DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Unit Strategic Plan and Annual Report -- Academic Year 2008-09
_______Academic Unit ___X___ Administrative/Support Unit
I. Unit Title: Graduate & Continuing Studies
School/College or University Division: Academic Affairs
Unit Administrator: Albert Nylander
II. Educational Program Learning Outcome Assessment Plan (Academics)
Not Applicable
III. Goals
Goals for Current Year
A. Goal # 1: Increase graduate enrollment and support the development of expanded graduate programs through alternate delivery methods, including on-line programs.
1. Institutional Goal(s) supported by this goal:
SP Goal # 2 & 3: SP Goal 2: Students will enroll in greater numbers and a larger percentage will persist to graduation. SP 3:
The university community will benefit from better communication, effective operational and administrative systems, an optimal work environment, and a performance-responsive reward structure.
2. Evaluation Procedure(s):
Obtain admission data on a weekly basis and make comparisons to previous years’ data and analyze enrollment in each term. (See Tables for graduate enrollment under data section)
3. Actual Results of Evaluation:
There was an increase in enrollment. (See information in the data section)
4. Use of Evaluation Results:
B. Goal #2: Partner with off-campus centers and other sites to delivery programs in partnering with community colleges format and other course/program offerings.
1. Institutional Goal(s) supported by this goal:
SP Goal 2: Students will enroll in greater numbers and a larger percentage will persist to graduation. SP 3: The university community will benefit from better communication, effective operational and administrative systems, an optimal work environment, and a performance-responsive reward structure. SP 4: Friends of Delta State University will become more aware and more supportive of the institution. SP 5: The citizens of the region will benefit from increases in university outreach, service and partnership initiatives.
2. Evaluation Procedure(s)
Obtain admission data on a weekly basis and make comparisons to previous years’ data and analyze enrollment in each term. Track admission and enrollment data on targeted programs.
3. Actual Results of Evaluation:
4. Uses of Evaluation Results:
Continuous efforts will be made to address the needs of the off-campus centers and seek out sites in demand of higher education in various locations (See Continuing Education’s report under the data section).
C. Goal #3: Increase the number of schools and students participating in the dual enrollment program. (This program was moved to undergraduate admissions.)
Goals for Coming Year(s): The main two goals for the Graduate Office for 2009-2010 academic year will be to increase funding opportunities and graduate enrollment.
A. Goal # 1: Graduate Studies will redesign its recruiting plan and efforts to continue its focus on increasing graduate enrollment.
1. Institutional Goal(s) supported by this goal: SP Goal #1, 3 and 5
2. Evaluation Procedure(s):
The Graduate Office will track all recruiting efforts to determine the effectiveness of its plan.
3. Expected Results: (i.e. improvement percentages, increase/decrease in numbers, measurable data. ) It is expected that the graduate recruiters will increase its efforts by 30%.
4. Anticipated/Intended Uses of Evaluation Results:
It is anticipated that the graduate office will be able to reduce the number of recruiting trips by focusing on areas which will most likely return results. The Graduate Office evaluated the past 4 years of recruiting cards to determine how many prospective students who filled out an interest card enrolled at DSU. Approximately 30 students of 800 who completed an interest card enrolled at DSU. It is our expectation to increase this percentage.
3. Expected Results: (i.e. improvement percentages, increase/decrease in numbers, measurable data. )
The Graduate Office, in collaboration with Colleges and Departments, plans to submit at least 5 proposals this academic year.
4. Anticipated/Intended Uses of Evaluation Results:
It is anticipated that there will be additional graduate opportunities for research, teaching assistance, and service assistance as the result of an increase in funding.
C. Goal #3: Graduate Studies will better publicize the graduate office and the graduate programs on campus.
1. Institutional Goal(s) supported by this goal: SP Goal # 5
2. Evaluation Procedure(s):
There will be an increase in the number of publications about the different graduate programs. There also will be a concerted effort to make the graduate office more accessible to the various social networking sites, and a total revamping of the graduate studies’ website.
3. Expected Results: (i.e. improvement percentages, increase/decrease in numbers, measurable data. ) There will be a 100% increase in publicizing the graduate office on the social networking sites.
4. Anticipated/Intended Uses of Evaluation Results:
It is anticipated that publicizing the graduate office and programs will increase awareness of the quality academic graduate programs at Delta State University.
