Board of Trustees

Administrative Divisions

Summary: The Regional Summit was a day-long event at Western Carolina University. Four speakers addressed the Summit audience: Mr. Phil Kirk, President, North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, and Chairman, State Board of Education; Ms. Mary Jo Waits, Associate Director, The Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University; The Honorable Marc Basnight, President Pro Tempore, N.C. Senate; and Dr. Greg Bischak, Senior Economist, Appalachian Regional Commission. Mr. John Davis, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., and University of North Carolina Board of Governors member, moderated the event.

The afternoon session was spent on discussions by eleven focus groups which were formed to include the following areas of interest: Environment, Development, and Infrastructure; Health Care; Communications, Media & Technology; Arts, Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation; Engineering, Emerging Science & Biotechnology; Community College; Public School P-12; Public Administration: Courts/Police/Fire Departments/ Emergency Management; Diversity Programs & Social Services; Business, Banking, Management & Finance; Local and State Government.

The discussions revolved around four questions and the issue of institutional engagement. An engaged university is one whose faculty, staff, students, and administrators join with its constituencies to address the serious needs and concerns of the state and the host region such as the economy, education, poverty, diversity, communication, the environment, technology and emerging sciences, health care, and other critical issues. All focus groups agreed that engagement should be a direction for Western. A recurring theme of all focus groups concerned a means by which business, industry, and government institutions and agencies could be made aware of the expertise offered by Western's faculty and staff. Specific suggestions and recommendations are listed below:

Suggestions and Recommendations from Focus Group Sessions

Question 1:

Is "engagement" the appropriate direction for Western Carolina University?

All Focus Groups agreed that Western should engage with all affected constituencies.

Comments:

Engagement is needed for the communication and contacts needed to advise/assist students as they transition into the work world.

Western should think beyond the campus in terms of engagement - Atlanta, Knoxville, Greenville/Spartanburg. Others felt that Western focuses too much on the state of North Carolina. Emphasis should include North Georgia, upstate South Carolina, East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia, and students should be prepared to compete statewide, nationally, and globally.

Service Learning is a great way to engage with the community. It provides opportunities to collaborate and it teaches young people their obligation to give back.

The regional campuses need to be open and welcoming for good interaction.

Engagement is a "two-way street." Educational institutions are important in providing a well-trained workforce. This is necessary to attract employers who will provide good jobs.

It is hoped that the new Performing Arts Center will help Western better engage the community. It should offer alternatives and be a part of the larger plan to connect to traditional tourism.

Some steps toward engagement have been taken; however, a more coordinated effort is needed.

Articulation is a very positive example of what Western can continue to do to engage the community colleges.

Question 2:

If "engagement" is not the right direction, what would the focus group propose as an alternative?

Engagement should be a goal and the actions of the university must reflect a sincere desire to interact and to listen.

Question 3:

What can Western contribute to the field/discipline represented by the focus group?

Arts, Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation

•  Tourism is growing and Western could play an important role in  researching what the tourism industry could expect from the mountain  traveler. It was pointed out that Appalachian State has done this same  research and Western should collaborate and extend - not just  duplicate - what they have done.



•  The general consensus from this focus group is that the current system  of engagement is more or less an occasional contact between the  community and the University. It is perceived that there is no plan or  office to help make this contact. A real partnership rather than  occasional contact is needed. Many tourism boards exist. A primary  need exists for someone to coordinate the efforts.



•  The University serves as a location where resources, records and  information are available to the National Park Service. It was felt by this  group that the key to tourism is the ability of the University to provide  these services as well as offer cultural resources as alternatives for  visitors to the area.



•  It was suggested that the University's plan for music and art and the  community's relationship to tourism go hand in hand. Events such as  the new Cullowhee ArtsFest, Summer Theatre Festival, Music Theatre  program and the galleries and performance hall in the new Fine and  Performing Arts Center will provide alternatives to connect with  traditional tourism.



•  Western must be a stakeholder in the larger community plan for  tourism. Both Western and the community must have a sense of  ownership in the plan.



