Minutes of the Consultative Committee
December 5, 2006

Present:  Nancy Carpenter, Jacob Croonenberghs, Roland Guyotte (chair), 
LeAnn Hedquist, Blair Jasper, Judy Korn, Margaret Kuchenreuther, Theresa 
McMenomy, Bonnie Tipcke, Jennifer Zych Herrmann

Guest:  Chancellor Jacquie Johnson

Chair Guyotte called the meeting to order at 1 p. m. and introduced 
newly-elected member Jacob Croonenberghs.

Chancellor Johnson asked the Committee's views on her "next steps" 
approach to implementing Strategic Positioning.  One aspect involves 
program review and budget preparation, and she will return to the 
Committee to discuss proposed recommendations.  The Chancellor would like 
to engage working groups for Spring semester to address two issues, 
"liberal arts for the 21sst century" and  "should UMM brand itself a 
'public honors college'?"  She proposed that these groups report, 
respectively, to the Curriculum Committee and Student Services Committee, 
and then to the Campus Assembly.  She noted that she had conferred 
previously with the chairs of this Committee, the Campus Resources and 
Planning Committee (CRPC), and the Vice-Chair of the Assembly, and 
subsequently with the CRPC as a whole.

Issues relating to the charge of the first working group might include 
areas of concentration versus majors, interdisciplinary studies, career 
preparation, and interaction with other institutions in the region.  The 
second group would likely be concerned with research and market testing 
the "public honors" concept as well as clarifying what it means.  She 
observed that President Bruinincks is generally "okay" with the concept, 
that some UMM Admissions materials already incorporate it, and that such 
public liberal arts institutions as the University of Maryland, St. Mary's 
and New College of Florida have successfully described themselves as 
public honors institutions.

Members noted the overlap between the two issues but did not dispute the 
appropriateness of two working groups.  Some reaffirmed the centrality of 
the liberal arts in UMM's history and mission.  One member wondered 
whether the observation that "the public doesn't know what the liberal 
arts are," refers to those who are likely to be a good fit with UMM.  
Should UMM be doing a better job recruiting those who DO know what the 
liberal arts are?  Others wondered whether the "public honors" label would 
help or hinder.  Would it drive away some students who might succeed at 
UMM?  A particular problem is whether "honors" refers to what a student 
brings to the college or what happens when the student is here.  Are we 
talking about a different way of marketing what we do or are we implying a 
substantial campus change?  One member suggested that UMM's marketing 
classes conduct a survey about the viability of the "public honors" 
concept.  Chancellor Johnson reaffirmed her interest in measurable 
"liberal learning outcomes," that UMM alumni become "high functioning 
citizens."

Chancellor Johnson thanked the Committee for its response to her ideas.

The meeting adjourned at 2 p. m.