OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2013 - 2014

Agricultural And Industrial Sciences, Department Of

Goal

Professional Development Of Faculty

The department will require faculty to participate in professional development activities.

Objective

Participation In Professional Development

Department faculty will engage in research projects that generate professional research papers acceptable at local, regional, and national conferences.

KPI

Faculty Evaluation System (FES)

The FES will document the presentation of faculty professional research papers at local, regional, and national conferences. Participation at 2 professional meetings and publication of a minimal of 2 peer reviewed manuscripts/abstracts/presentations will be expected.

Result

Faculty Achievement

81% of the faculty successfully met or exceed the goal of 2 peer reviewed scholarly achievements.

Action

Faculty Scholarly Achievement

Scholarly achievment is being monitored, faculty are to submit quarterly reports to the chair outlining scholarly achievement. This enables the chair to mentor those falling short of the goal.

Goal

Provide Effective Communication With Internal And External Constituencies

The department will insure that appropriate communication channels are maintained with the College of Sciences Office, upper administration, current students, prospective students, and other external constituencies.

Objective

Communication Of Department Activities

Department will communicate mission and goals to administration, alumni and friends.

KPI

Submission Of Department Master Plan

The completed Department Master Plan and satellite facility development at Gibbs Ranch will be used in the department's capital campaign. Completion and implementation of the marketing plan will document success.

Result

Department Master Plan

Ongoing. Equine Center and Arena Complex was sent back to programming and was finalized at the end of this assessment cycle. The Pirkle Center programming was complete and a contractor and architect was hired to complete the schematic and construction of the facility. Schematic phase is not complete at time of publishing this document.

KPI

Agricultural Department Donations Database

The database will document donations and giving to the department for scholarships, facilities, classroom development, etc. Facility donations are to achieve 50% of construction costs.

Donation goals:
Arena Complex: $16 Million,
Plant Science Field Lab: $3.6 Million,
Endowments/Scholarships: $100,000;
Student and Faculty Enrichment to Department: $200,000
Pirkle Center Classroom Naming Rights and Endowments: $150,000

Result

Donations And Gifts Received

Donations:
Equine Arena Complex: $O,
Plant Science Field Lab: $O,
Endowments/Scholarships: $25,000;
Student and Faculty Enrichment to Department: $145,000
Pirkle Center Classroom Naming Rights and Endowments: $60,000

KPI

Students Recruited

The Department, with assistance from Ag Ambassadors, faculty, and visitor center, will be active in recruiting students, with desires to achieve enrollment increase of 2%.

Result

Enrollment/Recruitment

Department grew 0.7% this academic year with the graduate enrollment growing 9%.

The Ag Ambassadors and department faculty and staff actively participated at the Saturaday@Sam. Likewise, was active at many youth events for recruiting purposes.

Department Chair recruited for the graduate program at the VATAT Professional Conference.

Department hosted ExCEL @ Sam and invited 151 high school students to campus.

Department Hosted a STEM Camp for high school students.

Recruitment booths were available at State and National FFA Conventions, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, State Fair of Texas Livestock Shows and Department Career Day.

Action

Outreach

The Department did not meet the financial goals nor will enrollment goals set, however, efforts continue to strive to reach such goals for capital improvement, enrichment, scholarship, and enrollment.

Goal

Provide Appropriate Personnel Resources For The Unit

The department will assess the personnel (staff and faculty) needs of the unit on an annual basis. Annual funding requests will reflect these needs and hiring decisions will be based on these needs. The department office will provide appropriate resources and encourage faculty and staff to participate in development opportunities.

Objective

Increase FTE's And Staff Positions In The Department

Our objective is to increase the number of tenure-track positions and support staff in the department.

KPI

Increase In FTE's

An increase of one full FTE's will indicate success. Approval of additional staff position for office will be a primary goal.

Result

Support Staff And Faculty

Support staff position for administrative office was denied by upper administration. Administrative staff title changes were denied.

2 Post doc positions were funded by Dean's office. 1 Ag business position and 1 Distance Ed position.

1 MS position was funded by the dean for distance education development.

Faculty FTEs increases were not provided to the department.

Action

Human Resources

Enrollment data, work load, SCH generation, and etc. will continue to be used to illustrate the need for more FTEs in specific academic programs. AET, ITEC. Likewise, administrative load will be used to justify an additional support staff position.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement Financial resources was mad available for faculty to participate at state and national conferences, funds were provided by the department and dean's office. Department chair emphasized the importance of professional development and scholarly achievements. Faculty were notified of funds at faculty meetings and email notifications.

Department was selected to participate in the university marketing initiative. Videos, new recruitment brochures and specific degree program web sites were developed. The program will continue the marketing initiative for the next assessment period.

Faculty and staff positions were submitted with appropriate justification, request we denied at Presidents level.

Capital improvement efforts is an ongoing effort.

Plan for continuous improvement Those faculty not fulfilling the scholarly achievements for the academic year will be mentored by the department chair and goals will be set for the following evaluation period. Merit and market adjustments will be used to encourage these goals and give to those that achieve or exceed expectations of department. All faculty will be notified that the department will support requests for travel and participation at professional meetings and professional development.

Student recruitment efforts will continue to be driving force for undergraduate enrollment, however, ag ambassador funding will be cut for next fiscal year. This initiative will continue but funding will hinder efforts toward enrollment increases. Department will continue to encourage faculty and student participation at all possible venues that allowed for recruitment of students.

FTE allocation increases to the department will be a primary focus for academic goals. 3 FTE for the ITEC program was requested along with 1 Equine Science and 1 AET. Additional staff positions will be requested for the main office, horticulture center, and Harrell AET Center.

Department goal will be to continue its marketing plan for room naming opportunities in the Pirkle Center. Once the Equine Center is complete with program the same will begin for this facility. Plant Science Field Lab is ongoing. These efforts will be in coordination with University Advancement and the Marketing Department.