Economics And International Business, Department Of
Goal
Promote The Development And Maintenance Of Quality Academic Programs
The Department of Economics and International Business supports the College's and the University's goal of high quality academic programs.
Objective
Perform Preliminary Reviews Of Degree Programs Housed In The Department
In anticipation of more formal reviews of the degree programs found in the College of Business Administration, the department will undergo preliminary reviews of the BBA in Economics degree and the BBA in International Business degree.
KPI
Complete Preliminary Reviews Of Degree Programs
The department will complete initial reviews of the BBA in Economics and BBA in International Business degree programs.
Result
Program Reviews
A comprehensive college-wide program review initiative was inititated in AY 2012. At the college level, we made a decision to review the COBA foundation before any specific program reviews began.
Additionally, the International Business and Genral Business programs were designated "college-wide" programs -- those two degrees will be reviewed through a college-wide committee.
Action
Program Review Scheduling
A comprehensive college-wide program review initiative was inititated in AY 2012. At the college level, we made a decision to review the COBA foundation before any specific program reviews began. Additionally, the International Business and Genral Business programs were designated "college-wide" programs -- those two degrees will be reviewed through a college-wide committee.
The economics BBA will be reviewed upon completion of the business foundation review.
Goal
Support The Recruitment And Retention Of A Productive, High-Quality Faculty
In support of the University's and College's missions, the Department will develop and maintain quality academic programs.
Objective
Recruit New Highly, Qualified Faculty
The department will conduct national searches for new faculty members in the areas of economics, international business, and business analysis.
KPI
Complete Faculty Searches
Following national searches, the department will hire new faculty members in the areas of Economics, International Business, and Business Analysis.
Result
Faculty Search Results
Due to faculty attrition and an increase in credit hours, the department was able to fill two full-time positions: a tenure-track assistant professor of economics and a clinical assistant professor of business analysis.
The clinical position was hired directly bu the department chair.
The tenure track position was filled as the result of a comprehensive, national job search. This included advertising in the October and November "Job Opeings for Economists" as published by the American Economics Association and attending the AEA/ASSA conference in Chicago for interviews.
The hiring committee (Drs. Blackburne, Freeman, and Bumpass) identified 16 candidates to interview in Chicago. We subsequently invited 5 for on-campus visits.
After the entire process, we made an offer to Brian Piper (a newly-minted PhD from Oklohoma).
Action
Faculty Recruitment
Due to faculty attrition and an increase in credit hours, the department was able to fill two full-time positions: a tenure-track assistant professor of economics and a clinical assistant professor of business analysis.
The clinical position was hired directly bu the department chair.
The tenure track position was filled as the result of a comprehensive, national job search. This included advertising in the October and November "Job Opeings for Economists" as published by the American Economics Association and attending the AEA/ASSA conference in Chicago for interviews.
The hiring committee (Drs. Blackburne, Freeman, and Bumpass) identified 16 candidates to interview in Chicago. We subsequently invited 5 for on-campus visits.
After the entire process, we made an offer to Brian Piper (a newly-minted PhD from Oklohoma).
Supporting documents attached.
Objective
Provide Funding For Development And Professional Travel
To encourage greater research productivity and the professional qualifications of the faculty, funding will be provided for faculty development and for presentations of scholarly works at professional and academic venues.
KPI
Provide Funding For Travel And Professional Development
The department will provide funding to support faculty travel to present papers at academic and professional conferences and for professional development opportunities.
Result
Funding For Development And Travel
The department spent a little more than $40,000 in travel-related expenses for AY 2012. The majority of these funds were used for travel by tenure-track/tenured faculty to attend academic conferences.
A small portion was allotted for faculty recruitment/hiring efforts and also faculty development.
Action
Travel Summary
The department spent a little more than $40,000 in travel-related expenses for AY 2012. The majority of these funds were used for travel by tenure-track/tenured faculty to attend academic conferences.
A small portion was allotted for faculty recruitment/hiring efforts and also faculty development.
Document attached.
