The faculty of the department will provide quality teaching and engage in quality research.
Objective
Quality Teaching
The faculty will provide quality teaching.
KPI
Effective Teachers
The department utilizes the IDEA system as the teaching evaluation instrument. The IDEA system is a nationally normed, validated and reliable measure of classroom performance. All faculty distribute the IDEA evaluations at the end of their classes each semester. The faculty member's scores are then compared to other faculty across the nation. 80% of the faculty in the department will be in or above the Similar converted score category on the Summary Evaluation in at least half of their classes.
Result
IDEA Summary Evaluation Results
94% of the faculty scored at or above the Similar category during the most recent evaluation period (only 45% of the online courses however). 52% scored in the Higher category and 13% scored in the Much Higher category.
Action
Evaluation Of Quality Teaching
The only scores in the Lower category of the converted scores on the IDEA form were for faculty members that taught online courses. The online courses have a very low return rate, to the point where the IDEA scores are rated as being unreliable by the evaluators of the IDEA forms. A way to improve the response rate must be developed. On the bright side, there were several faculty who scored 50 or more on the summary evaluation for all of their courses. Faculty wanting to improve their IDEA scores are encouraged to go to the Professional and Academic Center for Excellence (PACE) Center for workshops and one-on-one help with teaching effectiveness. This type of help would be especially valuable for the online courses.
Objective
Quality Research
The department faculty will engage in quality, peer-reviewed research.
KPI
Quality Research
The faculty in the department will publish peer-reviewed books and articles. 80% of the faculty in the department will publish at least one peer-reviewed publication per year.
Result
Peer-reviewed Publications
There were 16 faculty members, with two adjuncts that were not subject to an annual review. Of the faculty members that were reviewed, 79% (11 of 14) published at least one peer-reviewed publication over the last evaluation cycle (compared to 64% (9 of 14) last cycle). One faculty member published two peer-reviewed articles, while another was co-author on four peer-reviewed articles. Plus two internal and two external grants were funded, with the external grants bringing in $110,000.
Action
Engagement In Quality, Peer-reviewed Research
Departmental faculty members are encouraged to publish quality, peer-reviewed research. The department will support this by providing time and resources to the faculty members. For example, funding travel for geographical research. Travel for some geographers is equivalent to capital equipment to science faculty.