Printed copies of this report will be available in late January, 1999.

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

The University of Iowa's strategic plan for 1995-2000, received the Iowa State Board of Regents' approval in 1996, with the understanding that we would develop measurable indicators for each of our seven goals.  With this third-year report, we complete our second cycle of charting targeted indicators* and progress indicators** as gauges of our performance in implementing our strategic plan.   We have found these annual self-assessments, following trends in relation to our baseline year of 1995-96, to be useful both in documenting our achievements and in alerting us to areas that demand closer attention as we approach our target year of 2000-01.

Members of the University community have studied and discussed the targeted indicators at great length and, in some cases, modified them to make them more sensitive registers of significant institutional change.  Even so, some numbers that may appear small--for example, the increase in female representation in tenured and tenure-track faculty ranks (Target 5B)--in fact mark substantial gains made possible by the sustained efforts of many dedicated people.  Other numbers--such as the apparently modest increase in classrooms with advanced teaching technologies (Target 1E)--cannot register updated strategies that will produce even better results by alternate means, in this case using portable equipment to bring advanced technologies to twice the number of classrooms anticipated in our original target.

In presenting this report, I want to express my pride in the progress we have made over the past year.  We have surpassed expectations in not only meeting but going beyond a substantial number of our targets, and all who had a part in this effort are to be congratulated.  In those few areas in which we have failed to progress, I invite the University community to reflect on past obstacles to success and to suggest new strategies for reaching all of our targets by 2000-01.  Most of all, I am proud that this report publicly reaffirms one of our deeply-held core values, our institutional commitment to quality.  Over the next two years, as we proceed with our "countdown to the millennium," I expect The University of Iowa to continue to show that it "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

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Comprehensive Strength in Undergraduate Programs

TARGETED INDICATORS

Percentage of students graduating in four, five, and six years.

Target 1A: Increase 4-year graduation rate from 32.7% to 40%.

In 1997-98, the graduation rate was 33.6%.

• For 1997-98, the 4-year rate is calculated as a percentage of the 1994 UI freshman cohort who graduated by the end of 1998. This figure excludes those who transferred to, and graduated from, other institutions and 1998 UI graduates who did not enter as freshmen.
• For the 1993 UI freshman cohort, the 5-year graduation rate is 57.1%. For the 1992 UI freshman cohort, the 6-year graduation rate is 63.5%.
• For many years, the UI’s 4-year rate has hovered around 30%, the 5-year rate at 57%, and the 6-year rate at 62%.
• Comparative data are not routinely gathered; in a 1996 AAU study, Iowa ranked 6th among Big Ten public universities for 4-year graduation rate, 7th for 5-year rate, and 8th for 6-year rate.
• Four-year graduation is not for everyone, particularly if it diminishes opportunities for internships, study abroad, extracurricular activities, or part-time employment.

Number of National Merit Scholars and high school valedictorians in the freshman class.

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.

In 1997-98, the number of National Merit Scholars in the freshman class increased to 26, and the number of high school valedictorians increased to 148.

• The UI historically has offered fewer merit-based scholarships, in proportion to the size of its undergraduate student body, than its peer institutions. In 1997-98, the University implemented a plan for restructuring and expanding its merit-based scholarship program. For example, in 1997-98, the University awarded 50 Presidential Scholarships, up 30 awards from previous years. In early 1998, the University added a director of scholar recruitment to the admissions recruitment staff.
• Recognizing that qualifying test scores for the Educational Testing Service’s National Merit and National Achievement (for African American and Hispanic students) competitions is only one indication of academic potential, the UI also seeks students who meet nontraditional merit-based criteria of “unusual intellectual or creative talents, leadership gifts, or significant service to school and community.”

Participation by undergraduates in scholarship/creative activity and individual development programs.

Target 1C: Increase undergraduate participation in the Honors Program from 2,630 to 3,500; in the Study Abroad program from 323 to 500; in Experience-Based Education (previously referred to as Cooperative Education) from 959 to 1,200.

In 1997-98, Honors Program participation increased to 3,179; Study Abroad participation increased to 453; Experience-Based Education participation increased to 1,202.

