Indiana Partnership for Statewide Education
June 1, 2007
Meeting Notes

Present: Brad Wheeler, Chair, IU; Allyn Beekman, IWU; John Burton, BSU; Mike Eddy and Dennis McElhoe, PUWL; Tim Garner, Franklin; Deb Hein, IPFW; Don Kaufman, Vincennes; Ed Kinley, ISU; Cherry Kay Smith for Becky Nickoli, Ivy Tech; Gail Strong, WFYI; Dana Willett, USI
Staff: Carol Brunty, Alison Jensen, Bill Kramer, Tim Paige, Susan Scott

Wheeler called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Minutes of the May 4 meeting were approved as circulated.

Report from Executive Committee
Wheeler reported that the Executive Committee of the IHETS Board of Directors met May 15 to review several issues and the status of the service reviews. The group expressed particular appreciation to Kramer for his successful work with the legislature and to several ICI representatives for their work to secure funds for build-out of black fiber. It became very clear that several substantive issues about IHETS’ future required additional time for discussion, so an all-day retreat has been scheduled for June 5. The group applauded the operating committees, whose work over the past year has closed the information gap so that the Board can address these important issues.

Home Institution Model revision
Wheeler noted the need to take action with a specific recommendation on which to act in moving the Home Institution Model forward for Board approval so that institutions know how to proceed. The Commission for Higher Education staff seem open to an incremental path to align with their SIS reporting requirements. Kramer clarified that any “hold-harmless” agreement would need to be negotiated to exist over several years as the formula is based on a rolling average over a four-year period.

Kinley indicated that ISU had some concerns initially, but the final feeling was that if the various functional groups can get together, they can work out the mechanics. Willett indicated similar concerns at USI, though people understand the desire to align with CHE requirements. The financial impact of the change will be negative for USI, and more time is needed to analyze the real administrative costs of serving as a Home Institution and assess whether the 90/10 split of tuition revenue will sufficiently cover those costs. In order to allow sufficient time for institutions to complete the intra-institutional discussions and briefings, Kramer felt that the policy recommendation could be taken to a special Board of Directors meeting tentatively planned for mid- to late July.

Wheeler agreed that given the importance of the policy for several institutions, it will be worth taking a little more time to reach unanimity, but the committee will need concrete proposals for options on which people can vote. Kramer noted that the two issues—alignment with CHE policy and financial transactions between institutions—can be dealt with on different timelines if needed, with the latter allowed more time. If changing the enrollment reporting is a given, the critical questions for operational units are “can you do this by Fall 2007?” and “if not, then when?” Committee members agreed that bringing together the functional representatives should occur soon. Institutions can also proceed with their financial analyses of the 90/10 split (as modified in the 2006 policy revision) throughout June and report any alternate proposals by the end of the month, with action to be taken at the July 6 IPSE meeting. Staff will proceed immediately to organize a June 27 date, location, and invitations for the student services statewide meeting.

Dale E. Dowden Student Services Award
Hein reported on behalf of the ad hoc review team for the 2007 Dowden Award for Outstanding Student Services in Distance Education. Four nominations were submitted, but one stood out for particular excellence in supporting distance learners from all institutions, so the group recommends the 2007 award be presented to Julie Napier, the ICN coordinator at Vincennes University. Strong moved that the IPSE accept the recommendation. Garner seconded the motion, which was accepted by consensus.

Performance goals and metrics
Kramer provided context for discussion of measurements for each IHETS service, noting that roots for the need go back to the organizational review conducted in 2005-06. The PROBE government efficiency initiative added a new set of requirements. In the process of responding to the initial PROBE review and the operating committee workplans, it became clear that data capture and reporting systems were not in place. This part of the workplans has purposely been somewhat delayed until the Board of Directors confirms whether and which centrally operated services should continue. Once the budget has been approved, which inherently requires agreement on the purpose of IHETS, the IPSE will need to develop metrics that document value of the continuing e-learning services. Following that, a business plan will be needed for each service to address how to increase participation, including a solid marketing component. He added, however, that discussion of metrics is premature until the Board has acted.

Other information

• Scott reported that she and Beekman would be attending the annual retreat of the Faculty Services Committee on June 5. As the Committee has primarily been responsible for many of the professional development services, which the IPSE ranked as a second tier priority for continuation, the group will take this opportunity to reflect on accomplishments, discuss ways in which members may be able to collaborate informally in the future, and identify any recommendations for the IPSE. Kramer cautioned that since the IPSE is not recommending any professional development activities as a top priority, no implication should be given about sanctioning any future activities.
• Scott and Brunty reported that the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) will conduct an all-day workshop on July 26 to help state and local officials understand why increased broadband access is important throughout the state. The three areas of focus will be homeland security, telemedicine and telehealth, and distance education. IHETS has been asked to coordinate the distance education presentation and demonstrations. Staff will be in touch with IPSE members very soon to identify recommendations for engaging institutional demonstrations.
• Brunty reported that the Indiana University School of Social Work and School of Education plan to increase significantly their course and program listings with ICN. Included will be courses from the PBS TeacherLine service for which the School of Education offers graduate credit, adding a new partnership opportunity with Indiana’s Public Broadcasting Stations that facilitate the courses locally.

The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.