The best part of the email:

So, I am personally encouraging you to complete the survey by its deadline of [insert date].

I laughed at that too. Whoops.

gave me a good chuckle

very excited about emails for upcoming emails by "a national brand communications firm"

sholudn't they be sampling from non-alumni for this?

(02-07-2017 02:40 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  sholudn't they be sampling from non-alumni for this?

was my second thought after wondering who's fault it was that missed the completion [insert date]. That anyone receiving that email has a skewed vantage point of what JMU is, was and will be. It would make way more sense to send to employers, circles of friends, etc.

I'll reserve the rest of my judgement until I receive the link, hopefully with a completion date.

yeah..this has sampling errors written all over it..and nebulous statements of " look how national we are now....alumni (minimum =1) in every state!"

It's also very, very curious timing to do this right after the NC....but again, i'm hoping this is a great survey, serious analysis, and reflects reality that JMU is not a national U at this point.

interested to see it and hope it's a good data point for adding more doctoral and stepping up in just a few areas - JMU is badass and needs to make the move! We all know that our ranking will drop...so what, we'll climb back up over time...

big fish small pond needs to end

Careful what you wish for bcp. Anytime you add to the university, you run the risk of allowing other flourishing areas to not necessarily get the attention/investments needed to maintain critical competitive advantages.

I want the national attention/recognition as much as the next alumnus. However, the question, "At what cost?" needs to be applied thoroughly for all aspects of growth and expansion. Conversely, the lack of expansion also needs to be viewed through the same lens.

JMU is among the greatest undergraduate educational institutions in America. That is hard to argue quite frankly and I love that image.

It is unfortunate that focusing on undergraduate studies is synonymous with the "regional" label, but research dollars drive academia, and JMU is not at that level currently. If we did add more doctorate programs, my fear is we lose the special nature of the university and become like rest.

We all chose JMU for a reason, and for most of us it was not because we could not attend national or major public universities. We instead chose JMU.

Can't argue with any of that really, JMU is an incredible, special place...but here is the thing:

- it's Alger's plan...i've been pretty critical of him at times, but am supporting him on this - National U
- we only need to add...2 (maybe 3 Longhorn?) phd programs to be eligible
- sports as a front door to the university (paraphrasing his words, not mine)

I sure hope that the target doesn't move from National U to "look we have national recognition from alumni!" - that wouldn't pass the lowest bar of sniff tests

(02-08-2017 11:16 AM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  Can't argue with any of that really, JMU is an incredible, special place...but here is the thing:

- it's Alger's plan...i've been pretty critical of him at times, but am supporting him on this - National U
- we only need to add...2 (maybe 3 Longhorn?) phd programs to be eligible
- sports as a front door to the university (paraphrasing his words, not mine)

I sure hope that the target doesn't move from National U to "look we have national recognition from alumni!" - that wouldn't pass the lowest bar of sniff tests

I thought the Carnegie classification had to do with the number of PhD degrees conferred vs the number of programs offering PhD degrees?

(02-07-2017 03:22 PM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  

(02-07-2017 02:40 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  sholudn't they be sampling from non-alumni for this?

was my second thought after wondering who's fault it was that missed the completion [insert date]. That anyone receiving that email has a skewed vantage point of what JMU is, was and will be. It would make way more sense to send to employers, circles of friends, etc.

I'll reserve the rest of my judgement until I receive the link, hopefully with a completion date.

They may be surveying or focus-grouping many different groups, for all we know. This alumni survey could be just one of several outreach tools they're using.

Speaking of recognition, the football team was just recognized on the floor of the House of Delegates. Houston, Schor and Greene were there with the trophy. Got a nice reception from the House and the Speaker, wearing a JMU hat, thanked JMU for doing college sports the right way.

(02-08-2017 12:43 PM)madizoned-level2004 Wrote:  

(02-07-2017 03:22 PM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  

(02-07-2017 02:40 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  sholudn't they be sampling from non-alumni for this?

was my second thought after wondering who's fault it was that missed the completion [insert date]. That anyone receiving that email has a skewed vantage point of what JMU is, was and will be. It would make way more sense to send to employers, circles of friends, etc.

I'll reserve the rest of my judgement until I receive the link, hopefully with a completion date.

They may be surveying or focus-grouping many different groups, for all we know. This alumni survey could be just one of several outreach tools they're using.

If there is one thing this administration does very well, its surveys, focus groups, listening tours. It what you do with the information that seems to be a hang up with our administration. I'm reminded of the Seinfeld "taking the reservation and holding the reservation" episode, that is our admin.

Looking forward to receiving mine.

(02-08-2017 12:29 PM)2Buck Wrote:  

(02-08-2017 11:16 AM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  Can't argue with any of that really, JMU is an incredible, special place...but here is the thing:

- it's Alger's plan...i've been pretty critical of him at times, but am supporting him on this - National U
- we only need to add...2 (maybe 3 Longhorn?) phd programs to be eligible
- sports as a front door to the university (paraphrasing his words, not mine)

I sure hope that the target doesn't move from National U to "look we have national recognition from alumni!" - that wouldn't pass the lowest bar of sniff tests

I thought the Carnegie classification had to do with the number of PhD degrees conferred vs the number of programs offering PhD degrees?

Cursory search says you are correct...20 conferred doctorates per year...can't imagine we are far from that? May be other hurdles too...but hope we are not dancing at the finish line!

Are the survey results fluid?

Hazed, they are ever-changing and complex and will require constant monitoring and reflection.

Survey is live folks! godspeed

(02-09-2017 11:16 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  Survey is live folks! godspeed

I didn't get an email. When did you get it?

(02-09-2017 11:21 AM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  

(02-09-2017 11:16 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  Survey is live folks! godspeed

I didn't get an email. When did you get it?

I got it at 10:03 CST. already completed mine... avoiding my to do list at the office.