• Honors Program figures have been corrected from the previous report to reflect the number of students eligible to participate in the program.
• In addition to these three targeted educational-enhancement opportunities, the UI offers individuals a variety of departmental and collegiate 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.
• The Iowa Advantage career development portfolio was created in 1997-98 to enhance student participation in all experience-based educational programs. It will begin full implementation in 1998-99.

Percentage, by discipline, of undergraduate credit hours taught by tenured and tenure-track faculty; percentage of senior tenured faculty in undergraduate colleges who teach at least one undergraduate course per year.

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%.

In 1997-98, the percentage of credit hours taught by tenured and tenure-track faculty increased to 56.8%; the percentage of faculty teaching undergraduates increased to 86.3%.

• These targets reflect a commitment to improve what are already high standards for undergraduate teaching in a research university. These percentages are consistent with the faculty’s graduate teaching and research responsibilities and the UI’s role in educating the professors of the future.
• In 1997-98, the College of Liberal Arts offered its first slate of First-Year Seminars: courses on a variety of provocative and interdisciplinary topics that match 15-20 students with a senior faculty member.

General assignment classrooms with access to computers and multimedia presentation equipment.

Target 1E: Increase number of technologically equipped classrooms from 22 to 100.

In 1997-98, the number of technologically equipped classrooms increased to 42.

• 1997-98 installations focused on classrooms and offices in the English-Philosophy Building.
• Developments in classroom presentation technology that is portable and affordable have allowed the University to consider a modified goal, namely to make portable equipment available for ready use in 100 percent of its 200 general assignment classrooms. During 1997-98, 106 classrooms had ready access to portable technology.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Reputational rankings; national surveys.

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

• 48th in the United States in “Best Value” ranking in Money magazine’s College Guide ’98 (1997).
• 28th best value in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, September 1998.

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

• Entire University ranked 15th among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges, 1998” (1997).

Student rankings of perceived quality of instruction (surveys, evaluation forms).

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

• The Assessing Classroom Environment (ACE) instrument was utilized for the first time during the spring semester 1998 for 1,414 courses. Forty-two percent of these courses also chose to include the optional questions titled “student core,” developed by the University of Iowa Student Government. UISG plans to disseminate the results of this information to students during the fall semester prior to preregistration so that students can utilize this information when making course selection decisions.
• The UISG Teaching Telegram program was not initiated as described in 1996-97 because of technical problems associated with security. UISG is still very interested in implementing this program that would offer students an opportunity, anonymously, to comment on course quality throughout the semester rather than just when the course is over.

Placement rates.

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

• Placement rate is set one year after graduation: the rates for those who graduated during the 1996-97 academic year are as follows: business 87%, up 3%; education 84%, down 3%; engineering 100%, no change; nursing 95%, up 2%; pharmacy 100%, no change.

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Premier Graduate and Professional Programs in a Significant Number of Areas

TARGETED INDICATORS

Quality of entering students; program competitiveness; ratio of applications to admissions to acceptances.

Target 2A: Raise quality of entering students from mean Graduate Record Examination composite (Verbal + Quantitative + Analytical) score of 102 points above national mean to 130 points above national mean; increase mean grade-point average of entering students from 3.27 to 3.35.

In 1997-98, the composite scores of entering graduate students increased to 113; the mean grade-point average increased to 3.29.

• 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 1997-98, the reported mean scores (both UI and national scores) are the mean scores for the period 1994-1997.

Time to completion of graduate degree programs.

Target 2B: Decrease overall median time to completion of Ph.D. degree from 6.0 to 5.5 years.

In 1997-98, the median time was 6.3 years.

• Baseline and target values have been adjusted on this target since last year’s report. An analysis of the time from first enrollment in a UI graduate program to conferral of degree has been completed for students completing doctoral degrees during 1995-96 and 1996-97.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

National Research Council Ratings by discipline; rankings in national magazine guides to graduate and professional programs.

