2009-2010
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
Department: Gender Studies Department Head: Georgia Wheatley
Fundamentals:
Department Mission Statement:
The Gender Studies Department is an interdisciplinary community of faculty committed to a
transformative analysis of gender as it intersects class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, nationality, and
transnationality. Gender Studies courses provides an academic forum for the study of these
intersections within historical, economic, political, social, and cultural contexts.
Departmental Goals:
Gender Studies seeks to balance theory and activism, the personal and the political, the local and the
global, and the classroom and the community. The Gender Studies Program specifically emphasizes
1. Providing students with the theoretical and methodological tools to analyze gender within
their chosen disciplines
2. Providing a learner-centered education in which critical thinking, student involvement, and
personal insight are encouraged and made relevant to the learning process.
3. Empowering students to critically and creatively apply an analysis of gender to their
personal, family, educational, professional, and civic roles.
4. Providing innovative and collaborative study, teaching, and service that promote new
knowledge and socially responsible interactions with the world.
Departmental Strengths:
A main strength of Casper College’s Gender Studies Department is its faculty. The faculty represent
almost all academic division of the college (Business, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, Language and
Literature, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Science, Vocational-Technical),
and student services and library.
Another strength is the department’s curriculum and its potential for growth. Four courses
(Introduction to Women’s Studies, Introduction to Gender Studies, History of Women in America,
and Victorian Women Travelers) are gender studies only courses, independently administered by the
gender studies department. Three other courses, from the departments of English, Communications,
and Psychology, are cross-listed. All courses are transferable to the University of Wyoming (and
most transfer to other university) and most fulfill graduation requirements for Casper College
degrees. Gender Studies faculty who are not now teaching cross-listed women’s students courses
may offer cross-listed courses when their teaching load allow them to, a prospect that suggest
potential for growth and greater diversity.
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Further strengths of the department are that it received support from academic administration, that it
attracts students, and that graduates succeed at universities.
Department Challenges:
Scheduling instructor time, especially instructors of cross-listed courses such as Gender,
Communication and Culture is a concern. Technology is more of a challenge than a concern. Several
of the Gender Studies instructors support putting their classes online as an option, but have not taught
online classes before. Moodle training and support from other faculty will easily resolve this
challenge.
Teaching Philosophy and Pedagogy:
The department challenges oppression and stereotypes while fostering students’ dignity and worth
and encouraging students to be responsible, productive, healthy and successful individuals. The
department promotes cultural understanding and appreciation of the arts while investigating the
systems that shape gender and women’s lives and seeks to develop an appreciation of women’s
contributions. The department expands knowledge and learning and promotes academic
achievement, balancing the wisdom of the past with the needs of the present and the challenges of the
future. The department encourages and makes relevant student involvement and critical thinking.
Gender Studies Faculty provide an interactive learning environment using lecture, discussion,
technology, projects, papers, and other real-time learning opportunities. They consider the different
learning styles of the students and seek to emphasize critical thinking skills and real-world
applications for the class content. Faculty actively seek success for each student, supporting the
primary learning goals of the student.
Distance Education Philosophy:
Distance education for women’s studies continues to be a subject discussed in Gender Studies
Departments internationally. The spring 2010 semester is the first semester online Gender Studies
classes have been offered. The instructor strives to replicate, for online students, the strong
interpersonal and academically analytical experience of studying gender in the classroom. The
Gender Studies Department plan to have the entire degree program available as an online option
within the next two years.
Dual Enrollment Philosophy:
Women’s Studies classes are taught at the college level. Dual enrollment is not offered at this time.
Distinction:
Articulation agreements (if any):
WMST 1080 and GNDR 1000 are fully articulated with the University of Wyoming.
The Casper College Women’s Studies Department, with the University of Wyoming and Central
Wyoming College, held Wyoming’s first women’s studies articulation meeting in September, 1990,
at Casper College’ at that meeting, we created the Women’s Studies Association of Wyoming. Since
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1990, Casper College has hosted two other state articulation meetings; Central Wyoming College has
hosted one; University of Wyoming has planned one. Faculty from those three schools and from
Sheridan College, Western Wyoming College, Northwest College, Laramie County College, and
Black Hills State College have attended the articulation meetings. Casper College has established a
congenial working relationship with the University of Wyoming (the school to which most of our
graduates transfer), and has courses approved in UW’s C1 and C2 transfer categories.
Casper College will be hosting another articulation meeting in April, 2010. UW faculty and faculty
from other Wyoming community college will be attending. We will be working on articulating other
classes at this time.
Special events or activities:
The Gender Studies Department typically sponsors several events during the course of the academic
year. The 2010 National Women’s Studies Conference will be held in Denver during November,
2010 and plans are underway to take a group of faculty and students to the conference.
Third party comments, including specialized accreditation:
There are no third party comments at this time
Personnel:
Departmental faculty members, full-time:
The Gender Studies Department does not have any faculty members teaching full-time within the
department, although the program is growing and Georgia Wheatley may likely teach full-time in the
department within a year or two.
Departmental faculty members, adjunct:
The following faculty are full-time Casper College instructors who teach less than full-time in the
Gender Studies Department.
Nichole Bryant
Jessica Hurless
Georgia Wheatley
The following faculty are adjunct Casper College instructors who teach adjunct for the Gender
Studies Department:
Diana Quealey-Berge
Departmental advisory committee members (if applicable):
Dana Boe
Nichole Bryant
Ruth Doyle
Jessica Hurless
Valerie Innella
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Laurie Lye
Barbara Mueller
Anne Rognstad
Linda Ryan
Joanne Theobald
Georgia Wheatley
Operations:
Yes No
Program assessment plan(s) on file? in-progress
Enrollment trends:
All Gender Studies courses have healthy enrollment. A new class, Introduction to Gender, had
difficulties with enrollment the first semester it was offered (Fall 2009) but seems to be attracting
good numbers of students at this time.
Departmental equipment and facilities:
The Casper College facilities are adequate for Gender Studies courses, as long as the computers in the
lecture rooms are kept current.
Budgetary Considerations:
The Gender Studies budget is adequate for the current needs. These needs may expand as the
program expands.
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WMST 2010-2011 Budget
9110-ED. SUPPLIES $100.00
9117-SUBS. $300.00
9118-BOOKS $100.00
9120-OFFICE SUPPLIES $100.00
9123-SOFTWARE
9124-COMPUTER ACCES.
9140-PROMO. SUPPLIES
9212-ADVERTISING $100.00
9214-ACCREDITATION EXPENSES
9232-RPRS-EQP
9310-DUES/MEMBERSHIPS $400.00
9311-REG/ENTRY FEES $100.00
9320-EMP TRAVEL IN-STATE
9330-EMP TRAVEL 0/S (hope to take faculty and
students to 2010 National Women's Studies Association
conference in Denver, November 2010 $200.00
9371-RECRUITMENT $100.00
9378-OTHER OPR EXP (special events/student
activities) $1,000.00
9419-CELL PHONE SERVICES
9820-LAB/CLASSROOM EQP
9830-COMPUTER EQP
Total $2,500.00
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