Annual Report 2005 - = 2006

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Part = 1

Section = A

Unit Information

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Unit:College of Arts & = Sciences

Mission Statement:

The College of Arts and Sciences at = Florida Gulf Coast University is dedicated to providing a quality = liberal arts education that is the foundation for a free and just = society. As a community of scholars, we seek to foster intellectual = breadth and depth, reasoned and civil inquiry, intercultural = understanding, an ecological perspective, and civic engagement in order = to prepare students for a life in the 21^st century that is at = once informed, examined, and engaged. We support scholarly activity that = advances teaching and contributes to the broader intellectual, artistic, = and professional communities. Our college faculty and administration = share the belief that interdisciplinary collaboration and scholarship = enhance our individual disciplines and benefit our students. We further = acknowledge that service to the southwest Florida community is a public = trust and a social responsibility. In all of our activities, we are = committed to celebrating and nurturing human freedom and elevating the = human spirit.

Founded on the university=E2=80=99s = student learning goals and emphasizing the integration of knowledge = across disciplines, our programs in the arts, humanities, natural = sciences, and social sciences offer students the opportunity to develop = the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success in their = professional careers along with the philosophical, scientific, and = artistic habits of mind indispensable for a democratic society and a = rewarding personal life. We challenge students to express informed = convictions, exercise independent judgment, and make a lifelong = commitment to learning. By encouraging tolerance, generosity, humility, = wisdom, creativity, and courage, we strive to prepare students for a = rapidly changing world, constructive engagement with diverse cultures = and beliefs, responsible participation in their communities, and a = deeper appreciation of the beauty and scope of human experience.

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0 Scholarly activity provides a source for the creation and = communication of artistic insights, fresh ideas, and current information = related to our teaching, our individual disciplines, and to the = integration of knowledge that lies at the heart of our liberal arts = mission. Through scholarship, we interact with colleagues in the = academic community and in the southwest Florida region. Likewise, in our = service, we expand the boundaries of the university and join a wider = community in nurturing a sustainable and enriched society. (adopted = December = 2001)

=C2=A0

Section B

Unit Goals=C2=A0set within last = year's=C2=A0(2004-2005) Annual Report

Strategic Plan = Goal=C2=A0

With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2005-2006 goal best = align?

Unit Goal

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Goal for 2005-2006

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Goal 1 --=C2=A0High Quality = Education

Goal 2 -- The Student = Community

CAS Goal -- Quality Academic = Programs

The College will provide a quality educational = experience for its = students.

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What=C2=A0actions have been taken to attain this = goal?

1.=C2=A0The College of Arts = and Sciences is dedicated to a process of program assessment that is = sustainable and that leads to continuous improvement of our programs. We = held an assessment meeting in Fall 2005 in order to discuss the process = of assessment, provide sample assessment materials for program leaders, = and share ideas concerning outcomes, assessment strategies, and rubrics. = The latest round of program assessment, including the use of results to = improve programs, was completed by February 1, 2006. A follow up = assessment meeting was held at the end of=C2=A0Spring 2006 in order to = debrief the annual program reviews and to discuss the current=C2=A0round = of assessment which will be due February 1, 2007.

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2.=C2=A0 The College has = worked to add new programs in order to broaden the educational = opportunities for our students. All programs go through an established = process of evaluation and approval at both the college and the = university levels.=C2=A0The College of Arts and Sciences has = added several new programs that will begin Fall 2006. Those programs = include the following:

BA in = Philosophy
BA in Sociology;
BA in = Music;
BS in Chemistry;
BS in Biology;

In addition, one program has the approval to plan:

BS in Mathematics.

Finally, we have continued to work on two programs, which = we hope to finalize for Spring or Fall 2007:

MA=C2=A0in History;
MA=C2=A0in=C2=A0Environmental = Studies.

=C2=A0

In addition, the College of = Arts and Sciences approved, and submitted to the Office of Planning and = Institutional Performance, a request for nomenclature change for the = Liberal Studies Degree. This request has been granted at the = institutional and the state levels.

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3.=C2=A0 After the creation = of the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies in the middle of the Fall = 2005 semester, the faculty in the office met to continue the review of = the curriculum in the Interdisciplinary Core. We completed an alumni = survey and a faculty survey, and used the results of these surveys as = the basis for our discussion. Proposals for program revision have been = created and submitted to the faculty in the college.

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4.=C2=A0 The College of Arts = and Sciences has tracked the percentage of credit hours taught by = full-time and by part-time faculty in the Fall 2005 semester in order to = make certain that we have an appropriate level of courses taught by = Full-time Faculty.

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5.=C2=A0 CAS has increased the number of=C2=A0sections = offered at=C2=A0off-campus Centers (Port Charlotte, Naples, Cape Coral) = and tracked enrollment in these classes in order to determine if there = is a need for these classes. 2004-2005: in the Fall = 2004 semester, no classes were offered by CAS in the off-campus Centers; = in the Spring 2005 semester, we offered 2 Math classes in the off-campus = Centers, with a total enrollment of 35 (both at the=C2=A0Naples = Center).

=C2=A0

2005-2006: = In the Fall 2005 semester, CAS offered 2 math courses, with a total = enrollment of 51, at off-campus Centers (both were at the Cape Coral = Center); in the Spring 2006 semester, we=C2=A0are offering 5 courses, = with a total enrollment of 107 (4 math courses at the Cape Coral Center = and 1 math course at the Naples Center).

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6.=C2=A0CAS requested = tuition waivers and graduate assistantships to support graduate students = in the MA in English and the MS in Environmental = Science.=C2=A0

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What measures have you taken towards assessment of this = goal?

The Associate Dean in = the College of Arts and Sciences, who is responsible for overseeing = program assessment, has worked with Chairs and Program Leaders to ensure = timely completion of annual program reviews. We have tracked the = completion of these reviews and evaluated them to determine if the = review process has led to improvement in student learning.
Program proposals were = reviewed by the CAS curriculum teams and the Chairs and Deans in the = Fall semester; in the spring semester they were reviewed by the = university curriculum team. We have tracked the progress of these = proposals.
Curriculum changes to = the Interdisciplinary Core have been discussed within the Office of = Interdisciplinary Studies; further discussions happened within the = college in the spring semester, which led to specific changes that will = bring more coherence within the Core and ultimately to curriculum = changes to the=C2=A0Core.=C2=A0All discussions have been founded on the = surveys we completed of our majors as well as the survey we completed of = the faculty; in addition, we have used the assessment results of our = programs in considering curriculum changes to the Core.
We have tracked the = percent of student credit hours taught by full-time CAS faculty for the = fall semester.
We have tracked the number of sections = offered=C2=A0and student enrollments at the Port Charlotte and Naples = centers, and in Cape Coral, including classes that are canceled due to = low enrollment. While we have increased our offerings from the 2004-2005 = year (2 classes with=C2=A035 enrolled) to the 2005-2006 year (7 classes = with 158 enrolled). In the 2005-2006 year, we canceled=C2=A07 classes = that were offered due to low enrollments (4 composition classes, 1 = social science class, 1 math class, and 1 issues class).
We have tracked the = amount of graduate and teaching assistantship funds and graduate tuition = waivers made available to the = College.

=C2=A0

Describe the progress you have made toward attaining this = goal including the anticipated completion date.

1.=C2=A0 All programs = in the College of Arts and Sciences have completed Annual Program = Reviews and updated Integrated Program Matrices. All programs are = working during the Spring 2006 semester to gather feedback that will be = used in the Program Review due next year.

