ACTION ITEM: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ACTION PLAN:

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page 1 of 7 ACTION ITEM: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ACTION PLAN: ISSUE: The Board is requested to approve the Action Plan. The plan was reviewed at the Board s annual retreat in June. BACKGROUND: The Board of Regents Action plan is a key document that identifies its long-term strategic directions and objectives that are designed to carry out its vision and mission. The Action Plan objectives generally cover one year but can span several years. The Annual Action Plan is a document that provides planning focus and accountability by reporting subsequent performance of the Board and its staff. DISCUSSION: Currently, there are six strategic directions and twenty-six objectives in the Action Plan, additional objectives can be added at any time by the Board. Each January and August reports are presented to the Board on progress toward meeting each of the Action Plan objectives. Additionally, often extensive reports are made to the Board on specific objectives. The Action Plan is focused and strategic. It does not encompass all of the activities of the Board and its staff. Numerous other important activities are performed and are separately reported to the Board each year. RECOMMENDATION: The Board is requested to approve the attached Action Plan. CONTACT: Art Ashton, Central Office, , ashton@asu.edu

2 BOARD STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS & ACTION PLAN Page 2 of 7 BOARD STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS The quality of life and improvement in the social, economic, and environmental health of Arizona s citizens is directly related to the education, research and public service provided by Arizona s public universities. Access to university level education for Arizona citizens, particularly for the fast growing number of first generation, time- and place-bound students, is critical to social stability, meeting workforce needs and having citizens who are responsible stewards of the state s legacies and resources. The Arizona Board of Regents has six long-term Strategic Directions that provide a broad focus for its planning and are a guide for university strategic planning. The Strategic Directions are: 1. Increase Student Participation in University Education 2. Enhance the Quality of Student Education 3. Increase Affordable Education for Students 4. Provide an Educated, Competitive Workforce 5. Enhance Research and Impact Economic Development 6. Optimize University Resource Acquisition and Work Environment On an annual basis, the Board develops and pursues an Action Plan consisting of objectives that contribute to the accomplishment of the Board s long-term strategic directions. The Action Plan provides a means for reporting progress on the Board s Strategic Directions and Objectives. It is important to note that the Action Plan is strategic and that once objectives have been implemented they may continue, but do not appear on the Action Plan.

3 Page 3 of 7 Board of Regents Objective #1 - UA Presidential Search: Conduct a search process, which culminates in the appointment of a new UA president, and ensures a successful transition plan. Objective #2 - UA College of Medicine Phoenix: Advance this initiative, including submission of operational and capital plans for the College of Medicine-Phoenix to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by September 1, 2005, as required by SB Submit a progress report to JLBC by December 31, 2005, also required under SB (2,4,5) Strategic Planning Committee: Objective #3 - Redesign of the University System: The university presidents will outline and proceed with their plans for implementation of the recommendations in the Redesign of the University System Report. (1,2,3,4,5,6) Objective #4 - Community College Partnerships: Enhance partnerships with the Arizona community colleges, develop a value proposition to outline the value of higher education, and issue a memorandum of understanding (MOU) stating guiding principles under which the universities and community colleges agree to work together toward common goals and principles in meeting the needs of current and future higher education students. (2,4) Objective #5 - Joint Conference Committee of the Universities and Community Colleges (JCC). The JCC will recommend 3-5 substantive strategies for improving access to the baccalaureate degree on which the community colleges and universities will collaborate. Following review and approval by the university and community college presidents, the recommendations will be presented to the Regents for review and approval at the December 2005 meeting. (2,3,4,5) Objective #6 - Focused Governance: Continue to refine the Board of Regents governance model and develop more effective and efficient policies for conducting the Board s governance responsibilities. (1,2,3,4,5,6)

4 Page 4 of 7 Public Awareness Committee: Objective #7 - Public Awareness Action Plan for : Enhance Board and university public awareness activities and interaction with the Legislature and Governor s Office. Improve awareness of Board initiatives, particularly with the public and members of the House and Senate Higher Education Committees, and legislative leadership. (2,4,5) Objective #8 - Outreach: Enhance the level of understanding on the part of policymakers, the media, and the general public regarding the role of the Board, university programs and services, and university system priorities. Outreach efforts will include preparing a fact book, issue papers, web site features, and press releases. The Regents will also continue to hold press briefings after each Board meeting. (2,4,5) Objective #9 - Legislative Affairs: Continue to utilize the Legislative Affairs Workgroup to provide direction on legislative issues, including preparation of various reports and studies mandated in the first session of the 47th Legislature. Develop a Legislative Action Plan to identify legislation that is relevant to higher education and to communicate and advocate for the Board s positions on legislation. (1,2,3) Objective #10 - Arizona Students Association (ASA): Continue the central office briefings for ASA leaders, and continue working closely with government affairs liaisons and student leaders on legislative issues and other Board matters affecting students. (1,2,4) Programs Committee: Objective #11 - Nursing Shortage: Track and report on university accomplishments to double the number of nursing school graduates from FY 2002 to FY The Legislature has appropriated $4 million/year for five years for community colleges and universities to support doubling of the number of nursing graduates. (4) Objective #12 - Learner-Centered Education: Establish a priority for the 2006 LCE grants on undergraduate lower division general education and foundational courses, with special attention to projects that address large enrollment courses (focus approved by LCE Team in April 2005). Commission an assessment of the LCE grant program and its impact at the universities, and, based upon that assessment, recommend a future direction for the grant program for the next five years. (2)

