A task force to review non-academic administrative services at Indiana University has been appointed by IU President Myles Brand with a goal of enhanced service quality, integration and cost efficiencies. The review will focus on the Bloomington and IUPUI campuses and university administration.

During the initial meeting of the task force, Brand outlined in his charge that teaching and research are the primary missions of the institution but that many non-academic administrative services are required to sustain those academic missions. He underscored that the review is aimed at determining if there are ways to improve the quality and efficiency of administrative services by taking full advantage of the critical mass of both people and processes located on the campuses and within university administration.

Any cost efficiencies or savings resulting from the review will be reinvested in the academic missions of the university with savings from a campus remaining on that campus. The task force was charged to consider the future administrative environment and needs of the university. For example, the development of new administrative information systems and the implementation of E-commerce procedures will significantly impact the way IU works in the future.

"Based upon President Brand's charge, the task force will be selecting an outside consultant to assist in evaluating our current service and operations levels and in determining if a more integrated service delivery mechanism might be appropriate in certain administrative areas," explained Judith Palmer, IU vice president and chief financial officer, who was appointed by Brand to chair the task force. "The charge to the task force indicates that if we are not able to realize savings levels or quality improvements that are worthwhile, we are not going to recommend reorganization or restructuring for its own sake. It should also be pointed out that savings can result in many ways, including avoidance of future costs, thus allowing those dollars not required for administrative activities to be invested in the core academic missions of the university."

The review will include administrative services which are provided by the university's central administration and the Bloomington and IUPUI campuses. At a later time, the regional campuses may be included but not in the initial activities of the task force. The definition of administrative services as outlined by Brand includes academic support functions, such as financial aid and registrar, as well as administrative functions which are being performed in academic units.

Palmer said that the task force is presently developing a work plan for the review process. By July 1, the task force will recommend to the president an outside consultant to assist with the review. The task force will provide recommendations for an advisory committee which will be appointed by Brand and will work with the consultant when the actual review begins later this year. This advisory committee will have broad-based representation, including faculty. The review and full implementation is expected to take at least two years.

"During this past decade, American business and industry has gone through a similar exercise, with the result that companies have become more efficient and effective," said Brand. "While universities are different from the private sector in fundamental ways, there are similarities with respect to support and business operations. Thus, this review will be helped through the use of a consulting firm that has experience in both the private sector and the academy."

The task force expects to work closely with other groups currently exploring similar issues with the university. These groups include the two steering committees for the major administrative information systems under development, the Student Information System and the Human Resource Management System. In addition, earlier this year Palmer and Michael McRobbie, IU vice president of information technology, appointed a committee to explore opportunities to take better advantage of E-commerce activities in many of the university's financial functions. The work of that group will be very important in providing an environment for better integration of services without regard to geographical location, Palmer said.

A communication process will be recommended as part of the consultant's review which will allow for opportunities for faculty and staff to share their suggestions and concerns with the task force or the advisory committee, Palmer added.

In addition to Palmer, task force members are Mary Ellen Anderson, director of admissions, IUB; Gerald Bepko, IU vice president for long-term planning and IUPUI chancellor; Ray Bonhomme, vice chancellor of administration and finance, IU Kokomo; J. Terry Clapacs, IU vice president for administration; Dan Dalton, dean of the IU Kelley School of Business; Norma Holland, associate vice president of University Information Systems-IUB/IUPUI; Robert Martin, vice chancellor of administration and finance, IUPUI; Neil Theobald, associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies, and associate director for school finance projects for the Indiana Education Policy Center, IUB; Maynard Thompson, vice chancellor and dean for budgetary administration and planning, IUB; and Jeff Vessely, dean of students, IUPUI.