INSTRUCTIONS: Fill out one form for each Action Project on which you have worked this past year. You can find this form on the AQIP website at http://www.aqip.org/Actionprojects.html (If you’ve completed a Project, fill out forms for both the one completed and the one which will replace it.) Each completed form should be no longer than three printed pages. Call AQIP at 800-621-7440, or email AQIP@HLCommission.org, if you have any questions.

Action Project title: Improve Communication Processes with All Campus Constituencies

Name of Institution: Western New Mexico University

Name of Person to contact

for additional information: Kathie S. Gilbert

Telephone number: (575) 538-6348 Email address: gilbertk@iron.wnmu.edu

1. In the past year, what have you accomplished on this Action Project? What is its current status?

The Communication Action Team is currently considering how to go about identifying solutions to the top concerns of our staff, faculty, and students. Our mission is to identify communication problems, look for solutions, implement solutions, measure effects, and report on findings. The top five communication needs identified from concerns gathered from staff, faculty, and student surveys are:

a The perception of an inadequate top-down communication flow,

a Timely flows of information campus-wide,

a Need for more efficient and effective use of and access to technology,

a Training in communication skills at all levels, and

a Lack of organized channels of communication.

2. How did you involve people in your institution in your work on this Action Project?

As with all three WNMU Action Projects, this project was developed in three campus-wide forums. Once the Action Project was developed, faculty and staff were invited at the Faculty Retreat and at Staff Senate meetings to serve on the AQIP Communication Team. Members of the staff, faculty, and students volunteered (enthusiastically so) to work on this team.

3. What are your planned next steps on this Action Project?

We are developing strategies o look for solutions, implement solutions, measure effects, and report on our findings. We will also identify the means to track the process and output measures and to meet the target goals for the project.

 

 

4. Has your work on this Project resulted in an "effective practice" of which you are proud and that we could share with the broader higher education community? If so, describe the practice.

Unfortunately, we are not at this stage yet.

 

 

5. What challenges or problems, if any, are you still facing with regard to this Action Project?

The main challenges we face at this point is to successfully carry out our mission and to change a culture that expects nothing to happen.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of AQIP’s providing you with help to stimulate progress on this Action Project, explain your need here and tell us whom to call, and when.

Not at this time.