To perform with excellence in classroom instruction.
Objective
Teaching Excellence
Faculty members will sustain an above average level of classroom instruction.
Indicator
Student Evaluation Of Teaching
The measure of teaching effectiveness will be the average IDEA System score for all classes taught during the evaluation period.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.
Criterion
Student Evaluation Of Teaching
An average summary evaluation score for all classes taught in the evaluation period of 4 or better on a 5-point scale will indicate excellence in classroom instruction.
Finding
Teaching Excellence
The overall average of IDEA system scores for the faculty was 4.32. Scores ranged from 3.73 to 4.68 on a scale of 1-5.
Action
Teaching Excellence
Although we met our objective, the department believes we can continue to improve and can raise the standard. The department will raise the average expected score from 4.00 to 4.25. The faculty consistently receive IDEA System scores higher than 4.00 on the average, so it is unreasonable to continue using that number as the definition of excellence. The raised expectation will encourage the faculty to strive for even greater outcomes. IDEA System scores for the department's courses in general place it in the 90th percentile nationally. In addition, the chair met with each faculty member, and any lower score was examined thoroughly to ascertain what affected the evaluation score. Faculty were given suggestions on how to improve teaching effectiveness, including working with PACE (Professional and Academic Center for Excellence), attending the CHSS Teaching Conference, and adjusting teaching strategies using suggestions made by the IDEA evaluation system.
Goal
Research Productivity
To establish and maintain an ongoing program of research and publication by the tenured and tenure-track faculty.
Objective
Research Productivity
Tenured and tenure-track faculty members will maintain an ongoing program of research and publication.
Indicator
Research Productivity
The measure of research productivity will be the number of convention presentations and publications (published or accepted for publication) during the evaluation period.
Criterion
Research Productivity
A total of two convention papers or one paper published or accepted for publication during the evaluation period will indicate an ongoing program of research and publication.
Finding
Research Productivity
All faculty members met the criteria, but the level of productivity was down sharply from the previous year (although that year was an unusually productive one).
Action
Research Productivity
Change the level of productivity to include at least two papers submitted for publication. This is a very productive and research oriented faculty. Some faculty members, however, make convention presentations without following these up with papers submitted for publication. Additionally, the time delay for papers submitted for publication has increased in the field to more than one year. To address both of these problems, the faculty will now be expected to accelerate its publication efforts.
Goal
Professional Activity and Service
To promote regular faculty participation in and service to state, regional, national, and international professional organizations.
Objective
Professional Activity and Service
Tenured and tenure-track faculty members will participate regularly and perform service in the state, regional, national, and international profesional organizations of the field.
Indicator
Professional Activity and Service
Professional activity and service will be measured by the number of professional organization conventions attended during the evaluation period or by service performed as a member of a professional organization.
Criterion
Professional Activity and Service
Participation in one regional, national, or international professional organization meeting during the evaluation period will indicate a satisfactory level of professional activity. Service as a committee member or the like equals participation in one organization meeting.
Finding
Professional Activity and Service
Three met the criteria, and four exceeded them.
Action
Professional Activity and Service
Raise the criteria to two regional or national conventions or one international one. The Communication Studies faculty is and has been highly active in terms of professional convention attendance and participation. Four current faculty members, for example, have been or are scheduled to be President of the Southern States Communication Association. Both to reflect this high level of activity and to encourage greater participation, we have chosen to raise the expectation for this goal. We believe that this will also increase the likelihood that our faculty members will be named to or elected to professional organization offices.