QEP Summer Reading

The following letter came to faculty about the process of developing a Quality Enhancement Plan.

June 29, 2009


Dear Colleagues --

Happy Summer! We certainly hope that you are doing well and getting excited about the upcoming school year. As you will remember from our work last semester, the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is an integral part of our re-affirmation of accreditation process with SACS. More importantly, it represents an exciting opportunity for us to identify one aspect of student learning that needs to be enhanced and to develop a project for making improvements in this identified area of student learning. We hope that you enjoyed our presentation at the Faculty Institute in January, and we appreciated your initial feedback on a survey at the faculty meeting on April 7, 2009. Our QEP Steering Committee -- comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, Board of Trustees, and community -- has experienced a great start to the planning process. In the Fall, the entire campus community will be inundated with vital information, and we will be soliciting even more feedback regarding QEP topics. There is a lot more work to do, and we will continue to ask for your support and ideas over the next few years.

In order to make sure that everyone fully understands the QEP, the procedures involved, and the wonderful adventure ahead of us, we have compiled a summer reading list for your enjoyment and placed it on page two of this letter. Please feel free to read up on the QEP, including the work done by other institutions of similar classification. Then, if you'd like to join the conversation about the QEP or ask any questions, please visit our QEP blog at shawuqep.blogspot.com or email us at qep@shawu.edu. Our website will be launched next month, and you will be able to stay up-to-date regarding all of our activities. Thanks for your help!

Dr. Carol Bunch and Dr. Derek Greenfield, QEP Co-Directors

SUMMER READING LIST

First, do you want to know what topics other schools have focused on for the QEP? Here's a brief list:

* From These Roots… A Foundation for Life: Mathematics and Financial Literacy (Hampton University)
* Using Technology to Improve Composition Skills in First-Year Students (Allen University)
* Strengthening the Quality of the Freshman Year Experience Through Student Engagement
(Johnson C. Smith University)
* Speak Well, Write Well, Work Well! Enhancing Communication College Wide (Durham Tech)
* R.E.A.S.O.N: Creating Coherent Pathways to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Students
(Norfolk State University)
* Learning for Civic Engagement in a Global Context (Mary Baldwin College)
* Think for Yourself, Write for Others (Palm Beach Atlantic University)

(you’ll need to see the next page for the actual reading list!)
Now, if you would like a little more detail about other QEPs submitted by some institutions similar to Shaw, click on this link:
http://www.sacscoc.org/2008TrackBQEPSummaries.asp

Need a bit more information? Check out the Executive Summary for Hampton University's QEP:
http://www.hamptonu.edu/sacs/pdf/qep/QEP_Executive_Summary.pdf

Want the whole thing? OK, here is the actual QEP submitted by Eastern Kentucky University:
http://www.qep.eku.edu/plan/QEP_final.pdf

For those desiring an overview of the process and some relevant research conducted on QEPs from various institutions, this document is outstanding:
http://www.sacscoc.org/institute/2008/Tuesday,%20July%2029,%202008/Matveev-Norfolk%20State%20Univ..pptx.pdf

Finally, here’s a link from SACS to find out everything and anything about the QEP:
http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/QEP%20Handbook.pdf

Secrecy and Morale

In May 2008, the ad hoc Faculty Handbook Task Force completed its work on revisions of the Faculty Handbook. The product was submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs, then sent to the university editor. In September, the editor asked for responses to a list of questions about the text, and the task force contact responded to the questions promptly.

As a member of the task force, I have to admit that we took longer to do the job than we should have taken. The VPAA wanted the revisions to be submitted a year earlier. Partly, we were slow in doing our work. Partly there were some sticky issues that were not easy to resolve.

More than twelve months since the task force submitted its report, the faculty still have not received a draft of the revised handbook. Some deans and department chairs have received copies, but it is not widely available. Why is it necessary to keep a document such as this secret? Let the faculty see what has been proposed and think about it. Let them respond. If making revisions is worth doing, then talking them through should also be worth doing.

At a Faculty Senate meeting last October, we raised the issue of critical university documents which are unavailable to faculty because of the seemingly interminable approval process. A high-level administrator, with the authority to make such decisions, told us that there was no reason we should not be able to see them in their draft form. Specifically, we were asking about a Personnel Policy Manual.

