FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2001 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE PRESIDENT RELEASES RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION Twenty months after becoming president of Drake University, David Maxwell today released his recommendations for hundreds of academic and administrative programs that have been carefully scrutinized as part of a comprehensive review of all University operations. "Program Review is intended to position Drake University to address the challenges of the 21st century -- not simply to meet those challenges, but to manage them and to turn them into opportunities," President Maxwell said. "Not many institutions of higher education have taken on an initiative of this size, scope and intent," he added, "and fewer have succeeded with the level of engagement and community support that Drake has thus far. Over the last year hundreds of people have participated in a thorough, strategic analysis of everything that the University does, setting priorities and positioning the institution to have the focus, the resources and the infrastructure to meet the learning goals of students and the needs of society. "The recommendations I'm releasing today are designed to ensure that Drake continues to focus on excellence and innovation. We are further enhancing our ability to provide a learning environment that fosters the development of basic intellectual abilities, such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and analytical and communication skills, embedded in academic programs of the highest quality that prepare our students for success in their personal and professional lives." Dr. Maxwell emphasized that while he is the author of this report, it represents the efforts, wisdom and ideas of a large portion of the Drake community, and is the direct outcome of months of meetings of the president and his cabinet with the Review and Priorities Advisory Committee. The recommendations for more than 95 academic programs and more than 130 administrative programs are posted on the Drake Web site at www.drake.edu/review. Here are some of the highlights of the report concerning academic programs: Still greater emphasis on active learning, discovery and collaborative inquiry A new faculty-student research fund Enhancement of the faculty research fund Expansion of undergraduate assistantships An endowment-supported faculty development fund An increased number of learning communities on campus Creation of more meaningful experiences of significant duration in another culture for all students A constellation of interdisciplinary centers, including a Center for Science, Mathematics and Education; a Center for International Studies; a Center for Collaborative Inquiry and a Center for Technology Studies Consideration of new majors and graduate programs, including ethics, historical documentary production and human resource management In addition to addressing academic programs, the recommendations also cover a myriad of non-academic programs, including: Renovating and enhancing the residence halls Renovating the Drake University Municipal Observatory Maintaining football and women's crew Restructuring Olmsted Center to put more emphasis on student activities Program Review began last January when members of the Drake community launched a campuswide effort to review all academic and administrative programs to ensure that Drake is using its resources wisely and effectively to achieve its mission, maximize its strengths and meet student needs. Led by three campus committees -- with the mandate of Drake President Maxwell and the University's Board of Trustees and with input from across campus -- Program Review produced two comprehensive reports that were announced Oct. 2. These reports contained the recommendations of Provost Ronald Troyer and faculty members of the Review and Priorities Advisory Committee (for academic programs) and the Administrative Program Review Steering Committee. These recommendations were then discussed at numerous campus forums involving faculty, staff, students and alumni. Based on the deliberations with RPAC and the Cabinet, and taking into account input provided from all campus constituencies, President Maxwell then developed the final set of recommendations. The Drake Board of Trustees will consider President Maxwell's recommendations when its meets Feb. 8 and 9.