We are revising our research criteria to only include those students at the Huntsville campus, as students at TWC do not readily have research opportunities available to them. The students at TWC invariably choose the non-thesis option for the degree. In addition, they typically express a lack of interest in being involved in research.

We developed a rubric that identifies specific types of information that must be addressed the in answers provided by the students. This information was developed by faculty members who are experts in the fields and who generated those questions that are on the comprehensive exams.

Last year, in this Closing the Loop Summary section, we expressed concern about the lack of students involved in original research in this program. The number students engaged in these opportunities is on the rise and we fully expect these increases to continue. One of the main problems has been, in the past, a paucity of students enrolled in the program. This fall, we will have an incoming class of 4 students. This is discouraging as the numbers are down from the previous year. We will meet with the University Graduate Office to determine what steps to take to increase our numbers and discuss ways of better advertising our program to the general public. This coming fall, we also will present programs for our better undergraduates to make them aware of the graduate school opportunities available in our department at SHSU.

As for Foundational Competency, the credentials of the incoming class of MA General students are quite impressive: Mean GPA = 3.4; Mean GRE score = 1117. The numbers are down a little from the previous year but the reduction is not statistically significant. As last year, we have nothing but the highest expectations for these students and for our program.

Six of the 11 students of the cohort successfully demonstrated research competence which means that five did not. For those not reaching the 80+ mark on the final paper, several were very close to criterion but made dumb but maddening mistakes on their papers. Thus, the problem may be for some that they are just not careful enough and don't wish to be careful. This will be stressed throughout the upcoming semesters.

It is the case that our students, as a group, did well on the comprehensive exams. An issue, though, is that one or two students barely squeaked by with scores that just made criterion. So, we made need to take additional steps to identify students who may perform below standards and we should consider the nature of the comprehensive questions with respect to how the respective classes were taught.

Again, our numbers for the incoming class in the MA-General program are low, four at this point. We have recently spoken with Dr. Tayebi, along with Dean Zink with respect to the SSP program and will use some of the strategies discussed with respect to that program. That may include visits to traditionally minority institutions to speak with them about our programs and having the chair send information to the several undergraduate institutions to try to make seniors more aware of our offerings.

1. Prior to comprehensive exams, students will be given instruction on what to expect and various strategies in handling the quesitons. This should enable them to better focus on, and better handle, the way they approach the exam. 
2. During the course of the semester in which Psychology 5388, APA style and vigilance will be stressed on the research portion of the papers.
3. There is a concern about the numbers of students applying and being accepted into tis program; this year only one, an Hispanic male, was admitted. Dr. Crosby, when he speaks of the School Psychology program at Prairie View A&M Univeristy and Lamar University, will put in a pitch for our other MA programs as well.
The department will be hosting graduate school information programs for our undergraduate students who appear to qualify for entrance into our program.