Mission and Strategic Plan of the IRC

Mission Statement

IRCThe mission of the IRC is to provide the resources for the College of Education as they prepare competent, committed, caring professionals, provide service to the various communities of which we are a part, and expand the body of knowledge through research and dissemination activities.

Vision Statement

The IRC envision a future where all COE and related communities are eager and engaged life long learners. We support this through:

  • Outstanding patron service
  • High quality staff at levels that reflect the IRCs continued commitment to a service attitude
  • Print and non-print collections that are broad in scope and depth that encompass the broad range need of our patrons and meet the needs and expectations of an increasingly diverse clientele
  • Widespread incorporation of new and emerging information technologies as an integral component of overall service
  • Convenient, inviting and up-to-date facilities that meet the growing expectations of patrons for adaptability to new technologies, separate areas for children as well as young adults, "quiet" spaces for study/research, and designated space for meetings and programs
  • Active involvement in the community
  • Upgraded and enhanced technology equipment for student usage through the student technology fees

  • Current curriculum donations from major book publishing companies

Belief Systems

IRCThe IRC will provide the resources to assist in the COE's efforts to complete the following belief systems:

  • Competent, committed, caring faculty and staff lead to the development of competent, committed, caring professionals.
  • On Teaching, Scholarship, and Service: The College's greatest commitment is to teaching. Scholarship is essential to the vitality of the College and its programs. Through service, College faculty members have the responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the university, the profession, and the community.
  • On Leadership: College faculty and staff should be leaders in university, community, and professional endeavors.
  • On a Changing World: Technology is dramatically impacting teaching and learning. The College is committed to diversity in curriculum, students, and faculty. The College embraces creating a culture of assessment' to support continuous improvement of academic programs. The College embraces experimentation, innovation, and change as the means to remain relevant and vibrant in a rapidly changing world. The preparation of education and other human service professionals should include extensive, supervised clinical experiences.

Strategic Plan

The Other Past

This is the IRC before it was moved under the guidance of the Dean of the College of Education and subsequently housed in Hughes Hall.

Old IRC 1 Old IRC 2

Old IRC 3 Old IRC 4

Recent Past

 IRC 1 IRC 2

IRC 3 IRC 4

Under the supervision of the Dean of the COE, the IRC has been undergoing constant change since its relocation to Hughes Hall. With the information age well underway, ALA's Information Power serves as the guide for the IRC's scholarly communication and information delivery, new partnerships and collaboration for effective teaching and research, and new organizational infrastructures to enable and support these changes. The COE's primarily focus is to prepare future teachers, but the IRC serves all college and community patrons as well. The IRC has remained proactive in the direction into the future by achieving these significant accomplishments:

  • converting from Dynix to Follett
  • creating and maintaining a web-based, user-friendly database: IRC Online Catalog
  • implementing e-mailing procedures for fines and overdue resource notification
  • acquiring additional B23 for additional work space for project-based, multi-media and PowerPoint usage
  • reconfiguring the IRC to better serve the needs of all patrons
  • acquiring, through generous donations, specialized collections in the areas of diversity, leadership, psychology, ESOL and physical education
  • moving from a print-based reference service to a multi-faceted web-based service environment
  • receiving a line-item budget so that planning can be systematic

The Future

This plan identifies targets positive changes that will ensure forward movement of the IRC.

  • Fully embracing the concept of the user-centered online accessibility of the IRC.
  • Concentrating on the value-added activities that are the IRC's unique responsibilities that make an impact on our patrons: selection, organization, access, and preservation of resources, and instruction in information literacy.
  • Obtaining the necessary resources for important activities or positions. The IRC has relied on a non-line item budget in the past, which has been difficult to predict. With the current online budget, then strategic planning will become more routine and predictable.
  • Focusing on the future and quickening the pace. The IRC must continue to change as the needs of the patrons change.
  • Establishing a strong collective identity and working as one whole organization. A culture of cooperation and collaboration between the IRC and the COE faculty members and staff will necessary to provide the most efficient and effective service to our patrons.
  • Ensuring a continual focus on integration of technology and manipulatives into the curriculum.

The IRC is proud of its past achievements, but recognizes that the future needs a continual renewal in order to meet the needs of our patrons. This strategic plan, coupled with a continuous planning process, will be the driving forces behind the excellence service provided by the IRC.

Printer-Friendly Strategic Plan (Does not include Selection and Deselection Policy)