Anderson school seeks input from students to aid process

by Terrance Cook

Daily Lobo

In an attempt to improve its programs and reach out to the surrounding community, the Anderson School of Management has begun seeking student input for its strategic planning process.

The process is a way of improving the school, achieving department goals and to better reach out to UNM and its surrounding community.

Laurie Schatzberg, planning committee chairwoman and associate professor of Management Information Systems, recognizes the need for student input as the school casts its vision for the future.

"It is important to our long-term success that we engage the full spectrum of our constituents in our ongoing planning process," Schatzberg said. "Input from constituencies helps us to calibrate how well our aspirations for ASM match the expectations of those we interact with."

Ensuring that school programs are nationally competitive and that the school strengthens its contributions to New Mexico economic development are only a couple of goals of the planning process.

Brian Mozley, a senior business finance major, said he welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on his school's plan. He added that the student voice has gone unheard for too long.

"I never saw an opportunity to give input before, I didn't feel like it was wanted," Mozley said.

However, he said he is pleased that the school is showing interest in his input. He added that his school, ironically, is "run like a business" and sometimes puts scheduling and follow-the-template rigidity before the active needs of students.

"In the past, we have not had a strong outreach component in our planning process. Since being re-accredited, we have worked to correct weaknesses," Schatzberg said.

Student input, such as Mozley's, is the next phase in an improved planning process that has already seen participation from a number of sources including faculty and staff.

In addition to students and faculty, input is being provided by several outside sources. External groups such as the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, recruiters and employers have also participated substantially in the planning process.

Strategic planning is also becoming popular with other schools and colleges at UNM, officials said.

Schatzberg said she hopes that as other schools create their own plans, there will be an increased interest in student participation and response.

"There is a growing awareness . and motivation among administrators, students, staff and faculty members, to really listen to one another," she said.

The Anderson strategic plan will be discussed at the school's upcoming town hall meetings, which will provide a platform for direct feedback for the planning committee.

Students can also log on to the management homepage and click on 'Strategic Plan' where the plan and a feedback form is provided.