Re: mission statements

[tarversj@admin.winthrop.edu (JO KOSTER TARVERS)]

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY                               Electronic Mail Message
                                        Date:     04-Jan-1996 10:31am EDT
                                        From:     Josephine K. Tarvers
                                                  TARVERSJ
                                        Dept:     English
                                        Tel No:   (803) 323-4557

TO:  Remote Addressee                     ( _smtp%"wcenter@unicorn.acs.ttu.edu" )


Subject: Re: mission statements

Bob, I think mission statements are a good idea for all involved--first for the 
Cneter staff because it focuses them on what they are really doing, second for 
administrators (who are often soaked in the ethos of TQM and respond with almost 
pathetic gratitude to anyone who "speaks their language"--hmm, sort of what _we_ 
do--;-)), third for the potential users of the center, and fourth for 
colleagues. I don't think they're "busywork" at all, though I know it's hard to 
write them well. I'm sending you ours separately, and if anyone else wants it 
they can e-mail me for it.

As for your situation--oh, dear. I gather Student Services is the big fish and 
you're the little fish. In this case I think I would stress that what you can 
offer, which Student Services probably can't without _tremendous extra expense 
and duplication of existing staffing resources_ [can you tell I have been 
talking to deans this week?] is EXPERTISE--i.e. the content area knowledge in 
good writing. Blow your own horn, celebrate your diversity of training, etc.

Then go for the low blow: suggest that you establish a "cooperative network" 
with your bigger competitor, with two-way referrals. This allows you to stress 
to your administration that while the university benefits most from having two 
separate, mission-focused entities, you are willing to explore ways of 
delivering more services more efficiently. The appropriate bureaucratic jargon 
for this is "collaboration for mutual benefit". 

Carpe diem--and good luck!

Jo

-------------------------
Jo Koster Tarvers
Department of English and Writing Center
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC 29733 USA
(803-323-4557 voice) (803-323-4557 fax)
tarversj@winthrop.edu