Priority 1.
Achieve the highest levels of rigorous learning and teaching; put student responsibility more at the center, and encourage the engagement of teacher and learner.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Define, understand, and present the value and the appeal of academic rigor and the liberal arts.	Ongoing
Objective 2.	Initiate planning for discussions of a "teaching and learning" forum that would grant include technological support of teaching and learning and coordinate skill development necessary for success at Bates.	Begun; foundation grant
Objective 3.	Enhance the College's thesis (senior project) experience and develop significant introductory academic experience that would reinforce the purpose, and the distinctive attractiveness of Bates.	Implemented through Hewlett grant;  significant additional grant support  requested from Mellon

 

Priority 2.
Support additional connections of research to teaching, as well as the value of research by faculty members and by students.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Establish a full-year leave opportunity for faculty members.	Achieved through Phillips.
Objective 2.	Achieve funded student research opportunities for 70 to 90 students per year.	Achieved through Phillips.
Objective 3.	Establish an endowed program for student internships that could include service or research.	Achieved through Phillips.
Objective 4.	Reinforce the leading strenghts of the College's library and Information Services	Ongoing; in budget
Objective 5.	Increase (to 50% over the 1996 level) support funds for faculty research, course development, service or professional experiences	Ongoing; in budget

 

Priority 3.
Develop and support linkages among disciplines, as well as among models of teaching, without devaluing or diminishing the importance of the disciplines or the contributions of scholarship.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Hold campus-wide conversation regarding what is meant by interdisciplinarity; resolve the practical limits that deter both interdisciplinary and disciplinary programs.	Begun and now   ongoing
Objective 2.	Provide brief injections of expertise through increased use of visiting scholars.	Planned for 1999-00  Phillips funded

 

Priority 4.
Enhance learning and teaching by extending the traditional classroom, both on- and off-campus; create greater flexibility in the calendar, in new venues for learning, and in collaboration among institutions.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Design integrated support system of advising, including mentoring where appropriate	Begin mentoring  Fall 1999
Objective 2.	Use collaborative model to experiment with video conferencing and virtual learning environments.	Starts with limited  use in Fall '99 with  Bowdoin & Colby
Objective 3.	Increase use of off-campus learning sites, including Shortridge and Bates Morse Mountain.	Achieving
Objective 4.	Create greater flexibility in scheduling faculty and student loads/schedules.	Partially achieved with  new schedule implemented  1999-00; faculty load under  review
Objective 5.	Create coordination among OCS, study abroad, internship options, student research, and service learning through integrating center.	Begun; will be in place  1999-00
Objective 6.	Systematically incorporate consideration of student learning and other outcomes as measures of effectiveness.  Explore ways to more directly involve students in self-assessment and evaluation of their academic progress and personal development.	Designing as part of  re-accreditation planning

 

Priority 5.
Identify and recruit a student population that will have the highest levels of potential for achievement.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Achieve 4000 applicants by 2002, 4200 by 2005, approximating a 10-to-1 ratio of applicants to matriculants; decrease acceptance rate; increase yield.	Achieved ahead of  target
Objective 2.	Institute a Visitor Center.	Being rethought.  Alternative means to  achieve objectiive.
Objective 3.	Emphasize development of "portfolio" of materials on which admission and succeeding decisions would be made.	Partially in place and   succeeding
Objective 4.	Develop programs which integrate coach, faculty, and Admission Office recruiting involvement.	In place

 

Priority 6.
Develop and support greater international educational experiences, on campus and beyond, confirming the connection of learning and work in a global context.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Pull together policies and practices that reflect the fact that Bates succeeds in students studying abroad.	Achieved; Bates recognized as   12th among baccalaureate institutions  in % of students studying abroad
Objective 2.	Establish, with consortial support, centers at international sites that will be available for student and faculty use.	In place, Fall '99
Objective 3.	Provide support funds for faculty to prepare internationally focused now achieved aspects of courses.	Partial; grant funding
Objective 4.	Create experiences for students to engage in an international internship, research or service program.	Achieved Spring '99 through  Phillips endowment

 

Priority 7.
Develop new structures and alignment of College resources that allow students more control over their experiences at Bates.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Support student governance by reinforcing its centrality with adequate office in computer access, and program space (also, computer access to registration, theme houses, scheduling, and theme integrated learning, student serving on policy committees, resources for housing; other aspects experimentation).	Partially achieved in   computer access, scheduling,   and theme housing; other aspects  less progress
Objective 2.	Use findings from student survey instruments to develop recommendations and improvements.	Partial; now an ongoing practice

 

Priority 8.
Reinforce the implicit covenants that bind the community; seek to understand and strengthen connections that honor civility, service, collegiality, social justice, and community trust.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Initiate process for the adaptation of an academic and/or social honor code.	Begin planning  phase, 1999-00
Objective 2.	Create expression of College history and culture through spaces, convocations, achievements curricular and cocurricular programs (Library/archives proposal).	Ongoing; in place  achievements
Objective 3.	Build upon Center for Service-Learning achievements.	In place; recognized as   one of the most active in nation
Objective 4.	Achieve a fully developed leadership program, perhaps connected to special opportunities for sophomores.	Planning goes forward; possible implementation during 2000-01,  pending grant

 

