SACS Reaffirmation
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Assessment : 2006 - 2007 : Educational Programs :
Geography BS
3 Goals 8 Objectives 9 Indicators 10 Criteria 10 Findings 10 Actions
GOAL: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program
| Objective | G1 O1 | |
| The program will consistently strive to improve the quality of its program by making adjustments to its curriculum as needed. Associated Goals: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program |
| Indicator | G1 O1 I1 The department will, as needed, seek input from a variety of sources, including Professional Advisory Councils and Student Advisory Councils, and will use that input as the basis for modifying the curriculum. |
| Criteria | Curriculum modification Faculty review to be combined with external recommendations as to strengthening BS curriculum. |
| Finding | Curriculum Review Internal and external reviews recommend minor changes to BS curriculum. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G1 O1 I1 C1 F1 A1 a) Our geomorphology class, GIS classes, and others now require student presentations and/or posters b) Census Bureau data has been acquired c) Our economic geography course was substantially modified to give it an applied focus and we have proposed the addition of a course in geophysics. d) We have added a Natural Hazards and Resources course |
GOAL: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program
| Objective | G1 O2 | |
| The Department will seek to ensure that the quality of our instruction is rated as satisfactory or better by our students. Associated Goals: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program |
| Indicator | G1 O2 I1 The Department uses the IDEA evaluation system as well as peer-evaluation. |
| Criteria | G1 O2 I1 C1 The scores on the IDEA form (summary score) must be rated consistently as "average" or above, and the peer evaluations (see attached Peer Evaluation form) must be deemed acceptable by departmental peers. |
| Finding | G1 O2 I1 C1 F1 With very few exceptions, this criterion has been met. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G1 O2 I1 C1 F1 A1 The department Chair meets with each faculty member to review his or her teaching performance and provides suggestions and recommendations in those few instances in which the faculty member receives less than satisfactory ratings. Failure to improve teaching can lead to dismissal for tenure-track faculty or adversely impact merit for tenured faculty. |
GOAL: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program
| Objective | G1 O3 | |
| The department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of appropriate technology in the classroom and during lab activities. Associated Goals: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program |
| Indicator | G1 O3 I1 The Department will add and/or maintain teaching equipment, such as dedicated computers, overhead LCD projectors, DVD players, and audio equipment. The department has purchased drilling equipment, a flume for labs work and research, a ground-penetrating radar, a device for measuring the chemical composition of samples, digital cameras and GPS equipment. We added a new remote sensing lab to compliment the GIS lab that was built 5 years ago. |
| Criteria | G1 O3 I1 C1 In the past 5 years, the department has spent about $100,000 on audiovisual teaching equipment for our classrooms, and more than $170,000 on field equipment. The remote sensing lab contains about 12 computers with monitors worth about $30,000. The GIS lab just received (2007) an upgrade in computers and software worth $30,000. |
| Finding | G1 O3 I1 C1 F1 Based on anecdotal evidence, in conjunction with overall trends in the use of technology in the classroom, the results have been positive. Students now expect this level of instructional technology and they have benefited from the use of field equipment. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G1 O3 I1 C1 F1 A1 We will continue to maintain the equipment and consider adding/purchasing new technologies and equipment as they become available and funds permit. |
GOAL: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program
| Objective | G1 O4 | |
| The department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of field trips. Associated Goals: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program |
| Indicator | G1 O4 I1 The Department will seek to increase the number of field trips offered to our students |
| Criteria | G1 O4 I1 C1 Four years ago, the department purchased a 15-passenger van and has since made an effort to increase the number of field trips. |
| Finding | G1 O4 I1 C1 F1 Based on anecdotal evidence, in conjunction with overall trends in the use of technology in the classroom, the results have been positive. Students now expect this level of technology and seem to prefer it. |
| Criteria | G1 O4 I1 C2 In 2006, the department offered its first International trip (Geo 475-special topics) to China and Thailand. This trip constituted 3-hours of advanced credit. A second trip to Thailand is planned for 2008. |
| Finding | G1 O4 I1 C2 F2 Conversations with the students indicated that that they enjoyed this first-hand, learning experience regarding different cultures and environments. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G1 O4 I1 C1 F1 A1 We will continue to maintain the equipment and consider adding new technologies as they become available. |
| Action | G1 O4 I1 C2 F2 A2 We will continue to offer this course. |
GOAL: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program
| Objective | G1 O5 | |
| The department will increase the availability of its courses and its visibility by offering web courses. Associated Goals: Goal 1 - Quality of Geography Program |
