Institutional Effectiveness Plan

Arts & Sciences Department

A.A./A.S. Program

Mission:

The mission of the Arts and Sciences Department is to provide academic preparedness for students in our two-year programs as well as those planning to transfer to four-year schools through appropriate diagnostic assessment and innovative instruction using emerging teaching technologies and pedagogies in developmental through collegiate level courses.

2008-2009 Assessment Outcomes & Use of Results

Program Goal: Ensure that ENG 111 is supporting writing projects assigned in other college classes and programs.

Objectives: Prepare ENG 111 students for greater success in all college writing. Show link between ENG 111 and other college classes and programs. Promote consistency between programs.

Action Plan: Survey instructors to determine the following: the types of papers they assign (research, book review, summaries, etc.); the skills they believe students need to write papers successfully (research, argumentation, analysis, etc.); and the type of documentation they require (MLA, APA, CMS, or other). Analyze survey results. Develop handout for ENG 111 that lists programs and documentation styles they require. Compile list of recommended writing assignments. Adopt accurate APA sample paper to supplement ENG 111 textbook.

Assessment Strategy: Distribute new handouts to students in ENG 111 classes. Conduct follow-up survey of instructors to evaluate effectiveness of new materials.

Assessment Outcomes: Developed MLA Style and APA Style sample first page handouts and distributed to students and library computer lab; Adopted The Brief Penguin Handbook as required supplemental ENG 111 textbook with accurate APA Style sample paper; Searched Internet and found authoritative PowerPoint presentations on MLA Style and APA Style online; posted them on Blackboard sites for students to view. Offered new materials to other instructors who assign formal papers. Based on survey of instructors, made no changes to current list of recommended writing assignments: narration, description, definition, comparison-contrast, cause-effect, classification-division, critical response, literary interpretation, argument, and research.

Use of Results: English faculty will continue looking for ways to improve instruction of MLA Style and APA Style and support writing across the curriculum

Program Goal: Expand course offerings in political science & sociology to better meet the needs of college transfer students.

Objectives: Offer seated and online sections of SOC 210 and SOC 213 every term. Other classes to be added on an as needed basis. Offer seated and online sections of POL 120 and/or POL 130 every term. Other classes to be added on an as needed basis.

Action Plan: Attempt to utilize NCIH until a faculty member becomes SACS credentialed to teach these courses. Current history instructor will pursue 18 graduate hours political science (POL). Recruit a member of existing faculty to pursue 18 graduate hours in sociology (SOC). Complete personnel justification to request an additional faculty member.

Assessment Strategy: Review course schedules and enrollment data. Review progress toward of faculty completing required coursework. Minutes from Planning Council in regards to personnel justification.

Assessment Outcomes: Enrollment data and course schedules validate the need for additional seated section of POL and SOC courses. History instructor elected not to pursue graduate credit due to the 2-3 year expected completion time given future retirement plans and cost/benefit analysis. No other faculty noted any interest in pursing SOC credit. A personnel justification was not submitted to planning council due to the fact that more pressing instructional positions were submitted in lieu of a POL/SOC position.

Use of Results: Program goal is continued for next year and action plan revised for 2009-2010.

Program Goal: Enhance instructional faculty performance through the appropriate professional development opportunities

Objectives: Provide opportunities for Associate of Arts/Sciences instructors to gain new teaching methodologies and participate in workshops geared toward their instructional area.

Action Plan: Each instructor is to attend the NCCC Instructors Conference in October 2008. Each instructor is to attend a workshop/conference or take a course that is in his or her instructional area. Submit the appropriate travel forms Submit the appropriate Tier A applications. Coordinate with the Dean of Education Technology for technology training for faculty members of the AA/AS department.

Assessment Strategy: Professional development log for all faculty members. Departmental travel forms.

Assessment Outcomes: Only the Associate Dean attended the NCCC Instructors Conference in October 2008. Those instructors not attending the NCCC Instructors Conference attended a variety of computer training sessions on campus during the fall break Due to the budget issues, no travel was allowed for the rest of the academic year 2008-09.

