New Program and Innovations, Dec 7, 2000

Attendance: Hawley, Paddock (Chair), Skoczen, Wieder

Topic of the meeting was the Strategic Plan:

There was no consensus about any subject discussed. The following is a list of observations/concerns that were voiced. The majority of the time was taken discussing UCF's role in assessment.

• There was a general feeling that there might not be a clear role for UCF in the assessment process. It was pointed out that in addition to potentially annoying the party being assessed, such procedures can damage relationships (marriages, friendships, etc.) and create a less collegial environment within the SCSU community. The reverse is also true. Such ties could prevent members from being critical of those they know and who they know are working hard, which would prevent SCSU from improving in the ways that the Strategic Plan desires.
• Some members felt that faculty involvement in assessment was good, but that happened at the department level and in the guidelines for assessment that came out of the Program Review and Assessment Committee under the direction of Bob Gelbach
• Others felt that internal reviews were a poor idea and that the reviews should be done entirely externally-meaning outside the university, not the department.
• There was a general consensus that the bulk of assessment should be conducted by the administration.

Also discussed was the SP's position on the support for faculty research and creative activity. Here the committee was divided about how supportive the university is in supporting faculty efforts.

• It was agreed that Ellen Beatty in Faculty Development was doing an outstanding job.
• There were concerns about just how much support there is in terms of money and time. A couple of members felt that there was adequate financial support (e.g travel funds and summer research money); other felt that the university did not meet their financial needs in terms of supporting research (e.g. equipment or research assistants).
• It was agreed that without release time it was exceedingly difficult to do any meaningful research during the academic year.

Finally there was some concern raised about the lack of accountability in the plan.

• There are few, if any, specific mentions of publishing findings and making the administration accountable for supporting student development, curriculum development, faculty development or assessment recommendations.

Recorded by
Troy Paddock