GE Minutes 4-8-2013

Minutes
April 8, 2013
Participants: Marvin Dodge, Melanie Jenkins, Kari Arnoldsen, Craig Mathie, Rick Wheeler, Joseph
Papenfuss, Mel Jacobsen, Clinton King, Gregory Wright, Adam Larsen, Richard Squire, Beckie Hermansen
and Danni Larsen.
Adam motion, Richard seconded that we approve the minutes of April 1, 2013. Unanimous vote.

Members of the Strategic Planning Committee met with members of the General Education Committee to discuss their “hopes and aspirations for Snow College five years from now.” Various suggestions and discussion topics are listed below.

 Snow should become a “real” liberal arts college that includes science
 What will be the role of liberal arts in the future 5, 10, 15 years out?
 Have more 4-year baccalaureate degrees
 Maintain CTE programs as has been done at UVU
 Focus on nursing program – health sciences
 Expand Snow’s efforts to attract students from outside the 6-county area as well as out-of-state
 Continue Snow’s focus on attracting international students
 Offering in-state tuition to out-of-state students in select areas only
 Consider marketing Snow’s 4-year liberal arts programs as is now being done by SUU, Weber and Westminster
 4-year institution would allow increased tuition in second two-years as is the case in our music program
 Identify the competitive advantage of Ephraim location
 Snow should become a “destination” not just a “pass through” location
 Need more diversity in student population
 Focus on the fact that Snow is affordable (this will be impacted as we move toward more 4 year programs)
 Expand the Julliard connection as a reason to come to Snow
 Unique size school (should we maintain or grow enrollment?)
 Focus on more than students just gaining the GE experience
 Suggest radical integrated general education
 Identify and develop matriculation agreements for transferring GE credits to other colleges/universities
 Cohort majors (GE)
 Determine how to offer credit for life experiences such as military or mission. No clear policy in place for doing this now
 Snow should not be considered as a GE mill; need to focus on other degrees/areas and majors
 Transfer scholarships are difficult to obtain – is there something Snow can do to help our students? Easier to obtain a 4 year scholarship out of high school than 2 years at Snow.
Disadvantage for our students?
 Develop 2+2, 3+1 arrangements with other institutions
 Concurrent enrollment should bring more students to Snow following high school graduation – use it as more of a recruiting tool (like Weber)
 Programs such as nursing could have online courses followed by intensive on campus study in preparation for board examination, etc.
 How important is the degree in a graduate’s ability to obtain employment
 Snow still needs to focus on STEM programs
 Phase out the LPN and focus on RN degree program (including Bachelors)
 Consider more public/private partnerships i.e., trucking/diesel mechanics
 Contract employees/faculty members vs. full-time faculty members (new trend toward higher paid faculty without benefits – faculty may teach at several institutions and provide for their own benefits
After considerable discussion of the above topics, a conversation ensued about top priorities. The following were mentioned as possibilities:
 More 4-year programs
 Diversity in student population – both who and where
 Focus on 2+2, 3+1 type programs
 In-state vs. out-of-state tuition as a way to attract more students