=C2=A0

2.=C2=A0 The = College of Arts and Sciences has added several new programs that will = begin Fall 2006. Those programs include the following:

BA in = Philosophy
BA in Sociology;
BA in = Music;
BS in Chemistry;
BS in Biology.

In addition, one program has the approval to plan:

BS in Mathematics.

Finally, we have continued to work on two final programs, = which we hope to finalize for Spring 2007 or Fall 2007:

MA=C2=A0in History;
MA=C2=A0in=C2=A0Environmental = Studies.

=C2=A0

3.=C2=A0 During the = Spring 2006 semester, the IDS faculty analyzed the student survey = information and the faculty survey information. The key outcome of this = analysis was the recognition that=C2=A0while students and faculty found = interdisciplinary thinking important, more coherence was needed across = the courses that comprise the Core as a whole. In addition, more = flexibility was desired within the two issues-based courses in the Core. = As a result, in the Spring 2006 semester, specific learning goals and = specific parameters for teaching have been developed; these guidelines = were used by the IDS Faculty to review proposed IDS courses to make = certain that they meet the goals of the IDS Core.=C2=A0

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4. We set a goal that = every subject area in CAS would have at least 65% of SCH taught by full = time faculty, and at least 70% overall in the College. In the Fall 2005 = semester, we achieved the following:

Total SCH by Full-time Faculty: 28621 (68%)
Total SCH by Part-time Faculty: 13502 = (32%)

While we did not meet our overall target, we have = moved significantly in the direction of having 70% of the total SCH = taught by Full-time Faculty and have demonstrated improvement over the = last two years (in Fall 2003, we had 55% of our courses taught by = Full-time faculty; in Fall 2004 we had 60% of our courses taught by = Full-time faculty). Unfortunately, in the area of General Education, our = overall results were even lower:

Total SCH by Full-time Faculty: 17740 (64%)
Total SCH by Part-time Faculty: 10132 = (36%)

Within General Education, areas that are of the most = concern are as follows:

Communication (Composition I and II): Full-time 40%, = Part-time 60%
Statistics: Full-time 52%, Part-time 48%
Styles and Ways: Full-time 25%, Part-time 75%
Social Sciences: Full-time 58%, Part-time = 42%

Several areas within General Education fared extremely = well, including Understanding Visual and Performing Arts (100% by = Full-time) and the Sciences (82% by Full-time).

=C2=A0

5.=C2=A0The CAS goal was that the number of overall = sections offered and student enrollment at the three centers should = increase by 50% over 2004-05. In the 2004-2005 AY, we offered two = courses in the Naples Center (MAC 1105 and STA 2023 in Spring 2005) with = a total enrollment of 35. In the Fall 2005 semester, we offered two = courses in the Cape Coral Center (MAC 2233 and STA 2023) with a total = enrollment of 51. In the Spring 2006 semester, we=C2=A0are offering 5 = courses, with a total enrollment of 107 (4 math courses at the Cape = Coral Center and 1 math course at the Naples Center). We must continue = to assess our off site course offerings in order to create a schedule of = classes that meets the needs of the students in these = areas.

=C2=A0

6. The College of Arts = and Sciences established a goal of a 25% increase in support for = graduate programs from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006. In 2004-2005, the College = received approximately $20,000 in tuition waivers, and no support in = graduate assistantships. In the 2005-2006, the College received $37,515 = in tuition waivers and $24,000 in graduate assistantships, for a total = of $61,515, more than meeting our established goal. In addition, the = College added $40,000 in funding for additional assistantships in = 2005-2006 to support graduate programs.

=C2=A0

The English MA Program = increased its support of graduate students from the 2005-2006 = academic year to the 2006-2007 academic year, thereby allowing for an = increase in the total number of students enrolled (from 9 to 13) and for = an increase in gender and racial diversity. In addition, the added = support allowed the program to attract stronger students as measured by = GRE Scores and Bachelor degree GPAs.

=C2=A0

Specifically, the English MA Program was allotted an = additional 4 tuition waivers in 2006-2007, an increase in total waivers = from 5 to 9 and an increase in funding of about $13,000. The MA Program = also received an additional 2 Graduate Assistantships in 2006-2007, an = increase in total GAships from 8 to 10 and an increase in funding of = $6,000. The MA Program received 5 Teaching Assistantships in the = 2006-2007 year for students who had matriculated in 2005-2006 and who = had completed 18 graduate hours in English, including ENC 6930 Teaching = English Composition, and completed a TA training seminar (this is the = first year that the Program had students with sufficient hours to be = awarded teaching assistantships).

=C2=A0

As a result of the increased support, the English MA Program = enrolled a greater percentage of males (from 11% in 2005-2006 to 23% in = 2006-2007) and a greater diversity of students (from 100% White in = 2005-2006 to 77% White and 23% minorities in 2006-2007). In addition, = the MA Program was able to enroll stronger students; comparing those = students who received tuition waivers and assistantships, average GRE = Verbal Scores went from 586 in 2005-2006 to 600 in 2006-2007 and the = average Bachelor degree GPA went from 3.48 in 2005-2006 to 3.74 in = 2006-2007.

=C2=A0

The Environmental Science MS Program = increased its support of graduate students from the 2004-2005 = academic year to the 2006-2007 academic year, thereby allowing for an = increase in the total number of students enrolled (from 9 to 14) and for = an increase in gender and racial diversity. In addition, the added = support allowed the program to attract stronger students as measured by = GRE Scores. Specifically, the MA Program was allotted 6 = tuition waivers (about $20,000) and 16 Graduate Assistantships ($49,000) = in 2006-2007, up from 6 tuition waivers and no Graduate Assistantships = in 2004-2005.

=C2=A0

As a result of the increased support, the MS Program enrolled = a greater percentage of males (from 22% in 2004-2005 to 36% in = 2006-2007) and a greater diversity of students (from 100% White in = 2004-2005 to 93% White and 7% minorities in 2006-2007). In addition, the = MS Program was able to enroll stronger students; comparing those = students who received tuition waivers, average GRE Quantitative Scores = went from 634 in 2004-2005 to 666 in 2006-2007. It is also important to = note that in 2005-2006 when the MS Program was able to admit the fewest = overall number of students and was able to provide very limited funding = to new students, the GRE Quantitative Scores averaged = 555.

=C2=A0

Describe how the results of assessments have been used to = improve student learning or your department's services.

