I. Unit Title: Office of Academic Affairs School/College or University Division: Academic Affairs Unit Administrator : Ann Lotven

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Unit Strategic Plan and Annual Report -- Academic Year 2008-09 ____X___Academic Unit ______ Administrative/Support Unit

I. Unit Title: Office of Academic Affairs

School/College or University Division: Academic Affairs Unit Administrator: Ann Lotven

II. Educational Program Learning Outcome Assessment Plan (Academics)

 Each academic program within the University has established learner and program outcomes.

 Graduates have demonstrated proficiencies for their respective fields through internships, standardized test results, portfolio presentations, and other methods.

 Each program employed assessment strategies including standardized tests, exit exams, minimum grade requirements in pre-requisite courses, student evaluations, capstone courses, employer surveys, observation during internships, written comprehensive examinations, and portfolios to document learner outcomes.

 Each program employed assessment strategies (including annual course/faculty evaluations, interviews with students and faculty, review of course syllabi, standardized tests required for licensure, surveys of graduates and employers, and reviews by accrediting agencies) to document program outcomes.

 Planning and assessment within each program and at the college/school level was employed to document program outcomes.

 Each program meets regularly to evaluate curriculum, assessment procedures, and make recommendations for program improvement.

 Recommendations that include curriculum changes and new or revised courses are submitted to the Academic Council for review and approval after endorsement by the department faculty.

 Many units in academic affairs redesigned or updated the unit’s website

III. Goals

-- For the Current Year and the Coming Year

As reported and documented in college/school and department/division annual plans, progress was made on each of the following university goals:

1. Increase student learning -- DSU will ensure through enhanced programs that graduates are well prepared for successful careers, meaningful work in a global society, and engaged citizenship.

a. College of Education met all standards for initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educational leadership preparation through the Mississippi Department of Education Process and Performance Review b. Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) curriculum was reviewed and revised to increase specialized

course work and move it to a three-year program to allow students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills vital in performing duties of an athletic training professional.

c. Thad Cochran Center for Rural School Leadership and Research revised all courses and programs in the Educational Leadership program and the assessment system to reflect new national and state standards in the field of leadership.

d. College of Business achieved full accreditation of all business programs with no notes or conditions from its accrediting body ACBSP.

e. Art department created new courses, Experimental Photography and Personal Vision to be taught Fall 2009 f. Biological and Physical Sciences received a grant, “Increasing Student Success and Retention through the

Transformation of Laboratory Science Instruction.”

h. Bachelor of Science in Social Justice and Criminology program changes include a new program of study, revision of previous courses, and the addition of new courses.

i. Bachelor of Science in Education (Social Sciences) was restructured as part of a College of Education and University-wide initiative to redesign education programs for preparing future teachers.

j. Music department was awarded the Final Approval for Listing for the BM in Performance from NASM. 2. Develop an engaged, diverse, high-quality student population -- DSU will attract, retain, and graduate an

increasingly engaged and success-oriented student population.

a. College of Education expanded off-campus and on-line delivery of degree and course offerings

b. College of Arts & Sciences requested authorization for IHL for MAS in Geospatial Information Technology and established a GIT track within the Environmental Studies degree

c. College of Business established the Certified Financial Planner program

d. Continuing education established a program for the Mississippi Police Academy and Paralegal certificate e. School of Nursing worked to establish a 5 university consortium to deliver the MSN Geriatric and Psychiatric

Mental Health Nurse and the Doctorate of Nurse Practice

f. University wide effort to employ the Foundations of Excellence process to complete a comprehensive self-study that resulted in a set of recommendations regarding improving the first year experience for

undergraduate students

g. Established a steering committee, chairs of the 9 Foundations of Excellence dimension committees, to guide the design/redesign of the first year experience in the coming year

h. Department of Mathematics completed the redesign of the College Algebra course.

i. Initial programs in Special Education; Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; and Science Education received continuing accreditation through the program review process

j. Athletic Training Education Program made extensive revisions to the program to more closely align with CAATE (Commission of Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) standards

k. Registrar Office reported service to 75 students who are tracked by the Veterans Administration l. Delta State University funded faculty development events, ROMEA, Arts in April, and a Research and

