CEHD Inside / Out

The College believes such a tool could guide decision-making around student recruitment, faculty, and staffing levels, and serve as a predictor for programmatic successes. The goal is to avoid costs and increase revenue by targeting programs that will increase student enrollment and revenue. The project was funded at the level of $25,000 for graduate assistance to further analyze and define the project and its scope.

To complete the project, the University's Office of Service and Continuous Improvement (OSCI) recommended that CEHD embark on a joint project with the College of Liberal Arts; the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences; and Institutional Research and Reporting, and take the first steps toward creating a tool that can be used by colleges throughout the University. The strategic positioning goals for such a project are exceptional organization and exceptional innovation.

SPIF was created by President Robert Bruininks to support initiatives that help drive success of the University’s aspiration to become a top three university. The fund is administered by OSCI. The goal is to invest in projects that will result in a positive impact for service levels, productivity, and cost/revenue streams.

In January 2007, OSCI solicited applications from the University community to fund service and process improvement projects. Applicants were required to work through the appointed Improvement Liaison from their unit/college/campus. Thirty-three applications for funding were received – totaling more than $1.5 million in requests. OSCI staff, the Improvement Liaison Steering Group, and a representative from the Office of Information Technology carefully reviewed each of the proposals. Eleven projects have been selected for funding in FY2008.

(Excerpted from the Web site of the Office of Service and Continuous Improvement)