Program assessment is = crucial to the continuous improvement of programs for student learning. = Our program assessment practices have continued to be part of our = culture within the college, and we=C2=A0have broadened our assessment = strategies in order to maximize student learning. For specific examples = of the way in which program assessment has led to improved student = learning, please see Section C. Program or Service Specific Assessments = in this report.
Increasing the number = of programs offered meets the university's mission of being a = comprehensive institution. Our analysis of programmatic offerings has = led to an increase in programs, especially in the sciences and social = sciences. We have made a commitment to continue broadening our program = offerings in order to serve the southwest Florida area and beyond. With = increased programs, we have greater interaction across programs and = greater support for existing programs. Increase in program offerings can = only occur with adequate increase in resources.
Because the = Interdisciplinary Core is central to all majors in the college, = improvement of the core will affect all majors in the college. Founded = on our assessments from last year and continuing into this year, the = faculty in the college have worked towards redesigning the Core in order = to better meet the learning goals of the College. The courses in the = Core now have specific learning goals that they must meet which will = allow us to facilitate a higher level of student learning within the = variety of programs that exist in the College. We have begun = to=C2=A0discuss assessment strategies for the new versions of the = Interdisciplinary Core, with an eye towards maximizing student learning = of the University Learning Goals.
Increasing the = percentage of full time faculty teaching within the college gives = students access to stronger teaching and learning opportunities. The = results of assessing the percentage of full time faculty teaching in = each area allows us to target any areas that need an increase in hiring, = and thus strengthens those programs. This process has allowed Chairs to = request specific lines for the Fall 2006 and Fall 2007 = semesters.
Student enrollment = patterns have been monitored by the Dean's Office to determine = priorities for expansion into off-site=C2=A0centers. Offering courses at = off site centers allows us to expand student access to instruction and = learning opportunities, which meets the mission of the institution. The = one area that has been most successful in attracting enrollment is Math, = so we will continue to expand courses offerings in this area. While we = have met our goal, we have also found that we do not have strong enough = enrollment in some courses to offer them off site.=C2=A0We will continue = to monitor which areas are successful in garnering enrollments and work = towards building a schedule of classes that will=C2=A0provide access to = classes while also maintaining acceptable enrollment = levels.=C2=A0
Increased support for = graduate programs allows us to increase the size of our graduate = programs, one of the key goals of the university. As a result of our = assessment, we have found that our graduate programs have been offered = increased support and we have been able to create a plan for support for = the next two years. Graduate programs that have been implemented are = central to the mission of the institution and allow the faculty to = complete teaching, scholarship, and service relevant to the mission of = the institution. While we have met this goal, we will need to see = continued support in order for our graduate programs to grow and = strengthen, and we have requested such support in our Graduate = Enrollment Strategic Plan.

=C2=A0

Strategic Plan = Goal=C2=A0

With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2005-2006 goal best = align?

Unit Goal

=C2=A0

Goal for 2005-2006

=C2=A0

Goal 4: A Talented and Dedicated Faculty and = Staff

CAS Goal-- Quality Faculty and = Staff

The College will recruit, retain, and support highly = qualified faculty who are outstanding teachers and scholars, in numbers = adequate to fulfill the college=E2=80=99s obligations. In addition, the = College will review all staff positions to ascertain if staffing is at = adequate levels to support the mission of the college; this review will = include an assessment of the need to upgrade any staff = positions.

=C2=A0

What=C2=A0actions have been taken to attain this = goal?

1.=C2=A0 The College of = Arts and Sciences has monitored enrollment trends and patterns at the = lower level and in our majors and used this data in order to project our = faculty needs for the coming year. Working with Academic Affairs, we = developed a model to analyze the number of full-time faculty we would = need to meet the following parameters: increased average class size (to = 32 for Fall 2006); 450 additional FTICs (from 1350 in 2005-2006 to 1800 = in 2006-2007); approximately 1,000 new transfer students; and 70% of = courses taught by full-time faculty. Based on our calculations, we will = have approximately 530 sections in the Fall semester;=C2=A0if 70% of = these sections are=C2=A0taught by full-time faculty (371), we will need = approximately 124 faculty positions. CAS currently has 108 full-time = faculty.=C2=A0

=C2=A0

Based on this data, we = requested and received 17 new positions and the transformation of 7 = visiting positions to continuing positions=C2=A0for the 2006-2007 = academic year. The 17 new positions include:

Microbiology, Asst/Assoc (Biological Sciences)
Organismal Biology, Asst/Assoc (Biological = Sciences)
Public Relations, Asst/Assoc (Communication and = Philosophy)
Early American Literature/Border Studies, Asst/Assoc = (Language and Literature)
Medieval British Literature, Asst/Assoc (Language and = Literature)
Phytoplankton Ecologist, Asst/Assoc (Marine and = Ecological Sciences)
Marine/GIS, Asst/Assoc (Marine and Ecological = Sciences)
Physical Chemist, Asst/Assoc (Physical Sciences and = Mathematics)
Psychology, Assoc/Full (Social and Behavioral = Sciences)
History, Asst/Assoc (Social and Behavioral = Sciences)
Theatre--Directing, Assoc (Visual and Performing = Arts)
Music (3 positions), Asst, Asst/Assoc, Assoc/Full = (Visual and Performing Arts)
Physics/Astronomy, Asst/Assoc (Physical Sciences and = Mathematics)
Mathematics, 1 instructor, 1 Asst/Assoc (Physical = Sciences and Mathematics)
Total Funding =3D $865,000

The 7 visiting positions include (note that some of = these positions have been upgraded from an instructor to a ranked = faculty position):

Biology--General Education Biology Coordinator, = Asst/Assoc (Biological Sci)
Philosophy, Instructor (Communication and = Philosophy)
Communication, Asst/Assoc (Communication and = Philosophy)
Biology--Non-major General Education, Asst/Assoc = (Biological Sciences)
Composition, 2 instructor positions (Language and = Literature)
Mathematics, Instructor (Physical Sciences and = Mathematics)
Current Funding =3D $234,000; Additional Funding =3D = $47,000

Along with each of=C2=A0these lines, we have received = funding for recruitment costs and an additional $4,000 per position for = operational expenses. We have worked with Academic Affairs and Office of = Research and Sponsored Program to provide start-up funds to support = scholarly endeavors of faculty.

=C2=A0

In addition, we have been approved to search for the = following positions that were visiting this past year:

Physical Scientist, Asst/Assoc (Physical Sciences and = Mathematics)
Mathematics, Asst/Assoc (Physical Sciences and = Mathematics)
Environmental Sciences, Instructor (Marine and = Ecological Sciences)
Spanish, Instructor (Language and Literature)
History, Instructor (Social and Behavioral = Sciences)

We have not received = funding for recruitment of these positions, and will have to fund = recruitment out of salary savings.=C2=A0

=C2=A0

During our interviews, = we provide candidates with information on the mission and guiding = principles of the institution and the mission and values of the college. = We also include information in our position postings that allows us to = attract candidates who are interested in the mission of the institution. = Finally, we also discuss with faculty the role of assessment and = continuous improvement. Faculty hired will support the mission of the = university and the college and will be committed to continuous = improvement of programs.

=C2=A0

2.=C2=A0 The College of = Arts and Sciences has reviewed all executive secretary and office = assistant positions in order to determine if we have sufficient support = for the reorganization of the college into seven departments. Our = assessment took into account the increased number of faculty in the = College (from approximately=C2=A0100 to 117 total faculty), the = reorganization into seven departments (with an average departmental size = of approximately 16), the increased number of students that we serve = (350 new FTICs in Fall 2005 and approximately 800 new transfer = students), and our continued growth in outreach to the community.

=C2=A0

As a result of our = analysis, two office assistants were promoted to executive secretaries = as they now report to Chairs and assist with oversight of departments. = One department (Communication and Philosophy) was operating with a = part-time OPS secretary in the Fall 2006 semester; we have filled that = position with a full time Executive secretary.

=C2=A0

We have reviewed our payroll specialist position and = upgraded it to an accountant position. We are continuing to review our = accounting and budgeting procedures in the college to determine if we = need to hire one more staff person to assist with these duties.

=C2=A0

We have=C2=A0created an Academic Program coordinator = position to assist with the development of the Music program; this = position was created out of our Art Gallery position.

=C2=A0

The science lab manager positions have been reviewed; = no changes have been made, though we will need to add one more position = for the 2006-2007 year, especially with the addition of the scale-up = science teaching room/lab.

