OATdb Archive

2007 - 2008

Mass Communication, Department Of

Goal
Educational Experience
The Mass Communication Department will offer students a valuable educational experience.

Objective
Teaching Effectiveness
The Mass Communication Faculty will be effective teachers.

Indicator
Assessing Teaching Effectiveness
The Mass Communication Department will employ the IDEA System as a quantitative instrument to assess teraching performance.

Criterion
Student Evaluation of Faculty
The faculty in The Mass Communication Department will collectively score above the national average on the IDEA System quantitative assessment of teaching effectiveness.

Finding
IDEA Scores
For Fall 2007 the collective score for the faculty in The Mass Communication Department (3.8) was again below the national average on the IDEA (4.1) quantitative assessment of teaching effectiveness. Spring 2008 IDEA results not yet available.

Action
Improving IDEA Scores
Again some faculty filled out Faculty Information Forms for the IDEA evaluations inaccurately. These faculty will be encouraged to attend IDEA Evaluation session at CHSS Teaching Conference in August 2008. In addition, faculty with low IDEA scores will be assigned smaller classes. And one faculty member with high IDEA scores will be assigned four larger classes.

Goal
Hybrid Curriculum
The Mass Communication Department will offer students a hybrid course of study that offers a unique mix of theory-based courses and hands-on professional courses.

Objective
Curriculum Categories
The Mass Communication Department will hire, maintain and support a faculty with varied skill-sets.

Indicator
Clinical Associate Position
The Mass Communication Department will actively recruit and support faculty with professional experience in the communications industry.

Criterion
Support for Clinical Associate Position
The Mass Communication Department will maintain at least two Clinical Faculty positions designated for faculty with hands-on, professional experience.

Finding
Recruitment & Support
Funding is not yet available for supporting two Clinical Associate positions.

Action
Recruitment
Support for these positions will be proposed in the MCM Five Year Plan and in the MCM proposal for a graduate program. Assessment of clinical positions at other institutions will begin.

Goal
Faculty Productivity
The Mass Communication Department will engage in academic, journalistic and creative activity.

Objective
Faculty Productivity
The Mass Communication Faculty will publish, present or exhibit academic research, journalistic commentary and/or creative work in recognized venues.

Indicator
Publication And Exhibition Venues
The Mass Communication Faculty will publish, present and exhibit research, journalism and creative work in published books, recognized journals and conferences, newspapers and magazines and appropriate, vetted exhibitions.

Criterion
Research Productivity Levels
On an annual basis, collectively the MCM Faculty will produce a published book, journal article or book chapter; or two articles in newspapers, magazines or trade journals; or three major convention papers; or one exhibition of creative work.

Finding
Faculty Production
The Faculty in the Mass Communication Department presented four original academic papers at major conferences, co-authored one book, published one book chapter and wrote three newspaper articles.

Action
Supporting Future Productivity
The Mass Communication Department will continue to support scholarly activity by faculty my adjusting teaching schedules and providing travel-to-conference funding.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement