Maine Perspective Front Page
New BearWorks Version Reflects Campus Input
After two months of face-to-face and "virtual" discussions involving students, faculty, and staff, President Peter S. Hoff is preparing to issue a revised version of BearWorks: An Action Plan.
The revisions to BearWorks are expected to be released within a few weeks, according to Hoff.
As originally explained, BearWorks is a set of more than 70 action items intended to achieve four specific goals aimed at positioning UMaine as:
- a land-grant university with a Maine focus and human scale
- a strong, dynamic university
- a collegial community of learners
- Maine's college of choice
Since the original version was made available in late February in both print and electronic versions, several hundred people have engaged in discussion of BearWorks proposals, along with other elements that some would like to see included. In addition to public forums where members of the university community expressed their thoughts and suggestions to Hoff, many people have made their points of view known via BearWorks DIALOG, a discussion group featured on the campus FirstClass e-mail system. Thousands of ideas, comments, and topics have been posted since the discussion group was started two months ago.
"The BearWorks DIALOG postings have been very constructive," Hoff says. "The opportunity itself has engaged the campus community in an unprecedented way. Whether it's because of convenience or comfort, hundreds of people have chosen BearWorks DIALOG as a way to contribute to the discussion on UMaine's future.
"It's obvious to me that this kind of opportunity to comment needs to continue beyond the BearWorks discussions," Hoff adds.
Hoff says the responses to the original BearWorks proposal will influence the revised version of the action plan, which he will issue shortly. Copies of the new version, to be called BearWorks 2.0, will be distributed in print and posted electronically on both FirstClass and on UMaine's Website, as is the current version. In some instances, Hoff explains, new items will be added, while in other instances original language may be clarified.
In addition, an addendum to BearWorks 2.0 will be issued. It will identify those individuals who will be expected to take the lead in addressing specific action items, as well as timetables for implementing and/or completing those assignments.
While BearWorks is not intended to address every detail of campus operation, Hoff says it will make clearer the challenges UMaine faces and what UMaine can do to address them. He points out that several action items have already been initiated, such as reviews of academic and administrative program areas, service to students, a comprehensive institutional marketing plan, and a long-term capital plan.
Hoff says that while release of the revised plan will come near or at the end of the spring semester, efforts will be made to share it with faculty, students, and staff, even those who might not be on campus.