific." These might include such distinctions as election to the American Academy of Nursing or the American Law Institute. A preliminary base count reveals 56 faculty elected to discipline-specific academies.

Target 3B: 50 high-prestige national awards during the five-year period 1996- 97 to 2000-0 1 (base: 43 over the previous five-year period).

During 1996-97, 11 faculty members received high-prestige awards.

• Among 1996-97 awards were an NEH senior fellowship, a Phi Beta Kappa Award, an NIH National Research Service Award, an NSF career award, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator award, and a National Humanities Center fellow-in-residence award. Fulbright awards are counted under indicator 3:3.
• The Provost is considering adding a related progress indicator: "Number of discipline-specific high-prestige national awards earned by faculty." A preliminary canvass shows that during 1996-97, the faculty earned a total of 37 such awards.

Target 3C: 100 faculty members on national peer review boards (base: 80).

• Data for 1995-96 are incomplete; the baseline year for this target is 1996-97.
• By limiting the count to service on review panels with national funding from major funding agencies, the Provost has reduced the baseline figure to 80, from a previous estimate of 150, with a corresponding adjustment in the target.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Progress: Improve tracking of external teaching awards.

• Although few national scholarly associations present awards in this category, the UI faculty received a total of 13 external awards recognizing excellence in teaching during 1996-97, up from 4 reported in 1995-96.

Progress: Improve tracking of Fulbright and other international awards.

• During 1996-97, UI faculty received a total of 28 international awards, including Fulbright and Fogarty.

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Goal 4

Distinguished Research and Scholarship

TARGETED INDICATORS

Target 4A: Increase external funding for sponsored programs from $198 mil lion to $250 million.

During 1996-97, the UI received a total of $212 million in external funding, primarily for research and training.

Target 4B: Increase proposals for external funding from 2,427 to 3,000 annually.

During 1996-97, proposals for external funding increased to 2,529.

Target 4C: Increase percentage of faculty receiving external support from 33% to 40%.

During 1996-97 the percentage of faculty receiving external support increased to 34%.

Target 4D: Increase annual publication index in all relevant disciplines by 10%; increase citation index by 15%.

During 1996-97, the publication index increased by 1.3%; the citation index increased by 8.1%.

Target 4E: Increase annual intellectual property disclosures from 74 to 90.

During 1996-97, intellectual property disclosures increased to 86.

PROGRESS INDICATOR

Progress: Maintain overall library ranking in top 20 among public universities.

• During 1996-97, the University's library was ranked 18th among public universities by the Association of Research Libraries (AIRL).
• The ARL ranks the University's Law Library 5th among all law libraries.

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Goal 5

A Culturally Diverse and Inclusive University Community

TARGETED INDICATOR

Target 5A: Increase minority representation among students from 9.2% to 12%, among tenured and tenure-track faculty from 11.4% to 13%, among merit staff from 4.5% to 5.3%, and among professional and scientific staff from 4.8% to 5.5%.

During 1996-97, minority representation among students increased to 9.5%, among tenured and tenure-track faculty it decreased to 11.3%, among merit staff it increased to 4.6%, and among professional and scientific staff it decreased to 4.6%.

• Affirmative Action data for faculty and staff are based on an October 1 "snap shot" each year. Baselines reported in May 1997 used October 1996 data, which fall outside the 1995-96 reporting period. Baselines have been adjusted to reflect October 1995 data.
• Because of differences in reporting schedules, data reported by the Office of Affirmative Action to the Board of Regents each fall will always be a year ahead of data presented in the University's report on targets.

Target 5B: Increase female representation on the tenured and tenure-track faculty from 22.3% to 25%, and increase female representation in executive, administrative, and managerial positions from 27.9% to 32%.

During 1996-97, female representation on the tenured and tenure- track faculty decreased to 22.2% and female representation in executive, administrative, and managerial positions increased to 29.6%.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Progress: Conduct biennial surveys and track results.

• Student satisfaction surveys, emphasizing the campus as a learning community, will reflect the UI's progress in creating a more healthful, more student-centered learning environment.

Progress: Monitor usage of these services.

• During 1996-97, a total of 1,580 students registered through Special Support Services and 834 through Student Disability Services.

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Goal 6

Strong Ties Between the University and External Constituencies

TARGETED INDICATORS

Target 6A: Increase number of annual contributors from 44,000 to 50,000.

During 1996, annual contributors increased to 45,077.

• In the calendar year 1996, the UI received $42.5 million in outright gifts and $29.1 million in future commitments, for an annual total of $71.6 million.

Target 6B: Increase number of non-degree-seeking enrollments from 2,448 to 2,800.

During 1996-97, the number of non-degree-seeking enrollments increased to 2,500.

