Following very brief expressions of delight that summer is almost over, Greg reported on the following self-study work accomplished over the summer:

(1) Creation of the Institutional Effectiveness Office which will serve as the home base for self-study work and assessment work. Copies of the three previous Roanoke College Self-Studies, recent alternate model self-studies done at Chowan, Furman, Richmond, Texas Lutheran, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest, and the documentation bins are now available in the office.

(2) Creation of an R.C. Institutional Effectiveness Web Page. The page includes such items as the committee structure, charges, and rosters; the Self-Study Plan; and minutes of all self-study committee meeting minutes. When this is connected to the College home page, it will serve as an information repository throughout the self-study process. Committee minutes will be available on this site (and not sent as hard copy).

(3) Creation of a committee mailing list with the user name mail_steering.

(4) Individual meetings with the staffs of all five administrative divisions in which Greg described SACS and the reaccreditation process, the alternate model self-study, the organizational structure for the self-study, and the self-study timetable.

(5) Work on institutional effectiveness with administrative units and academic departments and programs.

Chairs of individual SACS committees reported on the status of their work.

(1) Leslie reviewed the work of the Purpose Committee and reminded that a draft of a new Purpose Statement was circulated to all faculty and staff near the end of spring semester. Several individuals responded to the invitation to send comments and suggestions. The Committee met on Tuesday of this week and decided (a) to offer three models for consideration: the current statement, a revision of the drafted new statement, and a statement written by those who have urged that the statement include a stronger message about our church relationship and/or the importance of spiritual development; (b) to involve the Board of Trustees in discussions of the statement at the earliest possible time; and (c) to proceed with the commitment to hold open fora on the statement.

(2) Greg reviewed the work of the Compliance Audit Committee. That committee met earlier in the day and has agreed on individual assignments (done last spring), reporting and documentation formats, and a timetable that calls for the investigative work, individual reports, and collection of documentation to be completed or almost completed by the end of fall semester.

(3) Greg reported that the Strategic Study Committee worked over the summer and has produced a draft of an assessment plan. Gail and Ben were the instrumental planners in the Terrence Deal Workshop of the previous day. That workshop was designed to have us reflect on the college culture and the culture of learning on campus--important goals of the new co-curricular learning and service programs.

(4) Dan reported that one of the main objectives of the Communications Committee-an R.C. web page on institutional effectiveness that includes a section on the self-study--has been accomplished and will be connected to the R.C. home page as soon as we get an okay from John Dwyer.

(5) Adrienne and Dan reported that the Calendar Task Force has identified 40 institutions (comprised mainly of ELCA, VFIC, Virginia, and other selected liberal arts colleges) and mailed tham a questionnaire regarding college calendar, contact minutes, etc. Response has already been quite good. We should be able to present a thorough analysis of how our calendar compares to that of other institutions.

Greg shared a proposal to create an Assessment Council. Committee members made helpful suggestions. Greg will meet with FAC on September 7th.

Greg has talked again with Chris Phelan, incoming SGA President about the appointment of three additional students to self-study committees (Purpose to replace the graduated Elise Bennett, Strategic Study, and Calendar). This should happen soon.

Future committee meeetings will be scheduled on Thursdays at 3:00 (alternate: Mondays at 3:45) assuming these times work for the members not present, and care will be taken to avoid obligations members have with other committees. Greg will contact the members not present today.

Dan demonstrated the new institutional effectiveness web page; all agreed that it is exceptionally well done.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

GLW