OATdb Archive

2011 - 2012

Mass Communication, Department Of

Goal
Teaching Effectiveness
The Mass Communication Department will offer students a valuable educational experience.

Objective
Teaching Effectiveness
The Mass Communication Faculty will be effective teachers.

KPI
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. The faculty in the MCM Department will collectively score above the University average on the IDEA System in specific quantitative assessment of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Course.

Result
Assessing Teaching Effectiveness
Students' Rating of Teaching Effectiveness on MCOM faculty averaged 4.2/5 (7 faculty included -- tenured and tenured track).  This departmental rating equaled the university average. Students Ratings on several advanced MCOM classes were significantly below the average.

Action
Assessing Teaching Effectiveness
To improve Ratings in Teaching Effectiveness, the MCOM Faculty will participate in the SHSU's teaching conference in August 2012.  Two new faculty -- hired for the Fall Semester -- will be assigned teaching mentors.

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.

KPI
Publication And Exhibition Venues
The Mass Communication Faculty will pursue grants, present and exhibit research, journalism and creative work in published books, recognized journals and conferences, newspapers and magazines, and  vetted exhibitions. On an annual basis each tenure track faculty member on the research track will 1) publish a journal article or a book chapter; OR 2) present two research papers at academic conferences; OR exhibit a creative work at a vetted site; OR publish two articles in recognized newspapers/magazines/vetted online sites; OR receive a grant of at lease $5,000.

Result
Publication And Exhibition Venues
Based on the research/creative work of five tenure track faculty members on the research track and The Dan Rather Chair: MCOM published four peer reviewed articles and two encyclopedia entries, presented nine research papers at academic conferences, appeared on/moderated  three professional panels, exhibited one film and received one grant of $15,000.  Research faculty will be encouraged to focus on publishing books and book chapters.

Action
Publication And Exhibition Venues
The Mass Communication Faculty will be encouraged to submit research to regional and national conferences, and will be encouraged to submit research previously presented at regional and national conferences to academic journals.  Available moneys from online courses will be assigned to tenure-track faculty for travel to academic conferences devoted to online research. MCOM will focus on supporting faculty who have research that is "book-ready" or "chapter-ready."

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.

KPI
Faculty For Proposed Digital Media Program
The Mass Communication Department will actively recruit and support faculty with professional and/or creative experience in the communications industry. This coming academic year MCOM will fill two (of three) open tenure track positions to support the developing MFA Degree in Digital Media.

Result
Faculty With Hybrid Skills-Sets
The MCOM Department filled two faculty positions:  1) a tenure-track MFA to teach film history, film theory and film-production and 2) a tenure-track PhD to teach public relations and advertising. An additional -- third -- faculty position should be filled for 2012-2013.


Action
Faculty With Hybrid Skills-Sets
MCOM will fill one remaining position with a working professional or academic researcher to teach digital journalism. MCOM will reward veteran clinical faculty with market-appropriate salary adjustments.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement The faculty in the MCOM Department equaled the University average on the IDEA System in specific quantitative assessment of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Course. To improve performance (averaging above the university average) and to reach projected goals in this metric, new faculty will be mentored, and selected veteran faculty will participate in the University Teaching Conference in August 2012.

The Mass Communication Department hired two faculty - one MFA film-maker and one PhD researcher - that will contribute to the department's stable of faculty with varied skill-sets.  MCOM needs to pursue another MFA or PhD who can teach hands-on digital journalism at the undergraduate and graduate level. One veteran clinical faculty member needs a market adjustment in salary.

The Mass Communication Faculty published, presented and exhibited research, journalism and creative work at an acceptable level.  MCOM needs to encourage and support research that is "book-ready".

Assessment at the departmental level for 2012-2013 will focus on additional areas related to the MCOM's new Digital Masters Program (due to be available in Fall 2013).