Objective
Maintaining AQ And PQ Percentages
Policies will be implemented to help ensure that AACSB guidelines for the percentage of classes taught by Academically Qualified (AQ) and by both Academically Qualified and Professionally Qualified (PQ) faculty continue to be met.
KPI
Maintenance Of AQ/PQ Percentages
The department will ensure that the number of course sections taught by AQ (academically qualified) and PQ (professionally qualified) meets or exceeds AACSB guidelines.
Result
Maintenance Of AQ/PQ Percentages
During AY 2012, only three faculty failed to maintain AQ/PQ status: one tenured faculty member (4/4 normative load), an assistant clinical professor (4/4 normative load) and a part-time instructor (5 courses for the year).
The department taught 110 sections during the fall/spring semesters which implies an AQ rate of 81% (which far exceeds the prescribed level of 50%).
The AQ+PQ rate is also 81% for the department, which is below the AASCB prescribed standard of 90%
Action
AQ/PQ Summary
During AY 2012, only three faculty failed to maintain AQ/PQ status: one tenured faculty member (4/4 normative load), an assistant clinical professor (4/4 normative load) and a part-time instructor (5 courses for the year).
The department taught 110 sections during the fall/spring semesters which implies an AQ rate of 81% (which far exceeds the prescribed level of 50%).
The AQ+PQ rate is also 81% for the department, which is below the AASCB prescribed standard of 90%.
Accordingly, as part of the annual faculty performance evaluation process, the department chair initiated a policy requiring all clinical professors to maintain AQ status as a condition for contract renewal.
Additionally, the AQ/PQ status of lecturers will continue to be monitored and taching loads will be adjusted, as required.
The department faculty agreed that an updated post-tenure review policy needs to address faculty that fail to maintain AQ status.
Objective
Revise Post-Tenure Review Policies
To ensure tenured faculty members maintain a level of professional engagement in line with maintaining Academicially-Qualified status as per AACSB standards, the departmental Post-Tenure Review process will be revised and updated.
KPI
Revise Post-Tenure Review Process
The department will complete a revision of its post-ternure review process.
Result
Post-Tenure Review Process Standards
As a result of several faculty discussions, the department continued to draft proposed standards for post-tenure review.
Action
Proposed Post-Tenure Review Standards
As a result of several faculty discussions, the department continued to draft proposed standards for post-tenure review. The propsed standards will be submitted to the Dean for approval during AY 2013.
Document attached.
Goal
Provide An Environment Supporting Students' Professional And Academic Success
As a department that houses professional degree programs, the Department of Economics and International Business is cognizent of its responsibility to promote its students' growth both inside and outside of the classroom. Toward that end, the college desires to create an environment that supports students’ professional and academic success.
Objective
Expand Online Course Offerings
To meet student needs and demands for a variety of course options, expand the number of online offerings of courses offered by departmental faculty.
KPI
Expand Online Course Offerings
The department will expand the number and frequency of courses offered through distance (online) education.
Result
Expanded Online Course Offerings
The department offered the following courses online during AY 2012:
ECON 2301 ECON 2302 ECON 3357 ECON 4357 ECON 5300 ECON 5357 BANA 3363 BANA 5368
Of those listed above, ECON 3357, ECON 4357, and ECON 5300 were new offerings.
Additionally, various faculty are preparing the following online courses for AY 2013:
ECON 2300 BANA 2372 ECON 5300
This will significantly increase the inventory of the department's online course offerings.
Action
ONLINE Courses
The department offered the following courses online during AY 2012:
ECON 2301 ECON 2302 ECON 3357 ECON 4357 ECON 5300 ECON 5357 BANA 3363 BANA 5368
Of those listed above, ECON 3357, ECON 4357, and ECON 5300 were new offerings.
Additionally, various faculty are preparing the following online courses for AY 2013:
ECON 2300 BANA 2372 ECON 5300
This will significantly increase the inventory of the department's online course offerings.