=C2=A0

In the spring, we = completed our review of the art lab assistant position, as well as = support for Understanding Visual and Performing Arts (including = potentially upgrading the Course Coordinator position) and Wings of = Hope. The duties of the art lab assistant position have increased to = include assisting in the art gallery and with academic = programs.

=C2=A0

3. The College has worked with Academic Affairs and = the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to provide adequate = start-up funds for new faculty in the sciences. In order to recruit and = retain highly qualified faculty in the sciences, and for those faculty = to involve students in research and to seek external funding, we must = provide adequate research space and equipment and adequate = support.

=C2=A0

What measures have you taken towards assessment of this = goal?

Our analysis of our = hiring practices in last year's annual report led to an awareness of the = need to advertise our positions in a more timely fashion; as a result of = that analysis, we requested and received permission to advertise our = positions in the Fall Semester. In order to determine the number of = positions needed, we analyzed the number of incoming majors and the = number of first year students expected to matriculate and determined the = number of additional sections we would have to offer (even with = increasing course caps). We have advertise a total of=C2=A027 positions = during the Fall 2005 semester in order to develop a deep pool of = qualified and diverse faculty for each position and to meet our growing = enrollment needs, with a total of 29 positions that we will be filling = (2 of the positions will be filled with internal candidates who add = diversity to our faculty). With our advertisement of these lines, we = have moved towards meeting this goal. To assess our success of this = goal, we will track the success of our searches.
We have worked with = Human Resources to analyze all secretarial staff positions and have = upgraded several positions from Office Assistant to Executive Secretary. = We have reviewed all duties and expectations of USPS and A&P = positions to determine if we are able to meet the needs of the = College.
The College has worked with Academic Affairs and = Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to analyze needs for start-up = funds, specifically in the science = disciplines.

=C2=A0

Describe the progress you have made toward attaining this = goal including the anticipated completion date.

1.=C2=A0 We have = completed all of our searches in the College of Arts and Sciences. Most = of our searches received satisfactory numbers of applicants and we were = able to fill the positions with highly qualified colleagues. =

=C2=A0

The following positions, however, were not successful = based on the first round of applications; some of these searches were = extended, others were filled with visiting faculty, as follows:

Microb= iology -- Failed Search, Hired Visiting Instructor
Public= Relations -- Failed Search, Hired Visiting Instructor
Early = American -- Extended Search, Low number of applicants (ultimately, a = successful search)
Mediev= al British -- Extended Search, Low number of applicants (ultimately, a = successful search)
Phytop= lankton Ecologist -- Extended Search, Low number of applicants = (this is the 2^nd year for this position to be = advertised; failed search in 1^st year;=C2=A0ultimately, a = successful search)
Marine= /GIS -- Extended Search, Low number of applicants=C2=A0 (ultimately, a = successful search)
Physic= al Chemist -- Failed Search, Hired Visiting Assistant Professor (this is = the 2^nd year for this position to be advertised; failed = search in 1^st year)
Biolog= y, Non-major/Gen Ed -- Failed Search, Readvertised to hire Visiting = faculty member
Mathematics = -- Extended Search, Low number of applicants=C2=A0 (ultimately, a = successful search)
Psychology = -- Extended Search, Low number of applicants (ultimately a successful = search).

Several of these positions, including the = Phytoplankton Ecologist and the Marine/GIS positions required = advertising in Science and Nature, two disciplinary journals; even with = this specialty advertising, we had a low number of applicants. Feedback = from candidates revealed that the salaries were not competitive with = salaries in the private sector. In addition, the primary reason that we = were given from candidates for declining offers for faculty positions is = the high cost of living in the area, coupled with noncompetitive = salaries.

=C2=A0

Of the total positions (29) filled in this year, = either with continuing or with visiting faculty, we hired the = following:

12 Females (41%), 17 Males (59%)
21 Whites (72%), 4 Asians (14%), 2 Hispanics (7%), 1 = Indian/Alaskan (3%), 1 Unidentified (3%)

Excluding the unidentified candidate, we had 7 = minorities for 28 positions, or 25%, an increase in our minority hiring = from the previous year when we hired 1 minority for 20 positions = (5%).

=C2=A0

For our searches to continue to be successful in the = future, especially in the sciences, we will need to (1) continue = advertising early in the Fall semester, and (2) advertise in specialty = journals, attend conferences to recruit candidates, and offer higher = salaries.

=C2=A0

2.=C2=A0 As a result of = our review, two positions were changed from Office Assistant to = Executive Secretary. In addition, we have determined that we will need = the following positions to begin Fall 2006:

Lab Managers=C2=A0in Biological Sciences (2) -- needed = to assist in the SCALE-UP classrooms for General Education Biology I and = II (these large enrollment classes are a part of the college's effort to = meet the college wide class average size of 32 for Fall 2006 and 35 for = Fall 2007).
Mathematics Lab Aids (2) -- to assist in large = enrollment mathematics classes
Coastal Watershed Institute Secretary (0.5) -- to = provide oversight with grant and personnel management; this 0.5 is the = College's match of funds received through a grant
Wings of Hope Director (benefits) -- we have gathered = data on the effectiveness of the Wings of Hope Program, which will = become increasingly important as we move towards course based service = learning (see the Mid-term Report for detailed information on assessment = of Wings of Hope); the current position is staffed with OPS dollars = which will be used for the full-time salary for this position
HUM 2510 Course Manager (change to 12 month position = and upgrade) -- As this course has grown (we will be offering two = sections of 600 in the coming year each semester), and as we have = reduced our reliance on staff in the Office of Instructional Technology, = we have a need to move this position from an 11 month to a 12 month = position and to upgrade it; the Course Manager will be responsible for = all technological aspects of the course starting in the fall semester, = taking over the duties of Instructional Technology
Art Studio Assistant -- with the growth in studio = courses and the number of Art majors, we need added assistance in the = Art classrooms.

In addition, we have requested new OPS dollars to = assist in the larger classes that we will need to meet the increased = enrollments in the College that will occur with new majors and increased = FTICs.

=C2=A0

3.=C2=A0 Academic Affairs and Office of Research and = Sponsored Programs=C2=A0have committed $50,000 to support=C2=A0equipment = purchase for new faculty who started in January 2006 and Fall = 2007.=C2=A0 CAS Salary Savings and ORSP overhead return will be = used=C2=A0supplement the startup funds = needs.=C2=A0

=C2=A0

Describe how the results of assessments have been used to = improve student learning or your department's services.

The College of Arts and = Sciences is dedicated to hiring a quality faculty and staff to offer the = highest level of student learning and services possible. Maintaining an = appropriate level of faculty allows us to offer courses needed for = students to complete their general education program and their majors. = In our search process, we have identified and hired a range of faculty = across ranks, Instructors and Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors. = In addition, the College offers many service courses for students in = other colleges, so we support the ability of students in other colleges = to fulfill their degree requirements. Because of our assessment process = in the 2004-2005 AY, we determined that it was essential to advertise = our positions earlier in the year in order to attract the highest = qualified faculty. In the future, we will need to reassess our salaries = and our advertising and recruiting strategies.

=C2=A0

An appropriate number = of correctly assigned staff is essential to the functioning of the = college and thus results in improved services. The College continuously = works to train all staff and determine that they are appropriately = assigned. We also work to ensure=C2=A0that all programs have adequate = resources in order to offer the highest quality student learning = opportunities. Assessment of staff resources will be ongoing with an eye = towards maximizing the services of each department and facilitating a = high level of student learning.

