The document discusses identifying areas of excellence and strategic priorities for a college. It outlines a process that included discussions with faculty, chairs, committees and reviewing faculty expertise. Potential areas that were identified include: environment, culture, health, communication, energy, community and neuroscience. The document discusses opportunities to create departments, centers of excellence, collaborations and cross-listed courses around these areas. Specific areas discussed in more depth include communication/media, environmental policy, transnational cultural studies and art/design. The document ends by asking how the college can build upon its strengths to define its identity and strategic plan.

2. Areas of Excellence
Capitalizing on Strengths of the Faculty
Identifying Areas of Distinction and College
Priorities
Creating Opportunities for Faculty, Staff, and
Students
Building a Strategic Plan for the College

3. Discussion of Areas of Excellence
General Faculty Meetings
Meetings with Chairs
Division Meetings with Chairs
Informal Discussions among Colleagues
Executive Committee Feedback
Review of Faculty Expertise in Departments
Research on Programs of Interest

4. Possible Areas of Excellence
Environment Media Studies
Culture Culture and Communities
Health Integrated Human
Global/International Sciences
Communication Environmental
Energy Studies/Sciences & Ethics
Community Medicine and Society
Social Dynamics Globalization
Visual Arts/Graphic Design
Transnational
Neuroscience
Transformational Narrative
Poverty

5. Opportunities for Areas of Excellence
Creation of Departments and/or Schools
Creation of Centers of Excellence
Joint Appointments
Formalized Collaborations (e.g., MOUs)
Sharing of Curriculum and Expertise (Elimination of
Duplication)
Cross-listings
Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary Programming
Others

6. Continued Exploration:
Communication & Media (& Society?)
Faculty Resources Given Current Levels of Programming
Capitalize on Television Studio
Capitalize on Local Media and Communication
Opportunities
Opportunity to Build Areas with Potential (e.g., Public
Relations)
Expand Research on Social Media
Opportunities for Future Development

7. Recent Suggestions:
Communication & Media (& Society?)
Communication, Media, & Networks
Something with “Visual Communication”

8. Continued Exploration:
Environmental Policy and Development
Coordinate Faculty Expertise Across Departments
Consistent with University Priority
Multidisciplinary Collaborations
Capitalize on Location
Funding Opportunities
Future Development Opportunities
Opportunity for State and Regional Recognition

9. Recent Suggestions:
Environmental Policy and Development
Environmental Studies
Sustainability Science
Snake River Institute (Regional focus)
Regional Narrative/Regional Literatures
Human Ecology/Ecological Systems

10. Continued Exploration:
Transnational Cultural Studies
Coordinate Faculty Expertise Across Departments
Broadening of Student Interest
Build Strengthen in Programming and Student
Enrollment
Funding Opportunities
Future Development Opportunities
Opportunity for State and Regional Recognition

11. Recent Suggestions:
Transnational Cultural Studies
Global Cultural Studies
Global Cultures
Global and Regional Cultural Studies
Cultural and Diversity

12. Continued Exploration:
Art & Design
Coordinate Faculty Expertise Across Departments
Expanding Opportunities for Creative Expression
and Collaboration
Broadening Opportunities for Students
Funding/Development Opportunities
National Accreditation

13. Recent Suggestions:
Art & Design
Art & Creative Process
Visual Arts
Visual Arts and Culture

14. Continued Exploration:
Health/Diversity/Social Science
(Mind, Body, & Society??)
Coordinate Faculty Expertise Across Departments
Consistent with University Priority
Multidisciplinary Collaborations (e.g., Neuroscience)
Expanding Opportunities for Funding
Increase Training Opportunities for Students
Development Opportunities

15. Recent Suggestions:
Health/Diversity/Social Science
(Mind, Body, & Society??)
Human/Nature Interactions
Brain and Behavior
Brain, Behavior, and Resiliency
Health and Well-being
Health and Social Dynamics

16. Planning for the Future
Who do we want to be?
What are the current strengths of the
College?
How can we build on these strengths?