Criterion Five: Engagement and Service Opportunities for Improvement

---

	While on the majority of fronts UMKC measures up, communications and public perception of the University remain areas for improvement. The issue of communications is being addressed through a thorough examination of current practices and a realignment of strategic staff to serve constituents more effectively. To better tell the University’s “story,” UMKC’s Public Relations Department and the Government Relations Office have been shifted to report to the Office of the Chancellor, so that media releases and public communications will coincide with specific goals and initiatives of the University. The Office of Community Affairs has shifted to the Division of Advancement and Development, as many of these partners are also potential donors. UMKC’s Creative Services, Marketing and Web Development/Design shifted to the Division of Academic Affairs to assist with the redesign of the University’s web presence. The University’s communications and how best to serve all of UMKC’s constituents, advance our strategic planning initiatives and work more closely with the UM System are still being reviewed.
As with the majority of colleges and universities across the U.S., UMKC is also facing a challenging economic climate due to continued cuts at the state level and the recent widespread economic recession. This has provided numerous opportunities to engage with and recruit faculty, staff and students to be active partners in making tough decisions and in helping re-engineer many of UMKC’s programs to ensure a sustainable future. Faculty and staff serve as active members of the University Budget Committee, which has been assigned the important task of creatively reducing overhead in all academic units and administrative divisions. A University-wide strategic planning process has engaged faculty, staff, students and community members in helping to set the agenda for the future around UMKC’s four mission areas. In addition, each of the campuses within the University of Missouri System has initiated more active coordination in preparing communication strategies, legislative agendas, and opportunities for greater collaboration and partnerships across the state. In total, these actions will play a vital role and create a united front for higher education in Missouri.