Dr. Sam Rushforth, Dean of Science and Health, and Dr. Wayne Mangelson co-chaired the task force charged by the President to design the new planning “model.” The task force examined best practices used at institutions of high education around the world in establishing this new model. Their recommendations were forwarded to the President for final approval.

The first planning committee, representing a broad spectrum of the campus community, including students, was charged by the President to conduct a SWOT analysis, to recommend a new mission statement as well as five to six strategic directions, and to review all master plans on campus to ensure they were consistent. The committee was chaired by Vice President Ian Wilson and Juanita Benioni, a faculty member in the School of Education.

The committee completed its work and issued an official report to the President in November of 2003. The proposed mission statement was then taken under advisement by the President for further refinement. With slight modifications, the other work done by the committee was adopted by the Board of Trustees.

At the beginning of 2005, the President appointed Vice President Cory Duckworth and Juanita Benioni to chair the new Strategic Directions Planning Committee. The new committee was charged with reviewing and “refining” the work done by the previous committee to ensure relevance as well as to establish a proposed roles and responsibilities statement. In November the Committee will conclude its final work for the year.

A new planning committee will be appointed and charged by the President in January of 2006 to again review the Core Values, Strategic Directions, SWOT analysis, and master plans on campus to insure their relevance. It is anticipated that by the end of 2005, the new mission statement will be authorized.