By Rachel Stern • Correspondent
Cross-college learning, students teaching other
students and themed housing are all aspects of
Ithaca College’s draft strategic plan, IC20/20,
according to college President Thomas Rochon.
“We are trying to prepare students to be analytical
thinkers, creative, problem solvers, and in short,
lifelong learners,” Rochon said. “The primary
motivation is to make sure our students understand
learning is not just in the classroom.”
IC20/20, said Rochon, is intended to advance the
quality of the student learning experience over the
next 10 years. The goal, said Rochon, is to have a
final plan in place by May.
This past summer, Rochon, along with interim
provost Gregory Woodward and other college
leaders, designed the draft. The college is now
ready to take the next steps, he said.
They just finished what Rochon referred to as
“phase two” in the process, which was presenting
the plan to the campus community through several
faculty, student and staff meetings.
“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” he
said. “Faculty acclaimed this vision as being the
kind of community they want to be a part of. For
students, it is the opportunity to enrich the
educational experience.”
On Thursday, the college announced eight task
forces that will work on each objective of the plan.
Those objectives are:
* Develop an undergraduate curriculum that is
nationally recognized for successful employment of
integrative, professionally applied and inquiry-
based learning.
* Continue to work to reach the highest potential.
* Enhance the emphasis on the student learning experience related to diversity and the global nature
of society.
* Educate students for civic engagement in order to
develop character.
* Commit to continuous assessment and change on
behalf of student learning.
* Enhance and expand graduate offerings.
* Increase national and international reach.
Kevin Fish, president of the student government
association at Ithaca College, has worked closely
with Rochon and Woodward to present the
document to the student body. Fish said he has
seen a positive reaction from students and, in his
opinion, the interdisciplinary aspect of the plan is
most important.
“A lot of jobs out there require people to be
adaptable to different situations,” said Fish, who is a
senior majoring in culture and communication. “A
lot of times it is quite difficult to get into classes if
you are not a member of that school, but this opens
up that possibility.”
One potential way to achieve that, said Rochon,
would be to have a few days set aside when juniors
and seniors teach other students courses in their
fields of study.
The Upstate Upstart 
Posted on November 12, 2010
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