Conclusion Criterion 5: Engagement and Service.

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	Most universities have a broad range of constituents, and UMKC is no exception. If anything, its range is broader than most. An unusual feature of our University is the governing board of the old, pre-UM System University of Kansas City that has remained active as an advisory body. The UMKC Board of Trustees surrendered its governing authority of UKC when UMKC came into existence as part of the UM System, but it continued as a strong support group that represents much of the Kansas City business elite. As befits a university with such historic roots in the community, UMKC has an enormous amount of community engagement. The Criterion 5 chapter describes it well:
UMKC’s community engagement also has historic roots. Founded in 1933 by area civic leaders, the University of Kansas City. ...was created with the express aim that the institution would be a community resource, intellectually, professionally and culturally. During its review, the Criterion 5 Committee identified more than 400 examples of community activities initiated campus wide and many with deep roots in UMKC and the city’s history. This wide engagement comes not through a centralized office, however, but rather emanates from the academic unit level. The Criterion 5 committee began with the essentials: reviewing UMKC’s mission documents and those of its academic and support units, examining their strategic plans, and studying the numerous reports from internal and external groups that have reviewed the University. Certainly, UMKC has been hampered by the administrative instability that it endured over the last decade. The reports that were issued then, often as a result of that instability, documented the value of environmental scanning. UMKC now regularly involves external groups in nearly all forms of planning, and strives to be responsive to all constituent needs, whether those constituents are internal or external: Today, UMKC’s Department of Public Relations [PR] continues to promote our mission through a variety of media by developing and maintaining relationships with reporters and editors at local, state and national media outlets, as well as with external constituents who have a vested interest in the University. PR also works with our academic units, departments, schools and centers to ensure UMKC’s messages are consistent and accurate, and target the public through multiple venues. The PR team also provides media training (one-on-one and group), crisis communications counsel and SWOT analysis. Communication practices include news releases, online news features, video, photography, UMatters (an electronic publication for staff and faculty), UMKC Experts Guide and social media sites (Twitter and Facebook). In 2002, UMKC’s Chancellor signed an executive order revising the Master Plan and ensuring that neighborhood interests would be considered. That order began a partnership with the neighborhood that is just one of many partnerships with community groups throughout the metropolitan area. Community engagement now is recognized as vital to UMKC and its students. This has led to a vast amount of student involvement in community projects. Arrangements, both formal and informal, exist between UMKC academic units and departments and various community groups. These have led to a number of advisory committees throughout the University. Advisory committees are used at the administrative level, in the academic units, and at centers and institutes across campus. The committees generally include faculty, staff and community members, with some including students. The specific roles of the advisory committees vary. All of them, however, endeavor to explore ways to serve the needs and expectations of their constituents. The chapter catalogues UMKC’s wide range of community engagements, and documents them as part of UMKC’s normal operation. These include activities in business and public administration, education, the fine and performing arts, and the health sciences. Some of them extend nationwide, such as New Letters, and New Letters on the Air. Many of UMKC’s programs attract national attention, such as the world-class sound collections of the University Libraries and their connections to Kansas City jazz. There also are notable programs associated with the Conservatory of Music and Dance, the Department of Theatre, and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Joint programs with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum also put UMKC on the national scene. At the same time, UMKC has intensified its efforts toward diversity. The chapter discusses these efforts: “The Division of Diversity, Access and Equity [DAE], which reports directly to the Office of the Chancellor, is a cornerstone for these efforts and others like them throughout the two campuses. Among its core values, UMKC includes ‘diversity, inclusiveness and respect’ and strives continuously to create a positive environment by recognizing and acknowledging personal bias and responsibility for affecting change.” Many schools have implemented formal programs to enhance diversity designed to attract women and those of under-represented groups. The 2009 Self Study The self study is the result of a long and complex process, but it has been a rewarding one. We believe it justifies UMKC’s request for re-accreditation for the full 10-year period.