Scholarship Symposium

m. Psychology students attended regional and national conferences and presented papers

o. College of Business established the College of Business Student Advising Center to enhance recruitment and retention.

p. Planning for University Student Advisement Center began.

q. Pre- and co-requisites established for Delta Music Institute curriculum

3. A ssure high-quality, diverse, engaged faculty and staff -- DSU will attract, retain, and support an increasingly engaged and highly-trained workforce.

a. College of Education faculty and administrators served on Process and Performance Review Standards (state level reviews) and received training to become a National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

b. College of Education conducted faculty and staff professional development activities outcomes-based assessment processes, web-based data collection and assessment, and TaskStream tools.

c. College of Arts & Sciences faculty scholarship included 169+ publications, presentations, exhibitions, and performances.

d. College of Business faculty members published 22 articles and made 110 presentations at professional conferences/meetings reviewed 2 textbooks and participated in 29 workshops/seminars/and consulting engagements.

e. College of Business hosted the Fourth Annual International Business Symposium.

f. College of Arts & Sciences faculty chaired faculty development events, ROMEA and Arts in April. g. Faculty from all colleges/school participated in the Delta State University Research and Scholarship

Symposium.

h. Student Engagement Champions (GST 600) provided orientation and mentoring for faculty new to DSU i. Thirteen (13) new faculty members were hired to fill vacant faculty positions recreated by resignations and

retirements.

j. Sufficient well-prepared adjunct faculty were hired by academic departments to teach. k. Art department added minors in Ceramics, Fiber and Video.

4. Enhance institutional effectiveness – DSU will improve its financial and physical capacities, establishing efficiencies in programs and services.

a. Teacher Education revised the Assessment Manual to align unit assessments and focus on critical content, skills, and dispositions.

b. Completed renovations and updates for the School of Nursing.

d. Funding to support activities to enhance classroom instruction, research, and professional development was provided.

e. Institutional Research and Planning’s IHL student file went through significant changes throughout the year including the addition of revised tracking of attempted credit hours were split into separate columns, current registration definitions were redefined, Banner table updated to represent IHL definitions

f. Institutional Research and Planning to enhance efficiencies and reporting of data: i. piloted a data integrity committee

ii. implemented the use of Common Data Set for Undergraduates iii. created template for Graduate students

iv. Implemented the use of Voluntary System of Accountability and published Delta State University’s first College Portrait for Fall 2008

v. Created verification process for all IHL Board tapes and cut down on 75% of errors returned g. Institutional Research and Planning improved data integrity issues and coordination of institution-wide

efforts to improve data, assessment, accreditation, and reporting efforts

5. Improve the quality of life for all constituents -- DSU, improving its image and impact, will increase and enhance outreach, service, and partnership initiatives, in the region and beyond.

a. College of Business received $44,575 in private funds to support student scholarships. b. Math department delivered the Algebra and Geometry Institute

c. Geospatial Information Technology department purchased software with funding from the Excellence in Science.

d. Delta Area Association for Improvement of Schools (39 consortium member districts) provided 115 days of professional development serving 2,150 participants; COE faculty supported or were involved in many of the events

e. E-Learning provided instruction in Spanish I, Spanish II, and Art to 440 students in 22 schools f. Department of Family Consumer Science distributed Nutritional Toolkits as service learning project

g. Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department hosted four day-long “Saturdays in the Park” events to introduce area school children to outdoor recreation and physical fitness activities

h. School of Nursing delivered RN-BSN program to students in Greenville & Clarksdale. i. Online programming and course availability doubled during 2008-2009.

k. Center for Community and Economic Development provided and/or supported: i. America Reads – Mississippi

ii. Mississippi Delta Service Corps/AmeriCorps (VISTA) iii. Breast Education Early-Detection Project

iv. Delta State University Institute for Community-Based Research v. Delta Rural Poll

vi. Mississippi Delta Leaders Empowering Youth vii. Youth Entrepreneurial Program

l. Delta State University funded faculty development events, ROMEA, Arts in April, and a Research and Scholarship Symposium

m. Psychology students attended regional and national conferences and presented papers

n. Division of Languages and Literature sponsored a lecture by Emily Pettus, a reporter for the Associated Press, delivered a lecture “Tell it Like it is: Reporting Politics in Mississippi”.