Yet when the Senate President asked to receive a copy, the people who had it again hesitated. Eight months later, faculty still have not seen a draft of the Personnel Policy Manual.

In an institution committed to the dissemination of knowledge, information, a variety of perspectives, and critical reasoning, why would the practices of policy development have to remain behind closed doors indefinitely? These and other documents need to be made available to the people whose jobs and lives they effect. The steps and timeline for their approval, amendment, or disapproval should be clear and visible. The word of the times is "transparency."

It's time to get the Faculty Handbook out to the faculty. People who are consistently kept out of the loop of decisions and policies that determine their fate cannot be blamed for becoming suspicious. As my preaching daddy has said many times, "Tell the truth, and trust the people." Let's work on these documents together.

Mike Broadway

QEP--Work Continues at Shaw

Today I observed part of a meeting in the Faculty Lounge in Debnam Hall (my favorite place to hide out on campus). Dr. Greenfield and Dr. Bunch were meeting with Deans and others to discuss the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan for Shaw University. They will hold other meetings with other groups as time goes on. By the time of the SACS review, Shaw will have prepared a plan for specific improvements to make over the coming years. It is a process that Shaw says must be "faculty driven." You can get updates and make comments through a blog set up by the committee: Shaw University QEP. Let's roll up our sleeves and do our part to make this plan something that we all can get behind--Harambee.

Mike Broadway

Shaw University on the ONE Campaign Blog

As a follow-up to the post about the Lott Carey Youth Seminar, I wanted to let folks know about a story featuring this event at Shaw. The ONE Campaign is working hard to bring together governments, NGOs, churches, music fans, and many more to find solutions to HIV/AIDS and poverty. The youth at this seminar spent a day learning about and working with the ONE Campaign, in line with the them, "Called to Be a Blessing." The ONE Campaign blog wrote about the event and posted a video of David Goatley. This is great!

Mike Broadway

Lott Carey Youth--Hope for Our Future

This calm and clear morning on campus I found young people and their leaders gathering in small groups, walking from one location to another. The 55th Annual Lott Carey Youth Seminar is in mid-stride. The theme is "Empowering Youth to Impact the World." Along with mission opportunities, good preaching, recreation and fun, and devotionals, the seminar this year has allied with the ONE Campaign, the Genocide Intervention Network, and the NAACP to help young people understand the relationship between their following Jesus and their care for the people of the world.

Although the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention is one of the smaller Baptist conventions, it's link to Shaw and our common history is very important. Named for Lott Carey, the first African American missionary to Africa, specifically to Liberia, this convention works to engage its member churches in a global vision of the gospel. Lott Carey was a former slave from the Williamsburg area in Virginia.

Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. David Emmanuel Goatley, this convention has expanded its work and enlarged the opportunities for ministers and laypeople to engage in mission work. Moreover, this highly intelligent and devoted leader has played an important role among Baptists of all regions and ethnicity as the President of the North American Baptist Fellowship.

As I looked at the young people and their leaders on campus today, I was encouraged to hold fast to what I have never stopped believing: there is yet much work for Shaw University to do, and there are many partners and allies who are committed to making that happen. I know that is true of the faculty with whom I have conversations. Along with the Lott Carey and leaders and youth, we can see a better future for the poor in our neighborhoods, for African peoples, for war-torn lands in need of peace, for U. S. communities in need of reconciliation, for people everywhere who have not had access to education, and for Shaw University as a part of pursuing those tasks.

Mike Broadway

Tangible ways to Improve Morale at Shaw

Dr. Broadway’s post on thinking big in fundraising is an excellent idea. Shaw should refocus its efforts on solving our deficit problem by raising money instead of cutting essential services. In particular, Shaw’s recent elimination of our pension match can have long-term detrimental effects on an employees’ future well being. I hope our Faculty Senate works to restore this benefit.

Morale at Shaw is still extremely low and should be improved. Here are my ideas for discussion.

Goal: Give everyone the clear understanding that we suffer and grow together for the good of Shaw.

