Loyola University Chicago

Present:
Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. (Chair), Jeff Doering, John Frendreis, Jon Heintzelman, Carol Roup, Kelly Shannon, Lorraine Snyder, and Mary Theis

Absent:
Anthony Barbato, William Cannon, Daniel Flynn, Bill Laird, Ushma Lakhani, and Wayne Magdziarz

Guests:
Dean Jeffrey Rosen (School of Professional Studies), Dean Robert Seal (Libraries), and Robert Ward (Alumni and Special Events)

1. Father Garanzini opened the meeting at 8:10 a.m. He suggested that the Committee consider ways to involve Faculty Council and Staff Council members, and noted that one important way would be through representation on the Strategic Planning and other UPCs. John Frendreis noted that he has asked the Executive Committee of Faculty Council to meet and suggest names of faculty members for service on various University committees.

2. The Committee members approved the minutes from the September 26, 2005 meeting.

3. Bob then presented his strategic plan for the University Library. He defined three main goals: 1) Increase the use and usability of the LUC library, 2) Strengthen information resources, and 3) Expand and enhance physical facilities. He outlined plans for the Information Commons (IC) project, which will be a joint Library-Information Systems effort. Bob linked these strategic plans to the University strategic plan, and highlighted his plans to measure the effectiveness of his objectives by using gate counts, user surveys, collection analyses, increased budget allocations, completion of construction and renovation, and annual surveys.

4. In response to a question regarding the use of the term “library faculty,” John Frendreis noted that Bob’s strategic directions offer an opportunity to review expectations and to further enhance the professionalization of the staff. In response to a question about the library advisory board and its status, John Frendreis said that he plans to solicit the Faculty Council for suggested members and to reconstitute the board in a similar fashion to the Rome Center Advisory Committee. He hopes to have the board fully up and running by the end of the fall semester. Father Garanzini said that such a board is critical to help explain the changes that are taking place, including the development of the Information Commons and the related phases of construction.

5. Father Garanzini then asked about a possible endowment for the Information Commons. Jon Heintzelman suggested that donors be told at the time that they make a donation that a percentage of their gift was going toward construction and another percentage going toward endowment, since it is easier to endow the IC before it is built. Bob Seal agreed that with the speed of technological advances, an endowment for the IC was critical. John Frendreis added that Bob’s plans are particularly pressing considering the large volume of students we currently have using the libraries on both the WTC and the LSC.

6. Carol asked about the race by google.com to put full texts online, and Bob responded that he welcomes the move toward online postings. He said that the timeline to do so was murky because of copyright issues, and added that he didn’t think that this would have a negative impact on library facilities in the near term, especially considering the success that bookstores and online book dealers still enjoy. Kelly asked what precedent there was for a library user’s survey and John Frendreis said that although there hasn’t been a specific library survey in the past, questions about the usability of the LUC library are included on the annual student services survey. Additionally, the Committee discussed the need to engage alumni as well as residents of the Clare as members of the LUC community, including as library users. Father Garanzini suggested that a book/author guild would be an effective way to simultaneously fund and friend raise.

7. Dean Rosen then presented his strategic plan for the School of Professional Studies. His strategic issue areas include: programmatic growth, curricular definition, strategic alliances, benchmarking, identity and positioning, adjunct faculty hiring and development, student experience and services, and financial positioning. Jeff noted that the three target audiences for these efforts are adult, non-traditional, and part-time students, and he highlighted his desire to change the School’s name to the School of Continuing and Professional Studies to better reflect its vision and mission. Jeff plans to institute a regular dean’s forum to hear directly from students about their experiences. Additionally, he said that a small working group consisting of the dean of the School of Communication, Technology and Public Service, the dean of the Graduate School, the director of Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management, and Jeff were meeting to enhance communication and determine best practices.

8. In response to a question about the New Beginnings program, Father Garanzini responded that the program is in the process of transformation based on the program donors’ requests. The program is moving toward incorporating an ESL learning component as well as mainstream educational classes and is developing placement opportunities for its participants. The Committee discussed growing international opportunities for students (study abroad trips) as well as alumni (academic courses followed by int’l travel trips). Father Garanzini mentioned that the University is exploring the European market for opportunities to offer LUC post-baccalaureate degree programs at the Rome Center, and that he was considering splitting Loyola’s education program from the residential program in Rome in order to offer enhanced programming separate from housing constraints. Lorraine Snyder said that she would send the Committee the report that Loyola’s Rome Center consultant Marlene Levine has prepared in this regard. It was agreed that a discussion on all of Loyola’s international dimensions should be a future agenda item.

9. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. The next meeting will be held on Monday, November 7 from 10:00-11:30 a.m.