IV. Data and information for department:
The Graduate Studies office will continue to meet the University’s strategic planning goals. The core mission of the graduate office is to maintain quality graduate programs. To ensure that we are meeting this mission the Graduate Dean will be working closely with the Graduate Council to establish measures for external evaluations. Our ability to recruit and retain excellent graduate students is closely connected to our research
productivity and scholarship. It is a long-term goal of the graduate office to increase the international graduate student body at Delta State. In order to recruit nationally and internationally, we will have to increase our funding opportunities. Graduate schools are in a competitive marketplace for the very best graduate students; thus, we will need to compete at a higher level.
an overhaul. Upon visiting our website, many potential graduate students will make the decision at that time about whether or not to pursue their interest with DSU. We must build a user-friendly site carefully, and succinctly highlight each graduate program.
A goal of the graduate office is to increase the current graduate assistantship awards. A plan is being developed now to provide additional
assistance in the coming years. The Graduate Dean will encourage a top-up funding process for departments to increase the funding support above the normal levels. With this in mind, Delta State will be able to offer multi-year packages and other incentives for especially attractive students. We will have a page on our newly developed website listing the funding opportunities for graduate students.
To be successful in recruiting the best students, the Graduate Office will work with the respective graduate programs at DSU to spread the word about our quality programs. We will partner in networking at our national conferences, and hopefully, we can work as a team in recruiting as a part of our scholarly trips. Dr. Nylander is attending a conference in Nashville on Graduate Recruiting. He will share his findings from this conference with the DSU campus at a workshop on Graduate Recruiting in the 2009-2010 year.
For recruiting, it is also important that we invite our graduate prospects to campus. The first Gulf South Conference Graduate Dean’s meeting will be held at Delta State at the beginning of the 2009 fall semester. It will be a two-day event to meet and discuss the needs of graduate students. A newly appointed staff member, Mr. J.R. Love, is working with the Graduate Student Advisory Council to make this meeting a success. If we are to increase our yield rate (offers/accepts), we must be more active in bringing students to campus. It is documented that a student who has a
successful campus visit is much more likely to enroll.
Another important component of admitting graduate students and then working with them to enrolling is the graduate studies staff. Although we are few in numbers, I do believe we have excellent personnel in the graduate office. Ms. Sarah Boyles is returning as the coordinator for graduate programs and admissions. Mrs. Boyles has a wealth of knowledge about the graduate admissions process as she has worked in this capacity for over five years. You will see from the data that will be presented below on graduate applications, admissions, and enrollment that she is performing at a high level. Mr. Love will have a one-year appointment for 2009-2010 to assist in recruiting and admissions. We hope to secure additional funds to retain Mr. Love beyond this next year. Mrs. Marilyn Read, coordinator of continuing education, also will begin assisting in the admissions process.
Number of Applications for the Fall 2008
For academic year 2008, DSU had a significant increase in the number of Master’s degree conferred. The MBA program in the College of
Graduates by Race and Gender show that the majority of graduate students are female at 69%, and 56.87% are white students. One of the Graduate Dean’s goals is to maintain the strong diverse graduate study body at DSU. DSU is one of the most diverse campuses in Mississippi and the nation. It is important to maintain this level of diversity as it enriches the graduate experience.
The College of Education has the highest graduate credit hour production on campus at 2,664. The college’s online program in Elementary Education is receiving great interest and will become a model for other online programs. The Graduate Dean will be in conversation with the College of Education Dean concerning the sustainability of these numbers and growth potential for other online programs at DSU. The College of Arts & Sciences has many opportunities to increase its graduate credit hour production; thus, the Graduate Dean will be in conversation with the Arts & Sciences Dean on the many possibilities.
Continuing Education Report 2008-2009*
*It was anticipated that Graduate and Continuing Studies would become two separate units.
I Continuing Studies
This continuing education report is authored by Melissa Stewart with supporting information by Marilyn Read. Melissa is the
Coordinator of Continuing Studies for Credit and Non-credit programs, and Marilyn is the Coordinator of Continuing Studies for CEU reporting and the HPER Credit and Non-credit program, and Independent Studies.
II A. User Outcomes
1. Continuing Studies increased the number of for-credit course offerings from 279 in the 2007-2008 academic year to 372 courses in the 2008-2009 academic year. Dual enrollment courses are included in these numbers; however, it should be noted that the dual enrollment program was moved to undergraduate admissions.
2. Enrollment in academic credit courses increased from 3,396 in 2007-2008 to 4,803 in 2008-2009 3. Credit hour production increased from 10,188 in 2007-2008 to 14,409 in 2008-2009.