• Immediately dismantle our two-tier system where a few live in plush, clean, and spacious quarters near Estey Hall with parking designated for Estey residents only and most other employees live in squalor, where molded, leaking buildings, unclean surroundings and mud filled potholes abound and little parking is available. In particular, we must eliminate the stigma that the elites at Shaw live in plush, gated communities and the rest live in squalor.

Recommendations: Return Human Resources immediately back to Tyler Hall. Do not permit the President, or anyone else, to have two offices when many employees are cramped in unclean quarters. Use the two buildings near McDonald for University gatherings on a reservation basis. Use the Estey Auditorium for community activities. Populate Estey Hall differently to allow offices for not only Alumni, but the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Community Relations and Student Government. Delete many of the administrative positions or spread them around campus with the people. Allow any faculty and staff the ability to park in the Estey lot and reserve no parking areas for an elite few. Show clearly that Estey is for the Shaw community and not just a privileged few.

• Improve the Appointment Process. Employing friends, relatives, and misusing power are rampant at our University. The result is not only a waste of money but not having the talents necessary to do certain crucial jobs.

Recommendations: Immediately notify the University community that no future appointments will be made without proper evaluations and assurances that all eligible employees are made aware of the position and have opportunities to apply. The entire campus community (Board, Administration, Staff, and Faculty) should be penalized for violating conflict of interest rules. New policies should be devised to assure all employees have a chance to contribute to the University.

• Start activities immediately this summer that address faculty and staff morale issues

Recommendations: Certain initial activities could alert the University community that we are truly a family and intend to help each other become our best. We could organize an all-University volunteer effort this summer to enlist employees to contribute to clean up our University. Modest efforts could be done to improve faculty and staff living conditions (leaks in Old Education and Tupper, mold in Graphics, modern boards in ISC and Tupper, paving the potholes from Debnam to Tupper, tearing down the wired fence). An employee’s salary equity study could be done with the plan of addressing the most drastic salary disparities first. Indeed, our Faculty Senate should be willing to help organize the opening orientation sessions that would involve all faculty and staff in recommending ways to further Shaw's growth.

James Nelson, Jr., President, Faculty Senate

Fundraising

I read in the Durham Herald-Sun this week that one of Duke's long-time fund-raising staff is retiring. Susan Cranford Ross has been raising money for Duke for 30 years. The article said that she has raised over half a billion dollars. One campaign she helped to lead exceeded its goals by $308 million.

The differences between raising money for Duke and raising money for Shaw are too great to list here. But the thing that stuck in my mind from this article described the changes in the development office at Duke over the past 30 years. In the 1980s, the development staff would gather around a table on Fridays. Then they were "were raising millions of dollars and now it's hundreds of millions." They can't have those kinds of gatherings any more because "now there are more than 200 development staff members."

Two hundred development staff! I don't think Shaw needs to add that many staff by any means. But the fact that well-funded schools understand the necessity to put out some funds in order to bring in more gifts and larger gifts is a lesson we need to learn. Seven years ago I had a conversation with a veteran fundraiser who lamented that Shaw's administration had not grasped the kind of effort that fundraising requires. We still find ourselves living with that legacy. I was shocked to hear an administrator a few years ago refer to a $25,000 donation as "a major gift." We must think bigger, expect more of our benefactors and alumni, and not be timid or embarrassed to ask those who are able to invest in the good work of this institution.

One $10 million gift and one $5 million gift are great landmarks in Shaw fundraising. But one or more gifts of that size every year would merely be a start toward building a strong financial foundation for Shaw University. Some schools are doing this very well. How can we learn from them? Even if Duke is not a good comparison, I believe that there are other peer institutions which are succeeding in this critical aspect of being a university.

Mike Broadway

Outward Calm on Campus

With students gone from campus, and with faculty mostly away, the campus shows very little outward activity. However, we know that administrators and the transition team are very busy. The conversations about the interim president and the communications director are cautiously hopeful.

One puzzling issue has been the status of the Leonard Building, home of the Wiggins Divinity Library and the Divinity School offices. Uncertainty continues about whether the building is going to be open through the summer. Closed on Friday, it reopened on Monday. Then this morning, it was locked again, only to be reopened later in the morning. I assume that this is part of the sorting out of decision-making that goes with a sudden transition like the one we are going through. It's confusing, but not really that big a deal.