Target 6C: Increase sites served by Hancher programming via the ICN from 0 to 30.

During 1996-97, 24 ICN sites were served by Hancher programming.

Target 6D: Increase annual patient visits to UI health sciences centers from 701,900 to 750,000.

During 1996-97, annual patient visits to UI health sciences centers increased to 735,532.

Target 6E: Increase mean monthly news citations of UI activities from 74 to 85 in national print media.

During 1996-97, the mean monthly news citations of UI activities in national print media decreased to 60.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Progress: Conduct biennial satisfaction surveys among Iowans, both alumni and non-alumni.

• In 1993, 71% of Iowans surveyed ranked UI undergraduate education "good" or "excellent"; 76% said it "meets or exceeds expectations."

Progress: Track attendance at Hancher and other events and cultural attractions.

• In 1996-97, 99,787 attended Hancher events, up from 92,685 the year before.
• In 1996-97, 6,650 attended lectures sponsored by the University Lecture Committee, down from 7,225 in 1995-96.
• In 1996-97, 3,732 attended concerts sponsored by the Student Commission on Programming and Entertainment (SCOPE), up from 2,879 in 1995-96.

Progress: Encourage departments to report faculty appointments to service panels to deans; establish University-level baseline.

• During 1996-97, a total of 693 faculty appointments to service panels were reported.

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Goal 7

A High-Quality Academic and Working Environment

TARGETED INDICATORS

Target 7A: Rank in best four among 17 comparable universities in four categories of campus safety statistics (base: 1st, 4th, 9th, and 6th).

During 1996-97, the baseline and target were adjusted to focus on four categories of concern: forcible sex offense (UI is 1st, with the lowest rate), robbery (4th), aggravated assault (9th), and weapons violation (6th).

• Safety statistics are kept on a calendar-year basis, as required by law.
• Comparison data are published each spring in The Chronicle of Higher Education, on the basis of surveys completed the previous year. Thus, 1995 data appeared in April 1997, and 1996 comparison data will not be available until April 1998.
• In 1996, the UI experienced an increase in reports of forcible sex offenses (from 1 instance in 1995 to 4 in 1996), no change in robbery reports (1), a de crease in aggravated assault reports (from 9 to 8), and an increase in weapons violations (from 1 to 2).
• Year-to-year trends are monitored with the understanding that rising numbers, often indicative of better reporting and more stringent enforcement, may show improvements in campus safety.
• The UI will review safety measures and progress with the Campus Safety Committee and assess the effectiveness of special emphases through Committee-sponsored surveys of faculty, staff, and students.

Target 7B: Eliminate all substantial deferred maintenance and obsolescence of general-fund-maintained facilities by meeting national building renewal funding norm of 1.0% of building's value (base: 0.623%).

During 1996-97, the figure increased to .657%.

Target 7C: Increase number of staff members participating in professional development programs from 2,907 to 3,900.

During 1996-97, the number of staff members participating in professional development programs increased to 3,124.

• The UI also plans to increase internship opportunities from 12 to 18 (9 in 1996-97): increase the Professional Development Seminar Program from 0 to 20 (4 in 1996-97); increase Mary Jo Small Fellowships from 0 to 11 (6 in 1996-97); and increase tuition assistance grants from 626 to 666 (555 in 1996-97).

Target 7D: Increase faculty development opportunities from 124 to 150, and increase faculty participating in Technology-based Teaching Initiative from 0 to 300.

During 1996-97, faculty development opportunities increased to 146 and faculty participating in Technology-based Teaching Initiative increased to 96.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Progress: Conduct biennial surveys of seniors and sophomores; annual fresh man parent calling project; annual surveys of UIHC patients; biennial or triennial surveys of faculty and staff.

During 1996-97, surveys were conducted on schedule.

Progress: Monitor number of complaints/problems, number satisfactorily re solved, and time to resolution. Where appropriate, include data from the Office of the General Counsel.

• During 1996-97, the Office of the Ombudsperson handled 386 new clients and 29 cases carried over from the previous year, for a total caseload of 415.
• During 1996-97, the Office of Affirmative Action handled 37 new internal complaints of discrimination, with 8 cases carried over from the previous year, for a total of 45; it received 29 new external complaints filed with state or federal civil rights agencies, with 33 carried over from the previous year, for a total of 67; the overall total of 107 does not reflect the handling of numerous inquiries that did not result in the filing of a complaint.
• During 1996-97, the Office of the General Counsel handled 32 professional liability tort claims, 40 general tort claims, 1 contract or other business dispute, 3 employment discrimination claims, and 1 other employment claim, for a total of 77 institutional dispute claims.

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Last updated on June 18, 1998