Priority 9.
Confirm diversity as a College priority both by valuing the increased diversity of our student, faculty, and staff, as well as through the emphases expressed by the College's programs and curriculum.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Achieve a student-body whose diversity is more reflective of national pools of talent and academic promise (achieve national and international student diversity of approximately 25%)).	Partially achieved (Expect 18% diversity in Class of 2003; highest in college history)
Objective 2.	Continue as leader in NE for diversity among faculty; achieve similar goal among professional staff.	In place
Objective 3.	Obtain greater support for members of College community through workshops and training to assist in respecting differences.	In place/ongoing
Objective 4.	Emphasize the following four elements in stimulating greater attention to, and implementation valuing of, diversity: (a) develop creative recruitment of students and staff; (b) expand curricular experiences with international and diversity options; (c) replace faculty on leave with persons who bring greater difference to the campus; and (d) work to view the whole experience of achieving greatest diversity from the perspective of those who bring such difference.	Initiate, Fall '99 implementation planning underway

 

Priority 10.
Provide spaces and facilities that strengthen the connectedness of learning, student and faculty interaction, and reinforce the culture of equal access and use.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Complete new academic building.	Completed Spring '99
Objective 2.	Institute integrated campus plan for restoring spaces, creating new spaces, and implementing near- meeting residential, office, and program needs (also, EARL Committee -- residential and intellectual life).	Begun and implementing near-term recommendations for Fall '99
Objective 3.	Complete strategic plan for Information Services and Library.	Will complete Summer '99
Objective 4.	Incorporate environmental planning.	Ongoing; identified partial achievements
Objective 5.	Determine options and begin development of plans for campus center (or centers) and other facilities that expand social and educational interaction.	Initiate Fall '99 as part of new campaign planning

 

Priority 11.
Reinforce a work ethic among College employees that values flexibility, cooperation, experimentation and positive responsiveness to change, as well as supports the development of professional advancement.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Establish training and support for supervisors and department managers.	Begun with new Human Resources plan
Objective 2.	Support cross-training, job-sharing, and other means of encouraging flexibility.	Some progress
Objective 3.	Support employee leadership; reward collaboration and flexibility (employee programs, work ethic, developing managers professional leave, team building) .	Some progress
Objective 4.	Continue early retirement programs.	In place
Objective 5.	Improve compensation structure for staff and hourly employees, reflecting implemented reference to market and to pay equity.	'99--'00 budget implemented

 

Priority 12.
Envision learning as continuous and cumulative, connecting experiences at the College with those both before and after Bates (including pre-college education), employment, graduate education, and experiences as Bates alumni.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Expand school to college articulation.	Little progress
Objective 2.	Develop Alumni College.	Begin consideration; may achieve through alternate means.
Objective 3.	Strengthen Office of Career Services.	Begun in 1999-00 budget; will require several years of support

 

Priority 13.
Create adequate resources to accomplish Bates' excellences; creatively and positively manage finances, resources, facilities and environment.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Recruit, train and have in place the personnel needed in Development and in areas of the Treasurer's Office and Human Resources.	Near completion
Objective 2.	Begin to plan and execute campaign to coincide with Goals 2005.	Pre-planning begun; funding approved
Objective 3.	Control and manage cost escalation, channeling resources to priorities.	Ongoing
Objective 4.	Manage the endowment so that, over the course of full-market cycles, a real reinvestment rate of at least 1% is achieved. That is, the total rate of return before costs of management and custody should be equal to the sum of the spending rate, the rate of inflation (CPI), the cost of management and custody expressed as a % of market value of the endowment, and at least 1%.	Ongoing
Objective 5.	Explicitly budget additions to capital replacement reserves on an annual basis ongoing in sufficient amounts to allow the long-term preservation of the campus in top condition. Endow and provide operating budget to cover the operating expenses (maintenance, custodial, utilities) of new facilities.	Progress made; ongoing
Objective 6.	Retain the balance of fees, costs, the qualities of the College, and student access to the College through financial aid.	Implemented

 

Priority 14.
Collaborate with the local community in ways that both serve the College's mission and recognize the reciprocity with the external community of both obligations and opportunities.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Develop strategic alliance with external community.	Implementation has begun
Objective 2.	Develop, in collaboration with the Lewiston-Auburn community, zones that blend our respective borders, with the goal of meeting the objectives of both Bates and our community as partners.	Planning has begun
Objective 3.	Offer to students greater internship and service opportunities, with attention to 1999-00 with Phillips their essential role in a coherent program of studies, and to the interdependent and other foundation funds relationship between who serves and who is served.	Begun; implemented 1999-00 with Phillips and other foundation funds

 

Priority 15.
Identify, express, and strengthen those aspects of Bates that are exemplary of its leadership and distinctiveness among the nation's finest colleges.

 

Objective	Task	Outcome
Objective 1.	Increase the number of endowed professorships to 16 by 2,000, to 20 by 2005.	Ahead of schedule; now  19 endowed chairs
Objective 2.	Increase six-year retention to graduation rate to nearly 90%; increase fall to goals fall persistence of first-year students to over 92%	On target; achieving goals
Objective 3.	Achieve both a low student-to-faculty ratio and a more flexible pattern of distribution of faculty effort through the curriculum, thereby improving the probability that students will be more challenged by faculty members who know them well, increasing faculty-student interaction.	Ongoing; College recognized as 12th in nation in faculty scholarship and access to  students
Objective 4.	Achieve, by conclusion of FY 2000-2001, an endowment of $200M and 72% fee dependency; by conclusion of FY 2005-2006, achieve $325M in endowment and a 67% level of fee dependency.	On target
Objective 5.	Reach the A+ level of AAUP salary ratings in all ranks; construct benefit packages for Bates employees, so that total compensation is most competitive.	On target; in budget

 

Updated May 15, 1999