The new web site welcome page looks very good. We look forward to seeing additional revised and new pages making it to the web soon. We pray for and want to support the efforts of the transition team and administrators who are focusing with renewed energy on the continued flourishing of Shaw University.

Mike Broadway

Trustees Contract with Marketing Firm

Dr. Bell wrote to all Shaw University email users to inform us that the Transition Team of the Board of Trustees has brought the university into a contractual arrangement with Tanya Wiley and her public relations company. Wiley will be Executive Director for Marketing and Public Relations, a new division of the Shaw University administration. She will work to improve the systems for communication within the university, and she will help to develop a marketing plan for the growth of the university. We look forward to learning more about how her work will help the university move forward.

The text of the letter appears below.

June 2, 2009

Dear Members of the Shaw Family:

As we move forward in this time of transition, with a goal of creating an even stronger community, it is imperative that we vastly improve our communications - both internally and to the outside world.

In order to achieve our goals and objectives, the University has contracted with WCP Communications - a globally recognized communications firm. WCP Communications' Chairman and CEO, Tanya Wiley, will directly oversee this process.

Ms. Wiley has worked as a transition specialist and consultant, specializing in business valuations, business acquisitions, marketing, advertising and related fields. She currently owns and operates WC Publishing Co., Inc., (a full service printing and publishing company), WC & Associates, LLC (a real estate development/property management firm, WC Consulting (a consulting firm specializing in crisis management and business/organizational development) and WCP Communications (a full service marketing, advertising. and public relations firm).

She holds a bachelors degree in English and Political Science from Winston Salem State University. Wiley aiso obtained her paralegal certification from George Washington University, and is a member of the Society of Certified Business Entrepreneurs. She holds numerous certifications for business studies and coursework. Wiley is a graduate of the Leadership America North Carolina Class of 2004 and is a 2008/2009 graduate of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women's class.

Tanya Wiley has served as the editor for several published projects and has written two books which are scheduled for release in 2009/2010: Taming the Best "Unleashing Your Hidden Potential" and God Likes A Cheerful Giver "How To Effectively Market Through Giving and Getting Referrals."

Ms. Wiley will serve as the Executive Director for Shaw University's New Marketing
and Public Relations Division. She will be contacting you soon about various efforts
we will be undertaking in order to streamline, improve, and accentuate our
communications efforts.

Join me in welcoming Ms. Wiley to the Shaw family.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joseph Bell
Chairman, Transition Team

Interim President Named for Shaw University

This announcement was made public today. It looks like we have a person with extensive and appropriate experience to watch over us while we move forward.

For Immediate Release
June 2, 2009
Media Contact: Tanya Wiley, WCP Communications®
Phone: 336-765-0049 / 919-546-8250
shawu@wcpcommunications.com


Shaw University Names Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy Interim President
(Raleigh, NC) – Attorney Willie E. Gary, Chairman of the Shaw University Board of Trustees, has named Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy as Shaw University’s Interim President, effective immediately. Dr. Yancy becomes the first female president in the University’s 144 year history.

“Dr. Yancy’s qualifications as a university president are second to none anywhere in the nation, or in the world for that matter,” said Chairman Gary.

Dr. Yancy served 14 years as the president of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC. While there, she ran two successful capital campaigns, and raised over $145 million for the University. She also increased the institution’s endowment from $14 million to $53 million.

While under her leadership, Johnson C. Smith became the first Historically Black College or University to issue laptop computers to all students. She also led the University through two accreditations, and helped the Business and Social Work programs receive their initial accreditations.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social science from Johnson C. Smith University, a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. in political science from Atlanta University (Georgia), with further study at the University of Singapore, Hampton University, Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago), Northwestern University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Yancy has earned numerous awards and received countless recognitions from a variety of groups. She was the first woman to become the Benjamin E. Mayes Lecturer at Morehouse College. In 2008, she was inducted into the Women’s History Hall of Fame by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs and the Levine Museum of the South.

For more information, contact Tanya Wiley at 336-345-2628.