=C2=A0

Expansion of funding for research, equipment, and = space allows faculty to conduct research which enhances their teaching; = to involve students in research; and to seek external support for = research projects.=C2=A0Science and Mathematics faculty support = undergraduate research projects and thus equipment purchase that = enhances faculty research directly impacts student learning. The science = faculty have been especially successful in mentoring students and having = students participate in research; providing this support will allow the = faculty to continue this work.

=C2=A0

Strategic Plan = Goal=C2=A0

With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2005-2006 goal best = align?

Unit Goal

=C2=A0

Goal for 2005-2006

=C2=A0

Goal 2 -- Community Leadership

Goal 6 -- Research and Sponsored = Programs

CAS Goal -- Support Scholarship and Sponsored = Programs

Provide support for the increase of scholarship and = for sponsored programs in the college, including the approved Centers = and Institutes: the Center for Environmental and Sustainability = Education, the Coastal Watershed Institute, and the Whitaker Center for = Math and Science = Education.

=C2=A0

What=C2=A0actions have been taken to attain this = goal?

Chairs have worked with = all faculty in the development of their PDPs, which include statements = concerning scholarship. Faculty have been provided with professional = development funds for travel within the College and have been made aware = of the professional development funds available through the = senate.=C2=A0
Chairs identify new faculty research=C2=A0equipment = needs in the hiring process.=C2=A0 The Dean works with Academic Affairs = and Office of Research and Sponsored Program to fund faculty research = start-up costs.=C2=A0
A research laboratory=C2=A0space assessment will be = conducted in spring 2006 to identify needs for research laboratory bench = space, graduate student=C2=A0work space=C2=A0and storage space for = collections and field equipment.=C2=A0 A system for prioritization for = research space allocation will be developed.
Each of the Centers and = Institutes associated with the College have completed an Annual Report = to the state. Using this report we have reviewed the resources and work = of the Centers and Institutes associated with the College in order to = determine appropriate levels of support.
The College has = continued to work on the development of the Naples Botanical Garden, = including especially the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding and a = discussion of the facilities planning.
Biotechnology has=C2=A0developed partnerships with 12 = research organizations both local and national and has developed a = proposal to establish a Type II Center at Florida Gulf Coast University = (the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering) that will be = submitted to the Executive Council in Spring 2006. The goal of = increasing Biotechnology partnerships has been met; the Center proposal = will be submitted in the coming = year.

=C2=A0

What measures have you taken towards assessment of this = goal?

We have tracked the = service and scholarship completed in the College through = gathering=C2=A0information from the faculty annual review process. = Information is collected from departments and collated into a college = list of service and scholarship. This is the first year that such a list = has been gathered, and it will provide us with an overall baseline of = faculty productivity. In addition, we have worked with the Office of = Research and Sponsored Programs to track the number of grants completed = and the number and amount funded. In the 2003-2004 AY, the College was = awarded a total=C2=A0of 34 grants for $2,750,468; in the 2004-2005 AY, = the College was awarded a total of 28 grants for = $3,910,711.
Faculty hired in fall 2005=C2=A0were accommodated with = $50,000 support from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and = Academic Affairs and=C2=A0$20,000 from=C2=A0CAS salary savings and = overhead. Fall 2006 start-up costs are identified in the hiring process. = The Dean is working to secure funding to support these expenses.
The Dean has met with the Department Chairs in the = sciences along with the Director of the Whitaker Center, Coastal = Watershed Institute and Biotechnology Research=C2=A0to identify space = needs.=C2=A0
In the spring semester, = activities of all Centers and Institutes were reviewed, along with the = resources provided internally by the College and the University and = externally by other agencies. Based on this review and the comparison of = activities and resources, we have determined that all Centers and = Institutes have been provided with adequate resources for their function = and provided support for seeking external funding. With the growth of = some of the Centers and Institutes, further support resources have been = requested.
We have monitored the = progress of the development of = the Naples Botanical Center.
We have monitored the = number of new research partnerships established and tracked the = development of the proposal for the Center. =

=C2=A0

Describe the progress you have made toward attaining this = goal including the anticipated completion date.

1.=C2=A0 Our goal was = to track faculty scholarship in order to create a baseline for comparing = scholarship in the future. With 117 faculty in the College, we have = determined that faculty received the following awards in teaching, = service, and scholarship in the 2005-2006 year:

=C2=A0

Awards=

Teaching

Fay, Patricia.=C2=A0 Senior Faculty Teaching = Excellence Award, Florida Gulf Coast University.=C2=A0

=C2=A0

Scholarship

Several FGCU Professional Development Grants = and Sabbaticals, along with the following awards:

McShane, Megan C. Fulbright-Luce Lectureship in = Art History, Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, China, February = 3-December 20, 2006.

Mendible, Myra.=C2=A0 2005-06 Postdoctoral = Fellow, American Association of University Women.

Renk, Cliff. 2006. American Society for = Microbiology Scholars in Residence.

Volety, Aswani, Senior Faculty Scholarship = Excellence Award, Florida Gulf Coast University.

Wilson, JA. American Society of Clinical = Pathology Editor=E2=80=99s Choice Award, Clinical Immunology, = Incorporating West Nile Virus Testing into the Clinical = Laboratory. June, 2005.

Wohlpart, A. James, Craig Rademacher, Nancy = Edwards, Lisa Courcier, Scott Karakas. ANGEL Impact Award for = Outstanding Course, ANGEL (2006)=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 =

=C2=A0

Service

Pires, Ricky. (Wings of Hope Director). = Conservation Educator of the Year. Presented at The Florida Wildlife = Federation Annual Conservation Awards Event, held on June 24th, = 2006.

=C2=A0

In addition, faculty completed the = following peer-reviewed publications and refereed presentations:

Books = =E2=80=93 7

Peer-Reviewed Journal = Articles and Contributions to Collections =E2=80=93 31

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Journal = Articles =E2=80=93 20

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Journal = Articles (Online) =E2=80=93 3

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 = Contributions =E2=80=93 3

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Proceedings = =E2=80=93 3

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Abstracts = =E2=80=93 2

Refereed = Presentations =E2=80=93 74

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 State = =E2=80=93 2

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Regional = =E2=80=93 10

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 National = =E2=80=93 38

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0= =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 = International =E2=80=93 24

=C2=A0

Finally, we have also = tracked the number and award amount for research and sponsored programs. = We have tracked these awards over the last three years (including this = year) and found the following:

in 2003-2004, the = College was awarded a total=C2=A0of 34 grants for $3,598,729; =
in 2004-2005, the = College was awarded a total of 28 grants for $3,910,711;
in 2005-2006, the College was awarded a total of 38 = grants for $3,894,200.

While the total amount of awards remained relatively = flat, the total number of awards increased significantly.

=C2=A0

2.=C2=A0 Faculty hired in fall 2005=C2=A0were = accommodated with $50,000 support from ORSP and Academic = Affairs=C2=A0and=C2=A0$20,000 from=C2=A0CAS salary savings and overhead. = Fall 2006 start-up costs are identified in the hiring process. The Dean = is working to secure funding to support these expenses.

=C2=A0

3.=C2=A0 With 4 new faculty hires in science = disciplines in fall 2005=C2=A0and 9 new faculty hires projected for fall = 2006; there is a critical need for increase laboratory=C2=A0research = bench space.=C2=A0 Graduate student, postdoctoral and technician = workspace needs continue to expand as masters and research programs = expand.=C2=A0 The Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored = Programs will lease research space in Bonita Springs that will = accommodate needs of engineering faculty and biotechnology postdocs and = technicians.=C2=A0 The Dean has committed $10,000 of overhead = return=C2=A0funds=C2=A0to support the endeavor through purchase of small = equipment or cover the cost of moving and installing equipment.