4. The number of non-credit workshops and events increased from 17 in 2007-2008 to 20 in 2008-2009.
5. The division partnered with the Delta Area Association for the Improvement in Schools (DAAAIS), Virtual Education Software Inc. (VESI) and other individual school districts, municipal agencies and conferences to offer 261 CEU workshops in 2008-2009 compared to 306 in 2007-2008 with overall enrollment of 2,215 students and contact hours of 3715 hours.
B. Data Collection & Analysis
1. Data regarding for-credit course offerings, CEU Workshops and enrollment were obtained from IRP through the Banner system.
2. Records were kept in-house on enrollment for non-credit courses and workshops. These numbers were verified using records of revenue deposits listed in the Banner system.
2. Continuing Studies enrollment numbers continue to grow from 2007-2008 to 2008-2009.
3. CEU percentage of successful workshops held has remained at a constant 75% of workshops offered. D. Use of Evaluation Results
1. Continuing Studies has realized significant growth through our continued marketing strategies and student recruitment. The results are described through the data listed above.
2. Continuing Studies has maintained a constant 75% of CEU workshops as successful. III Goals for the Current Year
A. Partner with off-campus centers and sites and also with community colleges to deliver programs and course offerings. 1. Institutional Goals supported by this goal:
SP #2, DSU will enroll students in greater numbers and improve retention and graduation rates. SP #5, DSU will increase and enhance outreach, service, and partnership initiatives.
2. Evaluation Procedure: Analyze enrollment in the programs and courses each term. Continue to track the enrollment data in all of the programs spanning over the year. Division personnel continue to meet with MDCC on a regular basis to enhance the partnership for developing 2+2 programs at the GHEC.
3. Actual Results: 2+2 program in General Business Administration was launched at the GHEC Fall 2008. Continuing education, in partnership with the College of Business, is continuing to recruit for this 2+2 program and in contact with MDCC for other 2+2 opportunities.
4. Use of Evaluation Results: Continuing Studies will continue to work with all Colleges on campus to aggressively market existing 2+2 programs and to develop new programs at off-campus centers.
Goals for Coming Years
A. Increase the number of students that participate in travel-based courses. 1. Institutional Goal supported by this goal
SP Goal #1: Increase student learning
4. Intended Uses of Evaluation Results: Continuing Studies will continue to recruit students and market these unique courses to improve enrollment numbers.
B. Engage faculty and academic departments in developing unique courses to be offered through Continuing Studies. 1. Institutional Goal supported by this goal
SP Goal #1: Increase student learning
SP Goal #2: Develop an engaged, diverse, high quality student population SP Goal #3: Assure high-quality, diverse, engaged faculty and staff
2. Evaluation Procedure: Compare the number of courses taught in unique formats and unique locations to those courses from the previous year.
3. Expected Results: Increase in both the number of offerings and the number of faculty who develop these inventive courses that enrich a student’s experience while at DSU.
4. Intended Uses of Evaluation Results: Continuing Studies will continue to work with faculty and academic units to provide quality programming in a unique setting.
C. Increase the diversity of offerings for non-credit workshops and summer programming. 1. Institutional Goal supported by this goal
SP Goal #5: Improve quality of life for all constituents through nontraditional offerings.
2. Evaluation Procedure: Compare the number of non-credit courses offered in the coming year to those offered in 2007-2008 and in 2008-2009.
3. Expected Results: Increase in the number and diversity of courses offered to meet the unique needs of the constituents. 4. Intended Uses of Evaluation Results: Continuing Studies will continue to build programming that will meet the needs and
exceed the expectations of the constituents.
D. Increase the number of CEU opportunities for State Educators, municipal agencies and conferences. 1. Institutional Goal supported by this goal
SP Goal #5: Improve quality of life for all constituents through nontraditional offerings.
2. Evaluation Procedure: Compare the number of CEU workshops offered in the coming year to those offered in 2007-2008 and in 2008-2009.
3. Expected Results: Increase in the number and diversity of courses offered to meet the unique needs of the constituents. 4. Intended Uses of Evaluation Results: Continuing Studies will continue to build programming that will meet the needs and
IV. Data and information for department Programmatic scope:
• Branch campus offerings- Coordinate DSU offerings at branch campuses (GHEC and CCHEC) as well as satellite locations (Desoto, Hinds, & Tishomingo)
• Travel Based Courses- Coordinate logistics for travel based courses. Courses include Vicksburg, Shiloh, Guinea, Africa, London, Paris, South Carolina, Idaho, & Utah.
