OATdb Archive

2010 - 2011

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
Collaborative Writing
LLSP faculty has continued the writing accountability group, which has met on a weekly basis for the past year. In addition, a group of faculty interested in technology has written three articles, of which one has been accepted for publication and two are under review. Several other collaborative research groups have been formed in addition.

Action
Collaborative Research And Writing
LLSP faculty will work in performance management groups, which will meet on a weekly basis. LLSP faculty will also meet in research groups based upon interest.

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
Faculty Publication
Faculty have collaborated on several research projects and publications this past year. 20/23 faculty members have submitted at least one manuscript for publication. The remaining three faculty members were not able to submit manuscripts due to extensive administrative duties.

18/23 faculty members had at least one article published this past year.


Action
Faculty Publication
LLSP will promote the standard of 2+ manuscript submissions per year.

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
Collaboration In Teaching
48% of faculty members reported on the Chair's Evaluation of Teaching that they had shared expertise in a colleague's class.

Action
Collaboration In Teaching
LLSP faculty will be encouraged to share their expertise in each other's classes.

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
LLSP conducted the LLSP Teaching Workshop at the beginning of the Fall semester. LLSP has also conducted two professional development activities involving technology and one workshop about curriculum and proposing new courses.

Action
Professional Development
LLSP will offer the beginning of the year teaching workshop and other seminars based upon faculty needs. In addition, LLSP will conduct orientations and trainings for adjunct professors.

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
LLSP had departmental days every Friday this year, which has increased a sense of professional community. Faculty meetings have had high attendance.

Action
Faculty Community
LLSP will not schedule classes from 12:00-2:00 on Fridays in order to allow all faculty members to attend meetings. During months of high anticipated absences, LLSP will schedule the meeting for earlier in the week or for another week.

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 2009-2010. 
2. As reported on the class schedule more courses will be offered using distance learning format as compared to 2009-2010.
3. As reported on the Distance Learning Report, more courses will be approved to be offered via Internet as compared to 2009-2010.

Finding
Course Formats
In the Fall of 2010, there was an increase of 6 online/hybrid classes from Fall 2009; and in the Spring of 2011, there was an increase of 5 online/hybrid classes from the Spring of 2010.

Action
Course Format
LLSP will expand online offerings for approved courses. LLSP will expand online programs in Special Education, International Literacy, and in the minors of BSL, ECE, and CI-TESOL.

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
Program Quality And Effectiveness
The Educational Preparation Leadership Team meets twice monthly and as needed to discuss issues related to the EC-6 Program. In addition, the chairs and assistant chairs of Language, Literacy and Special Populations and Curriculum and Instruction meet twice monthly to discuss issues involving the EC-6 program.

Action
Program Quality And Effectiveness
The Educational Preparation Leadership Team and chairs and assistant chairs of LLSP and C&I will meet twice monthly to discuss EC-6 Program issues.

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
The Special Education Doctoral Proposal has been submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies at SHSU and is awaiting approval. The faculty has a file of interested students who will be contacted to apply for the cohort upon the program's approval.

Action
Doctoral Program In Special Education
Faculty is awaiting approval from the Office of Graduate Studies at SHSU and will make all necessary changes in order for program approval.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement The faculty have reviewed the goals for the department of Language, Literacy and Special Populations. We will promote departmental collaboration through writing groups, departmental days, collaborative research and regular meetings with the faculty in Curriculum and Instruction through the Educational Preparation Leadership Team. For continued professional development within the department, we will increase offerings based upon faculty needs. Faculty will need increased support in developing new programs such as the doctoral program and online instruction. We will seek support from the Distance Education and Learning Technologies for Academics (DELTA) Center for assistance in developing online and hybrid instruction.