=C2=A0

4.=C2=A0 Our assessment = has demonstrated that the institutes and centers associated with the = college have been provided adequate support and have completed the goals = outlined at the beginning of the year. As a result of our assessment, = and as a result of their growth and the increase in their grants and = allocations, we have identified a need for half-time support in the = Coastal Watershed Institute beginning next year. The College has = included this request in its budget request for next = year.=C2=A0

=C2=A0

5.=C2=A0 The Dean and = Division Chairs have attended several meetings discussing the = development of the=C2=A0Naples Botanical Center.=C2=A0Over the year, the = university and the Center have generated a=C2=A0Memorandum of = Understanding, which has now been signed. In addition, space needs have = been discussed, and a chair from the university has been assigned to = work on the facilities planning committee.

=C2=A0

6.=C2=A0 Biotechnology has established a total of 12 = partnerships, and is currently working on establishing partnerships with = several other private companies, research institutes, and other = universities in Florida and elsewhere. Our goal was that the proposal = for the Type II Center would be submitted to the Executive Council in = the Spring 2006 semester. The goal of increasing partnerships has been = met; the Center proposal will be submitted in the Fall 2006 = semester.

=C2=A0

Describe how the results of assessments have been used to = improve student learning or your department's services.

Increasing involvement = in research and professional activities allows faculty to bring recent = scholarship into the classroom and thus promotes a higher level of = student learning. Active research projects provide opportunities for = both graduate and undergraduate students to become involved in research = alongside faculty. The assessment of Center and Institute activities and = resources allows the College to determine the level of support needed = for these programs in order to maximize services to and learning = opportunities for our students=C2=A0and the local = community.

=C2=A0

In addition, supporting = and encouraging scholarship and other sponsored programs increases the = visibility and status of the university, which in turn enables us to = hire strong faculty, recruit better students, and garner other = resources. Providing the broader scholarly community with an awareness = of the teaching, research, and learning occurring at Florida Gulf Coast = University increases our opportunity to secure grants and join other = research, teaching, and assessment = projects.

=C2=A0

Strategic Plan = Goal=C2=A0

With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2005-2006 goal best = align?

Unit Goal

=C2=A0

Goal for 2005-2006

=C2=A0

Goal 4 -- A Talented and Dedicated Faculty and = Staff

Goal 8 -- Ongoing Quality = Improvement

CAS Goal -- Reorganize the College of Arts and = Sciences

Provide a new structure for the College that better nurtures the = faculty and staff and the culture of assessment that is the foundation = for high quality educational experiences. =

=C2=A0

What=C2=A0actions have been taken to attain this = goal?

In order to facilitate a new administrative structure in the = college, the following actions have been taken:

The Reorganization Task Force met over the Summer 2005 semester and, = with input from all faculty, developed a plan for restructuring the = departmental units in the college. Our assessment of the college = structure included number of majors in each program, number of faculty = in each program, number of adjuncts in each disciplinary area, service = courses offered for other colleges, and other data. As a result of our = analysis and feedback from the faculty,=C2=A0a new structure was = implemented in the Fall 2005 semester.
Two training programs have been offered to new chairs: discussions = within the College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Team and the Chairs = retreat offered by the state at Howie-in-the-Hills. In addition, other = aspects of training, such as SOAR (a human resource management system) = training, discussions of the bargaining agreement, discussions of = developing contracts, etc., have been made available to chairs on the = FGCU campus.=C2=A0
We have held two major assessment meetings in the College, and have = completed the Graduate Enrollment Strategic Plan, updated the College = Assessment Plan, completed the Academic Learning Compacts, and completed = the Annual Program Reviews.
The CAS Leadership Team has completed a discussion of the process = for hiring and evaluating part-time faculty; this information has been = disseminated to the program leaders.
A Bylaws Task Force met during the Fall 2005 semester to revise the = Bylaws based on feedback from the Provost's office and on the = reorganization of the College; the Bylaws were accepted by a vote of the = faculty in December 2005.
The Dean's office in the College has worked with the Office of the = Provost in order to establish budgets that meet the needs of the college = for the year. In turn, the Dean's office has communicated with each = department chair regarding their individual budgets. The entire college = budget has been reviewed at the CAS Leadership Team Retreat on January = 6, 2006. Budget requests for the following year have been compiled from = each department in order to create a college wide budget = request.

=C2=A0

What measures have you taken towards assessment of this = goal?

By the end of the Fall 2005 semester, the following measures have = been taken to assess this goal:

Whether=C2=A0a new structure has been = outlined by the Reorganization Task Force and accepted and implemented = by the College and the Dean;
If training programs, workshops, = and seminars were attended by new chairs;
If Program Assessment has = continued;
Whether meetings to review = hiring and evaluation of part-time faculty have occurred with all Chairs = and Program Leaders;
Whether voting of the faculty = and acceptance by the Dean of revised bylaws has occurred;
Whether meetings to review = budgets have occurred and whether a college wide budget request has been = adopted.

=C2=A0

Describe the progress you have made toward attaining this = goal including the anticipated completion date.

The College of Arts and Sciences successfully implemented a change = in departmental structure, moving from three large divisions to seven = departments. Our completion of this goal occurred as a result of = gathering data regarding the issues that affect the faculty and learning = process, analyzing this data as a community, and collaborating in order = to devise a new structure. This goal has been met.
One new chair attended the training program in Howie-in-the-Hills; = other training programs held at FGCU have also been attended by = chairs.=C2=A0 This goal has been met.
The College of Arts and Sciences continues to integrate assessment = into its culture, completing all strategic planning and assessment = documents in a collaborative and timely way. The College has developed = clear annual goals and worked towards assessment of those goals. Program = assessment=C2=A0for all academic programs has also = been=C2=A0completed.
The review process for hiring and evaluating part time = faculty=C2=A0is complete; all chairs and program leaders understand this = process. This goal has been met.
In a vote taken in the fall of 2005, 73 of the 104 eligible faculty = in the college=C2=A0voted, meeting the two-thirds majority quorum. All = amendments to the bylaws received a two-thirds acceptance vote, and thus = were incorporated successfully into the bylaws. The bylaws have been = officially revised and approved by the faculty and accepted by the Dean. = This goal has been met.
Budget meetings have occurred, and budgets have been reviewed. The = College has completed a budget request for 2006-2007 which has been = submitted to the Office of the Provost. This goal has been met and is = part of the ongoing budget cycle in the college, ultimately providing a = foundation for budget requests for the following = year.

=C2=A0

Describe how the results of assessments have been used to = improve student learning or your department's services.

All aspects of the College of Arts and = Sciences organizational structure needed to be reviewed and revised in = order to offer complete services and greater learning opportunities. = With new and smaller departments and new chairs, the College is now = better able to mentor faculty, to hire and oversee adjuncts, to develop = and assess programs, and to interact with the community. With = departments that are smaller and more coherent in terms of programs, our = assessment practices are more robust and have become ingrained in our = daily work habits, in turn allowing us to continuously improve our = programs and offer stronger opportunities for learning. Reviewing the = budget has allowed the College to become more efficient and effective = managers of our resources, and thus allowed us to optimize our = offerings.

=C2=A0

Section C

Program or Service=C2=A0Specific = Assessments

=C2=A0

What program or service specific assessment occurred in the = current academic year?

