Issue Task Forces
The Steering Committee will, through its Chair, appoint Issue Task Forces as needed to address specific topics that are crucial to developing a University plan, but that transcend any one academic or administrative unit. Typically a Task Force will consist of members of the Steering Committee, one of whom will serve as its Chair or Convenor, plus three or more others whom they will recruit either internally or externally as appropriate to consider the assigned topic.
Issue Task Forces are encouraged to communicate with on-campus and off-campus sources as they see fit in the course of gathering information and advice. They will submit recommendations concerning their assigned topics to the Steering Committee for discussion, and may be asked to provide progress reports before their final reports are submitted. Issue Task Force Chairs will inform the Provost’s Office of the formal membership of their groups.
The preliminary list of Issue Task Forces follows, along with the contact names for each. We invite members of the University community to offer comments and suggestions to the Task Forces through the persons serving as contacts. The names of Steering Committee members serving as Task Force contacts are asterisked.
- Assessment: The University needs to develop and employ both divisional and institution-wide tools to ensure that academic programs are meeting their objectives. The benefits of such an approach are substantial. How do we move in that direction?
- Diversity issues, campus climate; interactions among faculty, staff, and students: Improving the campus climate for women and minorities, encouraging more rewarding communications among campus populations, and addressing a range of family issues.
Contact:
Don Feke*, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education; Professor of Chemical Engineering (donald.feke@case.edu)
Contacts:
Beth McGee, Associate Professor of Theater and Dance, Faculty Diversity Officer (bethmcgee@case.edu)
Ka-Pi Hoh*, alumna; Department Head, Lubrizol Corporation (Ka-Pi.Hoh@lubrizol.com)
- Enrollment: Undergraduate, graduate, professional; balance, scale, geographic distribution; services and support for students at all levels. Are there strategies involving multiple units of the University that could enhance outcomes in each of these areas?
Contacts:
Randy Deike, Vice President for Enrollment (randall.deike@case.edu)
Adam Rupe*, President, Undergraduate Student Government; undergraduate student in History and Political Science (adam.rupe@case.edu)
- Experience-based learning; distinctive curricular features: The University has a long history of innovative learning opportunities, SAGES among them, and many of our programs already feature experience-based learning. For example, one of the most distinctive elements of our undergraduate program is the opportunity for students to participate in experience-based learning activities associated with our ongoing research. What are the mechanisms currently in place to provide these experiences? How could we improve the breadth and depth of these experiences? Currently, these research experiences are targeted mainly at juniors and seniors; should we expand this to freshmen and sophomores? Is there an upside for research faculty to participate in these programs? How does having these activities here positively differentiate us as a research university?
Contacts:
Glenn Starkman, Professor of Physics (glenn.starkman@case.edu)
Hossein Sadid*, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (hossein.sadid@case.edu)
- Graduate education: Review of offerings, services, and policies for graduate students, a large portion of the University’s total enrollment but a group that is too often isolated from other program areas. How can we improve this situation?
Contacts:
Charles Rozek, Dean of Graduate Studies; Associate Professor of Biology (charles.rozek@case.edu)
Robert Miller*, Professor of Neuroscience (rhm3@cwru.edu)
- Inter-institutional partnerships and collaborations, University Circle, community outreach and service: Research funding often carries obligations to involve other organizations; how do we choose and work with partners? The Circle is a remarkable location for a university, but we have not had a broad institutional review of its opportunities and challenges in recent years. And how can the University strengthen its role in the Cleveland community?
Contacts:
Cyrus Taylor*, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences; Professor of Physics (cct@case.edu)
Lara Kalafatis*, Vice President for University Relations (lara.kalafatis@case.edu)
- International/global initiatives: A significant share of our students, faculty, and staff hail from about 80 other countries, yet we lack an institutional strategy for international activity. What steps might the University consider to be more welcoming to these students and employees and to increase the impact of international collaboration?
Contacts:
Bo Carlsson*, Professor of Economics (bxc4@case.edu)
Lynn Singer*, Deputy Provost and Vice President for Academic Programs; Professor of Pediatrics, Psychology, and General Medical Sciences (lxs5@case.edu)
- Libraries: The role of academic libraries has already changed considerably in the digital age, and the institution should articulate its approach to providing services for faculty and students in this evolving environment.
Contact:
Jerry Floersch*, Associate Professor of Social Work (jerry.floersch@case.edu)
Joanne Eustis, University Librarian (joanne.eustis@case.edu)
- Research, including interdisciplinary research: It is time to review the level of infrastructure support for the University’s core research missions, primarily those that correspond to traditional disciplinary groups. In addition, however, external funding sources are increasingly demanding cooperation across disciplines in research, a continuing priority in education as well. Are centers the most effective approach, or are there other strategies that the University should consider?
- Student engagement: This metric for the impact of the entire collegiate experience on students is becoming a key indicator of institutional effectiveness throughout higher education. Can we work more systematically to improve student engagement here?
Contact:
Cyrus Taylor*, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences; Professor of Physics (cct@case.edu)
Contact:
Dean Patterson*, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs (gardner.patterson@case.edu)