10/14/11 ks

HAYS. Kan. -- With the results in-hand from a survey that gathered perceptions about the current Fort Hays State University mission statement, a task force is planning two open forums to gather additional input.

The first forum will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and the second from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. Both will be in the Stouffer Lounge, which is located on the second floor of the Memorial Union on the FHSU campus. Ample parking will be available in the lot immediately west of the Memorial Union.

Refreshments will be served at both forums.

Dr. Chris Crawford, assistant provost for quality management and chair of the task force, said the forum on the 25th would be geared somewhat toward the university community and the forum on the 27th would be geared somewhat toward the general public, but he said people from both groups were welcome at either forum.

There will be a live stream of the Oct. 27 forum on the Internet, with some way for viewers to submit their thoughts. Details will be announced before the forum.

"We appreciate the perceptions and ideas for revising the mission statement that we received from the survey," he said. "The survey results have been analyzed, and now we are ready for the next step, which is the open forums."

Some of the key findings from the survey:

· The existing mission statement is perceived to be outdated.

· Greater focus on global and virtual learning is needed.

· Stakeholders support the traditional on-campus learning experience.

· Computerization is no longer cutting edge, so there should be a greater focus on innovative learning environments.

· The current mission lacks clear direction and aspirational goals.

Some of the key conclusions the task force generated from its analysis of the survey:

· Quality learning must be an essential element.

· Global education should be an element, but traditional campus-based education should not be minimized.

· Innovation is preferable to "forward thinking" as an element. "Forward thinking," which suggests a future orientation, might be more important as an element of the FHSU vision statement.

The survey report is available at www.fhsu.edu/mission on the university website for those who would like to read it before attending the forums.

Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, appointed the University Mission Task Force in the spring 2011 semester to review and revise the current mission statement. The intended outcome is an updated, focused mission statement responsive to the university's current and future higher educational environment.

"Members of the task force will lead the discussion at the forums," Crawford said. "We want to hear what the university stakeholders, both on and off campus, believe are important elements for the mission statement and get affirmation for the elements the task force believes are important. The forums are a golden opportunity for people to make passionate pleas for elements they think are important."

After the forums, the next step will be to draft the mission statement, hopefully by November, and then invite feedback one more time.

In addition to Crawford, the members of the University Mission Task Force include Todd Powell, general counsel and executive assistant to the president; Dr. Joey Linn, associate vice president for student affairs and registrar; Dennis King, director of the Virtual College and learning technologies; Curtis Hammeke, athletic director; Dr. Paul Faber, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Chapman Rackaway, associate professor of political science and president of the Faculty Senate; Dr. Jeff Burnett, associate professor of health and human performance; Dr. Rita Hauck, associate professor of technology studies; and Tyler Thompson, president of the Student Government Association.