OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Family And Consumer Sciences, Department Of

Goal
Improve Scholarly And Teaching Productivity
To increase productivity in the areas of scholarly work and teaching (IDEA scores) for faculty within the department.

Objective
Improve Scholarship And Teaching
To increase productivity in the areas of scholarly work and teaching for faculty in the department.

Indicator
Improve Scholarship And Teaching
Comparisons over the past four years should show improvement in amount of scholarly productivity and in the summary evaluation teaching (i.e., IDEA) scores. All faculty have students evaluate each of their classes during the Fall and Spring semesters using the IDEA teaching evaluations. The IDEA system focuses on student learning of 12 specific objectives, and the system solicits students' feedback on their own learning progress, effort, and motivation, as well as their perceptions of the instructor's use of 20 instructional strategies and teaching methods. In addition, the system surveys instructors regarding their overall goals and highlights for them in the analysis and report. The system adjusts evaluation scores for five areas beyond the instructor's control, such as class size; student motivation, effort and work habits; and disciplinary difficulty. The scores are then compared to national norms. Teaching effectiveness is assessed in two ways: A. Progress on Relevant Objectives, a weighted average of student ratings of the progress they reported on objectives selected as "Important" or "Essential" (double weighted) and B. Overall Ratings, the average student agreement with statements that the teacher and the course were excellent. The SUMMARY EVALUATION is the average of these two measures. The outcome measurement used by the department as the Indicator of teaching effectiveness is the mean of the Adjusted Summary Evaluation of all sections taught by all faculty.  In addition, the Dean's Office maintains a spreadsheet that records the scholarly production of each faculty member as recorded on the Faculty Evaluation System Form. Thus, one can track the scholarly production of individual faculty and the department as a whole.

Criterion
Improve Scholarship, Teaching
An increase in productivity of at least 100% and an increase in 20% of the summary evaluation teaching (i.e., IDEA) scores over the past four years shall be used to measure improvement (i.e., the mean adjusted Summary Evaluation of all sections of all faculty members is the measure to be used).

Finding
Improvement in Scholarly Activity, Teaching
Over the past four years, faculty had improved the amount of scholarly activity by 1870% and improved teaching scores by 8%.

Action
Improvement Of Scholarly Productivity, Teaching
Continue scholarly projects that are underway, continue to actively search for new projects/opportunities, and encourage new faculty to do the same. While improvement in scholarly productivity was substantial, improvement in teaching scores should be higher. Continue to work with faculty on improving teaching with the goal of further improving teaching scores. Faculty with lower teaching scores will meet with PACE (Professional and Academic Center for Excellence) to receive one-on-one evaluation of teaching and suggestions for improvement. Faculty will attend the CHSS Teaching Conference in the fall.

Goal
Program Offerings
To offer programs in keeping with the mission and resources of the department.

Objective
Building/Facilities
The department will provide a department viewed by the students as satisfactory in regard to the building and facilities.

Indicator
Building/Facilities
Exit Survey data that includes a rating of the building/facilities will be extracted and analyzed. Graduating seniors are given an exit survey, which includes ratings of satisfaction of the buildings/facilities on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the best.

Criterion
Building/Facilities
80% of graduating seniors will rate building and facilities with a score of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Finding
Building/Facilities
79.3% of graduates from various programs (2008-2009) within the department rated the building and facilities for the department with a score of 3.0 or greater on a 4-point scale.  Thus, this criterion was not met. 


Action
Building/Facilities
For some time, the faculty in the department has been aware that the building and facilities need to be updated, and that space allotted to the department in the MLH Building is not adequate to meet departmental needs. At this time, the department has requested a building renovation project that is tentatively scheduled for completion in 2012.  It would provide approximately 1500 square feet, divided equally between office space and the interior design studio.  Equipment in the building also needs to be updated, especially in the clothing laboratory where the housing of the equipment is functional but looks extremely old (it dates back to the 1960s).  A cosmetic renovation (such as painting the spaces within the building) would also help to provide a fresher, newer appearance, although the building has been well-maintained.  Moisture accumulation within the structure of the building and blistering of paint in areas that receive a great deal of direct sunlight continue to be problematic.