The College of Arts and Sciences held=C2=A0two=C2=A0Program = Assessment meetings for all Chairs and Program Leaders on 4 November = 2005 and on 2 May 2006. Materials regarding program assessment, = including sample learning goals, assessment strategies, and rubrics for = all disciplines in the college, were distributed and discussed. In = addition, we discussed how program assessment fits into the larger = strategic planning and assessment in the college and the = university.

=C2=A0

Programs gathered materials in the Fall semester and completed = Annual Program Assessments by February 1, 2006. As part of the work in = each program on Learning Goals, program leaders completed Academic = Learning Compacts working with the Program Review Committee; ALCs were = posted on the web in December to meet the state deadline. At the end of = this cycle of assessment, we met to debrief the process and to discuss = nurturing meaningful and sustainable assessment practices. Programs have = already gathered assessment materials for the next round of assessment = as part of our model of ongoing and continuous = improvement.

=C2=A0

How were the results of the assessment used to improve = programs or services?

In the last year, every program in the College of Arts and Sciences = has completed an annual program review of student learning (this = completes the second round of program reviews). These reviews focus on = assessing specific program learning goals (which are tied to university = learning goals) in order to foster improvement in the programs that = leads to increased student learning. Each review includes both direct = and indirect measures of student learning.

=C2=A0

The College has created an annual program assessment process that = allows faculty to gather data in the spring, summer, and fall semesters, = and then to analyze that data and discuss changes to programs in the = spring semester. All program changes are taken to the college curriculum = team for approval at the beginning of the fall semester. Annual Program = reviews are housed on the Moray Share Drive for archival and = informational purposes. Two years of annual program reviews have now = been completed; a third year is currently underway.

=C2=A0

The following changes have been made to 18 programs in the college = (16 undergraduate and 2 graduate) in order to improve programs and thus = increase student learning:

Anthropology (BA): This is a new program which = began in the Fall 2005 semester, so this round of assessment has = primarily provided baseline data. Nevertheless, one area of improvement = was noted--the need for students to have a stronger grounding in = anthropological vocabulary and concepts. The faculty agreed that they = needed to develop basic expectations for the introductory courses in the = program and to have oversight of the syllabi that are developed for = these courses.
Art (BA): Several areas of improvement were noted = as a result of this round of assessment, including the need to work with = students to improve presentation and communication skills, strengthening = student conceptual development, and connecting studio practice with = historical contexts. Several specific changes have been made to the = program to address these areas, including=C2=A0more frequently offering = the Professional Practices course, expanding Art Gallery exhibitions and = students' exposure to the works in the exhibitions and the artists who = are showcased, adding specific assignments to key courses that will = expand critical thinking and writing skills, and developing richer = studio and senior project assignments that require students to make = stronger connections to the historical contexts of their work.
Biology (BA): In the Fall 2005 semester, as a = result of the first round of program assessment which demonstrated a = need to bring coherence to the capstone experience for the major, the = syllabi for the two senior research classes were completely revised with = clearer objectives and assignments. As a result, a much richer = assessment was completed in terms of the senior presentations. Faculty = in the program built on the first round of assessment by revising and = strengthening their assessment practices and rubrics. The final result = of this assessment round was the final refinement of the syllabi for the = senior research classes.
Biotechnology (BA): This is a new program which = began in the Fall 2005 semester, so this round of assessment provided = baseline data. Some of the students in this program transferred over = from the Biology BA into Biotechnology. As a result of the assessment = completed in Biology in the previous year, the Biotechnology Senior = Research Project was designed to assess critical skills and content = knowledge in the program. This round of assessment focused on Critical = Thinking and Effective Communication and determined that students were = meeting the learning goals of the program; however, because there were = a=C2=A0very limited number of students in the capstone course, these = results are not definitive. In the next round of assessment, a larger = number of students will be available to assess the achievement of the = stated learning goals.
Chemistry (BA): This is a new program which began = in the Fall 2005 semester and which has very few students; as a result, = no substantial changes have been made to the program. Nevertheless, the = assessment demonstrated that students did not have the knowledge or = skills necessary for the use of lab instruments that the faculty = expected; as a result, the faculty have decided to add active learning = activities in a required course in order to improve instrument = operation. A second course that is required for students will further = develop their knowledge of instrument usage. While the assessment = suggested that one other area (the ability to analyze data) also needed = improvement, the faculty have decided to gather more data regarding this = learning goal as it is a central goal for the program.
Communication (BA): As a result of = this second round of assessment, the faculty in the Communication = program identified two areas of improvement: the need for students to = understand and be able to apply intercultural theories and the need for = students to create and analyze effective arguments. The faculty made one = immediate change in the program, which was to increase the writing = expectations in required core courses, and have discussed the need to = improve student understanding of communication theory. As this is a more = central learning goal to the program, the faculty will complete more = assessment before they decide on how they will improve the program to = advance student learning in this area.
English (BA): The assessment in = English measured the value added between the junior level introductory = course and the senior level courses. Two areas fell short of the = expected performance level: ethical responsibility and culturally = diverse perspective. As a result of this assessment, faculty have agreed = to more explicitly emphasize ethical issues in their courses so that = students begin to see the connection between studying literature and = developing values and beliefs; these issues will be highlighted on the = syllabus to make this connection explicit. In order to advance = culturally diverse perspective, faculty have agreed to offer more = courses that discuss non-canonical, minority=C2=A0works and to include = more non-canonical, minority=C2=A0works in all of their classes.
English (MA): The English MA is in = its first year of implementation, so the assessment this year focused on = providing baseline data. As a result of this round of assessment, the = faculty in the program were able to refine the learning goals and = outcomes, the Integrated Program Matrix, and the Comprehensive Exam, = which will act as a capstone experience and provide the program with an = opportunity for detailed assessment. In addition, the assessment = demonstrated that the program needed to better prepare students to = produce critical analyses of works of literature on a more professional = level; the faculty have revised the gateway course for the MA program to = further emphasize research skills, analysis and argumentation skills, = and revision skills.
Environmental Science (MS): This second round = of assessment demonstrated that, even while students were meeting the = expected outcomes, improvements in the program would assist students in = achieving the learning goals at a higher level. Specifically, this round = of assessment, building on the first, found that students could use more = assistance in developing the ability to apply systems analysis and = simulation models, one of the major learning outcomes of the program. = The faculty in the program have revised their graduate = level=C2=A0Research Methodology class in order to focus more on = statistical analysis, systems analysis, and simulation modeling. A = further concern is with the students' ability to understand the ethical = considerations of their research; a more direct discussion of ethics is = also being incorporated into this class. Even though the Environmental = Science program is in its third year, the program has not seen a = significant number of graduates, which makes program assessment of = graduating students--those who have had the full benefit of the = program--very difficult. In the next two years, the program should see = more graduating students and will be able to increase the richness of = its assessment.
Environmental Studies (BA): Like last year's round = of assessment, this assessment demonstrated a continued need to revise = the program to assist students in developing quantitative and = statistical skills in the students. While changes were discussed last = year and began to be implemented this year, it will take time for these = changes to affect student learning in the program. Specific changes that = have occurred include: discussing the skills that are developed in the = General Statistics course required in our General Education program, the = addition of data management and data analysis activities in key courses = in the program, and the design of quantitative case studies to be = included in the Scientific Process class. While these further changes = will be implemented this year to continue working on the developing of = this learning goal, the actual changes in student learning may not = appear for another year.
History (BA): In this round of assessment, the = faculty in the program found that, based on the data collected, students = seemed to be achieving the learning outcomes that were assessed. Because = of the few numbers of graduates (3), and the low return on the indirect = survey, the data that has been gathered is limited in value, and so no = major changes have been made to the program. A more robust exit survey = to the program has been developed and will be administered to all = students taking required courses, thus ensuring a larger data set. In = addition, the program will work to gather data from a larger number of = students regarding direct measures of student learning in order to = implement changes that will improve the program.
Liberal Studies (BA): A detailed assessment = involving alumni surveys, student focus groups, faculty surveys, and = direct measures of critical thinking and effective writing was completed = in this round of assessment. As a result of this process, several = changes have been implemented to bring more rigor and coherence to the = Interdisciplinary Core of the Liberal Studies Program. Faculty have = developed clear learning goals and outcomes and course expectations for = the two central courses in the program, Issues in Culture and Society = and Issues in Science and Technology; faculty who will be teaching these = courses in the coming year have submitted their syllabi for review by = the IDS Core faculty. Finally, a portfolio assessment will be added to = all students completing the Individualized Program in order to allow = students the opportunity for more self-conscious and self-directed = assessment of their learning.
Marine Science (BA): This is a new program, in its = second year of implementation, with few students who have moved towards = graduation. Students in this program share core courses with students in = other science programs. This round of assessment found similar changes = needed to those found in the Environmental Studies program--the need for = students to be able to apply statistics and simulation modeling, and the = changes that have been instituted in the core courses will allow = students in both programs to increase their learning in these areas. As = more students move towards completion of the program, a more complete = assessment will occur of student learning in the program.
Mathematics (BA): This round of assessment found = that students were meeting the learning goals in the program, though it = found areas that could be improved. The primary discussion of = improvement in the program as a whole focused on two areas: the need to = discuss pedagogy in large enrollment and small enrollment classes, and = how the pedagogy relates to specific learning outcomes and assessment = strategies; and the need to discuss, specifically,=C2=A0the role of = active learning and lecturing in relation to the development of sills = and the learning of content information. As a result of this round of = assessment and of these discussions, the faculty have agreed to expand = and refine their assessment rubrics and strategies in order to capture = richer data regarding student learning, which is especially important = because of the small number of students in the program.
Psychology (BA): The assessment in the Psychology = program was robust and included a large sampling of students (Psychology = is one of the biggest programs in the college). The assessment resulted = in an awareness of the need to expand teaching of culturally diverse = perspective; the faculty have discussed specific classes where they will = incorporate material that will develop a richer diversity of = perspectives. In addition, the faculty have agreed to add greater = research opportunities for students in the program, as well as volunteer = opportunities; specific classes have been targeted for these changes. = Further, the faculty have agreed that a small subset of classes will add = more active and interactive learning techniques which will increase = student engagement with and retention of=C2=A0key psychology concepts = and terms. Finally, the faculty have redesigned their senior seminar in = order to improve their assessment strategies.
Social Sciences (BA): The Social Sciences program = is being phased out and will be replaced by the approved Sociology = program (and the currently existing Anthropology program). The = assessment that was completed this year has provided a foundation for = the development of the Sociology program, and many of the areas of = improvement have been taken into account in the development of the new = program. Specifically, the new Sociology program, as a result of this = assessment, will have a stronger focus on cultural diversity, and will = include strategies for developing aesthetic sensibility.
Spanish (BA): The Spanish program has very few = students, so assessment, while it has been ongoing, has limited = validity. With only two graduates this last year, the faculty agreed to = assess student learning in two core classes and to compare that data to = what was demonstrated in the senior portfolio assessment last year. In = the assessment completed this year, the students scored much higher in = terms of communication and analysis skills and in terms of cultural = perspectives than was demonstrated in the portfolio assessment from last = year. As a result, the faculty have revised and strengthened the = portfolio assignment in the senior seminar in order to gather more = complete data on student learning in the program. In the next year, the = more robust assessments will be used in the senior seminar, and this = assessment will be tracked in relation to these changes.
Theatre (BA): Two primary areas were assessed in = this round of assessment in theatre. In the first area, that of = developing acting abilities, the faculty found that the students had = developed the skills and knowledge that the program expected; only one = minor change was agreed to in the area of acting skills, and that was to = expose students to a broader range of performance styles. In the second = area, theatre history, the faculty found that students did not develop = the breadth of knowledge in history that was expected in the program. As = a result, the faculty have agreed to split the theatre history classes = into two separate classes and to develop a separate series of classes on = dramatic literature. These changes will be instituted when appropriate = faculty can be hired to teach these = courses.

