Small Group Discussion - Group 1
Recorder: Brad M. Barber

Strengths

1. Faculty expertise (research)
   
2. Strategic location (proximity to state government, biotechnology, computing, agricultural. centers, high quality of life)
   
3. High-quality students
   
4. Availability of land
   
5. Engine for economic growth
   
6. History of cross-disciplinary work

   Opportunities

   1. Planned hiring (and the ability to change culture)
      
   2. New programs to feed increased regional needs
      
   3. Improved state funding (and the ability to improve infrastructure)
      Weaknesses and Threats

      Weaknesses

      1. Lack of incentives for outreach
         
      2. Challenges presented by growth (described graphically by Tom Eames)
         
      3. UC bureaucracy (slow response to change)
         
      4. Campus inexperience dealing with industry
         
      5. City of Davis resistance to growth
         
      6. Academic Senate makes change difficult
         
      7. Poor infrastructure and physical facilities
         
      8. Lack of appropriate national and international recognition

         Threats

         1. CSUS and 10th campus
            
         2. Decreased public funding
            
         3. Conflicts of interest that may arise from private funding
            
         4. Competition for high-quality faculty
            
         5. Private education and training
         Priorities/Action Items
         1. Provide opportunities for excellence in outreach to be rewarded in the personnel process.

         2. Explore Sacramento-based professional masters programs (e.g. engineering)

         3. Streamline the technology transfer (e.g. patent) process

         4. Train faculty in outreach

         5. Improve infrastructure and physical facilities

         6. Explore new models of development which have the joint goals of outreach and development