Objective
Faculty
The department will provide a faculty viewed by the students as satisfactory in teaching prescribed content.

Indicator
Faculty
Exit Survey data that includes a rating of the faculty in the program will be extracted and analyzed. Graduating seniors are given an Exit Survey that includes questions about student satisfaction with faculty on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the best.

Criterion
Faculty
80% of graduating seniors will rate the faculty in the program with a score of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Finding
Faculty
97.1% of students graduating from programs within the department who completed Exit Surveys during the 2008-2009 academic year rated faculty within the department with a score of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale.


Action
Faculty
This criterion was met and greatly exceeded.  In addition, teaching scores under the IDEA system also improved over the same time period, both indicators that teaching and advising within the department is sound.  The department will participate in the peer review of teaching process as prescribed by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in order to continue this good record of satisfaction among program graduates.


Goal
Program In Hospitality Administration
To broaden the current Food Service Management Program to include the entire hospitality industry without eliminating the current focus on food service.

Objective
Program In Hospitality Administration
To broaden the focus and change the name of the current program in Food Service Management to Hospitality Administration.

Indicator
Hospitality Administration Program
Faculty will make progress toward broadening the current Food Service Management program into a program in Hospitality Administration.


Criterion
Program In Hospitality Administration
The Department will develop and get approved new courses in Hospitality Administration.

Finding
Program In Hospitality Administration
Department submitted junior-level hospitality course to CHSS Curriculum Committee; course was accepted by the CHSS Curriculum Committee and is being forwarded to University Curriculum Committee for consideration.

Action
Program In Hospitality Administration
Since another course has been submitted and accepted by the CHSS Curriculum Committee which focuses on Hospitality Administration, the Department will now move forward with the request to hire a faculty member specializing in food preparation and selection. After that, the department will move forward with a formal name change of the Food Service Management program to Hospitality Administration and other additions to the curriculum.  This process is likely to take a few years.

Goal
Accreditation For Interior Design Program
Accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) is sought by the interior design program so that students who graduate from the program may sit for the licensing exam and become licensed interior designers.

Objective
Progress Toward CIDA Accreditation
The program will complete implementation of curricular changes required for CIDA accreditationso that student work can be collected based on improvements instituted with the curricular changes and thus progress with the accreditation process.

Indicator
Progress Toward CIDA Accreditation
A consultant hired by the department provided suggestions on curricular changes that would improve the quality of student projects needed for accreditation. Implementation of proposed and approved changes in the interior design curriculum will indicate significant progress toward CIDA accreditation.

Criterion
Progress Toward CIDA Accreditation
90% of proposed and approved curricular changes for the interior design program will be implemented.  (Changes were proposed and approved during earlier curriculum cycles.)

Finding
Curricular Changes Implemented For IND
100% of curricular changes proposed and approved (during earlier curriculum cycles) for the interior design program during the previous two years have been implemented.  These changes are in keeping with requirements for CIDA accreditation.


Action
Progress Toward CIDA Accreditation
A committee made up of the three faculty in the department who teach in the area of interior design is currently working on documents required for submission to CIDA with the goal of a Fall 2010 accreditation site visit for the Interior Design Program.


Goal
Curriculum Development/Graduate Programs
To develop new graduate courses in all areas of family and consumer sciences to meet the needs of current and potential students and other stakeholders.

Objective
Structured Classes For Graduate Programs
Faculty in the department will develop courses that will meet the content area needs of students interested in a concentration or focus area including interior design, fashion merchandising, family and consumer sciences teacher certification, and nutrition.

Indicator
Structured Classes For Graduate Programs
Faculty will develop courses that meet the content area needs of students interested in a concentration in one of the following areas of family and consumer sciences: interior design, fashion merchandising, family and consumer sciences teacher certification, and nutrition.

Criterion
Structured Classes For Graduate Programs
Faculty in the department will develop at least one course per academic year and submit the course for university approval.

Finding
Curriculum Development For Graduate Programs
During this past curriculum cycle, departmental emphasis shifted away from the graduate program to changes required for the BS in food science and nutrition, an accredited program, and to adding a course in preparation for positioning the food service management program so that we can eventually request to change the name of that program to hospitality administration. Therefore, this particular criterion was not met.