•  A "town and gown" relationship must be established and nurtured. The  process should include commitments from each group to develop an  overall strategy - not just a "feel good" discussion. Coordinated efforts  to connect each group do not exist and must be established.



•  The Southern Highlands Craft Guild is focusing on the development of a  destination/marketing center for Western North Carolina. This Center  could work with Western to coordinate the Entrepreneurship major,  Small Business Center and internships in academic departments to help  make the necessary connections.

Business, Banking, Management, and Finance

•  Students can help with surveys for local businesses and then provide  assistance implementing the findings.



•  Provide incentives for faculty to interact with the community to provide  service and research.



•  Develop externships for faculty so they could experience first hand the  opportunities and problems in the business world.



•  Expand student co-op and internship opportunities that would lead to  jobs that would keep Western graduates in the region.



•  Create and provide a data base of resources that could be provided by  Western. Include services that could be provided by students and  faculty, as well as act as a clearinghouse for volunteer services provided  by alumni and area retirees.



•  Western could serve as a clearinghouse for startup funding  opportunities to serve local business needs.



•  Western should be more proactive in marketing services and assistance  to new and growing businesses and help businesses build the network  and synergy necessary for success. A suggestion was made for  Western to host and maintain a web site that would post opportunities  for engagement and connections such as a Small Business Resources  Directory, provide links to key university issues, and information about  the SBTDC.

Many resources seem to be available to the business community. The challenge is getting the message out to the community who needs the assistance. Engagement can be the solution if it is a priority and appropriately coordinated.

Communications, Media, and Technology

•  Provide Western connections away from campus, for example, the  existing connections that have been established in Hendersonville and  Cherokee.



•  Media coverage (radio, newspaper, television) is needed to promote  what Western is currently doing to be engaged with the community.

Diversity Programs and Social Services

•  Engage the aging population by doing outreach in the retirement areas  and by having a lecture series related to aging. Provide programs such  as the Great Life Series - where retirees are brought to campus for  lunch, then enjoy a play or some other activity.



•  Assisted living needs are a concern in Cherokee. Engage with Cherokee  community on ways to include Cherokee culture when addressing aging  and assisted living concerns in the various Health Care curricula.



•  Establish a model program where people are encouraged to age  successfully.



•  There is a need to understand Latino culture. Western can assist this  endeavor by providing guest speakers and performers and have  bilingual leaders who can communicate with the Latino population in the  community.



•  The University could volunteer the use of bilingual students and  professionals to assist with translation needs to agencies such as  medical and social services organizations.



•  It was suggested that the term, "tolerance," should not be used  because no one wants to be tolerated. The focus group instead urged  the use of the term, "appreciation of differences."



•  All colleges should develop a diversity plan. The diversity plan in the  College of Education and Allied Professions was discussed as an  example.

Engineering, Emerging Science, and Technology

•  Regional manufacturers need individuals with engineering background.  Five Hundred and Seventy Five companies within 75 miles would love to  have a relationship with Western. The community colleges have 2-year  programs; however these students have to leave the region to gain 4- year engineering degrees, and often do not return. There is a need to  create a vision in Western North Carolina elementary and high schools  that students can become scientists and engineers here in the west.



•  Western needs to partner more with the Regional High Tech Center.



•  Educate the public that the loss of jobs in manufacturing has been the  low skill jobs. Individuals must develop higher skills for the higher skill  jobs now in manufacturing.



•  There is a brain-drain of faculty since the university is losing top people  and having to pay higher salaries to bring in junior faculty. Teaching  loads must be reasonable so faculty can complete research and learn.  "Learning" is more time consuming than teaching, and faculty have little  time to take on additional roles.



•  The university needs to show students how the fundamental skills are  applied and promote a vision of success in our students. New campus  initiatives such as informatics and biotechnology will build on  fundamental skills and provide new applications of knowledge.



•  Provide more internships and co-op opportunities for students.



