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 employed the Individual Development and Educational Assessment (IDEA) System as a quantitative instrument to assess teaching performance. The IDEA System of Instruction system quantitatively solicits student feedback for individual classes in terms of 20 instructional strategies and teaching methods. The assessment also surveys instructors regarding their overall in-class goals.
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
Evidence Of Teaching Excellence
Faculty in the Mass Communication Department made significance progress toward developing excellence in teaching in Fall 2009. The average IDEA score for the Department as a whole improved 70%, with all teachers scoring above the national average. The IDEA scores achieved by the two online faculty members were the highest in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; both teachers received scores at the 98% level.
One weakness that continues is articulating the goals of the course so that students are continually aware of what is expected.
Action
Continued Evidence Of Teaching Excellence
Faculty in the Mass Communication Department will be encouraged to pursue excellence in teaching in Fall 2010. Excellence in online teaching is of particular interest. The Department is in the process of developing a mechanism by which outstanding teachers can be publicly recognized and rewarded. One goal for 2010-2011 is to provide a workshop for faculty that addresses articulation of goals as well as other areas that would strengthen teaching effectiveness.
Goal
Faculty Productivity
The Mass Communication Department will engage in academic, journalistic and creative activity
Objective
Faculty Productivity
The Mass Communication Faculty will be productive in pursuing research/creative agendas.
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, each tenured or tenure track faculty member will: publish a journal article or book chapter or book; or present a major research paper at a national conference; or exhibit a creative work at a vetted exhibition site; or publish two articles in a recognized and vetted newspaper/magazine or online site.
Finding
Research Productivity
All but one tenured or tenure track faculty member met the stated research productivity goals of 1) publishing a journal article or book chapter or book; or 2) presenting a major research paper at a national conference; or 3) exhibiting a creative work at a vetted exhibition site; or 4) publishing two articles in a recognized and vetted newspaper/magazine or online site. The Department Chair received the College administrator award for research productivity.
Still the department faculty have determined that the bar has been set too low for evidence of scholarly productivity.
Action
Advancement Of Research Productivity
In 2010-11, MCM Department faculty will be encouraged to exceed the productivity standards of the previous year, and will be urged to achieve the following: 1) publication of two journal articles, two book chapters, or one book; AND 2) presentation of two research papers at one or more national conferences; AND 3) exhibition of a creative work at a vetted site; or 4) publication of two articles in a recognized and vetted newspaper/magazine or online site. Hence, the bar will be raised for measuring scholarly productivity.
Goal
Hybrid Skills-Sets Of Faculty
The Mass Communication Department will hire faculty who can present students with a hybrid course of study that offers a unique mix of theory-based courses and hands-on professional courses.
Objective
Faculty With Hybrid Skills-Sets
The Mass Communication Department will hire, maintain, and support a faculty with varied skill-sets (theory and practice).
Indicator
Clinical Associate Position
The Mass Communication Department will actively recruit and support faculty with professional and/or creative experience in the communications industry.
Criterion
Support For Clinical Associate Position
The Mass Communication Department will maintain at least one clinical faculty position designated for faculty with hands-on, professional experience.
Finding
Recruitment Of Faculty With Varied Skill-Sets
The Department has hired one clinical faculty member. The recruitment of this clinical assistant professor has expanded the Department's ability to adequately train students in the applied arts of video production and broadcast journalism. Without the hybrid-skills set, instructors may be less experience with cutting-edge equipment and lack experience with current trends in the industry.
Action
Continued Recruitment Of Faculty With Varied Skill-Sets
The Department will seek to hire two additional tenure-track faculty members who can advance the technical and creative needs of the MCM hybrid curriculum. It is anticipated that these new teachers will complement past hires in the Department's effort to adequately train students in the applied arts of video production, broadcast journalism, and multimedia production.