The Transparency Project Committee will hold its next informational forum for students, faculty and staff from 4-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in the Michigan/Ontario Rooms of the University Center. The focus of the forum is to share the tools and resources the committee has developed to improve transparency in campus-wide decision-making and communication processes.

Over the last few months, the Transparency Project Committee has focused its work in three areas: documenting existing decision-making processes and opportunities for input; creating web-based tools and resources that enhance information-sharing regarding campus committees and early stage initiatives/ideas; and developing communication and change management training and templates.  

“This forum gives the committee the chance to connect what we learned from the employee/student surveys and the senior leadership interviews to the resources we have created to support greater transparency in decision-making,” stated Jessica Thompson, committee co-chair and associate professor of communication and performance studies. “We feel it is really important for the campus community to know that we heard their concerns and ideas, and to demonstrate some of the tools we have created to address the issues raised.”

The committee plans to collect additional feedback regarding the resources from forum participants to help shape the committee’s final products and recommendations.

The Transparency Project Committee is composed of a diverse representation of faculty, staff and students. The initiative is one of three action projects underway at NMU as part of the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) method of accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. For more information, visit nmu.edu/aqip and view current action projects.