The Department of Sociology provides high quality teaching.
Objective
1. Faculty Teaching
The Department of Sociology provides high quality teaching that disseminates knowledge on social life, social change, and the causes and consequences of human behavior.
KPI
Chair's Teaching Evaluation
Each Sociology faculty member will prepare annually the SHSU Faculty Evaluation System form that contains his/her academic activities (Research, Teaching and Service). This form will be used to assess faculty production in teaching. A score of 3.0 or more on the Chair’s Rating of Teaching Effectiveness section of the FES Summary Report Form is considered satisfactory for tenured/tenure-track faculty (see attachment). It will be considered satisfactory if 80% of tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 70% of non-tenure-track faculty members obtain a score of 3.0 or greater.
Result
Chair's Teaching Evaulation
One hundred percent of tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 100% of non-tenure-track faculty members received a score of 3.0 or greater on the Chair's Rating of Teaching Effectiveness section of the FES Summary Report Form (see attachment). Strengths of the faculty included: developing well organized, comprehensive syllabi for all assigned courses; adhering to syllabi; teaching appropriate and relevant materials pertaining to subject matter(s) of courses; adhering to scheduled class meeting times; maintaining appropriate professional demeanor in teaching situations; using fair and appropriate grading practices; participating in the peer-review of teaching process; and, engaging in professional development aimed at improving teaching effectiveness. Weaknesses for a minority of faculty included: maintaining a campus presence and holding appropriate office hours; participating in professional development activities; and, maintaining above-average annual ratings on student teaching evaluations in each class instructed.
KPI
IDEA Student Ratings
At least 70% of the classes taught by the tenured/tenure-track faculty will have IDEA student teaching evaluation ratings at or above a score of 4.0, which is the minimum score required in the Department of Sociology Promotion and Tenure Manual (see attachment). At least 60% of the classes taught by non-tenure-track faculty will have IDEA student teaching evaluation ratings at or above a score of 4.0.
Result
IDEA Student Ratings
88% of Sociology classes taught by tenure-track and tenured faculty were at or above a score of 4.0 on the IDEA student teaching evaluations, and 90% of Sociology classes taught by non-tenure-track were at or above a score of 4.0 on the IDEA student teaching evaluations (see attachment).
Action
Faculty Teaching Effectiveness
The data of the IDEA student teaching evaluation ratings and the Chair’s Rating of Teaching Effectiveness section of the FES Summary Report Form indicate that the desired results are exceeded. The Chair discussed the weaknesses with the minority of faculty members and suggested ways to remedy the situation. The faculty members will continue to be encouraged to maintain high quality teaching and engaged in professional development activities aimed at improving teaching effectiveness.
Goal
2. Scholarly Research
The Department of Sociology will engage in high-quality scholarly activities.
Objective
1. Faculty Scholarly Research
The Faculty will produce high-quality research that investigates the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within these contexts.
KPI
Faculty Research Presentation
At least 80% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty will present their scholarship at professional conferences. Non-tenured-track faculty will be encouraged to present their scholarly works at professional conferences.
Result
Faculty Research Presentation
92% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty members presented a paper at a professional conference in 2014. Five non-tenured-track faculty members presented a paper at a professional conference (see attachment).
KPI
Faculty Research Publications
At least 75% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty will publish at least one peer-reviewed journal article or equivalent, as determined by the Equivalence Chart in the Department of Sociology’s Promotion and Tenure Manual(see attachment).
Result
Faculty Research Publications
100% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty members published at least one peer-reviewed journal article or equivalent (see attachment).
KPI
Faculty Grant Activity
Sociology faculty members are encouraged to seek internal and/or external grant opportunities. At least 60% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty members will submit one internal and/or external grant proposal, with the expectation that the proposal(s) will be funded.
Result
Faculty Grant Activity
75% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty members submitted at least one internal or external grant proposal in 2014 (see attachment).
Action
Faculty Scholarly Research
The results of three KPI indicators indicate that the desired objective of the faculty scholarly research was successfully achieved. The department will continue to encourage and support the faculty members to actively produce high-quality research. In particular, the department will revise the Department of Sociology's Promotion and Tenure Manual to encourage faculty to submit internal and/or external grant proposal.
Objective
2. Student Scholarly Research
Students in the Department of Sociology will produce scholarly research works with the support and mentoring of the faculty.
KPI
Student Research Presentations
The Department of Sociology values nurturing students’ academic maturity and professionalism beyond the classroom setting. Ten undergraduate and graduate students will attend and/or present their research works at the SHSU Undergraduate Symposium and/or regional and national professional conferences.
Result
Student Research Presentations
In 2014, 3 graduate students were co-authors with faculty members on 3 conference presentations. Additionally, one undergraduate student was a co-author with faculty on one conference presentation.
KPI
Student Research Publications
The Department of Sociology values nurturing students’ academic maturity and professionalism beyond the classroom setting. Five undergraduate and graduate students will be encouraged to co-author with faculty members to publish peer-reviewed journal articles (or equivalent, as determined by the Equivalence Chart in the Department of Sociology's Promotion and Tenure Manual).
