The Task Force will recommend to the Steering Committee the following:

• ways to attract motivated students, to attain excellent, student-centered operations, and to attract and retain an enthusiastic, committed workforce;
• focused academic and research areas of regional, state, and national prominence and distinction, with a specific focus on interdisciplinary efforts;
• competencies that will make A&M-Corpus Christi graduates competitive;
• non-curricular ways to achieve national distinction;
• leadership identification and development to address the administrative/staff/faculty transitions that will occur over the next decade;
• programs which are already in existence but need to be enhanced and programs that may be detrimental to the institution’s image and may need to be substantially changed or eliminated.

Focus on Excellence Task Force: Harvey Knull (graduate studies/research), chair: Suzzette Chopin, (biology faculty) co-chair. Ann DeGaish (student affairs), Mario Garcia (computer science faculty), Dan Viola (athletic director), Linda Cook (nursing faculty), David Billeaux (academic affairs), Grady Price Blount (PALS department chair), Debra Cortinas (human resources), Elisabeth Merman-Jozwiak (English department chair), Andrew Piker (humanities chair), Anthony Quiroz (history faculty), Greg Stunz (biology faculty member), Donald Deis (accounting faculty member), Carlos Huerta (core curriculum), Renee DeLaTorre (student), Jorge Ramirez (public information), Eve Layman (nursing faculty), Janet Banks (nursing faculty), Scott Seay (student), Margaret Dechant (admissions and records), Angela Walker (student affairs), James Rennier (music faculty), Community Representative, Alumni Representative, Robert Smith (counselor education faculty), Randy Bonnette (kinesiology faculty), Carla Berkich (counseling services)

The Focus on Excellence Task Force will be assisted by the following working groups:

DeGaish, Ann (Chair)

Angela Walker (student affairs), chair

Benibo, Bilaye (Social Science faculty)

CAB Representatives

Gilda Ramirez (staff)

Island Ambassador Representatives

Leo, David (Special Education faculty)

Leticia Bazan (staff)

Student Foundation Representatives

Theresa Sharpe (student affairs)

People, Ed (auxiliaries)

Gutierrez, Alan (police)

Community Representative

Alumni Representative

Joey Velasco (seminar leader)

Heather Hernandez (student)

Cortinas, Debra (Chair)

Blomquist, Beatrice (staff)

Perez, Liz (staff)

Ramirez, Sam (staff)

Salinas, Joanne (staff)

Sherman, Scott (Business faculty)

Sanders, J.R. (University Center)

Hamilton, Jacque ( student affairs staff)

Hurley, Cathy (institutional advancement)

Community Representative

Alumni Representative

Billeaux, David (Chair)

Blount, Grady Price (PALS department chair)

Cassidy, Jack (Education faculty)

Hardin, Bridgette (staff)

Johnston, Claudia (AVP-Special Projects)

King, Scott (Music computer science faculty)

Ledbetter, Carol (Nursing faculty)

MacDonald, Ian (Environmental Science faculty)

Merritt, Paul (Psychology faculty)

Seidel, Steve (Psychology faculty)

Rios, Jo Marie (Political Science/Public Administration faculty)

Sherritt, Caroline (Education faculty)

Tillinger, Janet (Accounting faculty)

Tissot, Philippe (Physics faculty)

Herrera, Sharon (student affairs)

Joffray, Julie (student affairs)

Community Representative

Alumni Representative

Becky Primera (student)

This group should consider, but not be limited to, the following potential points of distinction:

• Coastal/marine emphasis on management/policy/engineering/ (GIS)/ architecture, Gulf of Mexico sustainability, port issues

• Computer security

• Learning communities/First-Year Experience/Civic Engagement

• Research focus: South Texas health issues/health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and associated diseases; a cluster of psychology of health/environment/nursing; economic development/educational environment (i.e., literacy, high school dropouts, second language achievement (ISLA) field-based programs, induction programs), borderlands issues; regional social science research focus; water analysis/water quality.

• Center for Undergraduate Research

• South Texas cultural arts programming

• Electronic modules simulation/instruction/Center for Virtual Reality or Serious Games

• Tourism/Recreation/Hotel Resort Management/Winter Texan programming/ Leisure Studies

• Multicultural Emphasis/Enrichment

Huerta, Carlos (Chair)

Abudiab, Mufid (Mathematics faculty)

Billiot, Fereshteh (Chemistry faculty)

Bonnette, Randy (Kinesiology faculty), chair

Griffith, Bryant (Education faculty)

Hill, Patricia (staff)

Johnson, Lindsey (staff)

Ortiz, Cristina (Spanish faculty)

Rosales, Jesus (Spanish faculty)

Wooster, Robert (History faculty)

Yoskowitz, David (Economics faculty)

Howe, Terri (student affairs)

Community Representative

Alumni Representative

Paul Rodriquez (student)

Nominations needed for Chair

Berkich, Carla (student affairs), chair

Garcia, Robert (staff)

Gorecki, Ed (student representative)

Intercollegiate Athletics Representatives and Student Athlete Reps.

Marroquin, Christina (staff)

Sipes, Diana (Music faculty)

Wells, Tim (Education faculty)

Goonan, Melissa (public affairs)

Linda Cook, Chair

Bolick, Margaret (Teacher Education faculty)

Causgrove, Tim (Chemistry faculty)

Chambers, Valrie (Accounting faculty)

Farrell, Adam (recreational sports)

Hain, Paul (Political Science faculty)

Shepperd, Richard (Education faculty)

Villarreal, Javier (Spanish faculty)

Wenzel, Diana (Education faculty)

Wood, Brittany (student affairs)

Community Representative

Alumni Representative

Jennifer Ketchum (student)