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

• National Research Council rankings, the “gold standard” of graduate program ratings, cannot be reported annually; they appear at intervals of approximately 10 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. Fifteen of the UI programs rated by NRC in both 1982 and 1993 rose in rank; two remained the same; three declined.
• Graduate and professional program rankings in national news magazines, although they do not rate all programs annually and employ questionable methodologies, are widely influential and provide a rough guide to quality. The 1997-98 U.S. News & World Report national rankings included the audiology program at the top of its field, otolaryngology 2nd, speech pathology 3rd, physical therapy 4th, sociology 28th, social psychology 5th, ophthalmology 6th, rehabilitation counseling 6th, law 24th, physician's assistant 4th, orthopaedics 8th, family medicine 10th, nursing 11th, political science 22nd, education 15th, accounting 29th, economics 30th, psychology 30th, and engineering 46th.
• Various disciplines also issue rankings that are helpful in tracking progress. In 1997-98, dance ranked among the top 25 programs in the nation (Dance Spirit magazine); economics ranked 30th (Journal of Economic Perspectives); and geography ranked 8th in placement of Ph.D. graduates (Professional Geographer).

Performance on professional qualifying/licensing/certification exams.

Progress: Scores above national average in all appropriate disciplines.

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A Faculty of National and International Distinction

TARGETED INDICATORS

Number of faculty (annual and lifetime) elected to national scholarly academies or receiving any of a specified set of high-prestige career awards.

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

In 1997-98, four additional members of the faculty were elected to national scholarly academies, for a total of 21.

• 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.

Target 3B: 50 high-prestige national awards during the five-year period 1996- 97 to 2000-01 (base: 43 over the previous five-year period).

In 1997-98, 21 faculty members received high-prestige awards, for a total of 32.

• Among 1997-98 awards were a Sigma Xi Scientist of the Year award, one National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship, and two Fulbright Senior Scholar Awards.

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

In 1997-98, a total of 90 faculty members served on national peer review boards.

• Data for 1995-96 are incomplete; the baseline for this target is 1996-97. Only those review panels with national funding from major funding areas are considered.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Number of faculty receiving external recognition for excellence in teaching.

Progress: Improve tracking of external teaching awards.

• Although few national scholarly associations present awards in this category, the UI faculty received a total of 10 external awards recognizing excellence in teaching during 1997-98.

Annual number of faculty receiving Fulbright, senior Fogarty, and other international awards.

Progress: Improve tracking of Fulbright and other international awards.

• During 1997-98, UI faculty received a total of 15 international awards, including Fulbright and Fogarty.

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Distinguished Research and Scholarship

TARGETED INDICATORS

Amount of external funding for sponsored programs received by the University; number of proposals submitted and percent awarded; percent faculty with external research support.

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

In 1997-98, the UI received a total of $217 million in external funding, primarily for research and training.

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

In 1997-98, proposals for external funding increased to 2,672.

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

In 1997-98, the percentage of faculty receiving external support increased to 44%.

Number of faculty publications and citations of publications in comparison with national disciplinary averages.

Target 4D: Increase annual publication index in all relevant disciplines by 15%; increase citation index by 30%.

In 1997-98, the publication index increased by 4.2% for the year, for an accumulated increase of 8.4%; the citation index increased by 10.7% for the year, for an accumulated increase of 23%.

Number of intellectual property disclosures by members of the faculty (in appropriate disciplines).

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

In 1997-98, intellectual property disclosures increased to 90.

PROGRESS INDICATOR

Library rankings.

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

• In 1996-97 (the most recent year for comparative national statistics), the University’s library was ranked 17th among public universities by the Association of Research Libraries.
• In 1996-97, the American Bar Association ranked the University’s Law Library 7th among all law libraries for number of volumes and volume equivalents in its collection.

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A Culturally Diverse and Inclusive University Community

TARGETED INDICATOR

Retention statistics for underrepresented students, faculty, and staff.

Target 5A: Increase minority representation among students from 9.2% to 12.0%, among tenured and tenure-track faculty from 11.4% to 13.0%, among merit staff from 4.5% to 5.3%, and among professional and scientific staff from 4.8% to 5.5%.