•  An engineering program is critical to provide assistance to existing and  expanding industries in the region. We need to identify resources to  convince foreign manufacturers, as well as US, to relocate here. We can  provide the technology environment they desire.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure

•  Offer more programs in environmental planning and health care,  particularly senior care. Western should be the leading institution in the  state in developing environmentally friendly construction and land use,  especially as it relates to the mountain environment. Exercise  leadership in educating the people of the region concerning  environmental issues.



•  Make business and governmental agencies aware of the expertise  offered by faculty and staff members. Publicize this information and  provide opportunities for networking.



•  Western should take a leadership role and serve as a model for  communities by developing and adopting environmentally sound  principles.



•  Develop a pilot program to show small towns how to handle recycling.  Provide a source for information regarding recycling alternatives.



•  Western should offer presentations to existing committees in the region  related to environmental and development issues.



•  Western could act as a liaison between various agencies in Raleigh and  the region, and could help ensure that these state agencies are made  aware of problems specific to the mountains. Since Cullowhee is not  incorporated, there is no method for people in immediate proximity to  the University to make their issues known to state governmental  agencies. Western could assist other unincorporated areas facing the  same problem.



•  Western could assist the area by developing a plan for better access to  the region, both in terms of ground transportation and access by air.



•  Make information available on Western's web site regarding erosion  control, problems with construction on steep slopes, and similar  questions.

Health Care

•  Assurance was provided to the focus group that Western's faculty and  staff are ready to embark upon the concept of engagement and  "thinking outside the box." Examples of progress were cited and  included: on-line nursing training, EMS distance learning classes,  Gerontology certificate program moving to a graduate degree, care  giver training, etc. The discussion complimented Western for a greater  interdisciplinary approach and encouraged more of this.



•  A suggestion was made for Western's distance learning opportunities in  nursing to be tied into the hospitals to enhance training and continuing  education for both parties. This will help address the worsening nursing  crisis.



•  Engagement is the right direction and important to implementing  solutions to the health care crisis as well as enhancing relationships  with the community. A task force was proposed to interface the  university with health care providers. Mark Leonard, Harris Regional  Hospital, was named Chair.



•  The University should provide access to its physical facilities (labs, etc.)  as much as possible for community professionals.



•  There is a need to address wellness and prevention services  immediately. The focus group suggested consideration of a Master's  degree in Wellness.



•  The University should expand opportunities for students to learn  (service learning opportunities.)



•  Create new and flexible times for training, i.e., nights and weekends.



•  Connect distance learning/world wide web from Western to WNC  hospitals and share training from each. (For example, Nursing students  could be at Western watching an in-service session conducted by  physicians at Harris Hospital.)



•  Continue yearly Summits and other means of bringing the campus and  the community together.

Local and State Government

•  Provide more training for local leaders like that provided by the Institute  of Government in Chapel Hill.



•  Encourage and advertise partnerships and student internships with  government workers, elected officials, and city managers.



•  Develop the vast potential of the Center for Regional Development. Few  people know of its existence and it needs to add value to Western.

Community College

•  A mutual respect for the differing roles related to all institutions of  higher education (university and community college) is of paramount  importance to all engagement activities.



•  The College of Education can take on a larger role in the preparation of  future community college leaders.



•  A doctoral program in Community College Leadership is needed to  produce top-level administrators at the community colleges in the region  and across the state. Consider adult sensitive programming and  dedication to student-centered principles.



•  Establish working groups between teachers (P-12) and faculty members  at the community colleges, and the university that revolve around  discipline specialties.



•  Western should develop a working seminar for community colleges  regarding enrollment, transfer articulation, financial aid consideration,  and transcript evaluation every summer.

Public School P - 12

•  Collaborate with public schools on recruitment and preparation of more  teachers to address the critical teacher shortage. Lobby for more  programs like NC-TIP, but target in-state students. Western could also  co-sponsor more Teacher Cadet Programs.



•  Western already has an outstanding relationship with area school  systems. Continue the collaboration and assistance that is provided.



