University to Conduct Innovation and Opportunity Assessment

Innovation across the University—academic and administrative—is imperative in today’s higher education landscape. As faculty and staff throughout Syracuse University continue to explore new models for teaching and learning, and the delivery of essential services in both academic and non-academic areas, there’s a desire to develop and sustain the finest attributes of SU while continuing to grow as a vibrant, academic institution.

Given that the pressures on higher education are greater than ever, the timing is right to take a closer look at all the University does. Accordingly, senior administrative leaders and key faculty leaders believe it is essential that the University’s planning be informed by a depth of knowledge gathered from all areas of the institution.

That’s why a new steering committee involving faculty, staff, deans and administrative leaders will begin conducting an “Innovation and Opportunity Assessment” at SU.

The charge to the committee is multifaceted: to better understand the administrative structure of the University and how it compares to a group of peer institutions; to evaluate the RCM budget model and to identify possible modifications to make it more effective; to identify opportunities for academic innovations based upon SU’s strengths; and to provide a high-level overview of opportunities to Chancellor-designate Kent D. Syverud.

This past spring, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Affairs recommended the University engage an outside consultancy to evaluate the academic and administrative structures across all parts of the University. Concurrent with this recommendation, and to support and enhance the important comprehensive assessment work of the steering committee, the University retained Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm. Bain’s Higher Education Practice has helped achieve near-term and long-term results working closely with a number of major research institutions as colleges and universities seek a more measured strategic approach.

Bain’s assignment is to provide the University steering committee with options and recommendations to inform its work. They will conduct interviews with deans and unit leaders across campus and gather various data for analysis. Progress reports and recommendations will be shared with the steering committee and the larger campus community. The consultants are expected to assist through the end of the calendar year.

Steering Committee

Kal Alston, Senior Vice President for Human Capital Development
Lorraine Branham, Dean, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Gail Bulman, Chair, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Nancy Cantor, Chancellor and President
Shiu-Kai Chin, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees
Jamie Cyr, Director, Auxiliary Services
Craig Dudczak, Associate Professor, Communication and Rhetorical Studies, and Chair, Senate Budget Committee
Gwenn Judge, Director of Budget and Planning
Kristen Jones-Kolod, Executive Director of Budget and Operations, Division of Student Affairs
Sandra Lane, Professor of Public Health and Anthropology, and Chair, Senate Academic Affairs Committee
Mary Lovely, Professor of Economics and former Chair of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment
Louis Marcoccia, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Chris Sedore, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Operations, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Eric F. Spina, Vice Chancellor and Provost
Laura J. Steinberg, Dean, L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science