Language, Literacy And Special Populations, Department Of
Goal
Faculty Excellence
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will create an environment conducive to research and writing, collaborative teaching, professional growth, and faculty community.
Objective
Research And Writing
Faculty will engage in collaborative research and writing.
KPI
Research And Writing Groups
Faculty groups for research collaboration and research and writing accountability will be established within the department. Our goal is to have at least four collaborative articles submitted for publication.
Result
Research And Writing Groups
The goal of submission of 4 collaborative articles was met, and 87% of the faculty engaged in collaborative research.
Action
Research And Writing Groups
Faculty will be encouraged to apply for research funding through the College of Education's Associate Dean for Research Graduate Studies. Requirements for this funding necessitate that at least one non-tenured faculty member participate in the project. Faculty are also encouraged to present their work at the College of Education's monthly research events. Faculty will be notified and encouraged to attend trainings about grant writing and IRB submission that are routinely offered on campus.
Objective
Collaboration In Teaching
Faculty will engage in collaborative teaching
KPI
Co-Teaching
Faculty members will share expertise across classes of colleagues, which will be documented on the Chair's Evaluation of Teaching. Last year 60% of faculty shared expertise. Our goal this year is raised from 60% to 65% for 2014-2015.
Result
Co-teaching
The goal of collaboration among faculty in teaching was met with 92% of the faculty providing evidence of such collaboration on the 2014 Chair's Evaluation of Teaching.
Action
Co-Teaching
Program Coordinators will meet monthly with faculty in their area to discuss instructional concerns and to share ideas for effective teaching. In program areas that include several graduate programs, degree program coordinators will meet at least twice during the year with their faculty to coordinate curricular alignment and to plan initiatives for instructional improvement. New and pool faculty will be assigned mentors to assist them in their teaching. The Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies will facilitate meetings among faculty with similar research interests.
Objective
Scholarly Productivity
Faculty will engage in collaborative research and writing
KPI
Manuscript Submissions
Faculty will submit 2+ manuscripts for peer review and publication. Last year the two manuscript submissions was at 92%. The remaining 8% submitted one manuscript. We are intervening with a number of encouragements. We hope to see the percentage of faculty who have submittted at least 2 manuscripts increase to 95% in 2014-2015.
Result
Manuscript Submissions
This academic year 48% of the faculty published at least 2 peer-reviewed manuscripts, although 90% submitted at least two manuscripts for publication.
Action
Manuscript Submissions
Faculty will be encouraged to apply for research funding through the College of Education's Associate Dean for Research Graduate Studies. Requirements for this funding necessitate that at least one non-tenured faculty member participate in the project. Faculty are also encouraged to present their work at the College of Education's monthly research events and to submit manuscripts to our newly established reading journal. Additionally faculty will be encouraged to attend trainings about grant writing and IRB submission that are routinely offered on campus.The deparment Assistant Chair will meet with non-tenured faculty twice yearly to outline expectations for scholarly productivity.
Objective
Professional Development
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will provide opportunities for professional development in areas of interest and need.
KPI
Faculty Concerns Committee
The Faculty Concerns Committee will survey faculty regarding areas of interest and need, and subsequently schedule faculty workshops. Based on this survey we plan to provide sessions for our faculty's professional development.
Result
Faculty Concerns Committee
The LLSP Faculty Concerns committee did not survey the faculty with regard to their professional development needs, as this survey had already been conducted by the Associate Dean of the College of Education. One of the main concerns dealt with diversity. This was addressed through a speaker series and the opportunity for faculty to engage in small group work with experts in the field.
Action
Professional Development
Faculty will participate in the survey conducted by the Associate Dean of Teacher Preparation to identify areas of need with respect to professional development. They will also be asked for input regarding the plan for the college. Additionally faculty will participate in developing the College of Education educational assessment program and analyzing the data that has already been gathered with respect to our teacher education program. Based on this data, faculty will identify further areas of need for professional development in our department.
Objective
Faculty Community
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will provide opportunities for faculty to build professional collegiality and community.
KPI
Departmental Days
Fridays will be designated as Departmental Days, with the expectation of faculty being present and visible on those days in order to build professional community. All departmental faculty meetings will be scheduled on Fridays. Our goal is to have 90% of faculty present at each meeting.
Last year, attendance was at 92%. Because we met our overall goal for departmental meetings, we would like to now offer other types of activities and committee meetings on Fridays. Our goal would be to have at least 50% of attendance at these special events and committee meetings for 2014-2015.
Result
Departmental Days
Fridays were designated as departmental days and all faculty attended monthly LLSP meetings unless they were out of the office on university business. The goal of 50% attendance for other types of meetings was met.
Action
Departmental Days
Faculty will be asked to provide input regarding maintaining a presence on campus. The notion of office hours will be redefined, because of the number of courses currently offered online and at other campuses. Faculty will be encouraged to designate at least one day a week for meetings and for events in the department in order to foster professional collegiality and community.
Goal
Institutional Effectiveness
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will develop programs to meet student needs.
Objective
Program Options
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will provide instruction using a variety of formats: face-to-face, online, and hybrid.
KPI
Course Formats
More courses will be offered using an online or hybrid format. Last year we had eight courses go online which was an increase over the previous year. We will raise our criterion from eight to ten courses this year. We are also hoping to offer more Reading Doctoral course online or in a hybrid format.
Result
Course Formats
During the 2014-2015 academic year, our goal of increasing our online course offerings was met as 18 courses were offered online, and at least two of those had multiple online sections. Most faculty offer at least one or two of their class meetings in any given course online.
Action
Course Formats
Since nearly 100% of faculty are now offering coursework online, we plan to pursue options for developing Academic Community Engagement through both our face-to-face and our online courses.
Goal
Program Quality And Effectiveness
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations will improve graduate and undergraduate course offerings.
Objective
Collaboration With Curriculum & Instruction For EC-6 Program
The faculty of Language, Literacy & Special Populations and Curriculum & Instruction will discuss programmatic issues related to the joint EC-6 Program and 4-8 Programs.
KPI
Elementary Education Advisory Committee
The Department of Language, Literacy & Special Populations and Curriculum and Instruction will meet to discuss issues related to the EC-6 Program via the Elementary Education Advisory Committee. The goal for 2013-2014 which was to meet and for each problem issue,to dentify at least one appropriate solution, was not met. The goal for 2014-2015 is to work with the new Associate Dean of Teacher Preparation to establish the committee and to meet at least twice.
Result
Elementary Education Advisory Committee
Our goal was met, since the Associate Dean established a curriculum re-alignment committee with members from both LLSP and C&I. This committee and/or its subcommittees met at least once a month to redesign the curriculum for teacher preparation in EC-6, EC-6 Bilingual, EC-12 Special Education, 4-8 English Language Arts/Social Studies, 4-8 Math/ Math Science. This new curriculum should be in place by Fall of 2017.
Action
Collaboration With Curriculum And Instruction For EC-6 Program
Since a committee made up of representatives from all program areas was formed and since we have developed a prototype for the new teacher preparation curriculum, we will now continue to meet to review plans for implementation in the fall of 2017.