Communications Assessment-Project Plan

Purpose: To address the recommendations from SACS strategic-analysis. (see attached summary from report.)

Scope: The scope of this project is to assess the current formal and informal communications processes between Administration, Faculty, Staff and Students on campus. This analysis will provide Faculty, Staff and Administration with a current assessment of how information is communicated on campus as well as provide suggestions for areas where communication can be improved, changed, etc.

Project Objectives:

1. Assess and map the current flow of communication on campus.
2. Determine gaps related to the current processes. (gap-analysis)
3. Develop a plan to increase and improve communications at GSW.

Process: This table summarizes the steps that will be taken to accomplish this project. Details for each step are listed below the table.

Date	Step or Action	Expected Outcome
3/10/03	Teleconference with consultant	Wes Sumner, Diane Kirkwood, meet with consultant to discuss process to be used expected outcomes.
3/11/03	I. Planning Meeting	Dr. Batson, Diane Kirkwood and Wes Sumner meet to discuss and develop project plan and select sub-group membership.
3/27/03	II. Orientation	Meet with Sub-group of participants to explain process. Provide pre-work handout to participants.
3/28/03 – on going	III. Inform Campus	Campus-wide e-mail will be sent out to inform the campus community of the project.
3/28/03-4/30/03	IV. Data Collection	Provide a web-site location for all employees and students to provide anecdotal input on communication processes at GSW. Information will be collected in database and will be provided to consultant.
4/8/03	V. Mapping	Sub-group will meet and map communications process. (Approximately - 3 hour meeting)
4/11/03	VI. Summarize Map	Summarize the communications flow for future participants and consultants. (Flow-charting software)
5/1/03	VII. Focus Group	Consultant will visit campus and facilitate a focus group of approximately 25-30 faculty, staff and students. The goal of this meeting will be to discuss ways the current communication processes can be improved. (Approximately - 3 hour meeting)
5/30/03	VIII. Communications Plan – FY04	The outcome of the above steps is to develop a plan to improve the overall communications on campus. The plan will be shared with faculty and staff and implementation of changes will begin FY04.