Office of the Provost/Office of Academic Affairs

Memo To: Directors, Academic Directors of International Campuses (for distribution) Deans (for distribution) Administrative Council CC: Webster-Thailand Review Team From: Julian Schuster, Provost, Senior Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer Re: Site Reviews of International Campuses; Review Team Named for Thailand Review Date: July 30, 2014 I am pleased to announce that, in 2014-2015, we will conduct comprehensive reviews of our international campuses. This initiative is a next step in the process of continuous improvement of academic and administrative units and programs begun in 2011; it is also an initiative aligned with all four of the strategic planning themes 1) Global Innovation; 2) Global, Student-Centered Experience; 3) Network of Academic and Operational Excellence; 4) Sustainable and Strategic Development. Reviews will be staggered. We will begin with Webster-Thailand immediately; the sequence and timing of the next reviews will be announced in upcoming weeks. Background In 2011, Webster University began to conduct reviews of units, departments, sites and academic programs. The purpose of the reviews is to provide a view of how well we are delivering services and programs, to solicit recommendations for improvement, and to collect baseline data and information for purposes of future planning and review. Comprehensive Academic Program Review and Prioritization was completed in 2011-2012, reviews of the extended domestic (metropolitan and military) sites were completed in 2013, and administrative and academic support units (including Financial Aid, Human Resources, and Academic Advising) have been completed, are underway, or are forthcoming. 1

International Campus Review and Webster-Thailand For the international campuses, as with other reviews, we will tailor the process to meet the specifics and needs of the campuses. Our experience with domestic site review and academic program review will allow us to conduct comprehensive reviews of the international campuses including the administrative aspects (e.g., facilities, financial, staffing) as well as academic (e.g., program quality and vibrancy, academic support services). For each international campus review, a team representing administrative and academic units will be convened. Because the reviews will involve travel, and because it is important to include people with direct experience at the campus, the same team will not review all campuses. Webster Thailand will be the first international campus to be reviewed. Provost Schuster has named the review team, which has a two-fold charge: 1. To set a framework, or template, for review of all international campuses. This framework will list the common areas for review (administrative and academic) and common baseline data to be collected from each campus. In addition, with understanding of the uniqueness of each campus, areas of interest or concern outside of the common areas will be included for each campus. 2. To review Webster-Thailand, addressing the common areas identified by the task force as important to all international campuses as well as areas of interest or concern identified as unique to Thailand. The working list of areas includes: infrastructure (e.g., facilities, IT, HR, staffing), safety, academics, academic support, faculty, student life, admissions/recruitment/enrollment management and communication. Goals of the review, as noted above, include determining what we are doing well and what areas can be improved. As we move into strategic planning aligned under the four themes mentioned above, we want to ensure that each international campus is an integral part of the Webster global network of academic and operational excellence. The Webster-Thailand Review Team, Timeline, and Process The Review Team for Webster-Thailand will begin its work immediately and their report is due to the Provost in Spring 2015. Members include: John Buck, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Housing & Residential Life; Grant Chapman, Associate Vice President and Director of International Programs; Greg Gunderson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Nancy Hellerud, Vice Provost; Kit Jenkins, Professor, Communications & Journalism Department; Peter Maher, Professor, Math/Computer Science Department; Pat Masidonski, Associate Dean, George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology; Danielle MacCartney, Associate Dean, Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences Programs, College of Arts & Sciences; Gil Morales, 2

Manager, Facilities Operations; Craig Mundle, Director, Internal Audit; Joe Stimpfl, Professor, Religious Studies Department. The Review Team will operate under the following guidelines: 1. Data Collection: To the extent possible, data will be generated in St. Louis, to provide commonality and to avoid taxing international campus staff. For example: enrollment reports and financial reports. However, where data is not available in St. Louis, international campuses will be asked to provide information. 2. Information Collection: Members of the Review Team will be contacting and interviewing people at the international campus and in units and divisions across the Webster network. The time and cooperation of those contacted is appreciated and expected. In addition, people who are not contacted but wish to provide information to the Review Team will be able to do so. It is understood that some information may be sensitive in nature. Retaliation for reporting factual information is prohibited, and anyone who feels retaliation has occurred should inform a committee member or the Office of the Provost. In addition, anyone who feels he/she has been the subject of unfounded allegations should inform a committee member or the Office of the Provost. Next Steps The Review Team for Webster-Thailand has met once. The team is constructing the framework for the review, dividing into sub-teams around specific areas (e.g., finance, facilities, student life), and collecting initial baseline information. Because the international campus review process will include multiple campuses and multiple review teams with co-chairs, a dedicated e-mail account CampusReview@webster.edu has been established for the process, providing a central location for compiling information for the review team. International campuses will receive additional notices about information collection for the reviews. Webster Thailand administration, faculty and staff will receive additional notices about the work of the WUT Review Team, including a schedule of potential visits of some members to Thailand. They will also receive updates and reports on initial common data (e.g., enrollment), with opportunity to review, correct and comment on trends and findings before the final report. For questions, contact a review team co-chair or the Office of the Provost: Grant Chapman, co-chair, chapman@webster.edu, 314-246-8755 Nancy Hellerud, co-chair, nancyhellerud@webster.edu, 314-246-7440 Joe Stimpfl, co-chair, jstimpfl@webster.edu, 314-246-7734 Jeanene George, Office of the Provost, jeanenegeorge96@webster.edu, 314-246-8242 3