Objective
Develop Long-Term Schedules
To assist students with completing their degree plans, develop and advertise a long-term schedule of planned course offerings that include daytime and evening courses at TUC, online courses, and traditional face-to-face courses in Huntsville.
KPI
Develop Long-Term Schedule
The department will develop a long-term schedule to assist students with future course registration.
Result
Long-Term Scheduling
COBA is in the process of developing a long-term schedule for MBA courses across all departments. This is to ensure proper course offerings across semesters, time of day (daytime vs. night) and location (main campus, TUC, and ONLINE).
The department plans to offer the following online courses each long semester:
ECON 2301 ECON 2302 ECON 4357 ECON 5357 BANA 3363 BANA 5368 and when prepped: ECON 2300 ECON 3357 ECON 5300 BANA 2372
We are awaiting results of the COBA program review to finalize long-term scheduling for face-to-face classes.
Action
Long-term Scheduling
COBA is in the process of developing a long-term schedule for MBA courses across all departments. This is to ensure proper course offerings across semesters, time of day (daytime vs. night) and location (main campus, TUC, and ONLINE).
The department plans to offer the following online courses each long semester:
ECON 2301 ECON 2302 ECON 4357 ECON 5357 BANA 3363 BANA 5368 and when prepped: ECON 2300 ECON 3357 ECON 5300 BANA 2372
We are awaiting results of the COBA program review to finalize long-term scheduling for face-to-face classes.
Objective
Encourage Development Of Academic Support Materials
To meet the needs of students requiring addtional reviews of critical conceptual and quantitative course materals, support and encourage faculty efforts to develop academic support material that is readily accessible for those needing such assistance.
KPI
Develop Academic Support Material
The department will develop academic support materials that is available for students to use in reviewing conceptual and quantitative concepts.
Objective
Encourage Development Of Student Organizations
Encourage the development of new student organizations (and support existing organizations) focused on disciplines housed within the department.
KPI
Enhance Student Organizations
The department will continue to support student organizations focused on disciplines within the department and examine the need for additional organizations.
Result
Student Organizations
The department is closely associated with two student organizations:
Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE), a national economics honor fraternity and International Business Society (IBS), an SHSU student organization.
Dr. Nath acts a faculty sponsor for ODE, while Dr. Gonzalez does so for IBS.
IBS has seen membership drop due to poor student leadership. Dr. Gonzalez is planning to increase recruitment efforts for IBS and help arrange guest speakers for selected meetings.
Action
Students Organizations
The department is closely associated with two student organizations:
Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE), a national economics honor fraternity and International Business Society (IBS), an SHSU student organization.
Dr. Nath acts a faculty sponsor for ODE, while Dr. Gonzalez does so for IBS.
IBS has seen membership drop due to poor student leadership. Dr. Gonzalez is planning to increase recruitment efforts for IBS and help arrange guest speakers for selected meetings.
Goal
Promote Efficient And Effective Administration Within The Department
The department's success is dependent on the success of the individual degree programs administered by the department and in providing quality courses supporting the common body of knowledge for all degree programs housed in the college. Furthermore, the efficient and effective administration of resources is demanded due to the scarcity of such resources.
Objective
Develop New Faculty Evaluation System
Develop a new Faculty Evaluation System in support of new COBA policies regarding the evaluation of teaching, service, and research.
KPI
Develop A New Faculty Evaluation System
The department will develop and implement a new faculty evaluation system that is in line with new COBA policies.
Result
FES Review
The departmental FES review committee (Drs. Blackburne, Nath, and Grant) continued its review of COBA FES guidelines.
After several meetings and discussions with faculty, the department submitted several recommendations for FES 3 (Research compenent). The department is currently in agreement with the propsed versions of FES 2 and FES 4.
Action
FES Review
The departmental FES review committee (Drs. Blackburne, Nath, and Grant) continued its review of COBA FES guidelines.
After several meetings and discussions with faculty, the department submitted several recommendations for FES 3 (Research compenent). The department is currently in agreement with the propsed versions of FES 2 and FES 4.