FOL will continue to develop internal organizational aspects of a new department.
Objective
Delegation Of Faculty Director Responsibilities/Tasks
FOL will specify responsibilities and tasks associated with each of nine directorships assigned to tenured faculty members.
Indicator
Directorship Responsibilities And Tasks
Specific directorship responsibilities and tasks will be formulated and detailed via meetings between the chair and each director and with input from the rest of the faculty. A timeline for accomplishment of tasks associated with responsibilities will be formulated.
Criterion
Awareness Of Directorship Responsibilities/Tasks And Timeline
100% of the nine tenured faculty members will be aware of which departmental responsibilities and tasks are associated with each directorship and the timeline for accomplishment of those tasks.
Finding
Awareness Of Tasks And Timing Vs. Accomplishment Of Tasks On Deadline
While each tenured faculty member was informed about which departmental responsibilities and tasks were associated with which directorship, as well as the timeline for accomplishing said tasks ( and each was named to a directorship), this awareness did not necessarily translate into each director accomplishing the tasks with his/her directorship in a timely manner.
Action
Accomplishment Of Tasks On Deadline
A specific calendar rather than general timeline of deadlines for tasks will be formulated. Accomplishment of tasks on deadline by each individual director will be tied to his/her service aspect of FES (Faculty Evaluation System) evaluation by chair for the year.
Objective
Faculty Knowledge Of, And Adherence To, Department/College/University Policies And Protocols
Faculty, including tenured, tenure-track and pool, will demonstrate knowledge of, via adherence to, departmental/college/university policies and protocols as collected and combined in a handbook format.
Indicator
Faculty Timely Adherence To Policies And Protocols
Each faculty member will demonstrate knowledge of policies and protocols by adhering to same via submission of indicated materials associated with same according to deadlines.
Criterion
Timely Faculty Submission Of Materials According To Policies And Protocols
100% of tenured, tenure-track and pool faculty will submit office hours, outside work requests, current CVs, syllabi, final exams and final grades following policies and protocols meeting deadlines.
Finding
Timely Submission Of Materials By Faculty
Policies and protocols were individually disseminated to all faculty rather than in collected and combined handbook format. Approximately 90% of all faculty submitted the forenamed materials in appropriate format with designated content by deadline.
Action
Entire Faculty Timely Adherence To Policies And Protocols
All policies and protocols will be combined in a single handbook and disseminated. Twice-daily reminders will be sent to the approximately 10% of faculty who have not already submitted materials ahead of deadline the day before and the day of deadline. Adherence to policies and protocols will be tied to the service and teaching portions of the FES (Faculty Evaluation System) by chair for tenured and tenure-track faculty and to continuing employment for pool faculty.
Goal
External Image: Marketing & Recruitment
FOL will expand efforts to determine, improve and disperse a positive external image of, and information about, our program in order to recruit students via print materials.
Objective
Recruitment And Marketing Materials
Foreign Languages (FOL) will design recruiting and marketing materials.
Indicator
Informational Flyer, Pamphlet And Marketing Plan
FOL will design an informational flyer, a pamphlet and a marketing plan for use in raising awareness of our programs and for recruitment.
Criterion
Dissemination Of Marketing/Recruitment Materials
FOL will disseminate recruitment and marketing materials in regards to undergraduate education to high school students studying languages, via their teachers, from area school districts and to junior college language students via their teachers in area junior colleges.
FOL will disseminate recruitment and marketing materials in regards to graduate education to Spanish teachers from area school districts.
Recruitment and marketing materials for undergraduate and graduate language study will be provided to the SHSU Visitors' Center.
Finding
Informational Flyer, Pamphlet And Marketing Plan
FOL met with Priority One (Mass Communications class) twice in order that they formulate a formal, multi-facted, marketing plan for FOL, which they did. A representative from FOL met with the Stamats representative (marketing/website design company contracted by University) as arranged by University Marketing. The FOL chair and the University marketing director have yet to meet due to time constraints. Therefore, a complete formal marketing plan has not yet been formulated.
Recruitment efforts and materials dissemination have been limited to attendance at the Houston Hispanic Forum, the Houston Area Teachers of Foreign Languages annual meeting and response to other unsolicited inquiries.
The MA in Spanish, while approved by the Regents, has not been vetted by the Coordinating Board as of July 2010, so materials designed may not yet be disseminated.
The SHSU Visitors' Center was provided a flyer.
Action
Informational Pamphlet And Marketing Plan
During the fall 2010, the FOL chair will meet with University Marketing director for input on a formal marketing plan and to develop an informational pamphlet for Department consideration and approval for organized dissemination during that semester for spring 2011 recruitment for both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. FOL will continue to go to recruitment events such as Houston Hispanic Forum Career & Education Day and Houston Area Teachers of Foreign Languages annual meeting. The SHSU Visitors' Center will be provided a formal pamphlet.
Objective
Website Expansion And Improvement
FOL will continue to add new aspects to the website for marketing, recruitment and administrative purposes.
