Academic Planning Task Force

J-161 -- 12:00 PM

October 1, 2007

 

  1. Announcements: Bob Brown has created a document on how to do strategic planning that may be a valuable resource.  The document is available by clicking here.

 

  1. Reviewed goals established at last meeting.

 

Four Goals:

 

A.  Quality Instruction, including Assessment and Professional Development
              

I. Examine and improve the way we teach what we teach

a. rigor

b. matched to desired output

 

II. Support exploration and innovation, especially in STEM areas (including expansion of CTE to K-16)

 

III. Wrap instruction around applied learning

a. active learning
b. hands-on learning
c. service learning
d. study abroad
e. experiential learning

 

IV. Meaningful support for faculty scholarship


B. Comprehensive University


C. Funding

 

D. Student and Community Needs (with subsequent brainstorming generating the following list of ideas to be discussed / processed later: regional partnerships; national and international needs; industry; underrepresented student groups; STEM initiatives; alternative energy)

 

  1. Anything missing?

·        Need to add internships to A.III: Applied learning

·        Need to find a way to include the USG emphasis on valuing faculty participation in international education in the P&T process (system encourages seeing it as Professional Growth and Development)

 

4.   Discussion of how to make "Assessment and Professional Development" more explicit in Goal A.

 

Assessment:

·        How do we make assessment an on-going thing?

·        Should be part of the annual review process for faculty and for administrators

·        Need to fund/maintain support positions

·        Add an assessment item for faculty evaluations: “Actively involved in the assessment process in the unit in which they teach”

·        Need an administrative “champion” for assessment, including for Gen Ed assessment

 

It was agreed that a working group consisting of 1 member per school will be formed to develop a common form and procedure for faculty to detail their assessment results as part of their annual evaluations.

·        Form will include: what are the learning outcomes? How well did your students meet the learning outcomes?  What will you do to improve student performance on the learning outcomes?

·        Review of the results to be included in the annual evaluation procedure all the way up the administrative chain

 

Professional Growth and Development (PG&D):

·        Use of instructional technology

Ř      Faculty need to know where to get help / instruction

Ř      Faculty need information on the pedagogical effectiveness of various instructional technologies

Ř      Faculty need to know what instructional technology is available and what the pros and cons may be

Ř      Need to facilitate basic competencies in instructional use of technology

Ř      Need to facilitate innovation in instructional use of technology

·        Need to make expectations explicit and establish measures of accountability for travel for PG&D

·        Need to better distribute information on PG&D opportunities, especially those that require few or no university resources

·        Presumably PG&D is to help faculty achieve success, but success is not defined; achieving promotion and tenure?