In 1997-98, minority representation among students remained constant at 9.5%, among tenured and tenure-track faculty it remained almost level at 11.4%, among merit staff it increased to 4.9%, and among professional and scientific staff it increased to 5.0%.

• Affirmative Action data for faculty and staff are based on an October 1 “snapshot” each year. 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 25.0%, and increase female representation in executive, administrative, and managerial positions from 27.9% to 32.0%.

In 1997-98, female representation on the tenured and tenure-track faculty increased to 24.0% and female representation in executive, administrative, and managerial positions decreased to 28.8%.

• The 1996-97 report included an error in female representation on tenured and tenure-track faculty. The representation in fact had increased from 22.3% to 22.4%.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Reports on satisfaction surveys from selected constituencies.

Progress: Conduct biennial surveys and track results.

• University of Iowa Student Government (UISG) conducted two surveys of students—Establishing Priorities and Establishing Priorities Part II. The first was a look at the choices that shape student experience and was developed in response to a proposed tuition increase. A sampling of 1,500 students ranked areas identified for proposed tuition, and a majority ranked student aid as their first choice. The second survey helped provide UISG with data to better respond to student needs and interests. Thirty-two percent of the 600 students surveyed say they are involved in UI student groups and about a third say they participate in UISG-funded community-wide programming, such as the campus lecture series, SCOPE concerts, and Riverfest.
• A survey of students who stopped out of college (from the 1994 entering class cohort) is being studied to determine why students chose to leave the University and why they returned.
• First-year students entering in the fall of 1997 were given the CIRP Student Information Form, which is part of a national longitudinal study. The results can be used to describe an entering student cohort and provide information to assess the effects of college on students. Results show that Iowa was an overwhelming first choice for students and that their choice was based on academic reputation, the perception that UI graduates get good jobs, and that the UI has a good social reputation. In general, attending college is important to these students for gaining a broader educational perspective and enabling them to be financially secure.

Number of students served by special support and student disability services.

Progress: Monitor usage of these services.

• Participation in Special Support Services remained consistent in 1997-98 (1,581 students) with participation in 1996-97 (1,580 students).
• There was a 13% increase in Student Disability Services participation, from 834 in 1996-97 to 944 in 1997-98.

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Strong Ties Between the University and External Constituencies

TARGETED INDICATORS

Annual private support reported by UI Foundation.

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

In 1997, annual contributors increased to 46,911.

• In the calendar year 1997, these donors to the UI Foundation provided $51.8 million in outright gifts and $45.2 million in future commitments, for an annual total of $97 million.
• When these UI Foundation amounts are added to the $28.6 million in private support received directly by the University in 1997, the total of outright gifts and commitments received is $125.6 million.

Nondegree-seeking enrollments in on- and off-campus educational activities.

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

In 1997-98, the number of nondegree-seeking enrollments increased to 2,912.

Off-campus cultural programming via the Iowa Communications Network.

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

In 1997-98, 88 ICN sites were served by Hancher programming.

Annual patient visits to UI health sciences centers.

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

In 1997-98, the annual patient visits to UI health sciences centers increased to 781,506.

Mean monthly news citations of UI activities.

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

In 1997-98, the mean monthly news citations of UI activities in national media increased to 102.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Reports on satisfaction surveys among Iowans, both alumni and nonalumni.

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

• In 1997, 72% of Iowans surveyed ranked UI undergraduate education “good” or “excellent”; 78% said it “meets or exceeds expectations.”

Annual attendance at a specified set of cultural, scholarly, and athletic events.

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

• In 1997-98, 90,917 attended Hancher events, down from 99,787 the year before.
• In 1997-98, 8,750 attended eight lectures sponsored by the University Lecture Committee, up from 6,650 in 1996-97.
• In 1997-98, 10,270 attended concerts sponsored by the Student Commission on Programming and Entertainment (SCOPE), up from 3,732 in 1996-97.

Number of faculty/staff appointments to state/national/international service panels.

Progress: Develop a system for aggregate reporting; encourage departments to report faculty appointments to service panels to deans; establish University-level baseline.

• In 1997-98, a total of 593 faculty appointments to service panels were reported.