Result
Student Research Publications
Two graduate students have published at least one peer-reviewed journal article (or equivalent) with two faculty members.
Action
Student Scholarly Research
The data indicate that although both undergraduate and graduate students were engaged in scholarly research activities and produced scholarly research works with mentoring of the faculty, the target objectives were not met in 2014. In 2015, the department will continue to encourage and support Sociology students to engage in scholarly research activities with the support and mentoring of the faculty of the Department of Sociology.
Goal
3. Service
Faculty will provide service to the department, university, profession and community.
Objective
Provision Of Quality Service
Faculty in the Department of Sociology will provide service to the department, university, profession and community and engage in leadership roles in the profession.
KPI
Service Activities
Each Sociology tenured/tenure-track faculty member will prepare annually the SHSU Faculty Evaluation System form that contains his/her academic activities (Research, Teaching and Service). This form will be used to assess successful completion of service. A score of 3.0 or more on the Service section of the FES Summary Report Form is considered satisfactory. It will be considered satisfactory if 80% of tenured/tenure-track faculty members obtain a score of 3.0 or greater (see attachment).
Result
Service Activities
100% of tenured/tenure-track faculty members obtained a score of 3.0 or greater on the Service section of the FES Summary Report Form. Strengths of the faculty included service to the department (i.e., attendance/participation in department activities/events, student recruitment, student mentoring, and committee service) and service to the profession (i.e., membership in professional associations, attendance at annual meetings/conferences or professional associations, and completing ad hoc manuscript reviews). Weaknesses for a minority of faculty members included: service to the college (attendance/participation in college activities, such as CHSS Convocation and CHSS Colloquia) and service to the university (attendance/participation in university activities/events, such as the General Faculty Meeting (see attachment).
KPI
Leadership Roles In The Profession
The Department of Sociology encourages and provides resources for faculty to engage in leadership roles in the profession. At least 50% of the tenure-track and tenured faculty will take a leadership role in the profession at regional, state, national, and/or international levels. The leadership role includes officer and board members in state, regional, national, and/or international organization, as well as editorships (e.g., editor, associate/assistant editor, or editorial review board for journals).
Result
Leadership Roles In The Profession
75% of the tenured/tenure-track faculty members held a leadership role in professional associations at the regional, state, national, and/or international levels.
Action
Provision Of Quality Service
Both data of the Chair’s Rating of the Service section of the FES Summary Report Form and the leadership roles in the profession indicate that the desired results are exceeded. The department will continue to encourage the faulty to provide excellent service to the department, college, and university, as well as to take leadership roles on the profession.
Goal
4. Curriculum Enhancement
The Department of Sociology will provide students quality teaching through development and advancement of curriculum.
Objective
1. Curriculum Development
The Department of Sociology will develop and offer students various sociology courses via multiple delivery methods to accommodate the students’ need.
KPI
Graduate Program: New Course Development
The sociology graduate program has experienced a notable increase of student enrollment. New graduate courses will be developed to accommodate the increased students’ needs and enrollment.
Result
Graduate Program: New Course Development
In 2014, three new graduate courses were proposed and approved by the Academic Affairs Council. The three courses are: SOCI 5319 Sociology of Entrepreneurship, SOCI 5321 Cultural Sociology, and SOCI 5325 Seminar in Food and Society.
In 2014, the Graduate Certificate in Community Development (15 semester credit hours) was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and will be available for students to register in the fall of 2015.
KPI
Undergraduate Program: New Course Development
New undergraduate courses will be developed and offered to students.
1. Two sociology courses are newly offered as an online format: SOCI 3342 (Sociology of Religion) and SOCI3325 (Gender and Inequality).
2. To meet the increasing demand for online courses, more online sections were offered. In the 2014-15 academic year, 84 online and 79 in-person sections were offered. Similar figures for the 2013-14 academic year were 74 and 73, respectively.
KPI
Course Development In ACE Format.
The Department will encourage professors to offer their courses in ACE format.
Result
Course Development In ACE Format
In the Fall of 2014, the following courses have been designated as ACE courses: SOCI 3376 (Rural and Urban Sociology), SOCI 4075 (Readings in Sociology), and SOCI 5355 (Seminar in Social Inequality).
In the Spring of 2015, the following courses have been designated as ACE courses: SOCI 3376 (Rural and Urban Sociology) and SOCI 3325 (Gender and Inequality).
Action
Curriculum Development
The results indicate the objective is achieved by developing and offering new courses and increasing online or ACE format courses. The department will continue to make efforts in curriculum development to accommodate the increased students’ enrollment and their needs.
Objective
2. Curriculum Advancement
The Department of Sociology will promote guidance and support for students’ degree plans and class schedules.
KPI
Number Of Students Advised
Both undergraduate and graduate students will received appropriate guidance and support for degree plans and class schedules.
Result
Number Of Students Advised
In 2014, 249 undergraduate students were individually advised by the Director of the Undergraduate Studies. All graduate students were advised by the Director of Graduate Studies before registering for a course. Notes of the advisement were entered in Degree Works.
Action
Curriculum Advancement
The results indicate the objective is met by providing guidance and support to all seniors, majors, and graduate students with regard to degree plans and class schedules.