Use of Results: Instructors incorporated new information from the training sessions they were able to attend into their daily teaching and/or preparation for courses.

Program Goal: Provide academic advising training each year for an additional faculty member until all members of the department are trained.

Objectives: Train 1-2 faculty members each year in academic advising pertinent to the AA/AS department.

Action Plan: Develop a training manual Training Assist Academic Advising Director during pre-registration, priority registration day, and registration day.

Assessment Strategy: Survey students after registration

Assessment Outcomes: Existing advising handbook was up-dated. Training was held on January 5, 2009. Four instructors and the Associate Dean attended the training session. The departmental registration process was reorganized to better facilitate student flow during open registration on January 6, 2009. Faculty surveys indicated that the changes were an improvement from previous semesters. The Academic Advising Director was assisted during the priory registration for the 2008 Fall Semester. An un-official verbal survey indicated positive results.

Use of Results: The advising handbook will continue to be up-dated, as needed. Training will continue until all faculty members have been trained. The department will continue using the new registration plan. The Academic Advising Director will be assisted on a rotating basis.

Program Goal: Provide additional online resources for students in literature and composition courses.

Objectives: Utilize technology to enhance and expand campus, hybrid, and online course offerings. Equip students for greater success in literature and composition courses. Introduce students to literary criticism by giving them access to a large database of full-text scholarly articles not available through NC LIVE. Improve quality of students’ research and writing skills by exposing them to authoritative, in-depth sources. Strengthen students’ knowledge of source documentation. Prepare students for university transfer and success. Promote computer literacy.

Action Plan: Investigate Gale Literature Resource Center and Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center databases. Get price quotes for Gale database subscriptions with campus and remote access (Literature Resource Center: $4,435 for two-user license, and $7,000 for unlimited; Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center: $2,250 for two-user license, and $3,400 for unlimited) Arrange free trial period. Obtain funding for Gale database subscriptions for one-year pilot program. Work with Distance Learning staff to launch Gale database access. Establish link for Gale database access via Montgomery Community College Library Website. Create informational handouts introducing students and other users to Gale databases. Introduce students to Gale Databases in all English classes at beginning of Fall 2008 semester. Encourage students to use Gale Databases by asking instructors to formulate assignments that require students to use Gale databases.

Assessment Strategy: Survey students’ reactions to Gale Databases at the end of Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters. Analyze number of logins to Gale Databases. Determine if students’ reaction and usage figures warrant renewal of subscriptions.

Assessment Outcomes: This goal was aborted due to the projected costs and the addition of new, free resources to NC Live, including CREDO Reference.

Use of Results: English faculty will reconsider the feasibility of this project in future academic years.

Program Goal: Expand the use of technology in the instruction of MAT 140, MAT 151, and MAT 175.

Objectives: Students will utilize calculators to solve equations and spreadsheets to solve various statistics problems as well as graphing equations.

Action Plan: Students will be taught how to use a calculator to implement the various formulas used in the course. Students will be taught how to set up a spreadsheet to compute means, variances and standard deviations. Students will be taught how to implement an Excel spreadsheet for the purpose of graphing the various equations.

Assessment Strategy: Course exams

Assessment Outcomes: Action Plan items (1) and (3) were accomplished. MAT 140 exams verified that students were able to use calculators to implement various formulas. MAT 175 LAB exams verified that students were able to generate graphs of the equations studied in class by using an Excel spreadsheet. Action Plan item (2) was not accomplished due to time constraints in MAT 151 and an Excel version change.

Use of Results: Based on student input, calculators and graphing using Excel will continue to be used.

Program Goal: Increase the number of course offerings of biology.

Objectives: The number will increase by 40% compared to previous semester.