o. Art department held the fourth International Delta Film and Video Festival. p. Bologna Performing Arts Center offered cultural performances.

q. Travel Based courses were delivered through the College of Arts and Sciences in Ireland, Africa, London, Paris, South Carolina, Idaho, Utah and across Mississippi.

r. The Summer Developmental Program, an alternate route to university admissions for students who do not meet the admissions standards as set forth by the IHL, was provided by the office of Academic Support Services.

s. Art department partnered with various schools and agencies to create afterschool and summer art experiences for area students.

t. Non-credit programming for children including Kids College, After School Arts, Holiday Arts, Soccer Camp swimming lessons and Lifeguarding was delivered through Continuing Education.

u. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) were offered for education license re-certification across the state.

v. Adult non-credit programming including music and dance lessons, computer training, GMAT preparation and other programming was delivered through Continuing Education.

w. Registrar’s office responded to 3,256 requests for official transcripts

x. Academic Support Lab provides tutorial support and other academic student support services and developmental courses in reading, mathematics, and writing

z. Delta Music Institute hosted a second Summer Camp for 15-18 year olds interested in audio engineering, performance, and songwriting

aa. History department submitted an application in collaboration with Quitman County for a Department of Education Teaching American History grant beginning in 2009.

bb. Mathematics Department hosted the Ninth Annual Mathematics Tournament for high school students and a summer institute for mathematics teachers of grades 4 through 8.

cc. Madison Center hosted a lecture. IV. Data and information for department:

Brief Description and/or Narrative of programmatic scope: The Office of Academic Affairs comprises the following units College of Arts & Sciences

Art

Biological and Physical Sciences

Center for Science and Environmental Education (CSEE) Delta Music Institute

Geospatial Information Technology History

Honors Program

Interdisciplinary Studies Languages and Literature Mathematics

Music

Social Sciences

The Madison Center Social Work

Speech and Hearing Sciences College of Business

Accountancy, Computer Information Systems and Finance Commercial Aviation

Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Research Coordinator of Graduate Programs

Center for Entrepreneurship

Small Business Development Center College of Education

Thad Cochran Center for Rural School Leadership and Research Counselor Education and Psychology

Family and Consumer Sciences Field Experiences

Health, Physical Education and Recreation Recreational Facilities and Aquatics

Delta Area Association for Improvement of Schools E-Learning

Teacher Education School of Nursing

Library Services

Instructional Resource Center University Archives

Graduate and Continuing Studies Assessment and Planning

Institutional Research and Planning Academic Support Lab

Registrar

Retention Coordinator

Coahoma County Higher Education Center Delta Center for Culture and Leaning

Center for Community and Economic Development Institutional Grants

Comparative Data (enrollment, CHP, majors, graduation rates, etc): Students Registered 07-08 and 08-09 Academic Years:

Term Undergrad

uates Graduates TOTALS

Summer 2007 1060 517 1577

Fall 2007 3356 735 4091

Spring 2008 3019 748 3767

Total Unduplicated Enrollment 2008-09

Summer 2008 1043 551 1594

Fall 2008 3212 852 4064

Spring 2009 2862 833 3695

Degrees Conferred

Academic Year December May TOTALS

2007/2008 387 466 853

2008/2009 402 484 886

Transcripts Requested

Academic Year TOTAL REQUESTED

2007/2008 3256

2008/2009 4628

Grants, Contracts, Partnerships, Other Accomplishments:

 University received grants totaling $12,137,710, a 20.3% increase over the $10,085,925 received in 2007-2008  University increased number of proposals submitted for funding by 20% over 2007-2008

 Art, Athletic Training, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business, Center for Community and Economic Development, Coahoma County Higher Education Center, Counselor Education, Nursing, Speech and Hearing Sciences and Teacher Education entered into partnerships with various agencies to provide internship sites and hands on experiences for students, services to agencies and the stakeholders they serve,

 All units are making continual efforts to evaluate programs and offerings for maximum economic impact

 Small Business Development Center Assisted clients in creating 33 jobs (an 89% increase over FY08) and assisted 276 individuals with special projects (a 65% increase over FY08)

 Second annual Electroacoustic Juke Joint music festival was held in the Bologna Performing Arts Center

 Independent Sector, a coalition of leading nonprofits, foundations, and corporations that is designed to strengthen not-for-profit initiatives, philanthropy, and citizen action, states that the estimated dollar value of volunteer time is $20.25 per hour for 2008 (Bureau of Labor on Statistics.) School of Nursing students volunteered 42,930 hours in agencies in the 2008-09 academic school year. The department plans to continue these efforts in the 2009-10 school year.