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A High-Quality Academic and Working Environment

TARGETED INDICATORS

Annual campus safety statistics, compared to national averages.

Target 7A: Rank in best four among 17 comparable universities in four categories of campus safety statistics.

In 1996, the UI’s ranking among 17 comparable universities was: 8th in forcible sex offense, declined from first rank (or lowest rate); 3rd in robbery, improved from 4th; 10th in aggravated assault, declined from 9th; and 2nd in weapons violation, improved from 6th.

• Comparison data are published each spring in The Chronicle of Higher Education, on the basis of surveys completed the previous year. Thus, 1996 data appeared in April 1998, and 1997 comparison data will not be available until April 1999.
• Safety statistics are kept on a calendar-year basis, as required by law.
• In 1996-97, the baseline and target were adjusted to focus on four categories of concern: forcible sex offense, robbery, aggravated assault, and weapons violation.
• In 1997, the UI experienced a decrease in all four categories. Robberies dropped from 1 instance in 1996 to 0 in 1997, aggravated assaults from 8 to 4, and weapons arrests from 2 to 0. Forcible sex offenses in 1997 also declined from 1996, from 6 to 4.
• Because reports of attempted sexual abuse at the UI are now included within the category of forcible sex offenses, UI crime figures for 1995 and 1996 were revised retroactively in the spring of 1998.
• The UI will continue to review safety measures and progress with the Campus Safety Committee and assess the effectiveness of important efforts through committee-sponsored surveys of faculty, staff, and students.

Annual building renewal statistics.

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%).

In 1997-98, the figure increased to .683%.

Annual faculty/staff development opportunities.

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

During 1997-98, the number of staff members participating in professional development programs increased to 4,525.

• The UI also plans to increase on-campus internship opportunities (with placements available in such areas as health care, student services, academic departments, or business) from 12 to 18 (5 in 1997-98); increase Mary Jo Small Fellowships (defraying costs of course work, meetings or workshops, or training opportunities, and/or providing release time to prepare for publications) from 0 to 11 (9 in 1997-98); and increase tuition assistance grants from 626 to 666 (527 in 1997-98).

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

In 1997-98, faculty development opportunities increased to 153.

In 1997-98, 120 faculty participated in the Technology-Based Teaching Initiative. When this number is added to the 93 who participated in 1996-97, the cumulative total is 213.

PROGRESS INDICATORS

Satisfaction surveys among faculty, staff, students, patients, and visitors.

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

During 1997-98, surveys were conducted on schedule.

• In a 1997-98 UI campus survey of faculty perceptions of the work environment, 60% or more described the environment as encouraging individual efforts and having high standards for teaching, nearly 80% described it as having high standards for research, and more than 80% described it as having a professional atmosphere.
• In a 1997-98 UI campus survey of professional and scientific staff perceptions of the work environment, more than 50% described the environment as encouraging individual efforts and more than 80% described it as having a professional atmosphere.
• In a 1997-98 UI campus survey of merit staff perceptions of the work environment, nearly 50% described the environment as encouraging individual efforts and more than 60% described it as having a professional atmosphere.

Annual reports of the Office of the Ombudsperson and Office of Affirmative Action.

Progress: Monitor number of complaints/problems and number satisfactorily resolved. Where appropriate, include data from the Office of the General Counsel.

• During 1997-98, the Office of the Ombudsperson served 324 new clients and carried over 70 cases from the previous year, for a total caseload of 394. A 1998 survey of individuals served by the office showed 87% of respondents were satisfied with the work of the office.
• During 1997-98, the Office of Affirmative Action handled 20 new internal complaints of discrimination, with 9 cases carried over from the previous year, for a total of 29; it received 24 new external complaints filed with state or federal civil rights agencies, with 36 carried over from the previous year, for a total of 60; the overall total of 89 does not reflect the handling of numerous inquiries and conflicts that did not result in the filing of a complaint.
• In 1997-98, the Office of the General Counsel handled 15 professional liability tort claims, 33 general tort claims, 2 employment discrimination claims, and 9 other employment claims, for a total of 59 institutional dispute claims. No contract disputes or arbitration awards arose during this period.

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