Regents Approve New Principles To Guide Campus-Level Innovation

Amidst continuing cuts to the University System of George’s (USG) state appropriations and exploding enrollment, the System’s governing Board of Regents approved a set of seven “Principles to Guide Innovation” in March. USG officials said the purpose of the principles is to provide a framework in which faculty and staff at the USG’s 35 institutions can develop processes and programs that will help to meet demand during a time of reduced resources.

The principles, the result of a system-wide consultation, have two central themes: the need to protect and enhance the academic mission and the quality of that mission in teaching, research and service, and to continue to provide broad access to all Georgians academically qualified to pursue higher education.

These principles are part of the board’s and Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr.’s strategy to encourage innovation at the campus level.

“We expect that any proposed innovations will be of high quality, student focused and aligned with the System’s Strategic Plan,” said Davis. “The thrust is to inculcate a culture of innovation, and to push innovation downward in the organization to the campus level for maximum effect. In the current economic climate, innovation has to become an ingrained part of our culture.”

The seven principles state that USG institutions should:

• Give priority to innovations that enhance and hone their present mission.
• Consider innovations that increase student learning, research and faculty productivity. For example, activities such as novel and innovative uses of technology, the assessment of curriculum and the evaluation of accelerated degree programs would be potential areas for innovation.
• Investigate innovations that strengthen existing student life, academic and academic support structures.
• Consider innovations that reprogram existing infrastructure use, including maximizing the use of facilities throughout the entire calendar year, the entire academic week and the entire academic day while fully utilizing academic related technology. This would also include expanded internships and study abroad opportunities.
• Give priority within the limits of their mission to academic programs that meet demonstrated state and/or regional need.
• Utilize the collective power of the University System and other educational institutions and organizations in Georgia. This would include collaboration with other System institutions, collaboration with entities outside of the USG, the development of pilot programs that could be implemented throughout the System, and new initiatives built upon transferable “best practices” from within the System or beyond.
• Be prepared to take measured risks in the process of innovation.