5 Page 5 of 7 ACTION PLAN Objective #13 - Regents Accountability Measures (RAM) Report: Continue to monitor the long term and near term goals for the seven system-wide accountability measures and baseline statistics in the areas of access, affordability, and success that have been set, along with five unique accountability measures from each of the universities. Where necessary (when goals have been achieved, for example), modify goals or introduce new measures to be recommended to the Regents. Universities to continue to report on previously produced measures for the purpose of ongoing management and diagnosis of problems. (1,3,6) Objective #14 - Strategic Program Area Review (SPAR): University Financial Aid. Coordinate the completion of the SPAR, as required by the Legislature, and the responses to questions or issues which may arise during the next legislative session. (3) Objective #15 - ABOR Policy Review. Conduct a review of ABOR policies related to academic and student affairs, and submit any recommendations for changes to the Board for approval. Phase 1 is to be completed by August 2005; the second phase should be completed by December (1,2,3,4) Resources Committee: Objective #16 Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF): Review and approve FY TRIF business plans, including budgets to be implemented July 1, The scheduled September 2005 approval will provide universities with necessary lead time to make any modifications to ongoing projects or to develop new projects. (4, 5) Objective #17 Budget Process: Prepare for and monitor the annual budget process, including the submission of the FY 2007 state budget request. (2,6) Objective #18 Tuition and Fees Workgroup: Establish a tuition and fees workgroup to identify and assess options for limiting tuition increases for new students to no more than inflation, as required by SB 1517; identify and assess alternative timelines for tuitionsetting; and recommend a policy framework for special undergraduate program fees and to review the existing policy framework to special undergraduate class fees. (1,4,5) Objective #19 - Faculty and Staff Salaries: Support efforts to increase the competitiveness of faculty and staff salaries, including the review and approval of the statutorily required Annual Personnel Report. (2,4)

6 Page 6 of 7 Assessment and Compensation Committee: Objective #20 - Executive Compensation: Consider findings of consultants study of university executive compensation and implement as appropriate. (6) Objective #21 - Executive Compensation: Review annual university executive compensation reports and make recommendations as appropriate. (6) Capital Committee: Objective #22 - Oversight of University Capital Development Process. Commence oversight of the university capital development process with a focus on alignment between Strategic Plans, Capital Improvement Plans, Capital Development Plans, and final capital projects and real property transactions at the three universities. (2,5,6) Objective #23 - Review ABOR policies. Continue to review ABOR policies to further enhance the capital development process and oversight by the Capital Committee and the Board. Areas of focus include reviewing the Space Inventory and Utilization reports, Building Renewal calculations, and Cost Control Guidelines for university capital projects. (2,5,6) IT/AZUN (Information Technology / Arizona Universities Network) Committee: Objective #24 Arizona Universities Network: Review and monitor AZUN projects administered by Northern Arizona University, in particular the new 2+2 programs, the marketing study, refinement of the current web site, and development of a new AZUN gateway web-based portal. Implement ARRO (Arizona Regents Reach Out) grant opportunities to fund projects that support the distance learner, by providing higher education opportunities to new populations of students. (1,2,3,4) Objective #25 - Information Technology Projects: Continue to refine the Information Technology Architecture that provides a framework and standards for guiding the development of information technology in the university system. Review and monitor Information Technology Plans, including major system implementations, new project approvals, and centralization of information technology. Approve collaborative projects using TRIF Regents Innovation Fund allocations. (2,4,5)

7 Page 7 of 7 Audit Committee: Objective #26 - Audit Committee Oversight: Continue with improving the coordination of central office and universities annual audit planning processes. Continue to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Workgroup s recommendations of certain best practices with respect to the integrity of financial reporting for higher education embodied in the SOX legislation. Implementation includes reviewing and recommending possible changes to ABOR policy framework relating to conflicts of interest, ethics and the reporting and investigation of alleged fraud and misconduct. In addition, implement new technologies (e.g., SharePoint and teleconferencing) to improve Audit Committee efficiency and effectiveness. (2,5,6)