• Online Courses
• Intersession- All Intersession courses, both winter and May, are coordinated through Graduate & Continuing Studies. This is the programs fifth year in existence.
• Youth Programming- Non-credit programming for children. These include Kids College, After School Arts, Holiday Arts, Soccer Camp, swimming lessons, and Lifeguarding.
• Continuing Education Units (CEU) were issued for education license re-certifications across the state.
• Outreach Courses- Adult programming in a noncredit format. Offerings include Instant Piano, Belly Dancing, Computers 101, Ballroom Dancing, The World of the New Testament, Lunch & Learn, CPR certification, and GMAT prep workshop.
o Comparative Data:
Online course offerings grew from 76 in 2007-2008 to 141 in 2008-2009.
Enrollment in online courses grew from 1070 in 2007-2008 to 2052 in 2008-2009.
Credit-hour production for online courses grew from 3,210 in 2007-2008 to 6,156.00 in 2008-2009.
V. Personnel:
Major Accomplishments for 2008-2009:
Dr. Albert Nylander was selected as the new Dean of Graduate Studies & Continuing Education.
Dr. Nylander has a book chapter, “The Role of Local Organizations and Leaders in Community Development,” in The Theory and Practice of Community Development, coming out this fall. Dr. Nylander presented the following papers this past year:
Dr. Nylander once again received $100,000 from the Hearin Foundation to support 5 worthy graduate students in the Community Development program. This program was first funded in 1998 and Dr. Nylander has received funding from this program since.
Dr. Nylander with Dr. Jerry Robinson submitted a proposal, “Cumulative Life-Course Experiences among Engaged and Disengaged Black Women in the Mississippi Delta,” to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a request of $1,012,919.
Dr. Nylander continues a major National Research project on School Board Members. This work was presented at the American Sociological Association this August 2008.
Dr. Nylander provided major support for the 2009 version of the Delta Rural Poll survey. He is a core member on the advisory board of the Delta Rural Poll and an original member. This is a random sample of MS Delta residents in the 11 core counties which make up the alluvial plain of the MS Delta. Through these polls, DSU has the most enriching set of social indicators on Mississippian Deltans.
Mrs. Sarah Boyles assisted in processing over 1100 graduate admissions applications.
Mrs. Boyles maintained the paper work for 852 graduate students who were enrolled at Delta State for 2008-2009 academic year.
Mrs. Boyles assisted in coordinating efforts for DSU’s 11 graduate degree programs.
Mrs. Melissa Stewart attended the Association of Continuing Higher Education, and served on the Planning Committee for ACHE regional conference 2008-2009.
Mrs. Stewart presented on DSU’s unique Intersession model at the 2008 ACHE National Conference in Nashville, TN.
Mrs. Stewart presented on DSU’s unique Intersession model at the 2009 ACHE South Conference in Baton Rouge, LA.
Mrs. Stewart serves on DSU’s Courtesy Committee 2007-2009, Safety & Environment Committee 2007-2009, and Student Organizations Committee 2007-2009.
Mrs. Marilyn Read attended the Association of Continuing Higher Education, and served on the Planning Committee for ACHE regional conference 2008-2009.
Mrs. Marilyn Read was nominated as Secretary Elect for the Association of Continuing Higher Education Region South for 2008-2009.
Mrs. Marilyn Read presented on DSU’s unique Intersession model at the 2009 ACHE South Conference in Baton Rouge, LA.
Mrs. Marilyn Read serves on DSU’s Awards Committee, Courtesy Committee 2008-2009, and Staff Council 2007-2009
New position(s) requested, with justification:
With the announcement this week that Delta State University will become a site for the Teach for America’s (TFA) summer training program, and that DSU will likely become a permanent site, we will need to consider adding a Full-time Graduate Admissions person for the 2010-2011 year.
Degree Program Addition/Deletions and/or Major Curriculum Changes:
Graduate and Continuing Studies had three positions removed from its Unit for the 2009-2010 year. 1. The Assistant Dean of Graduate & Continuing Studies position deleted
2. Continuing Education Studies Coordinator position deleted 3. Secretary/Clerical for Camps and Clinics position deleted
4. Katrina Sanders resigned her position in June 2009. Dr. Nylander has appointed Mr. J.R. Love to a one-year appointment to assist in recruiting and admissions.
Changes made in the past year:
The Dual Enrollment program was transferred to undergraduate admissions.
Recommended changes for the coming year(s):
