OATdb Archive

2014 - 2015

Agricultural Sciences And Engineering Technology, Department Of

Goal
Professional Development Of Faculty
The department will require faculty to participate in professional development activities.

Objective
Participation In Professional Development
Department faculty will engage in research projects that generate professional research papers acceptable at local, regional, and national conferences.


KPI
Faculty Evaluation System (FES)
The FES will document the presentation of faculty professional research papers at local, regional, and national conferences.  Participation at 2 professional meetings and publication of a minimal of 2 peer reviewed manuscripts/abstracts/presentations will be expected.


Result
Achievement
Only 65% of the faculty successfully met or exceed the goal of 2 peer reviewed scholarly achievements.

Action
Monitoring Achievements
Scholarly achievment is being monitored via quarterly reports to the chair outlining scholarly achievement.  The department had 2 new faculty that were not fully established in research agendas. Goal will remain at the standard expectation.

Goal
Provide Effective Communication With Internal And External Constituencies
The department will insure that appropriate communication channels are maintained with the College of Sciences Office, upper administration, current students, prospective students, and other external constituencies.

Objective
Communication Of Department Activities
Department will communicate mission and goals to administration, alumni and friends.

KPI
Submission Of Department Master Plan
The completed Department Master Plan and satellite facility development at Gibbs Ranch will be used in the department's capital campaign.  Completion and implementation of the marketing plan will document success.

Result
Marketing And Strategic Plan
Ongoing, construction began for Pirkle Center, Equine Center entered marketing phase with consultant hired.

KPI
Agricultural Department Donations Database
The database will document donations and giving to the department for scholarships, facilities, classroom development, etc. Facility donations are to achieve 50% of construction costs.

Donation goals:
Arena Complex: $10 Million,
Plant Science Field Lab:  $3.6 Million,
Endowments/Scholarships: $100,000;
Student and Faculty Enrichment to Department: $200,000
Pirkle Center Classroom Naming Rights and Endowments: $150,000

Result
Gifts Received
Donations:
Arena Complex: $0
Plant Science Field Lab:  $0,
Endowments/Scholarships: $35,000;
Student and Faculty Enrichment to Department: $296,107
Pirkle Center Classroom Naming Rights and Endowments: $305,000

KPI
Students Recruited
The Department, with assistance from Ag Ambassadors, faculty, and visitor center, will be active in recruiting students, with desires to achieve enrollment increase of 2%.


Result
Enrollment/Recruitment
Department grew 3.76% this academic year with the graduate enrollment growing 54.2%.

The Ag Ambassadors and department faculty and staff actively participated at the Saturaday@Sam. Likewise, was active at many youth events for recruiting purposes. Visited 30 schools interacted with over 4550 students

Department Chair recruited for the graduate program at the VATAT Professional Conference, TCAAA Conference, and TOFCA.

Department hosted ExCEL @ Sam and invited 150 high school students to campus.

Recruitment booths were available at State and National FFA Conventions, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, State Fair of Texas Livestock Shows and Department Career Day.


Action
Outreach Activity
The department met or exceed several goals.  Activities will continue to enhance capital improvements.

Goal
Provide Appropriate Personnel Resources For The Unit
The department will assess the personnel (staff and faculty) needs of the unit on an annual basis. Annual funding requests will reflect these needs and hiring decisions will be based on these needs. The department office will provide appropriate resources and encourage faculty and staff to participate in development opportunities.

Objective
Increase FTE's And Staff Positions In The Department
Our objective is to increase the number of tenure-track positions and support staff in the department.

KPI
Increase In FTE's
An increase of one full FTE's will indicate success.  Approval of additional staff position for office will be a primary goal.


Result
Staff And Faculty
Support staff position for administrative office was approved, however, had to be locally funded.  Position was filled.

1 Temporary professional position was filled to replace a resigned faculty position.

Department funded 2 new Graduate Assistantship position with local funds.

Faculty FTEs increases were not provided to the department.

Action
Workload Assessment
Enrollment data, work load, SCH generation, and etc. will continue to be used to illustrate the need for more FTEs in specific academic programs.  Likewise, administrative load will be used to justify an additional support staff position.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Young faculty and personal issues prevent from scholarly achievements to be obtained by the department.  Chair along with senior faculty will continue to mentor junior faculty for excellence.

Recruitment has been successful and will continue.

FTE and capital improvement are ongoin.


Plan for continuous improvement Faculty mentoring of junior faculty and new hires will be critical.

Ambassadors and faculty will continue to provide service and recruitment efforts for graduate and under graduate enrollment.

Chair will continue to request new FTEs for a growing department.

Outreach and department capital growth is an ongoing effort.