Public Service and Outreach Planning Distribution Materials 4/21/99




Five Exploratory Groups for PS&O Commission Big Questions that May Be Relevant for All Groups What are the needs of the various groups of our public? Why should the institution value public service? What is the institution’s responsibility to the public? What is our vision for (insert focus of each group)? 1.Toward a University-Wide Strategic Plan In what areas are our current programs concentrated? In what areas are our current programs minimal or nonexistent? In what disciplines is public service most/not appropriate? What areas can be proposed as priorities for 2020? What areas should be eliminated or unsupported? How might partnerships with other entities (businesses, other colleges and universities, non-profit groups, etc.) enhance or strengthen the University’s contributions to public life? 2.Public Relations & Communications Do we test the assumption that U.Va. is suffering negative public opinion? Does the local community feel a sense of ownership and pride for U.Va.? How do we recognize and acknowledge what the community has done for us? How do we best distinguish between relations with different kinds of publics? What new communication structures and approaches can we identify? 3.Administrative Structures and Resources How can the University’s explicit mission statements regarding public service be implemented more systematically and visibly throughout the departments and schools? How much are grants/contracts driving our public service efforts and what are the implications of such a ‘structure’? What administrative and funding structures exist throughout the institution to support public service? What goals for public service exist throughout the units of this institution and how well are existing structures serving those goals? Should funds be earmarked for public service? How could this be done? 4.Volunteer Service Why should we value volunteer service of students, faculty, and staff? What mechanisms currently encourage and support volunteer service? Are these mechanisms adequate and, if not, what do we propose? How can we more effectively convey the magnitude of volunteer services performed at this institution? How does/should service learning enhance the educational experience of students and faculty? 5.Reward Structures for Faculty Service How does/can faculty service enhance the teaching and research functions of a department? What barriers exist to rewarding faculty service? Can faculty service be rewarded through existing processes/structures? Would other processes or structures be more effective? What incentives can be developed to encourage new faculty service? What rewards can be developed to recognize current faculty service?