Annual Assessment Plan - (August 1-September 30)
Department:
Languages & Literature English/Language Arts
Academic Year: Degree Level:
2000-2001 BS & BA
Title of Program:
University Goal
The Department of Languages and Literature contributes to the fulfilling of the University's goals throughout its curse offerings. Through its basic curriculum offerings and specialized upper-level courses in literature, languages, and communication, the Department of Languages and Literature provides instruction for both traditional and non-traditional students which enhances their abilities in critical thinking, communication and appreciation of American and other cultures as expressed in literature. Through required courses in composition, speech, and literature and through class formats that encourage discussion, the Department develops skills in writing, public speaking, and critical thinking and respect for the ideas of others.
Objectives
Objective 1. English majors will show an acceptable mastery of English and American literature.
Expected Results (Outcomes)
That (1a) 80% of English majors would improve their scores on the MFAT in English and American literature by at least 12.5 points between the first and second tests (1b) that 90% of graduating English majors would agree or strongly agree with the statement "In the field of [English and American] literature I feel well prepared compared to those individuals nationwide who have completed a similar course of study." The expected results were that (2a) from taking EH 301 to graduation, English majors and minors would improve their written communication and critical thinking skills by at least 15% and (2b) that 75% of English majors would achieve proficiency (as measured on a nationally normal test) on critical thinking and written communication. That (3a) the number of English majors will increase by 5% by December 31, 2000 and (3b) that 50% of English majors coming into the program after Sept. 1, 1998, will indicate that new course offerings & extracurricular activities were significant factors in their decisions to major in English. The expected results were that between initial enrollment and completion of basic curriculum, students would improve their writing and critical thinking skills by at least 15%. Students will be better prepared in using computer technology in carrying out their assignments.
Assessment Instrument(s)/Procedures/Costs
1a. The MFAT
1b. Departmental survey given in EH Senior Seminar
409, the
Objective 2. The Department will prepare majors and minors for graduate studies or careers by enhancing their skills in written communication and critical thinking.
1a & 1b. The Academic Profile
Objective 3. The Department of Languages & Literature will develop a program of outreach activities and new course offerings for English majors to improve its recruitment.
3a. Department material
3b. Departmental Survey
Objective 4. Basic curriculum offerings will support the objectives of the core.
Academic Profile
Objective 5. Also, the Department will prepare students in the use of presentation software, word processors, and electronic resources in research courses.
Syllabi of Languages Literature courses Cost: negligible
Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review.
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Self-Study (August 1-September 30) Department Languages and Literature Academic Year 1999-2000 Title of Program English/Language Arts Degree Level BS and BA
Objectives
Objective 1a
Statement of Results
40% (4) students taking the MFAT in Nov/ April,1999-2000, met standard of 12.5 or higher percentile points improvement in score; 20% (2) scored 9-11 percentile points improvement; 20% (2) scored 3-6 percentile points improvement; 20% (2) made no improvement.
Problems Encountered
Again, timely scores were not available. Also planned practices to improve testing were not possible, primarily because much was dependent on EH 409 (now EH 490), the Senior Seminar, and that course was taken by only two students in the spring because EH 490 is only for students who graduate under the 1999-2000 or later Catalogue..
Action Taken/Plan(s) For Improvement
The Institutional Effectiveness Office will now be able to get the scores when we can use them. Also, after a departmental committee considered changing to a departmental examination, we determined that a reasonable percentage of students are improving their MFAT scores and therefore wanted to continue with that instrument for the time being. We will be giving the Survey in the spring of 2001 in some other class or activity; realizing that we need a venue that will include both English majors and Language Arts majors .
Objective 1b
The Survey was not given.
Again, EH 490 is not fully operative and therefore it has not been possible to get results.
Objectives 2a and 2b
The Academic Profile has not been given in a number of years.
Poor participation and high cost led the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to cease administering the Academic Profile. The OIC is currently considering the Academic Profile and other general education assessment instruments.
Several departments on the campus in addition to Languages and Literature have discussed with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness reinstating the Academic Profile, suggesting that it would be a useful instrument.
