iEngage: Shape Understanding of the Information Field by Communicating, Celebrating, and Showcasing the Purpose and Impact of iSchool Work

E1. Identity Statements—Develop clear statements about who we are and what we do

Vision The iSchool's identity, emphasizing our distinctive value, is clearly expressed. We leverage our collective identity to express the purpose and importance of what we do to strategic audiences and partners.
Start Date

7/1/2007
End Date 6/30/2012

Phases

Item

 Expected Completion
 
  1. Academic program statements
  2. Information field statements
  3. Faculty expertise statements
  4. The Information School Movement
  5. Our value proposition: why our work is important

Completed Spring 2009
Spring 2010
Completed Summer 2009
Spring 2012
Summer 2010

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a. Academic Program Statements—Develop clear statements about academic programs
Vision

Prospective students and faculty, industry partners, donors, research collaborators, UW administrators and state and federal legislators understand and highly value the professional and academic programs we offer. Statements are concise, memorable, valid and realistic; focus on distinctive qualities of the academic program not compare, contrast or reference other UW programs; and appeal to strategic audiences. The statements are used by faculty and staff for recruitment, orientation and advising etc.

The statements are used by students. All students understand and can describe the distinctions between our academic programs. Senior UW administrators understand our various academic programs. State legislators understand the value of our professional programs and approve increased enrollment in these programs.
Start Date

7/1/2007
End Date

2/28/2009

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 Program Identity Statements

Documented statements defining and describing iSchool academic programs.

 Completed Spring 2008
2 Academic Program Statements Incorporated into Print Materials

Academic program statements integrated into print materials describing the iSchool's academic programs.

 Completed Autumn 2008
3

Academic Program Statements Incorporated into Web-Based Materials

Academic program statements integrated into web-based materials.

 Completed Winter 2009
4

Academic Program Statements Incorporated into Marketing and Recruitment Materials

Documented methods developed for implementing uses of the program statements in marketing and recruitment materials and presentations to strategic audiences.

 Completed Spring 2009

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b. Information Field Statements—Develop clear statements about core concepts of the information field
Vision We are able to clarify our identity and purpose by agreeing on some simple functional definitions of core concepts in the information field. The definitions are used by faculty, students and staff. The definitions are used by students who are also engaged in the continuing discourse and active literature.
Start Date

7/1/2007
End Date 6/15/2010

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 Core Concepts List

Establish list of core concepts.

 Completed Autumn 2007
2 Core Concepts Definitions

Documented definitions for list of core concepts.

 Completed Spring 2008
3 Core Concepts Applied

Methods for incorporating the definitions of core concepts consistently and effectively into iSchool work and materials.

 Spring 2010

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c. Faculty Expertise Statements—Develop clear statements about faculty expertise
Vision The expertise of our faculty is an acknowledged strength that we can leverage effectively. We are able to say what makes us special and distinctive. Faculty, staff and students are able to describe the distinctive expertise of our faculty. Faculty expertise is included in our identity statements. Faculty teach in their areas of expertise. Strategic audiences understand and appreciate our strengths and expertise.
Start Date

7/1/2007
End Date 6/30/2009

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 Core Areas of Facutly Expertise

List of UW iSchool core areas of faculty expertise.

 Completed Spring 2009
2 Identity Statements Related to Faculty Expertise

Documented strategy for leveraging faculty expertise terminology.

 Completed Summer 2009

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d. The Information School Movement Statements
Phase 1. Develop clear statements about the information school movement
Vision We are part of a national and growing international movement of Information Schools. Identity with this movement is strategically important for us. We reference this movement and the highly distinguished schools that are our peers. We benchmark our performance against these schools. We leverage the collective identity to express the purpose and importance of what we do to strategic audiences and partners.
Start Date

7/1/2007
End Date 1/31/2009

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 Strategy for Leveraging National I-School Branding & Marketing

Documented strategy for leveraging the ongoing I-School branding and marketing work.

 Completed Summer 2009
2 Guidelines for Use of iSchool Slogans and Logos

Guidelines for incorporating iSchool branding slogans and logos into iSchool web site and printed materials; recommendation for linking to ISchool's web site from UW iSchool web site.

 Completed Spring 2009
Phase 2. Host I-Conference—Host the annual I-Schools' conference
Vision We are recognized as a leader in the Information Schools movement by hosting the 2011 iConference.
Start Date

7/1/2011
End Date 6/30/2012

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 iConference Hosting Posted to Web

Announcement that UW iSchool will host the annual iConference in 2011 posted on the UW iSchool website and the iSchools website.

 Spring 2009
2 Program Committee List

A list of UW iSchool faculty and staff who will serve on the program committee for the annual iConference to be held at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne.

 Spring 2009
3 2010 Planning Exercise

Plan for participation in planning for the 2010 iConference to gather procedures to be utilized for planning and coordinating the 2011 iConference.

 To be determined
4 2011 Planning Process

A process for planning and hosting the 2011 iConference.

 Spring 2010
5 2011 iConference Website

A website for the 2011 iConference using the template from previous conferences; information, registration, etc.

 Winter 2010
6 Host iConference

Host 2011 iConference (2/28/2011).

 To be determined

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e. Value Proposition Statements—Develop clear statements about our value proposition: why our work is important
Phase 1. Value Proposition Statements-Students—Develop clear statements about our value proposition for students
Vision Strategic external audiences such as potential donors and industry partners understand the value of the work that an information school does. We are able to describe what our graduates do as information professionals and what it means to "make information work."
Start Date

7/1/2007
End Date 6/30/2009

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 Capturing & Showcasing Value Through Work

A process for capturing and showcasing the iSchool's value proposition through the work of information professionals.

 Completed Summer 2009
2 Value Proposition Marketing Media

Marketing media stored in an accessible site (i.e. a website) providing information to strategic audiences describing the work of information professionals - focused on the work that iSchool graduates do.

 Completed Summer 2009
Phase 2. Value Proposition Statements—Research and Service: Develop clear statements about our value proposition for our research and service
Vision Strategic external audiences understand the value of the work that we do. We are able to clearly demonstrate and explain how our faculty "make information work" through their research, scholarship, creative work and service.
Start Date

4/1/2009
End Date 9/30/2010

Deliverables

Item

 Expected Completion
1 Showcase Research & Creative Work to Communicate Mission

A process for capturing and showcasing the research and service work of iSchool faculty to communicate the iSchool mission - "We make information work".

 Spring 2010
2 Faculty Work Demonstrating Value

A set of examples of faculty research, creative work, consulting or practical work with industry demonstrating value (e.g. through methods, approaches, outcomes) to the mission of the school - "We make information work".

 Summer 2010

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