| Indicator | G1 O5 I1 The Department will add to and/or maintain the number of its web-based courses. |
| Criteria | G1 O5 I1 C1 In the past 5 years, the department has added web-versions of Geo 265, Geo 369, Geo 471 to its curriculum offerings in addition to those already offered (Geo 131/111 and Geo 161). |
| Finding | G1 O5 I1 C1 F1 In terms of enrollments, these courses have been very successful, averaging more than 40 students per class. The upper division offerings are especially attractive to non-traditional students that would otherwise have to commute to campus and/or hold off on taking these courses because of lack of availability. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G1 O5 I1 C1 F1 A1 We will continue to offer these courses. |
GOAL: Goal 2 - Understanding of Discipline
| Objective | G2 O1 | |
| Geography students will successfully complete courses that encompass the breadth of the discipline, ranging from cultural geography, to physical and environmental geography, as well as technical courses. Associated Goals: Goal 2 - Understanding of Discipline |
| Indicator | G2 O1 I1 Successful completion of major requirements and major electives |
| Criteria | G2 O1 I1 C1 Majors must maintain a major GPA of 2.0 |
| Finding | G2 O1 I1 C1 F1 Student academic performance is monitored by the Registrar's Office and the Departmental Advisor |
| Indicator | G2 O1 I2 : Internship Performance - Those students that opt to do an internship will be evaluated by their supervisor using a departmental evaluation form to be completed by the supervisor. (See sample Internship Survey form and Internship Agreement form) |
| Criteria | G2 O1 I2 C2 A significant majority of our students will be evaluated as "satisfactory" or better by their internship supervisors. |
| Finding | G2 O1 I2 C2 F2 This new approach has yielded limited data; but the data to date indicates that our students |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G2 O1 I1 C1 F1 A1 Students that do not maintain the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 must repeat the appropriate coursework. |
| Action | G2 O1 I2 C2 F2 A2 Continue to monitor internship performance. * 5 years ago, we found that our students were not doing well because they lacked certain technical skills and an appropriate work ethic. Since then, we have modified our curriculum to deal with this issue, and it appears to be working. |
GOAL: Goal 3 - Professional and Technical Skills
| Objective | G3 O1 | |
| The Department will seek modify its curriculum as needed in order to meet this goal. Based on input from our advisory councils and other sources, the department determined that it needed to add the following courses to its curriculum:
a) Added Remote Sensing - added 2005
b) Added Computer Cartography - added 2006
c) Hired a new faculty line for purposes of teaching remote sensing and computer cartography
d) Proposed a Tourism Geography course in 2007
e) Proposed a Population Geography course in 2007
f) Proposed an Urban Geography course in 2007
g) Proposed a Geospatial Technology course in 2007
Associated Goals: Goal 3 - Professional and Technical Skills |
| Indicator | G3 O1 I1 The success of our program, as defined in terms of the success of our graduates, is measured using an Alumni Survey that is given periodically. |
| Criteria | G3 O1 I1 C1 A substantial majority of respondents to our survey will indicate that they are satisfied with the quality of education that they received as regards preparation for their career. |
| Finding | G3 O1 I1 C1 F1 The results of the survey (n = 29) that was done in 2005/2006 (see Alumni survey and results) indicated that this goal was being met. Most importantly, the recommendations that were made by those alumni that graduated prior to the curriculum revisions that we have made in the last 5 years are completely consistent with those revisions. In short, the department has made numerous changes that have been validated by our alumni and our advisory councils. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G3 O1 I1 C1 F1 A1 We will continue to make changes as deemed necessary in order to meet the needs of our students. |
GOAL: Goal 3 - Professional and Technical Skills
| Objective | G3 O2 | |
| The department developed two new minors in the technical areas of geography that is used primarily by students seeking a BS in Geography. This included a composite minor titled "GIS" that was includes coursework in the Department of Computer Science. The second minor is titled "Geospatial Science" and consists of the technical courses offered in the department, some of which were added in the last two years. Associated Goals: Goal 3 - Professional and Technical Skills |
| Indicator | G3 O2 I1  The success of our program, as defined in terms of the success of our graduates, is measured using an Alumni Survey that is given periodically. |
| Criteria | G3 O2 I1 C1 A substantial majority of respondents to our survey will indicate that they are satisfied with the quality of education that they received as regards preparation for their career. |
| Finding | G3 O2 I1 C1 F1 The survey that was done in 2005/2006 (see Alumni survey and results) indicated that this goal was being met. Most importantly, the recommendations that were made by those alumni that graduated prior to the curriculum revisions that we have made in the last 5 years are completely consistent with those revisions. In short, the department has made numerous changes that have been validated by our alumni and our advisory councils. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | G3 O2 I1 C1 F1 A1 We will continue to make changes as deemed necessary in order to meet the needs of our students. |