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Department Title of Program
Objectives
Objective 3
Self-Study (August 1-September 30) Languages and Literature Academic Year English/Language Arts Degree Level
Statement of Results Problems Encountered
1999-2000 BA and BS
Action Taken/Plan(s) For Improvement
The courses and readings offered in 1999 must surely have been a contributing factor in raising the number of majors substantially; we will be asking the University Academic Council to accept three new elective courses that should be attractive to present and prospective majors. See plans under Objective 1b.
3a. The number of English/Language Arts majors in September 2000 is 50, up from 44 in September, 1999 and above the targeted increase in December 1997 of 5 percent.
3b. No results
See problems under Objective 1b
Objective 4
None
See problems under Objectives 2a and 2b.
See plans under Objectives 2a and 2b.
Objective 5
Everyone in our department now has a computer; we have also benefited from the numerous workshops made available this summer and fall. At least two department members have made technology presentations, and several others have attended multiple workshops. All required freshman courses now include assignments requiring the use of computer technology and skills.
Training of faculty.
Faculty have been encouraged to attend training workshops.
Note: Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review.
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Statement of Achievements Department
Languages and Literature
Academic Year
1999-2000
Plans Implemented
Instituted a search for full-time studio technician for Studio 96; hired Mr. Stan Powell in September 2000 Renovated the photography dark room Because of the Dean of Liberal Arts, 16 Dell Computers ordered and installed in the Department of Languages and Literature Presented a Panel on vocations for English majors involving five employers Obtained Graduate Assistant for the Writing Center in Spring and Summer 2000 Began renovation of Gilbert Seminar room by hanging original paintings from the University Replaced one of the Languages and Literature lectureships with an instructor position filled by our minority fellowship candidate; made sure that she is taking an on-line GRE preparation course so that she may be admitted to graduate school (7) In an effort to offer more extracurricular activities for English majors/minors, a tour made through the auspices of the Provost to Faulkner’s Oxford (Mississippi); also a tour made through the auspices of the Liberal Arts Dean to the Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery (7)
Plans Not Implemented
Asked in budget for but did not get two full-tuition scholarships designated for workers in the Writing Center and the Livingston Press Wrote and sent out a search for a Speech/Mass Communication tenure-track instructor, but had no qualified candidates Failed to achieve increased funds for professional development
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
(8) (9)
(8)
Participation on the part of at least 8 members of the Department in Obtained specifications for the English brochure and promises of the technology workshops available Spring and Summer 2000 (10) partial funding from two in-house sources
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SHORT-RANGE PLANS: FIRST YEAR Department: Languages and Literature Plans 1. Obtain two full-tuition scholarships designated for workers for the Writing Center and the Livingston Press 2. Increase funds for professional development 3. Begin renovation of the Gilbert Seminar room Strategies to Implement 1.Request scholarship funds from UWA Foundation Year 2001-2002 Completion Date 1.August 15, 2001 Approved by IEC
2. Request increase in line item. 3. Send mailing to alumni, asking for contributions. 4. Use combination of funding; create by department members.
2. October, 2001 3. December, 2001
4. Complete English brochure
4. October, 2001
5. Acquire a tenure-track professor in foreign languages/English or Speech
5. Advertise
5. August, 2001
6. Acquire a tenure-track professor in Mass Communications/Speech
6. Advertise
6. August, 2001
Approved:
_____________________ Unit Head/Director
Approved: __________________ Dean/Vice President
Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review.
