May 8, 2004 Minutes

May 8, 2004 Minutes

Pittsburg State University's Centennial Commission met for its inaugural meeting on Saturday, May 8, 2004 on the campus of Pittsburg State University. The morning session, held at 10:00 am in the President's Conference Room, 207 Russ Hall, was convened by President Tom Bryant with the following members in attendance: Mr. Gene Bicknell, Ms. Shirley Christian, Mr. Richard Chitty (representing Mr. James Press), Mr. William Docking, Ms. Donna Dutcher, Mr. Robert Hey (representing Lee Scott), Mr. Richard Miller, Mr. Robert Tyler and Dr. Jerry Weast.

Membership of the Commission

Commission members present introduced themselves, their current position and any ties to Pittsburg State. There are 13 Commission members and President Bryant's goal is to maintain a Commission Size of 12-18 members.

President Bryant's Presentation

President Bryant briefed the Commission on the celebration of Pittsburg State University's Centennial and how the Commission can assist the University in planning for the second century of Pittsburg State University. The PowerPoint presentation of Centennial events provided background information about the University. A PowerPoint presentation also detailed profiles of PSU students and faculty, enrollment statistics, enrollment priorities, funding patterns, tuition trends and planned capital projects for Pittsburg State. In addition to providing input and guidance to the leadership of Pittsburg State, the Commission was asked to serve as advocates of the University.

Much discussion occurred in the morning session, prompted by the PowerPoint presentation. One area of concern for the university to consider is that post 9/11 there are fewer jobs for young persons, therefore, leading to a decrease in support for funding for higher education. Another issue to consider in planning for Pittsburg State is the aging of baby boomers, and the ability of an institution of higher ed to train enough persons to fulfill workforce needs. Given the demographics from southeast Kansas, it was suggested that Pittsburg State look at the concentration of the population on the two coasts. The ratio of enrollment at most of the six Regents institutions in the state of Kansas is 80% instate students and 20% out-of-state students. For Pittsburg State to attract students from either coast where the population is concentrated would require changing the perception of the image of living in the Midwest.

Pittsburg State University produces 97.5% of its student credit hours on the campus. We offer students a traditional college experience in a safe atmosphere. The discussion centered about offering on-line courses, the Gorilla Advantage program and and trying to attract more out-of-state students to our campus. Because of its proximity to the Oklahoma and Missouri state line, the Board of Regents has given Pittsburg State University authorization to offer the Gorilla Advantage program to 22 counties in Missouri and Oklahoma that are contiguous to the state of Kansas. Students in those 22 counties who meet qualified admission standards are admitted to Pittsburg State to pay tuition at the in-state rate. In the Regents system, the University of Kansas does attract many out-of-state students. The three regional universities, Emporia State University, Ft. Hays State University and Pittsburg State University each have approved incentive programs for out-of-state students. Not all persons agreed that pursuing on-line programs to attract out-of-state students could continually positively affect Pittsburg State.

President Bryant indicated that the University is interested in growth, but has plans to attain that growth through a slow, managed process with the goal of having enrollment peak at about 7,500 students given current facilities.

At approximately 12:10 p.m. the group walked to the Alumni Center for lunch. Vice Presidents AuBuchon, Erwin, Patterson and Ratzlaff, as well as Dr. Chuck Killingsworth, President, PSU/KNEA; Andrew Johnson, SGA President; Mr. Allen Gill, Pittsburg City Manager; Mr. Ralph McGeorge, Pittsburg Mayor; and Ellen Carter, Director of University Communications joined the luncheon. The program for lunch included the recognition of Centennial Commission members present as well as those attending for commission members.

President Tom Bryant called the afternoon session to order at approximately 1:15 p.m. in the Board Room of the Alumni Center. President Bryant discussed the size of the Commission and indicated that he is interested in adding other persons to the Commission. Dr. Jerry Weast was elected President of the Commission and Ms. Shirley Christian was elected Vice President. Saturday, May 7, 2005 was selected as the date for the next Commission meeting. It was decided that all meetings should take place on the campus of Pittsburg State University.

For the afternoon visioning session, the Commission was divided into two groups. Group I consisted of Ms. Shirley Christian, Mr. Gene Bicknell, Mr. Richard Chitty, Mr. Richard Colliver and Mr. Bob Tyler with Joan Cleland recording the discussion. Group II consisted of Dr. Jerry Weast, Mr. Bill Docking, Ms. Donna Dutcher, Mr. Richard Miller, and Mr. Robert Hey with Ellen Carter recording the discussion.

