The division of Academic Affairs in an effort to remain competitive with other schools in the State and to meet our mission must constantly evaluate existing programs and design new programs to meet the needs of the region, state, and country.
Objective
Recruit And Retain Quality Faculty
Hire and retain quality faculty.
Indicator
Percentage Of New Hires From Research Institutions
Have a high percentage of its hires from Research Very High and Research High institutions.
Criterion
75%
At least 75% of the new hires will be from Research Very High or Research High institutions.
Finding
New Hires From Research Institutions
32 out of 38 new hires were from Carnegie classified Research High or Research Very High Institutions. This is 84%.
Indicator
Publication And Teaching Scores Of Faculty
The number and quality of publications and the teaching evaluation scores of faculty will be the indicator. The university uses a nationally normed evaluation system for evaluating teaching effectiveness--IDEA.
Criterion
Peer Reviewed Publications
There will be an increase of 2% in faculty publications.
Finding
Publications Of Faculty
The number of publications of faculty was 885. Last year, this number was 805, so this is an increase of 9%.
Criterion
Teaching Scores Of Faculty
100% of the faculty will have at least one class above the national norm on the IDEA teaching evaluation instrument.
Finding
Teaching Scores
93.8% of faculty had at least one class above the national norm on the IDEA instrument. College of Business Administration had only 85.9% with at least one class above the national norm. All other colleges had over 90% with at least one class above the national norm with Education with 100% of faculty with at least one class above the national norm. 93.8% is a significant increase over the 80% of last year.
Action
Teaching Effectiveness And Research Productivity
Since the College of Business Administration scored lower on the IDEA system than we would like to see, we will have the dean of this college work with the PACE Center to help the faculty improve their teaching effectiveness. The PACE Center Director will provide workshops and individual assistance to help faculty improve teaching effectiveness. Currently, we are pleased with the research productivity, and we are working with the deans to improve the venues in which research is published. We will continue to hire faculty from Research High and Research Very High Institutions.
Objective
Seek And Maintain Program Recognition
The university will pursue peer reviewed accreditations and recognitions when appropriate. The University will pursue institution-wide and program-level accreditations where available.
Indicator
Accreditations
To the extent to which a discipline has a desirable external accrediting process, the university is committed to attaining such peer review recognitions.
Criterion
Maintenance Of Existing Accreditations
Once attained, the University will seek to maintain exising accreditations unless compelling reasons exist to pursue an alternative accreditation.
Finding
Accreditation Maintenance
All programs that currently have accreditation have maintained that accreditation. Music is currently working to correct problems with their accreditation report.
Action
Accreditation
Met with Dean of Arts and Sciences and Chair of the Music Department to ensure that the issues for the accreditation report can be addressed. Will follow up in the fall to make sure that the accreditation report revisions have been accepted. Will ask deans to identify other programs that need to seek accreditation.
Objective
Promote Development Of New Programs
In pursuit of the University's mission, new programs will be developed as the need and opportunities arise.
Indicator
New Programs Submitted For Approval
The university will seek approval from both the Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinator Board (and SACS for substitive changes) for new programs coming through the instituition's curriculum process.
Criterion
Approval By Appropriate Oversight Agency
The program review cylce will culminate in the regular approval of the proposed program, by the appropriate agency.
Finding
Program Approvals
SHSU is awaiting approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on an MA in Spanish, MA in Higher Education Administration, MED in International Literacy, BA in Bilingual Health Care Studies, BSN in nursing and a doctorate in Developmental Education Administration. All were approved by the Texas State University System.
Action
Program Approvals
Once programs have been either approved or denied by the THECB, Graduate Studies and the academic deans will move forward to help the programs recruit. Money has been set aside in next year's budget to help the programs get started. An onsite visit for the doctoral program has been organized for August. The nursing program is awaiting approval from the state Nursing Board.
Goal
Promote Efficient And Effective Administration Within The Division Of Academic Affairs.
The Division of Academic Affairs is the cornerstone of the Institution's efforts in pursing its misssion. As such, it recieves the lion's share of the budget and responsibilities. The Division must efficiently and effectively monitor its efforts to ensure these programs are being administered in a professional and appropriate manner.
Objective
Policy Review And Creation
The Provost will regularly review existing policies and procedures involving key shareholders in the review.
Indicator
Policy Review Cycle
Each year the Academic Policy Council will review at least one-fifth of all existing academic policies. The Academic Policy Council will also deal with the creation of new policy when the need arises.
Criterion
At Least One-fifth (20%) Of All Pollicies Reviewed Annually.
At least one-fifth of all policies will be reviewed each year.
Finding
Policy Review
The last ten policies were reviewed and revised this year. The revisions were documented in APC minutes which are at http://www.shsu.edu/~vaf_www/apc/
Action
Policy Review
All policies will begin to be reviewed again next year. Policies will be prioritized by the longest since review and those needing changes because of current issues.
Objective
Support Of Presidential And System-wide Initiatives
The Provost will support initiatives of the President and the System office. The Provost will also make sure the deans are aware of and supportive of these initiatives.
Indicator
Administrative Diversity
The Provost will promote the recruitment of adminstrators from traditionally underrepresented populations.
Criterion
Increase In Minority And/or Female Administrators.
The percentage of administrators from underrepresented populations will increase each year until such time as the percentage of administrators mirrors the percecentage of the region.
Finding
Minority And Female Administrators
Last year, there were 7 minority administrators while this year there were 8. Last year, there were 17 female administrators, and this year there are 23. We are at 34% for female administrators and at 12% for minority administrators.
Indicator
Distance Learning Opportunities
The Provost will encourage greater use of distance learning programs.
Criterion
Distance Learning Opportunities
The Provost and Deans will work to increase the number of courses and programs offered on-line.
Finding
Distance Learning
Last year, there were 421 classes on line and 7 online programs. This year, there are 462 classes on line and 8 online programs. This is an increase of 10% in courses and 14% in programs.
Action
President And System-Wide Initiatives
The increase in distance learning courses and programs was steady, but the demand for courses in the core has led us to try to place several large core courses online in the fall. In addition, the MPA and MBA programs were struggling with enrollments and will go online in the fall. Already there is an increase in enrollments for both programs.
We have increased the number of female administrators greatly but hope to get that number closer to 50%. We would like to improve the number of minority administrators. Thus, we are asking deans to identify qualified minority and female faculty who are interested in pursuing administrative career paths. We also are actively recruiting female and minority candidates to apply for open positions.
Objective
Work With Deans To Function Within Their Operating Budgets.
While the Provost seeks to provide each college with sufficient funds to operate during the academic year, the Provost must also work with the various deans to ensure that available resources are used in a cost-effective and appropriate manner.
Indicator
College Operating Budgets
Based on input from the deans, the Provost will determine each college's budget. The Office of the Provost will monitor budgets and provides the Provost with regular budgetary updates.
Criterion
Operating Within College's Budgets
At the end of the year, no college may be in a deficit mode.
Finding
Operating Budgets
All colleges operated within their budgets without a deficit.
Action
Operating Budgets
We have been consistently working to connect the budget more closely with the strategic plan. Once again, we will obtain input from the deans of the colleges in order to budget appropriately for next year.