Arizona universities score high in self-evaluation

The University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University each graded themselves in 20 categories and combined the scores. The cumulative grades will be discussed and voted on by the regents during their meeting in the UA Memorial Student Union.

"The goal is to measure it (performance) to show improvement and make it better," Regent Jack Jewett said. "It is absolutely crucial we have these measurements to hold everyone accountable."

The universities are evaluated in several categories with grades ranging from unsatisfactory to superior. In the report card presented to the regents for review, the Arizona university system received six "superior" ratings, 11 "satisfactory" ratings and one "needs improvement." Two categories were recently created and did not have criteria established for determining a grade.

The regents will evaluate each category and could change some of the grades, Jewett said.

Michael Gottfredson, UA vice president for undergraduate education, said the university uses the report card as a benchmark for making changes.

"We work a lot on improving vis a vis these indicators," Gottfredson said. "We take them very seriously."

The one category graded as needing improvement is "satisfaction of students with academic advising," a category Gottfredson said the UA continues to address.

"We have a lot of projects available to improve advising," he said. "We most surely need to do better with students before they select a major, and with choosing courses before the major is decided."

Gottfredson said the UA plans to improve the consistency of advising availability and information - such as where to go to get particular questions answered. He said the university will integrate training and systems for sharing information.

The grades given to the university system are subjective and can be interpreted differently by different people. Regent Kay McKay said because of that, it is used as a measure of progress.

"You can slant it to mean what you want it to mean," McKay said. "It serves as a standard and shows whether we are doing the job we are supposed to be doing."

Gottfredson said the subjectivity of the grading system also makes it difficult to generate grades.

"You may be doing 85 percent, which is good, but you are not improving. How do you grade that?" he asked. "The idea is to improve. You want to reward progress."

Board President Judy Gignac said showing improvement was the grading system's goal.

"The idea is to continually improve and not say, 'If you don't reach it (superior) by a certain date, you will be flogged,'" Gignac said.

The following items will also be discussed at Friday's regents meeting:

The UA will request permission to promote Audrey Holland and Nicholas James Strausfeld to the rank of Regents Professor.

Holland, who has been with the UA since 1991, teaches speech and hearing science. Strausfeld joined the UA in 1987 and teaches insect neuroanatomy.

With the award comes a $5,000 yearly salary increase and an additional $5,000 each year for scholarly expenses. If approved, the UA total number of Regents Professors would increase to 43.

The UA will ask the Regents to approve a new five-year contract for Joan Marie Bonvincini, the head women's basketball coach. The new contract will increase Bonvincini's yearly salary by $11,000, to $115,000. Her current contract expires March, 2000.

The UA will request board approval for the appointment of Richard Powell to vice president for research and graduate studies. Powell was chosen by the university to replace Michael Cusanovich, who stepped down Jan. 1 to return to teaching and research.