Action Plan: Hire additional instructor in biology Submit Personnel Justification Form Advertise position Interview qualified candidates Check references of candidates Select best-qualified candidates and hire Check enrollment numbers

Assessment Strategy: Signed contract for new instructor will be on file Additional sections and courses will be listed in college registration advertisement Enrollment numbers will increase

Assessment Outcomes: The position was approved in May 2008. The position was advertised during the summer of 2008, but the pool was so small that it was decided to wait until late fall and re-advertise the position. The funds were no longer available, so the new position is now on hold until the budget improves.

Use of Results: Due to budget constraints, the department will have to continue using adjunct faculty for the needed course sections. When the budget is better, this issue will be re-visited.

A.A./A.S. Program

Institutional Effectiveness Plan 2009-2010

College Goal: Provide an environment that supports employing and retaining a quality faculty and staff and promotes enhanced student learning, achievement, and development.

Division Goal: Provide access to and guidance in professional development opportunities to strengthen instructional delivery and to prepare for accreditation initiatives.

Program Goal: Enhance instructional faculty performance through the appropriate professional development opportunities

Objectives: Provide opportunities for Associate of Arts/Sciences instructors to gain new teaching methodologies and participate in workshops geared toward their instructional area.

Action Plan: The Associate Dean will request a budget for professional development for the academic year. Each instructor is to attend a workshop/conference or take a course that is in his or her instructional area. Submit the appropriate travel forms Coordinate with the Dean of Education Technology for technology training for faculty members of the AA/AS department

Person(s) Responsible: Associate Dean and faculty

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: March 2010

Assessment Strategy: Department budget Professional development log for all AA/AS faculty members Departmental travel forms

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Department budget

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in March 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in March 2010

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the College’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

Division Goal: Provide credit and non-credit programming to enhance economic development of the service area.

Program Goal: Provide a variety of seated course offerings each semester within a limited budget.

Objectives: Offer 25% more course offerings than the previous academic year via the NCIH.

Action Plan: Request that the Dean of Educational Technology investigate the possible course offerings via NCIH. Schedule those courses.

Person(s) Responsible: Associate Dean and the Dean of Educational Technology

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: March 2010

Assessment Strategy: Emails Fall and Spring schedules

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: none (The offering community college pays for the instruction.)

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2010

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the College’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

Division Goal: Provide credit and non-credit programming to enhance economic development of the service area.

Program Goal: Promote student learning and achievement by offsetting college’s shortage of writing tutors and supporting instructors across the college who would like to add writing assignments to their courses.

Objectives: Explore feasibility of establishing an online writing center.

Action Plan: Survey faculty and students to gauge need and interest. Consult Distance Learning to determine possibility of using a common Blackboard site for an online writing center. Survey faculty to determine ability and willingness to participate as writing coaches. Determine if student tutors could help staff online writing center. Develop tentative plan to staff online writing center. Determine tools and content of Web site, possibly including chat room, instructional PowerPoints, handouts, videos, External Links, etc. Formulate tentative statement of purpose for online writing center, including limits of service. Work with Distance Learning staff to arrange in-house training for writing coaches on use of Microsoft Word review tools (i.e. Track Changes, Comment balloons, Voice Comment recordings, etc.)

Person(s) Responsible: English Department faculty

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: May 2010

Assessment Strategy: Written feasibility study

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Regular budget

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2010

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the College’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

Division Goal: Meet training needs for current and expanded employment opportunities of the service area as a result of changing workforce demographics.

Program Goal: Expand the use of Excel spreadsheets, research papers, and introduce a differential calculus concept.

Objectives: Students will utilize an Excel spreadsheet to graph the various type of equations discussed in class, a differential calculus technique to find maximums and minimums, and a research paper will be added.

Action Plan: Students will be taught how, and required to complete and present a research topic in Statistics I (MAT 151) Students will be taught in all algebra related classes (MAT 121, MAT 161, and MAT 175) to compute the first derivative of a polynomial for the purpose of finding maximum and minimum points. Students will be taught how to implement the newest version of the Excel spreadsheet program for the purpose of graphing the various equations discussed in class.

