Minutes from March 24, 2021

1. Welcome and announcements - none
2. Approval of minutes from 2/24/21 – approved with year of January’s minutes corrected
3. Discussion
   1. Goal 3.1 update:
      1. Table setting –
         3. In goal 3.1, there have been lots of simultaneous, de-centralized efforts. Some are coordinated, some are well established. There are some organizations on campus (INBRE, AI/AN CTR, CAIRHE, CAIP, Common Threads, etc.).
         4. There is no single office or position.
         5. Activity spans across entities and roles – not just research, but also instruction, student support, engagement and outreach.
         6. Great momentum last spring, coordination emerging. Covid-19 really impacted our tribal partners.
         7. There are some opportunities to track this progress, including Activity Insight, OCHE’s report to the Governor, and some emerging work.
      2. Ariel Donohue: there’s not necessarily agreement that there should be a single office or position. She also stated that there is concern in the community about the funding of these programs.
      3. Discussion included: instructional and institutional roadblocks as well as pandemic roadblocks, exemplar academic program (the PhD for Indigenous & Rural Health), additional program development (EHHD, CLS, Ag, and the Buffalo Nations grad program on indigenous food systems).
      4. A member suggested that when things don’t move forward in a timely manner, they probably need a champion.
      5. The American Indian Hall is on track to open on time (Metric 3.1.4).
      6. Recruitment pipeline analysis work was discussed, with action happening in Admissions and Strategic Enrollment Management. Council discussed increasing pathways and relationships in recruitment of transfer students from Tribal colleges and broadening the diversity of our recruitment pipeline, building and publicizing articulation agreements, advising and recruiting Tribal college transfers before arriving at MSU, strengthening and broadening Gear Up activity.
      7. Discussion on the impact of the infrastructure bill on opportunity costs for some potential students. Has there been any research into what students need before they get here or to recruit after working? Student needs always at the fore, though a moving target, with more conversation now about basic safety needs.
      8. Jason Carter: reporting on a meeting regarding the Indigenous Research Initiative, which is being led by Kristin Ruppel & Loren BirdRattler. Included Jovanka Voyich, Suzanne Held, Alex Adams, and Anne Bertagnolli. Want to put an umbrella over these existing relationships without making it a one-size-fits-all approach. Most existing campus organizations are biomedically oriented. Indigenous Research Initiative could result in an institute more focused in social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and education.
      9. Chris Fastnow wrapped up this more narrative goal update with a request that members please bring more to contribute as you have additional information.
   2. Discussion to winnow priority goals for FY23 down to three
      1. For FY23 (AY22-23), Planning Council will recommend three goals to the President to focus budget, programs, and attention on for the short term.
      2. The six goals we have been discussing this year are 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, and 3.3.
         1. Are we locked into these six? Yes. We have opened the past several meetings for suggestions. It’s time to winnow them down.
         2. Proposal to add something more broadly about student health and well-being, coming out of Covid (hopefully). Planning Council discussed including students more explicitly in goal 3.3. But we should probably be thinking about this sooner than FY23.
         3. Great progress on the Grand Challenges. 2.4 needs more resources now for success later.
         4. When we prioritize something that helps faculty, does this trickle down to students? Does prioritizing goal 3.3 end up helping goal 1.1? Yes, supporting faculty research and creativity provides more opportunities for students.

3. Chris Fastnow opened a non-binding straw poll, where members can vote three times. Putting all votes on one goal is acceptable.  12 members voted as follows:

1. Other business - none
2. Public comment - none

Next meeting: April 28, 2:00-3:00 p.m, via WebEx

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