SACS Reaffirmation
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Assessment : 2007 - 2008 : Administrative Support :
Geography and Geology, Department of
4 Goals 4 Objectives 9 Indicators 8 Criteria 8 Findings 7 Actions
GOAL: Excellence Of Programs Within The Context Of A Comprehensive University
| Objective | Goal 1 Objective 1 | |
| The Department will review all programs and courses within the context of national, regional and local peer Comprehensive Universities. Associated Goals: Excellence Of Programs Within The Context Of A Comprehensive University |
| Indicator | Program Green Papers  The Geography and Geology programs will be reviewed independently and a "green paper" analysis will be submitted, first to faculty of each individual program and subsequently to the whole department for review. |
| Criteria | Program White papers Development of consensus "white papers" for the future structure and articulation of the Geography and Geology programs |
| Finding | Program Reviews Early draft of Geography Green paper developed by DA To be circulated at start of Fall 2008 semester |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Program Review Initial rough draft circulated by Don Albert. refinement and tweaking underway prior to submission |
GOAL: Excellence Of Programs Within The Context Of The College Of Arts And Sciences
| Objective | Goal 2 Objective 1 | |
| The Department will strengthen its programs and courses offered such that it makes a greater contribution to the College of Arts and Sciences. The programs in Geography will specifically refocus from Education towards new linkages within the College of Arts and Sciences and in the new College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Associated Goals: Excellence Of Programs Within The Context Of The College Of Arts And Sciences |
| Indicator | Increased Fieldwork For Geology Majors Increase the fieldwork experience and knowledge of Geology majors |
| Criteria | Geology fieldwork Faculty/students to design a curriculum with field work as a central component. |
| Finding | Increase GEL Fieldwork Modular field camp plus other field experiences to be added to GEL curriculum. Development will wait until new structural geologist is appointed |
| Indicator | Increased International Experience Opportunities For All Students Make internationally-based credit and non-credit courses a regular and fixed part of the Geography and Geology curricula |
| Criteria | International Experience Additional credit and non-credit opportunities for undergraduates abroad. |
| Finding | Internationa Experience Opportunities in both Geology (Spain) and geography (Thailand) made this year. |
| Indicator | Refocus Geography Program Refocus of Geography program away from Education service towards (a) professional Geography, (b) rational pathways through the major and minor and (c) coordinated linkage between the major and the applied Geospatial masters program. |
| Criteria | Geography Program Pathways Identify coherent pathways for geography majors and Minors |
| Finding | Geography Pathways First draft developed for circulation at start of fall 2008 |
| Criteria | Integration of Undergraduate and Graduate program in Geography Review and realign the undergraduate programs in Geography to feed and service the Masters program in Applied GIS. |
| Finding | GEO undergrad/grad allignments First draft ready for circulation in Fall 2008 |
| Criteria | Post GEO161 restructuring Reconfigure and refocus Geography program away from service to the College of Education programs |
| Finding | Post 161 Assessment underway of impact on Geography course of GEO161 for Education. Impact on Si, SII and Fall 2008 to be evaluated |
| Indicator | Refocus Geology Program In the Geology Program increase the output of Petroleum Geology and Environmental Geology-focused majors |
| Criteria | Petroleum Geology Focus Wholesale review of Geology curriculum to address petroleum Geology more directly. Review to begin start of Fall 2008. |
| Finding | PPetroleum Geology Focus Program to be reconfigured to addres the centrality of petroleum Geology and the "feed" to the future graduate programs in Geology. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | GEL Fieldwork New curriculum with continuous field experience to be designed. |
| Action | International Experience More credt and non-credit courses to be added to GEO and GEL programs. |
| Action | Petroleum Geology Focus New curriculum to be designed in the light of this new focus. |
| Action | Post 161 Assessment of impact on GEO 161 under review |
GOAL: Graduate Program Development
| Objective | Goal 4 Objective 1 | |
| Masters programs in both Geography and Geology will be increased. Associated Goals: Graduate Program Development |
| Indicator | Applied GIS Masters Program Acceptance of the Applied GIS proposal by the University and the Coordinating Board of Higher Education |
| Indicator | GEOBIOLOGY Master Program Seek approval for a joint Biological Sciences/Geology program in GEOBIOLOGY/PALEONTOLOGY |
| Indicator | GEOLOGY Master Program Seek approval for a petroleum geology-focused masters degree program in Geology |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Masters Programs New proposals currently being developed |
GOAL: Sucessful Splitting Of The Department
| Objective | Goal 3 Objective 1 | |
| The programs in Geography and Geology will become independent entities, each with its own specific teaching and research foci. The split is intended to "add to the sum of the parts" of the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. Associated Goals: Sucessful Splitting Of The Department |
| Indicator | Program Separation Plan Development and submission to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of a plan and timetable for the separation of Geography from Geology |
| Criteria | Program Split Proposal Submission to, and acceptance by, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of a timetable for the separation of Geography and Geology |
| Finding | Program Separation Proposal development underway |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Departmental Split Preparation of internal departmental general concept proposal |