The centerpiece of Foundations of Excellence is a model for first-year excellence comprised of a set of principles that are termed Foundational Dimensions. These dimensions, developed by the Policy Center on the First Year of College and vetted by more than 300 colleges and universities, enable a university to measure its institutional efforts and provide a model for the entirety of the beginning college experience (initial contact with students through admissions, orientation, and all first-year curricular and co-curricular experiences). These dimensions also provide an intellectual foundation for the entirety of the undergraduate experience.
The self-study process includes two surveys: one sent to all faculty and staff and the other delivered to all undergraduate students new to the university, both freshmen and transfers. In addition, there are nine focus groups comprised of faculty, staff and students that examine WSU's performance in one of the Foundational Dimensions. These efforts get under way in the coming week and will continue throughout the academic year. The target date to have the final plan in place is May 1, 2009.
