| The institution’s continuing education, outreach, and service programs are consistent with the institution’s mission. (Continuing education/service programs) |
Judgment of Compliance
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Narrative
Sam Houston State University’s continuing education program along with the other outreach and service programs of the University operate in a manner consistent with the mission of the University to provide excellence by continually improving quality service to university constituencies as evidenced by the programs, services, and training offered by these institutes.
The mission statement of the University states, “Sam Houston State University is a multicultural institution whose mission is to provide excellence by continually improving quality education, scholarship, and service to its students and to appropriate regional, state, national, and international constituencies” [1].
The goal of the Sam Houston State University continuing education program is stated on the department’s web site: The goal of the Office of Continuing Education is to offer new experiences and challenges for the residents of Huntsville and the surrounding areas. To this end, Sam Houston State University’s Continuing Education program offers a variety of classes to the public [2]. Courses are designed to enhance opportunities for career progression, achieve life-style change or experience the sheer pleasure of learning alongside others who share this enthusiasm. Thus, the goals of Continuing Education are consistent with the mission of the University to provide quality education and service to the citizens of the State of Texas [3].
The program objectives and the course and service offerings of the University’s other outreach and service programs demonstrate support of the Sam Houston State University mission of providing excellence by continually improving quality service to University constituencies and the State of Texas. Outreach and service programs of Sam Houston State University include Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Small Business Development Center, Gibson D. Lewis Center for Business and Economic Development, The University Center, Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, Correctional Management Institute, Texas Regional Institute for Environmental Studies, and the Crime Victims’ Institute.
The Sam Houston Memorial Museum is organized as a permanent department of the University and is educational in purpose dedicated to the collection and preservation of artifacts surrounding the life of Sam and Margaret Houston. The Sam Houston Memorial Museum is funded as a special item through the University’s Legislative Appropriation Request. The Sam Houston State University’s Legislative Appropriations Request for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009, page 125, states, “This item supports the missions of Sam Houston State University. . . fosters scholarly research through maintaining an archive and library and sponsoring regular conferences and seminars. Service is provided to Huntsville and Texas by supporting the growth of travel and tourism” [4]. A list of the educational and service programs offered by the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and can be located on the museum’s web site [5].
The Small Business Development Center is affiliated with Sam Houston State University’s College of Business Administration. The objective of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is stated on the department’s web site: “The SBDC's main objective is to help small businesses get started and existing businesses raise their profit potential. This is accomplished through one-on-one counseling, which will increase a business' chance of success. A variety of training seminars are offered to the general public, some free and some for a minimal fee, in an effort to bring relevant business-related issues into the forefront. The seminars include such topics as understanding computers, tax information, marketing a business, exporting products and starting up new businesses” [6]. A list of seminars and programs offered by the Small Business Development Center can be viewed on the center’s web site [7].
The Gibson D. Lewis Center for Business and Economic Development (CBED) is also affiliated with Sam Houston State University’s College of Business Administration. The mission of the center is cited as the following: “The Gibson D. Lewis Center for Business and Economic Development supports the mission of the Sam Houston State University College of Business Administration. The CBED publishes a refereed journal of business as well as a research working paper series and instructional development paper series. The CBED organizes research forums and supports the work of the Small Business Development Center” [8]. As with the aforementioned services, The Gibson D. Lewis Center for Business and Economic Development seeks to provide quality assistance to businesses within our catchment area.
The University Center is a multi-institutional teaching center involving six universities (Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University, University of Houston, University of Houston – Downtown, Texas Southern University) and Lone Star College. The University Center provides bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. Since opening its doors in the fall of 1997, the University Center has served over 52,000 students [9] [10]. Sam Houston State University plays a key role at the Center by teaching approximately 70% of the semester credit hours taught at the Center. A complete list of the programs and courses offered at The University Center can be found on the center’s web site [11]. The University Center’s mission along with the list of programs and courses offered to the public at the center affirms that this outreach/service program is consistent with Sam Houston State University’s mission of providing excellence by continually improving quality service to university constituencies.
The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) was created by the Texas Legislature and is housed in Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice. It was designed to develop the administrative, analytical, and executive skills of current and future law enforcement officials at no cost to either the participant or his/her agency. Public administration, management issues, the political, legal, and social environments of policing, and advanced technical issues are studied in detail. It is the largest and most sophisticated statewide preparation program for police management in the United States. The mission of LEMIT is to serve the law enforcement profession through exceptional education, research, and training, and to inspire excellence in management and leadership through personal and professional development [12]. A complete list of the programs and courses offered by LEMIT can be viewed on the institute’s web site [13].
The Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) was created as a parallel program to the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) and is also housed in Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice. CMIT is responsible for developing and delivering professional development training programs for personnel in juvenile and adult institutional and community corrections agencies. CMIT also provides technical assistance to criminal justice agencies and serves as a host to a number of conferences, training initiatives and meetings of agencies and professional organizations. A complete list of training programs and conferences offered by CMIT can be found on the institute web site [14].
The Crime Victims' Institute was created by the Texas Legislature to 1) study the impact of crime on victims; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of criminal justice policy and juvenile justice policy; 3) develop policies to assist the criminal justice system and the juvenile justice system in preventing the victimization of society by criminal acts; 4) provide information based on the research of the Institute; and 5) study the impact of crime on society at large. In May, 2003, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 1245 moving the Institute from the Office of the Attorney General to Sam Houston State University, and it is housed in the College of Criminal Justice [15]. A complete list of services offered by the institute can be located on the Crime Victims’ Institute’s web site [16].
The Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES) was established to meet the growing need for environmental education, to expand the scope of examination of environmental issues, and to make comprehensive environmental databases readily accessible to all interested groups. The mission of TRIES is “to provide credible, unbiased information for economic, social and scientific solutions to environmental problems. The multi-disciplinary nature of environmental issues addressed by TRIES provides an opportunity for collaborative efforts between public and private entities.” In addition, the goals of TRIES are “to be a recognized leader in the field of environmental problem-solving, to develop and enhance comprehensive, synergistic, public/private partnerships to address environmental issues, to gather, maintain, organize, and disseminate information on environmental issues, to promote environmental issues on all levels” [17].
Each program/department is charged with the responsibility to evaluate the effectiveness of the respective program. Using the Online Assessment Tracking Data Base (OATDB), the various programs identify three to five goals. For each goal, at least one objective and one indicator is selected. Criteria are established, and findings are used to develop actions geared to improve the programs. All of the above programs participate in the OATDB system. In addition to participating in the OATDB system, these programs also use surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of the respective program and instructors participating in the program [18] [19] [20] [21].
The evaluation of The University Center poses a greater challenge. Since the Center includes six different institutions, greater levels of coordination are required. The six partner schools meet quarterly each year to consider issues ranging from ownership of programs to budgetary issues [22]. Degree programs, courses, and instructors are evaluated by the home school in the same manner in which programs and instructors are evaluated on the home campus.