OATdb Archive

2014 - 2015

Family And Consumer Sciences MS

Goal
Student Knowledge Of Content Area
Students enrolled in the MS in Family and consumer Sciences, will graduate with an in-depth knowledge of the content area of interest.

Objective
Knowledge And Skills
Students graduating from the MS in FCS program will demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills necessary for upper-level employment positions in their selected fields including teacher education in family and consumer sciences, interior design, fashion merchandising, and nutrition.

Indicator
Knowledge And Skills
Comprehensive exams for Family and Consumer Sciences covers all major and minor course areas undertaken by each student; scores are assigned on a High Pass, Pass, or Fail basis. These exams are scored holistically, and must cover content of specific course work taken for the degree. The answers are written into "blue books" and are scored by the faculty under whom the work was completed. Any student who does not score a High Pass in every area is required to take an oral exam over every area where a score of High Pass was not awarded.

Criterion
80% Of Students Scoring At Least Pass On Knowledge And Skills
At least 80% of the students who complete the master's program in FCS will score a Pass or higher on each area of the comprehensive exam AND/OR will pass a follow-up oral exam.

Finding
80% Of Students Scoring At Least Pass On Knowledge And Skills
There were two students who completed the MS in FCS program during 2014-2015 (August 2014 - May 2015).  Both of them (100%) scored at least a grade of Pass on the Comprehensive Exams.  Therefore this criterion was met.

Action
80% Of Students Scoring At Least Pass On Knowledge And Skills
Obviously the students who are completing this program are well-prepared so that they are passing the rigorous comprehensive exams administered at the program's end.  The department will continue to uphold the high standards that are in place so that students will continue to do well on the Comprehensive Exams administered at the program's end.  The department will also monitor applicants so that only well-qualified candidates are accepted into the program.

Goal
Increase Enrollment
The MS program in Family Consumer Science will increase enrollment with the goal of producing graduates during the coming academic year (2014-2015).

Objective
Increase Program Enrollment
Increase numbers of students enrolled in the Master of Science in Family Consumer Sciences Program at Sam Houston State University

KPI
Increase Enrollment In MS In FCS
An increase in the number of declared majors and graduates in Master of Science in Family Consumer Sciences Program.

Result
Increase Enrollment In MS In FCS
During the 2014-2015 academic year, applicants for the MS in FCS increased.  Two students joined the program.  However, two other students graduated, so therefore there was no net increase in the number of students enrolled as there was during 2013-2014.

Action
Increase Enrollment
During the 2013-2014 cycle, we stated that we would request new faculty positions, and we did manage to receive one additional graduate faculty position since that time (Dr. Sue Reichelt, our new Chair).  We also have an open position for a new Ph.D./RD that has not yet been filled and we are organizing a search for a faculty position to replace the one currently held by James Landa.  However, with the other responsibilities this year that were added to faculty loads with the move from CHSS to COHS and the work that was required as two faculty moved through the tenure process, recruitment for this program was not the priority we wish it could have been.  Our action for the coming cycle will be to continue with the recruiting measure that are in place, and follow through better with program applicants.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

The plan to offer the course Administration of Programs in Family and Consumer Sciences was deferred until Spring 2016.  The arrival of the new Chair for the department meant that Dr. White, who was planning to teach this course, would have a spot in her teaching schedule for the course.  A GTA for FACS 1330 will also allow for the time required to develop the course. 

The big issue for this program right now is recruitment of additional students for the program.  With both the Graduate Director and the Chair overloaded with scholarly projects during the 2014-2015 assessment cycle, the recruitment for this program was not a priority, and the result is that at this time recruitment is sorely needed.

While one open position was filled with the arrival of Dr. Sue Reichelt as Chair, one position (the Ph.D./RD in Nutrition/Dietetics) remains open and a search is being organized for a person with the M.F.A. or Ph.D. to fill the position currently occupied by James Landa.  Two of these three positions (Dr. Reichelt's position and the one currently occupied by James Landa) will provide faculty who can teach in this program.  In addition, the Ph.D./RD  position should provide an additional faculty member who can teach in both graduate programs housed in the department (MS in FCS and MS in Dietetics).


Plan for continuous improvement The department is pleased with the delivery (on-line) and rigor of this program.  We frequently receive comments from other departments regarding the outstanding quality of work of the students in the program.  However, we must make continued recruitment of these high-quality students a priority in order to sustain this program!

We also need to put effort in assuring that the two open searches for new faculty are successful. 

Finally, we need to continue to work in partnership with departments across campus that have courses that complement this program so that students can choose a secondary area that will help students to achieve satisfactory positions as they graduate.