Each group was given discussion questions with Group I's questions being:

Specifically, over the next 50 years

(1) how will developments in technology and (2) how will change in the international community affect our efforts to fulfill PSU's mission of learning, research and service?

Group II's questions:

Specifically, over the next 50 years

(3) how will changes in government structures and policies at the state and national levels and (4) how will developments within the world of commerce affect our efforts to fulfill PSU's mission of learning, research and service.

Group I's visioning session discussion relating to questions 1 and 2 follows:

In the area of technology

having the Kansas Technology center gives PSU the ability to stay on the forefront
extend technology and the educational process to the languages
libraries need more technology and access to data bases
technology is going to drive the economy
moving the College of Business near the College of Technology is great to integrate the business and technology
integrating technology and business will add value to what the University has to offer
in order to not let technology drive our vision, PSU needs to have a business plan that encompasses the technology component
university has to develop people who adapt to changes in life
every student who leaves PSU has to have a base of knowledge and then can be trained.

In the area of changes in the international community

everything is integrated today
have to get through the barrier "that you're just in Kansas"
that is just not true anymore
having a language ability makes a person more desirable to hire
offer international business classes
restrictions on people coming into the U.S. may affect enrollment at PSU

Group II's visioning session discussed the following in relation to questions 3 and 4:

group II specifically discussed Florida, rural New York and Texas as places that offer great potential. There also may be opportunities in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas.
group II suggested considering conducting a couple focus group interviews in target markets on what it would take to get students to consider coming to the Midwest to study.
suggested that PSU look at school districts where we have a natural introduction (i.e. an administrator/counselor/teacher who is a PSU grad.
PSU should look to alumni in those target areas for help.
PSU should use the contacts offered

Questions/issues were raised that have to be answered before marketing to those distant states:

What do we have to sell that will be of interest to them?
Be specific or narrow in marketing programs. Select programs that will sell the best
for example, technology programs and pre-med programs.
Group II is asking the University to advise them of the five top programs to market on the east or west coast, with this question in mind: "Where will graduates use their degrees?"
Choose degrees with the highest transferability out of state.
Regarding graduate programs
perhaps PSU should begin marketing graduate opportunities to sophomore or junior level students.
In the short term, cut back on resources or efforts focused internationally. The world has changed. Terrorism is not going away.
Niche marketing is the answer. Broaden the base where you recruit.
Group II asked themselves why they were here as members of the Centennial Commission -- to help deal with immediate problems and to develop a five year plan. Fifty years out is too far. No one can predict what the world will be like in 50 years.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., President Bryant joined the groups with Ms. Shirley Christian reporting feedback on behalf of Group I and Dr. Jerry Weast reporting for Group II. Group I wants to see a vision statement that is about 1 to 2 sentences of what PSU wants to be, and then develop a business plan . The University can't be all things to all people. The two major issues facing Pittsburg State are (1) lack of people (for student recruitment purposes), and (2) lack of state funds.

Group II -- to address the issues of changes in government and structures and policies at the state and national levels -- advises that for PSU to continue to grow it will have to look at the demographics of other states -- look where there's a combination of students/high costs/ and colleges that have admission limits. Then target specific school districts to market our programs of uniqueness such as the technology programs and pre-med programs. Decide how much growth we want (number of students), target specific areas and then market to fill those student slots. We should tailor something at Pitt State to the growing Hispanic population. Pitt State needs a good fundraising campaign to buy students locally.

States that have good demographics and overloaded universities include at least: Florida, Texas, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. We should target those states to market specific programs even if program changes are needed to create slots for out-of-state students. Guidance counselors in targeted out-of-state districts need to be sold on specific departments and programs at Pitt State and this should be done electronically.

In computer science -- we need to changes the languages offered. Need to research companies hiring Pittsburg State students to see the programming languages they are using and then teach them.

We can market Pittsburg State as a place where a student gets a great education, gets personal attention in a safe, secure and friendly environment.

In the area of graduate school, Pittsburg State does not heavily recruit students to attend graduate school. Our strength is our acceptance rates of our graduates into graduate school or professional programs.

The best one thing the Commission can do for the University is to assist in ways to expand the student base, to grow, support and maintain quality. We need to come up with ways to make this "hidden treasure" not so hidden. We need to make sure that the customer (student) is being served. The Commission meeting adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Cleland
Administrative Assistant to the President