Contribute to an environment that promotes the development and maintenance of quality master's and doctoral programs.
Objective
Promote Faculty Research
Faculty that are active researchers are better prepared to be mentors and bring an expertise to the classroom that promotes knowledge of the literature, appreciation of research and emphasize the scientific practitioner model. Creating and disseminating knowledge is a key component of graduate programs. The Office of Graduate Studies shall contribute to an environment that promotes faculty research.
Indicator
Funds For Faculty Travel
Funding for faculty travel will promote faculty research and development. The amount of funding the Office of Graduate Studies can provide the academic colleges is an indicator of success with respect to promoting faculty research.
Criterion
Increase In Funding For Faculty Travel
An increase of 5% in funding from the Office of Graduate Studies will be indicative of continued and expanded support.
Finding
Faculty Travel
Graduate Studies was able to fund $145,000 in faculty travel directly to the departments. Additionally, we funded $12,000 for special requests. This is an increase of 8%.
Action
Faculty Travel
We increased our support for faculty travel, but we had a difficult time clearly tying the travel to increased research. Presentations did increase and are directly tied to the travel funds. Publications are not as clearly tied. Publications often take years to be published after the initial presentation, so it will be difficult to track this. We will continue to track the presentations.
Objective
Promote Student Research
Creating and disseminating knowledge is a key component of graduate programs. The Office of Graduate Studies will encourage and facilitate student research.
Indicator
Funds For Student Travel
Funding for students to travel to present their work at professional conferences serves to promote and reward research. The amount of funding the Office of Graduate Studies can provide the academic colleges is an indicator of success with respect to promoting knowledge of the literature and research among the students.
Criterion
Increase In Funding For Student Travel
An increase in funding of 5% from the Office of Graduate Studies will be indicative of continued and expanded support.
Finding
Student Travel
The Office of Graduate Studies funded $125,817 in student travel. This is an increase of $6901 or 6%.
Action
Student Travel
Support for student travel increased, but we were not able to collect data directly on the amount of student research for a baseline. We do know that all students who received travel support presented research. More students presented research than the year before by approximately 3%. Next year, we will probably not be able to increase funding due to budget constraints. We will begin highlighting some of the presentations that were funded on the Graduate Studies website.
Objective
Promote The Recruitment Of Quality Students
Successful graduate programs must have quality faculty and students. The Office of Graduate Studies will encourage the academic colleges and programs to actively pursue high quality students.
Indicator
Recruitment Funds
While the primary responsibility for recruitment of graduate students lies with the respective academic departments and colleges, the Office of Graduate Studies should encourage the recruitment of quality students by providing funds to do so.
Criterion
Increase In Funding For Recruitment Of Students
An increase in funding from the Office of Graduate Studies will be indicative of continued and expanded support.
Finding
Marketing And Recruitment
Last year the Office of Graduate Studies spent $94,693 on marketing and recruitment. This year, we spent $112,424. This is an increase of $17,731 or 19%. Much of this was for marketing new programs and programs moving online.
Indicator
Increase In Enrollments
An increase in graduate student enrollments illustrates an effective recruitment strategy.
Criterion
Increase In Enrollments
Student enrollment will increase by 5% in the spring, summer, and fall.
Finding
Enrollment
Fall enrollments went from 2,162 to 2,590 for an increase of 20%. Spring enrollments went from 2,241 to 2,578 for an increase of 15%. Summer enrollments were impossible to compare. As we moved to the Banner system, the enrollments were tracked by one semester during the summer instead of two; thus, the comparison is not able to be made.
Action
Enrollments
We had significant growth last year (15-20%). This growth went across all colleges. Next year, we will focus on the low-producing programs (Sociology, Health, and Sports Management) as well as the new programs (Spanish, Higher Ed. Administration).
Objective
Promote Program Assessment
Graduate programs should develop and maintain processes and procedures to assess their effectiveness. The Office of Graduate Studies will promote the development of a university-wide process for program reviews.
Indicator
Development/Maintenance Of Systematic Process For Program Review
A systematic process for program review promotes quality. A process that encourages a self-study to include an external component contributes to a continuous improvement process.
Criterion
Creation Of Program Review Process
The creation of a program review manual for doctoral programs is the targeted end product for this objective.
Finding
Program Review
Manual for Doctoral Programs has been updated. We are going to begin reviewing all graduate programs every 5-7 years. Thus, a preliminary schedule has been created. A master's review manual will be completed in the fall.
Action
Program Review
Program Reviews will begin Fall 2012.
Goal
Effective And Efficient Administrative Practices
The Office of Graduate Studies will contribute to the creation and maintenance of effective and efficient administrative practices.
Objective
Maintain Currency Of Policies
Policies should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that policies are aligned to promote university and college objectives.
Indicator
Number Of Policies Reviewed
A regular review process is an essential component of maintaining currency and effectiveness. The Office of Graduate Studies, in conjunction with the Graduate Council will review policies directly impacting graduate education and make recommendations to the Council of Academic Deans.
Criterion
Number Of Policies Reviewed
A regular review process should ensure that over a designated period of time, all policies directly impacting graduate studies are reviewed for currency and relevancy to the institution's mission. All of the policies related to graduate studies should be reviewed each year.
Finding
Policy Review
Graduate Policies were reviewed and changes were made to the following policies: Employment of Graduate Assistants. Changes were made so that students who have only the dissertation or thesis to complete may enroll in only 3 semester hours each semester for one year with permission from the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Graduate Faculty Status Policy. Changes were made to allow adjuncts to be eligible for membership on Graduate Faculty.
Action
Policies
All policies will be reviewed next year. Procedures for Graduate Advisors will be developed.
Objective
Maintain An Effective Records System
The administration of graduate studies requires an information system that promotes efficient and effective input and use of data. The Office of Graduate Studies will work with Computer Services to develop and maintain an information system that promotes the effective and efficient administration of graduate programs.
Indicator
Maintain/Improve Records System
The ability to track student progress, whether in the admission process or during their academic career, is an essential component in administering graduate education. The Office of Graduate Studies will regularly monitor the records system and suggest/make improvements, as needed.
Criterion
Records System Related Initiatives And/or Improvements
Evidence that initiatives and/or improvements took place is indicative of developing and/or maintaining an adequate records system.
Finding
Records System Improvement
We are transitioning to Banner as our records system. We now have an accurate record of the number of applications each semester to each program. We also now know how many incomplete applications we have. Information about enrollments and drops are still difficult to access. The reports are being built this semester.
Action
Records System
We will develop reports through Cognos to follow enrollments, payments, and admission information.