 Small Business Development Center and the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Research fostered community economic development in the region

Diversity Compliance Initiatives and Progress:

 The focus of two of the nine dimension committees, All Students and Diversity, was the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population and the promotion of the ideals of a diverse population

 Diversity among faculty is actively sought when advertising and reviewing applications for positions

 Because of the difficulty of attracting diverse faculty members, diversity plays an important role in the choice of adjunct professors

 Delta Music Institute hosted the second Delta Hip Hop Conference: “Empowerment or Exploitation?”

Committees reporting to unit (Committee records archived in the Office of Academic Affairs) University standing committees

 Attendance and Grievance Committee

o Handled one student attendance appeal  Courtesy Committee

o Purchased gifts for retiring employees

o Sent floral arrangement on behalf of the university at time of funeral of faculty, staff or emeriti faculty or staff member

o Conducted 5th _{Annual Research and Scholarship Symposium that featured faculty and student work} o Supported faculty travel to present research

 Safety and Environment Committee

o Advocated slowing traffic on S. 5th _Avenue

o Reviewed procedures for emergency situation management  Special Programs Committee

o Hosted the following events

 Chicha Libre

 Outdoor multi-arts event

 Arts in April

 Exhibit of post-Katrina photographs  Student Publications Committee

o Conducted interviews and selected the Editor of The Delta Statement  Technology Across the Curriculum

o Defined its purpose as advising “administration of the needs and challenges facing faculty, staff, and students with regard to technology, computer assisted instruction, and online learning.”

 Wellness Committee

o Hosted “Saturdays in the Park”  Writing Across the Curriculum

o Worked to emphasize the importance of writing across all disciplines Other committees:

 Four Corners

o Worked to facilitate communication and enhance procedures to assist students, faculty and staff  General Education Committee

o Recommended change to the CLEP guidelines

 Quality Enhancement Plan Committee (Student Engagement Champions) o Conducted professional development for new faculty

Academic Council:

o Tenure/Promotion Policies, Handbook and Deadlines for teaching faculty and library faculty o Sabbatical Leave Application procedure

o Academic Honesty documents for both undergraduate and graduate students  Approved new courses, deletion of courses, changes to degree requirements

 Accepted recommendation for changes to CLEP requirements from the General Education Curriculum Committee  Referred Distance Education Handbook to Faculty Senate

 Approved Faculty Development Requests

 Approved addition of a ‘rating box’ to the current Faculty Merit Form

V. Personnel:

Noteworthy activities and accomplishments:

 Thirteen faculty members were promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor  One faculty member was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor

 Twelve faculty members were granted tenure  Twelve faculty members resigned

 Three faculty members retired  One department head died  One administrator resigned

Recommended change of status:

Albert Nylander, Chair of the Division of Social Sciences, selected to be Dean of the Graduate Studies, May 2009 John Green selected to be Chair of the Division of Social Sciences

Rose Strahan, Chair of the Department of Mathematics retired

Clifton Wingard, selected to serve as Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematics

Jenetta Waddell, Chair of the Division of Teacher Education, assumed the additional title of Chair of the Thad Cochran Center for Rural School Leadership and Research

VI. Addition/Deletions and/or Major Organizational Changes: Changes made in the past year:

Bologna Performing Arts Center transferred from the Vice President for University Relations and Executive Assistant to the President to the Associate Vice President for Special Projects.

 Center for Community and Economic Development changed to report directly to Office of Academic Affairs.

 Office of Grants and Contracts, changed to report directly to Associate Vice President for Special Projects, who will report in this matter to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

 School of Nursing was named the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing  Inaugural appointment of a DSU Artist in Residence in Humanities  Position for Director of Advisement Center was created

 Position of Coordinator of Retention shifted to the Advisement Center