OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2014 - 2015

Criminal Justice, Department Of Security Studies

Goal

Expand The Number Of Faculty In The Department

The Department will need more faculty to continue offerings at the M.S. level and to expand to the undergraduate level.

Objective

Recruit Prospective Faculty

Recruit prospective faculty members through professional advertisements, screening those who should be brought to campus for interviews, and conducting interviews through committee.

KPI

Hire New Faculty

To meet the needs of the students in the department at least two new faculty need to be hired during this academic year.

Action

Hired Faculty Members

We hired two faculty members who strengthen the department considerably: Nathan Jones and Russell Lundberg.

Goal

Increase Quality And Numbers Of Students In The Programs

In order to meet homeland security needs of the US, academic programs must increase the number and quality of graduates.

Objective

Increase The Number Of Credit Hours Generated

Increase the number of credit hours generated by undergraduate students in homeland security studies classes.

Action

Submitting A Proposal For A Minor

We submitted a proposal for a minor in Homeland Security Studies to the University Curriculum Committee. Upon approval we can increase the number of undergraduate classes offered which will lead to an increase in credit hours generated.

Objective

Increase Quality Of Students

We aim to attract academically more qualified undergraduate students to our program.

Action

Raise The Quality Of Undergraduate Students

We have increased the number of undergraduate classes that we teach. Faculty make a conscious effort to recruit good students for the future minor, or in the case of graduating seniors, for the MS program.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement Although not part of a previous plan, the MS in Homeland Security Studies underwent an external review. Most of this review focused on academic issues in the MS program, but some also dealt with departmental issues.

Plan for continuous improvement The reviewer recommended upgrading the position of Administrative Assistant to the chair to a fulltime position -- We succeeded in doing so by moving the current Administrative Assistant into a position fully allocated to the Department of Security Studies.

Expand the use of adjunct professors who have both academic credentials and real world experience -- We did so by hiring three adjuncts for the current year.