Action
Curriculum Development For Graduate Programs
This objective will be carried over into the next assessment cycle.

Goal
Program Coordinator For Supervised Practice - Dietetics Programs
The dietetics programs (BS in Food Science and Nutrition and MS in Dietetics) have the goal of requesting a new faculty position; that person can serve as a coordinator for the supervised practice (preceptor sites) for both programs. Students in the program would benefit through greater supervision at the rotation sites. The addition of a new position would be of benefit in terms of continuing accreditation for these programs.

Objective
Program Coordinator For Supervised Practice - Dietetics Programs
To hire an additional faculty person in the area of nutrition/dietetics who would coordinate with the interns and undergraduate majors and their preceptor sites and also teach part-time for the department. This position is needed so there is a specific contact person (rather than DI Director for graduate students and DPD Director for undergraduate students) for the preceptor personnel and to ensure that all contracts, paperwork, etc., with the preceptor sites is constantly maintained. Such a position would be an asset to the accreditation for both programs by allowing for expanded course offerings and greater supervision of the students at the various rotation (i.e., preceptor) sites.

Indicator
Program Coordinator For Supervised Practice - Dietetics Programs
Approval for and successful negotation of a contract with a new faculty person who also can serve as a coordinator for the supervised practice for both dietetics programs.

Criterion
Program Coordinator For Supervised Practice - Dietetics Programs
Faculty will request a new faculty/staff position in the area of nutrition/dietetics who also could serve as a coordinator for the supervised practice (preceptor sites, rotation) for both dietetics programs.

Finding
Program Coordinator For Supervised Practice - Dietetics Programs
The department requested this position but it was not approved.

Action
Program Coordinator For Supervised Practice - Dietetics Programs
The department believes that this position is important and would be an asset to the department and to the two dietetics programs. The department plans to request this position again in the coming year.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement
Plan for continuous improvement Assessment demonstrated that the teaching effectiveness, as measured by the IDEA teaching evaluations, has not increased as much as the department would like to see; therefore, the department has instituted the following changes: Participation in the CHSS Teaching Conference and one-on-one consultation with a teaching expert in the PACE Center in order to receive individualized plans for improving teaching. 

It is acknowledged that the current facility is too small to handle current student needs and that some of the facilities are overcrowded while others are extremely outdated, at least in their appearance.  Faculty will continue to request additional space for programs, specifically an addition to the current building that would increase the space for the interior design studio and allow for much-needed additional office space (there are three adjunct faculty sharing the same office space at this time).  The clothing laboratory is outdated from the standpoint of its appearance, although the equipment is certainly functional.  This impacts student satisfaction with the facilities.  A re-do in the cosmetic appearance of the building through color selection, etc., would be beneficial in this regard.

The department made important progress in the areas of Interior Design and Food Service Management during the 2008-2009 academic year.  All of the curricular changes that have been made since the last CIDA visit have been implemented, and a review of the curriculum indicates that it is appropriate for our institution.  A course was proposed and is now before the University Curriculum Committee that will put the department in a better position to eventually develop the Food Service Management Program into a Hospitality Administration Program.  In addition, important curricular changes were approved for the BS degree in Food Science and Nutrition.  That program has long needed a course in Community Nutrition, and such a course is now before the University Curriculum Committee.  However, while these important curricular goals have been met, the department chose to postpone the development of the curriculum for its graduate programs, and the plan is to pursue course development for those programs during the 2009-2010 academic year. 

The department is in need of several key positions for the coming year -- it needs a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in the area of food preparation and another one in the area of fashion merchandising.  Those two positions have been requested, and at the next opportunity, a program coordinator for supervised practice that could serve both the undergraduate and graduate programs in dietetics will once again be requested.  The department has been informed that requests for staff positions are not often granted, but will continue to work toward this end as the need is great.

In summary, this department has made great strides over the past several years.  With few resources, the faculty has developed programs in exemplary ways.  However, more resources are needed, more work is needed to achieve the goals that are set forth in this document, and this faculty will continue to strive toward achievement of those goals.

 

 

 

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