TMCC PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEW (PUR)-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
2012-2013
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEWED: ---=C=o=m=m=un""'i=ca=t=io"""n=s...;::a=n=d_,_F=o:..;:re"" ig""'n"""L=a"'"'n""'g=ua=g""'e=s---Self-Study Committee Chair(s}: --~A_r~m~i~d ... a ... F ... ru ... :z~ze...,t=ti ... ""'G...,a"""br~ie=l .... a ""'B'""'ro,...c"'"h .... u _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Division: _ _ .... L_,ib=e-...:ra=-1-...A .... rt=s __ Dean:Approval for Dean: /s/ Armida Fruzzetti VPAA Strategies
Evaluation of language offerings.
Investigate
implementation of giving credit for HS courses taken in FL.
Develop plan for improving retention in COM/FL below average.
Evaluation of need for emphasis. Status i.e. ongoing, complete Ongoing Complete Ongoing Complete
Armida Fruzzetti Year of Last PUR· 2010 2011
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Approval for VPAA:
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Action
We re-started the German program. We put Portuguese and Hebrew on hold. We offer Foreign Languages (other than SPAN and ASL} in an alternative basis.
We implemented the CAPE placement test for SPAN, GER, RUS, CHIN and FREN. Students can opt for a waiver of the Foreign Language
requirement for AA degrees if they demonstrate knowledge by placing out with the test.
We have replaced several part-time instructors that had low retention rates and/or had un-satisfactory Assessment results, student's evaluations or per peer evaluations. We met with the Foreign Languages Department Chair from UNR and discussed part-time instructor's recommendations, resulting in the addition of five new SPAN instructors in 2012-13. We also added three new ASL instructors (recommended by peers). The retention rate in Spanish is affected by the overall lower retention rate in online Spanish classes. The redesigned online Spanish saw a lower retention rate. That effect continued to be present in the second cycle of the online Spanish program. We will evaluate redesigning the program again. We plan to redesign the online program if approved. The retention rate for German was also lower in the first semester the program re-started. We hope it will improve in the second cycle. See Tables 1 and 3.
We evaluated the need for an Emphasis in Spanish with all tenure faculty in the Foreign Languages Division and the Dean of SOLA. We presented the SPAN Emphasis proposal to the CAP committee and it has been approved on May 3, 2013. Timeline 2014 2014-2015 It will take effect in Fall 2014
Develop plan for Ongoing We are planning on reviewing the online
2014-increasing SFR's in those program to increase SFR in Spanish (see above 2015
below college average. plan to improve retention). We have put some languages on hold and alternate offerings each
year. See Tables 2 and 3.
Improve understanding Ongoing. We added an explanation of the Foreign 2013-of students 2013-of the ability Language requirement/transfer/waiver in the 2014 for FL and COM to fulfill catalog. We are working with PIO to develop a
needed credits for marketing plan for students to understand the transfer. TMCC 2-year degree/ transfer to UNR,
emphasizing the convenience of taking Foreign Languages at TMCC for the 27 majors offered at UNR that require it.
Increase budget for Ongoing. We will submit the request though RAP.
2013-copies by $1,500. 2014
Seek addition of one (1) Pending administrative discussion. tiered classrooms.
Provide more data to Ongoing The importance of a language laboratory is 2013-allow evaluation of need recognized by many institutions of higher 2014 for language laboratory. learning as a valuable resource for instructors
and students of language. We have the space in the Tutoring and Learning Center. We have installed the Rosetta Stone software for Spanish. We bought cameras and installed the software in computers for students to record themselves for ASL classes. We will investigate the need for other equipment (such as headphones) that may be required for Foreign Languages.
New Strategies (if applicable)
Approval for Dean:
Approval for VPAA:
-Strategy Justification Status Action Timeline
i.e. ongoing,
complete
Table 1
Average retention rates in percentages for Communications and Foreign Languages between Fall 2005-Spring 2011 (showed in the last PUR report) compared to 2005-Spring-Fall 2012*, including the School of Liberal Arts (SOLA) and TMCC as a total.
2005-2011 2012
Total School TMCC 71.6 75
SOLA 73 74.5
Comm unlcations 76 74.5
American Sign Language 89 88.5
French 74 88.5 German 64 52** Hebrew 82
--
•••
Italian 72 87.5 Japanese 76 88 Portuguese 73--···
Russian 78 80 Spanish 70 69 Institutional Research*Only Spring and Fall data are used because not all languages are taught in Summer
**The GER retention rate corresponds only to Fall 2012, when the program re-started.
***HEB and POR are on hold.
The only disciplines that show a lower retention rate compared to TMCC and SOLA are German and Spanish. We re-started the German program in Fall 2012. We brought an excellent instructor from UNR. He was evaluated through a class observation and his teaching methodology is the most updated. He also obtained excellent student evaluations. The data we have is limited to one semester/one section. We are hoping that the program's retention rate improves in a second cycle. We are assessing Spanish, now in the second cycle, and are closing the loop with the instructors, analyzing results of assessment to reinforce certain areas. Spanish instructors meet every semester to improve coordination of teaching across the curriculum and address any concerns or problems we may be having. Part-time instructors
that do not do well on Assessment, student evaluations and/or per peer evaluations are being replaced (all instructors from Foreign Languages and ASL have been evaluated}. We also think the retention rates in Spanish are affected by the online program. We are evaluating redesigning the online program.
Table 2
Average Student-to Faculty Ratio (SFR) for Communications and Foreign Languages between Fall 2005-Spring 2011, compared to Spring-Fall 2012*, including the School of Liberal Arts (SOLA) and TMCC as a total. 2005-2011 2012 Total School-TMCC 20.4 21.84 SOLA 23 22.32 Communications 24 27.06 American Sign Language 21 20 French 17 16.75 German 18 25** Hebrew 10 --*** Italian 18 13.50 Japanese 20 23.50 Portuguese 26 --*** Russian 13 11 Spanish 18 18.70 Institutional Research
*Only Spring and Fall data are used because not all languages are taught in Summer
*The SFR corresponds only to Fall 2012, when the program started.
**
Hebrew and Portuguese are on hold.Almost all disciplines show a lower Student-to-Faculty Ratio (SFR) compared to SOLA and to TMCC as a whole except for Communications, Japanese, and German. The Cap for Spanish online classes was established at 18, which affects the general SFR in Spanish. We could not get the data separated for the online classes. We believe that the recent change in the AA and Criminal Justice degrees that now require 14 credits will increase the number of students enrolling in Foreign Languages. The enrollment in language should also increase when the emphasis in Spanish takes effect in Fall 2014.