Indicator
FOL Website FAQ & Google-ability
FOL will design a frequently-asked questions section with answers for use on-line.
FOL will determine techniques to raise Google-ability of website.
Criterion
FAQ On, And Google-ability Of, FOL Website
A frequently-asked questions section will be added to the FOL website.
FOL website will be adapted for higher Google-ability using various search requests, such as "language study in Gulf Coast Texas" and related search requests, to determine if it is among the first page of choices.
Finding
FAQ & Google-ability
Frequently-asked questions with answers (FAQ) have not yet been added to website but are being formulated and adapted using examples from other SHSU departmental websites and other language department websites as well as FOL experience with phone and email requests.
FOL web administrator has not yet met with CS administrator, though he has her written suggestions for higher "Google-ability."
Action
FAQ On FOL Website/FOL Google-ability
A listing of majors and minors will be finalized by mid-summer 2010 so students can be sent the FOL website URL after FAQ are added to it. FAQ will be compiled by mid second summer session 2010 and downloaded onto the FOL website by fall 2010. FOL website administrator will schedule a meeting with University Computer Services Google specialist with a plan to improve the site no later than mid-fall 2010.
Goal
Curricular Initiatives
FOL will explore and expand on-line course options.
Objective
On-line Course Organization And Best Practice
FOL on-line instructors will formulate new courses and adapt existing ones with best-practice strategies and techniques.
Indicator
Best Practice Of On-line Courses
FOL on-line instructors will train with the Distance Education and Learning Technologies for Academics (DELTA) staff for use of the e-College electronic platform with such courses.
Criterion
Delta Training & Certification Of FOL On-line Instructors
100% of FOL on-line instructors will be formally trained and certified by DELTA.
Finding
DELTA Training & Certification
As of summer 2010, three Spanish faculty, Drs. Andrist, Latinez and Policarpo, in addition to Professor Renteria of the pool faculty during the 2009-10 academic year, have been trained by DELTA staff to teach on-line using e-college.
In addition to the first four semesters of Spanish already being taught on line, Latin American Current Events and Grammar & Composition have been added to the on-line curriculum.
Professor Renteria has received the DELTA formal letter of certification.
Action
Current & Additional On-line Faculty
Dr. Andrist was trained and taught first session summer 2010. Drs. Latinez and Policarpo were trained and are teaching during second summer session 2010.
Dr. Edwin, assistant professor of French, and Dr. Parron Salas, pool faculty in Spanish, will seek training and certification during 2010-11. Dr. Edwin will teach second semester of French on-line spring 2011 and first semester of French fall 2011.
Additional faculty in all languages will be encouraged to seek training and certification for on-line faculty status.
FOL faculty members teaching on-line will informally and formally consult with each other on an on-going basis for multi-section coordination and consistency across languages.
Objective
MA In Spanish
FOL will offer the MA in Spanish beginning fall 2010.
Indicator
Submission Of A Plan For An MA In Spanish
FOL will submit a specific detailed plan for the MA in Spanish to the CHSS and University Curriculum Committees, Regents and Coordinating Board, respectively and sequentially, during the 2009-10 academic year.
Criterion
MA Approval
FOL will receive formal approval of the submitted plan for the MA in Spanish from the CHSS Curriculum Committee, the SHSU Curriculum Committee, the Board of Regents for the Texas State System and the Coordinating Board of the Texas State System.
Finding
Submission And Approval Of Plan For MA In Spanish
A specific MA in Spanish plan was formulated and submitted to the CHSS and SHSU Curriculum Committees, Regents and Coordinating Board, respectively. It was approved by the first three sequentially and is currently being considered by the Coordinating Board.
Action
MA In Spanish
Once the Coordinating Board has approved the MA in Spanish, FOL will immediately begin marketing/recruitment and to schedule courses.
Goal
Graduating Major In Spanish Feedback
Graduating majors in Spanish will provide written feedback to the Department during the graduating semester.
Objective
Major In Spanish Feedback
All graduating majors in Spanish will provide feedback on their academic experience with the Department to FOL during the graduating semester.
Indicator
Exit Interview
All majors in Spanish will complete and submit an anonymous on-line survey questionnaire as an "exit interview" during the graduating semester.
Criterion
100% Return Rate
All (100%) of graduating majors will submit a questionnaire.
Finding
Exit Interview Results
Exit interview questionnaires have been collected from all nine of the fall 2009 graduates and four of the six spring 2010 major graduates.
Action
Exit Interview Concerns
The chair will collect exit interview questionnaires from the two major graduates who have not yet submitted them.
The results of the questionnaires will be compiled as soon as those two missing questionnaires are submitted (summer 2010) and discussed in the fall 2010 FOL retreat.
Any weaknesses/problems, etc. will be discussed among the entire Spanish faculty to target possible course activities that may strengthen the exit interview questionnaire, AND results will be applied to program organization change as necessary.