•  Western could assist teachers with designing delivery of courses such  as AP classes to public school students through the use of technology.  These classes typically have low enrollment at high schools in Western  North Carolina making it difficult for small schools to offer the courses.



•  Encourage students in teacher preparation programs to consider  educational administration opportunities as principals to help address  the state shortage of principals.

Public Administration: Courts/Police/Fire Departments/Emergency Management

•  The outside community does not know whom to contact for help with  interns, potential employees, seminars, etc. It would help the public to  know which office to call for information.



•  Offer continuing education for the professions such as lawyers and  judges.



•  Assist counties with modern infrastructure and qualify of life issues.

Question 4:

What do members of the focus group need from Western? Where can we help immediately and long term?

This question generated many specific suggestions. These are as follows:

•  Think of engagement in nontraditional and creative ways.



•  It is a great time for Western to partner with area business and  nonprofit organizations. This includes offering packages to visitors that  could include ticket combinations with visits to campus sporting or  cultural events and tie-in with restaurants, hotels, etc.



•  Build stronger connections with the Jackson County Chamber of  Commerce and a stronger presence in the Town of Sylva.



•  Be more proactive in marketing the knowledge, services and resources  available to the community served by Western.



•  Develop an extensive database and central clearinghouse that details  information about available services, resources, and individuals with  expertise in specific areas. This database could also include names of  retirees and alumni with specialized expertise they may be willing to  share. One participant suggested a "catalog of expertise" for  distribution to community leaders and posted on the WCU website.



•  Provide networking opportunities and regular workshops for area  businesses and faculty/staff. This would provide a forum for interaction  and collaborative discussion.



•  Expand co-op and internship positions for students. This would result in  more faculty involvement with businesses and governmental agencies,  and could also give our graduates an idea of jobs available in the  surrounding region. It could also result in more recognition of the quality  of Western's programs.



•  Provide incentives for faculty to be involved in interaction within the  region. Recognize the types of service that can involve research and  credit for service.



•  Determine the ways in which engagement will factor into tenure and  promotion review. The concept of service needs to be defined.



•  Develop externships for faculty so they could experience business,  industry, and government problems first-hand.



•  Curriculum/degree suggestions included environmental planning, more  emphasis on health care programs, senior care, articulation for a non- calculus based Engineering Technology program, a masters degree  program in B-K education, and work toward establishing a medical  school.



•  Communication must convey that although Western is a growth  institution, the values and heritage of the region are valued by the  university. The message must be sent that the university wants to grow  while protecting these values.



•  Communication needs to increase between faculty, administrators and  healthcare community.



•  Address lack of diversity in employees on campus.



•  Develop mechanisms to increase diversity among students in each  College.



•  Encourage more Native American and other minority students to be  active in student groups.



•  Provide outreach activities in retirement communities. Provide  transportation service to special campus events such as the ArtsFest  (for example, area retirement centers provide shuttle service to  performances at Brevard Music Center).



•  Explore creative ways to offer classes to seniors who cannot afford the  class. For example, require 5 hours of volunteerism on campus. This way  the retiree can enjoy university programs and the university can benefit  from having them involved in campus activities.



•  Invite school superintendents to campus more often to share their  needs and concerns. A possible meeting time for superintendents of the  seven western school systems would be after the monthly WRESA  meeting. Curriculum specialists also meet monthly. The "7 West" have  many similar concerns.



•  Publish newsletter stories of success for all public school teachers to  assist in teacher recruitment. This idea could be extended to all  disciplines on campus.



•  Schedule a meeting of all of Western's Distinguished Professors. This is  for the purpose of dialogue regarding how they might enrich the  campus community.



•  Call a Summit on the Arts to explore the use of the new Performing Arts  Center and its possible effect on Western North Carolina. This summit  could focus on such agenda items as: (1) Economic development of the  region, (2) The cultural base of the region, (3) A mission statement for  the facility, (4) The function within the academic structure of the  university, (5) Ways the center can become a magnet for culture in the  region, (6) Ways the facility can contribute to new ideas of culture/art  "within and outside of the box."