Person(s) Responsible: Math faculty

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: May 2010

Assessment Strategy: Course exams, Research paper presentation

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Department

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2010

College Goal: Provide facilities for student learning that capitalize on state-of-the-art instructional applications.

Division Goal: Provide facilities, staffing, and services that support educational program delivery.

Program Goal: Increase the number of supplemented courses by 25% from the previous academic year and decrease the number of copies made by 25%.

Objectives: Decrease the number of copies made by department’s faculty by supplementing courses on the Blackboard and posting course materials on this site.

Action Plan: Email the department with proposal. Complete the “Distance Learning Request Form” Post all possible handouts onto the Blackboard course sites

Person(s) Responsible: Associate Dean, Distance Learning staff, department faculty

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: March 2010

Assessment Strategy: Emails Distance Learning Request Forms Review the courses on the Blackboard Review the course list issued from Distance Learning Survey faculty as to the percentage of course work posted on the Blackboard Compare copier budget lines to the previous academic year.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Departmental

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in March 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in March 2010

College Goal: Provide facilities for student learning that capitalize on state-of-the-art instructional applications.

Division Goal: Provide facilities, staffing, and services that support educational program delivery.

Program Goal: Purchase the equipment needed to provide the most up-to-date educational activities for students.

Objectives: Identify and provide the equipment necessary to meet the current and future instructional needs of the biology courses

Action Plan: The biology instructor will assess the current equipment and make recommendations to the Associate Dean. The Associate Dean will compare the recommendations to formerly submitted ones and will coordinate with the biology instructor to make the final choices. The Associate Dean will prepare the appropriate EJFs and submit them to the Vice President. Requisition the approved equipment.

Person(s) Responsible: Biology instructor, Associate Dean Vice President of Instruction

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: March 2010

Assessment Strategy: Recommendations EJFs Requisitions

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Equipment

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in March 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in March 2010

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the College’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

Division Goal: Provide credit and not-credit programming to enhance economic development for emerging workforce needs.

Program Goal: Expand course offerings in political science & sociology to better meet the needs of college transfer students.

Objectives: Offer additional seated sections of SOC 210 and SOC 213 every term. Other SOC classes to be added on an as needed basis. Offer additional seated sections of POL 120 and/or POL 130 every term. Other POL classes to be added on an as needed basis.

Action Plan: Continue to utilize NCIH until a faculty member becomes SACS credentialed to teach these courses. Attempt to recruit a member of existing faculty to pursue 18 graduate hours in sociology (SOC) and/or political science (POL). Petition the Associate Dean to complete personnel justification to request an additional faculty member to teach SOC and POL.

Person(s) Responsible: Associate Dean and Department Faculty

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: March 2010

Assessment Strategy: Review course schedules and enrollment data. Review progress toward recruitment of faculty to required coursework required by SACS to teach SOC and POL courses.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: $2,800 for faculty upgrades; $60,000 for full-time faculty member

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in March 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in March 2010

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the College’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

Division Goal: Provide credit and non-credit programming to enhance economic development of the service area.

Program Goal: Provide high school students enrolled in either Huskins and/or Learn & Earn courses with information to help the students be more successful in their college courses.

Objectives: Have orientation sessions with the high schools students at their respective campuses and review the steps they need in order to successfully pass their courses.

Action Plan: Survey current Huskins/Learn & Earn instructors to find out the problems they have encountered. Coordinate with the high school administrators a date and time to meet with the students. Prepare handouts for students detailing the expectations of instructors. Survey the students at the end of the mid-terms of each semester to determine if the orientation sessions were helpful. Survey the instructors to see if there was an improvement from the previous academic year. Compare the grades to the previous academic year.

Person(s) Responsible: Associate Dean and Instructors

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: March 2010

Assessment Strategy: Survey the students. Survey the instructors. Final grades

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Department

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in March 2010

Use of Results: Will be completed in March 2010