Language, Literacy And Special Populations, Department Of
Goal
Faculty Excellence
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will create an environment conducive to research and writing, collaborative teaching, professional growth, and faculty community.
Objective
Research And Writing
Faculty will engage in collaborative research and writing.
Indicator
Research And Writing Groups
Faculty groups for research collaboration and research and writing accountability will be established within the department.
Criterion
Research And Writing Groups
Research and Writing Groups will be established within the department. This group will meet on a weekly basis.
Finding
Faculty Research Groups
There have been two faculty research groups, one focusing on digital literacy and the other serving as a performance management group. Both groups have met on a weekly basis. The digital literacy group will continue to meet throughout the summer, and the performance-management group finished its meetings in the spring.
Action
Actions For Research Groups
For the 2010-2011 school year, continue with the research groups, both the digital literacy group and the performance management group. The leader of each group will keep a log of the number of proposals developed and articles submitted as a result of the group's activity.
Objective
Scholarly Productivity
Faculty will engage in collaborative research and writing
Indicator
Manuscript Submissions
Faculty will submit manuscripts for peer review for publication.
Criterion
Publication Rate
1. Each faculty member will submit one or more manuscripts for peer review. 2. Each faculty member will have at least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Finding
Publications
16/21 faculty members had at least one publication; 18/21 faculty members have submitted a manuscript for publication
Action
Publication
Continue to emphasize publications. For the 2010-2011 academic year require at least one manuscript submission to be considered meritorious.
Objective
Collaboration In Teaching
Faculty will engage in collaborative teaching
Indicator
Co-Teaching
Faculty members will share expertise across classes of colleagues, which will be documented on the Chair's Evaluation of Teaching.
Criterion
Co-Teaching
100% of faculty members will share expertise in colleague's class, as reported on the Chair's Evaluation of Teaching in Spring, 2010.
Finding
Collaborative Teaching
During the 2009 all (100%) of tenure-track faculty shared their expertise in a class of another faculty member.
Action
Faculty Collaboration
For the 2010-2011 school year, promote increased faculty collaboration by collecting data on the number of tenure-track faculty who have invited other faculty members to share their expertise in at least one class, i.e., faculty will not only share personal expertise but will invite their colleagues to share their expertise as well.
Objective
Professional Development
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will provide opportunities for professional development in areas of interest and need.
Indicator
Faculty Concerns Committee
The Faculty Concerns Committee will survey faculty regarding areas of interest and need, and subsequently schedule faculty workshops.
Criterion
Departmental Workshops
The Department of Language Literacy & Special Populations will schedule at least one workshop or training per semester in area of interest and need.
Finding
Professional Development
Two training sessions conducted within the department, based on faculty needs as surveyed by the Faculty Concerns Committee. Dr. Joyce McCauley conducted a presentation on the development of rubrics, and Dr. Jerry Cook conducted a session on grant development.
Action
Professional Development Plan
Request that the Faculty Concerns Committee conduct a survey of faculty in the fall, 2010, to determine faculty needs for professional development. Based on faculty needs, conduct two trainings per semester within the department.
Objective
Faculty Community
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will provide opportunities for faculty to build professional collegiality and community.
Indicator
Departmental Days
Fridays will be designated as Departmental Days, with the expectation of faculty being present and visible on those days in order to build professional community. All departmental faculty meetings will be scheduled on Fridays.
Criterion
Faculty Participation
An increased percentage of faculty members will be present at faculty meetings and the departmental retreats.
Finding
Faculty Community
All faculty meetings and the faculty retreat were scheduled on Fridays. Faculty attendance at meetings increased from 83% to 83.6%. Attendance at the faculty retreat increased from 74% to 92%
Action
Class Scheduling
Work on developing a specific time to meet when no classes are scheduled within the department. For the spring schedule, no classes for tenure-track faculty members should be scheduled on Fridays between 12-2, which are the departmental meeting times. Continue to promote scheduling of program area meetings on Fridays.
Goal
Institutional Effectiveness
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will develop programs to meet student needs.
Objective
Program Options
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will provide instruction using a variety of formats: face-to-face, online, and hybrid.
Indicator
Course Formats
More courses will be offered using an online or hybrid format.
Criterion
Hybrid And Online Courses
1. As reported on the Chair's Evaluation of Teaching, more courses will be offered using a hybrid format as compared to 2008-2009. 2. As reported on the class schedule more courses will be offered using distance learning format as compared to 2008-2009. 3. As reported on the Distance Learning Report, more courses will be approved to be offered via Internet as compared to 2008-2009.
Finding
Online And Hybrid Courses
1. The percentage of faculty using a hybrid format with at least one class session increased from 85% to 96%. 2. Four additional courses have been offered using online instruction: SPD 231, SPD 562, ECE 363, RDG 393. 3. During the academic year an additional 31 courses have been approved for distance learning format that had not been previously approved.
Action
Hybrid And Online Actions
For the 2010-2010 academic year, continue to encourage faculty to provide more hybrid class sessions using Blackboard, particularly when faculty must be absent due to conference presentations or illness. Expand online offerings for the BAAS Program in Early Care and Education and in the Educational Diagnostician Program.
Goal
Program Quality And Effectiveness
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will improve graduate and undergraduate course offerings.
Objective
Collaboration With Curriculum & Instruction For EC-6 Program
The faculty of Language, Literacy & Special Populations and Curriculum & Instruction will discuss programmatic issues related to the joint EC-6 Program and 4-8 Programs.
Indicator
Elementary Education Advisory Committee
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations and Curriculum and Instruction will meet to discuss issues related to the EC-6 Program via the Elementary Education Advisory Committee.
Criterion
Elementary Education Advisory Committee Schedule
The Elementary Education Advisory Committee will meet at least a twice per month to discuss issues related to the evolving EC-6 program.
Finding
Elementary Education Advisory Committee
The Elementary Education Advisory Committee met on a regular basis and discussed issues pertaining to the EC6 and 4-8 Programs. Two meetings were held per month in September, October, February, and April. There was only one meeting per month in November, December, January, March, and May.
Action
Elementary Advisory Committee Actions
For the 2010-2011 academic year, plan to continue to meet on at least a monthly basis. Continue to monitor major issues such as the "highly qualified" requirement for 4-8 programs and the one-hour BSL classes.
Objective
Doctoral Program In Special Education
The Doctoral Program in Special Education will be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Indicator
Program Approval
The Doctoral Program in Special Education will be submitted to and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Criterion
Student Recruitment
A cohort of 15 students will be attained for Cohort 1 of the Doctoral Program in Special Education by April 30, 2010.
Finding
Doctoral Program In Special Education Findings
The Doctoral Program in Special Education was approved by the SHSU Curriculum Committee and the Board of Regents, and was submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In November, we were informed that there is now a new application and submission process in accordance with new legislation and THECB Rules developed in October, 2009. The Doctoral Proposal in Special Education has been re-written according to the new requirements and is being reviewed by Graduate Studies. See attachment.
Action
Actions For Doctoral Proposal In Special Education
After review by Graduate Studies, the Doctoral Proposal in Special Education will be submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.