By
Katie Clark
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Likins recognizes faculty that helped with 301 budget plans
A UA professor presented a draft of the UA's strategic plan for the next five years at yesterday's monthly Faculty Senate meeting.
The plan summarizes UA's mission and strategies to have an impact on students, faculty and the state of Arizona.
"It's very helpful to look into the future," said Senator Andrew Polk, chair of the Strategic Planning and Budget Advisory Council, who presented the draft.
"We want to take the strategic plan and use it in a way appropriate for college needs," added Polk, an art professor.
The draft, which Polk said has a simpler format than previous years', has shortened UA's mission statement from three paragraphs to six words: "To discover, educate, serve and inspire."
"People can digest it and have an idea of what it means," Polk said.
Polk said the plan will also emphasize embracing diversity at the UA.
In addition to a revised mission statement, the draft proposes a new vision for UA, which stresses the university's ambition to become a premiere student-centered research university.
The draft also outlines four new goals for UA, which include:
An emphasis on learning and discovery
An enhancement of the internal university community to create "a genuine sense of belonging"
To enhance outreach opportunities for Arizona through activities at the UA
To obtain and keep human and physical resources to stay true to the university's mission.
Polk said he wants these goals to help establish a more involved UA community, both internally and with the state.
A final draft should be ready by May, Polk said.
In other Faculty Senate business, UA President Peter Likins summarized the Arizona Board of Regents' approval of budget plans for Proposition 301 funds, giving the UA an estimated $45 million to $55 million beginning in August.
"A lot of folks put in exemplary efforts," said Likins, recognizing numerous faculty members who contributed to the approved plans.
The Board authorized the budget plans, which will focus mainly on bioscience and information technology, Friday.
UA Provost George Davis also discussed the presentation that he made to the Board Friday regarding registration fee waivers for graduate assistants, which total about $2,350 per student.
"This is a significant opportunity," said Davis, regarding the chance for the university to take a stance with the Board on the issue.
He also said the presentation allowed the Board to hear the reality of graduate assistant compensation and to compare and contrast salary amounts with other universities.
