NAU President challenges campus to ease pathway to 21st century degrees

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Oct. 14, 2009) -- Northern Arizona University President John Haeger's challenge to rethink the university's educational model is taking shape with the announcement of a $1 million Innovation Fund and the formation of a Policy Audit Committee to identify practices that hinder rather than help the institution.

He also has announced a one-time voluntary faculty retirement incentive that would afford the university the opportunity to redirect budget resources to other areas of need and obtain budget flexibility.

"Our curriculum must align with 21st century workforce needs," Haeger said in a letter to faculty co-signed by Provost Liz Grobsmith. "We seek faculty … to help streamline our curriculum and increase linkages with business and industry to ensure that our curriculum is preparing students for these new directions."

Areas of potential development might include health professions and health informatics, information management and "green" jobs.

The Innovation Fund, supported with one-time dollars from enrollment growth and intended for staff members as well, is meant to encourage creative ideas on curriculum changes at NAU and how to implement those changes quickly. A Committee on Innovation and Change will advise campus leadership on which programmatic and system changes offer the best chance for success.

"We need to be able to respond more flexibly and more swiftly to the changes our society demands," Haeger said. "Our current institutional culture sometimes does not align well with those goals-some programs are too complex and cumbersome."

He also said faculty and staff must consider greater use of web course formats, year-round scheduling and web-based advising.

On a related matter, Haeger said a Policy Audit Committee will look at how the university can use web-based tools more effectively as well as policies that may prolong a student's time at the university. The president was referring to policies and practices that include retaking of courses to improve GPA and the late dropping of courses.

As a way to redirect some resources to needed areas, the university will offer about 125 tenured faculty members and academic professionals a voluntary retirement incentive that would be offered this year.

"This program will provide one-time funding for long-term budget flexibility," Haeger said.

To be eligible for the incentive, employees must be tenured faculty who are at least age 62 by June 30 and have served at NAU for at least 10 years. Academic professionals with continuing status who meet the same guidelines also are eligible.

Participants in the program will receive a cash incentive equal to nine months of their base salary for fiscal year 2010. NAU plans to accept enrollment in the voluntary incentive program between Nov. 16 and Jan. 15. The details of the plan are still being finalized.

-NAU-

CONTACT:
Tom Bauer
NAU Office of Public Affairs
(928) 523-6126
Thomas.Bauer@nau.edu