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MEDIUM-RANGE PLANS: YEARS TWO AND THREE Department: Year Two (1) Inaugurate Mass Communications minor. (2) Begin renovating WH 105 to be used as a computer lab with such things as ceiling, floor, and wall repair; begin accumulating some computers that are previously owned, along with desks. (3) Obtain full tuition scholarship for computer assistant, to work in both WH 301 and WH 105 (4) Finish the renovation of the Gilbert Seminar room. (5) Year Three (1) 8-10 computers and desks, to add to those already assembled in WH 105. (2) Another laptop and Projector (3) Begin working toward a Theatre minor (4) Acquire a Speech/Theatre/Composition professor (5) Languages and Literature Academic Years: 2002-2004
Approved: Unit Head/Director
Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review. 22
Approved: Dean/Vice President
RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR PLANS (ONE-YEAR PLANS) Department: Languages and Literature HUMAN RESOURCES (Faculty, Staff, Consultants, etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED $2400 $2400 $1200 $4500 Faculty $32000 $35000 $300 $600 PHYSICAL RESOURCES (Supplies, Material, Equip., etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED Year: 2001 OTHER RESOURCES (Printing, Postage, Telephone, etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED
PLANS (Refer to One-Year Plans) 1a. Full tuition scholarshipWriting Center 1b. Full tuition scholarshipLivingston Press 2. Increased funds for professional development 3. Gilbert Seminar Room- chairs 4. English brochure 5. Foreign-language professor 6. Mass Comm/Speech professor
TOTAL RESOURCES NEEDED
$
$71800
$300
$6300
$
$ $78400
GRAND TOTAL OF RESOURCES NEEDED (Human Resources + Physical Resources + Other Resources)
AVAILABLE means budgeted in current year’s budget. In listing AVAILABLE HUMAN, PHYSICAL, AND OTHER RESOURCES, please place an asterisk (*) by any items funded from external sources such as federal, private, contractual, revenue generated, or other such sources external to the university. Dean/Vice President:
Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review. 23
Date:
RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR PLANS (TWO-YEAR PLANS) Department: Languages and Literature HUMAN RESOURCES (Faculty, Staff, Consultants, etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED X PHYSICAL RESOURCES (Supplies, Material, Equip., etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED Year: 2002 OTHER RESOURCES (Printing, Postage, Telephone, etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED
PLANS (Refer to Two-Year Plans) 1. Inaugurate Mass Communication minor 2. Begin renovation of WH 105 3. Full tuition Scholarship for computer assistant 4. Finish renovation of Gilbert Seminar
Previously used computers $2400
$4000 for repairs
$1000 bookcases
TOTAL RESOURCES NEEDED
$
$2400
$
$5000
$
$ $7400
GRAND TOTAL OF RESOURCES NEEDED (Human Resources + Physical Resources + Other Resources)
AVAILABLE means budgeted in current year’s budget. In listing AVAILABLE HUMAN, PHYSICAL, AND OTHER RESOURCES, please place an asterisk (*) by any items funded from external sources such as federal, private, contractual, revenue generated, or other such sources external to the university. Dean/Vice President:
Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review. 24
Date:
RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR PLANS (THREE-YEAR PLANS) Department: Languages and Literature HUMAN RESOURCES (Faculty, Staff, Consultants, etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED PHYSICAL RESOURCES (Supplies, Material, Equip., etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED $24000 $7500 Some faculty members Adjunct faculty$2350 Year: 2003 OTHER RESOURCES (Printing, Postage, Telephone, etc.) AVAILABLE NEEDED
PLANS (Refer to Three-Year Plans) 1. 8 Computers and desks 2. Laptop and projector 3.&4. Theatre minor
TOTAL RESOURCES NEEDED
$
$2300
$
31500
$
$ $33800
GRAND TOTAL OF RESOURCES NEEDED (Human Resources + Physical Resources + Other Resources)
AVAILABLE means budgeted in current year’s budget. In listing AVAILABLE HUMAN, PHYSICAL, AND OTHER RESOURCES, please place an asterisk (*) by any items funded from external sources such as federal, private, contractual, revenue generated, or other such sources external to the university. Dean/Vice President:
Forward all forms to the dean by September 30 for review. 25
Date:
The University of West Alabama College of Liberal Arts Department of Languages and Literature Mission Statement
Through its basic curriculum offerings and specialized upper-level courses in literature, languages, and communication the Department of Languages and Literature provides for both traditional and non-traditional students instruction which enhances their abilities in critical thinking, communication, and appreciation of American and other cultures as expressed in literature. A major element of the Department's mission is to support the objectives of the University's core curriculum. Through required courses in composition, speech, and literature and through class formats that encourage discussion, the Department develops skills in writing, public speaking, and critical thinking and respect for the ideas of others. By maintaining a diverse, well-qualified faculty, requiring courses which cover concepts and information central to the study of literature and languages, and by annually reviewing its curricula to ensure that courses include current material, the Department seeks to prepare students in its degree programs for further study in graduate or professional schools or for careers requiring skills in communication and critical thinking and/or a knowledge of literature. Students' intellectual development is furthered by extracurricular activities which provide enriched opportunities for intellectual exposure and the exchange of ideas. Through instruction, professional development, and service activities, faculty members of the Department of Languages and Literature contribute to meeting the educational, social, cultural, and economic needs of the state and region.
Rev. 7/10/2000
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