=C2=A0

Section D

Unit Contribution to President's Performance = Measures

=C2=A0

Please review the President's Performance Measures for = 2005-2006. Did your unit contribute to any specific performance goals = for the President? (If so, please indicate whether the measure = set was attained and to what degree.)

The College of Arts and Sciences has contributed to several of the = President's performance goals, as follows:

=C2=A0

Goal 1 -- High Quality Education: Implement University Lecture = Series

The University Lecture Series hosted Mikhail Gorbachev on March 28, = 2006, in Alico Arena, with an audience of approximately 4,500. In = addition, locations were set throughout campus for live feeds so that = students and faculty could view the lecture together. The Co-Chair for = the University Lecture Series is the Associate Dean in the College of = Arts and Sciences, and the Dean, a chair, and=C2=A0several faculty = members=C2=A0serve on the committee.
In addition to successfully bringing one internationally acclaimed = scholar in the Spring 2006 semester, the committee has worked to find a = scholar for the 2006-2007 year.
The College's commitment to and involvement in the Lecture Series = demonstrates the wide spread participation of the campus community in = this endeavor.

=C2=A0

Goal 2 -- The Student Community: Increase = Enrollment=C2=A0

Fall Term Headcount in the College of Arts and = Sciences, from Fall 2004 to Fall 2005, was as follows:

Fall 2004:=C2=A0 1396
Fall 2005:=C2=A0 1647
Increase:=C2=A0 18%

Full-Time Equivalent in the College of Arts and = Sciences was as follows:

2004-2005:=C2=A0 1891.5 FTE (summer, fall, = spring)
2005-2006:=C2=A0 2229.45 FTE (summer, fall, = spring)
Increase: 17.9%

(Note: these figures continue to include Colloquium in = 05-06 for comparative reasons even though Colloquium has been relocated = to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction; next year's numbers will = not include Colloquium.)

=C2=A0

Goal 2 -- The Student Community: Degree = Production

Students graduating with degrees in the College of = Arts and Sciences for 2004-2005 (summer, fall, spring)=C2=A0and = 2005-2006 is as follows:

2004-2005:=C2=A0 278
2005-2006:=C2=A0 305
Increase: 10%

=C2=A0

Goal 2 -- The Student Community: Retention (First Year Reading = Project)

Beginning in Fall 2004, the First Year Reading Project has worked to = build a stronger community and engage students in becoming connected to = that community, key issues in increasing retention. The mission of the = First Year Reading Project states that it "introduces incoming = first-year students to the expectations of learning at an institution of = higher education. All incoming first-year students read a common book = during the summer, usually a novel or work of non-fiction, and work on = two writing projects. The book is then taught in two classes in the fall = semester: Composition I (or Composition II) and Styles and Ways of = Learning (or Effective Learning). The First Year Reading project engages students = in critical thinking and writing skills preparing them for a rigorous = academic experience and connects them to the campus community so that = they are supported in this experience. In this way, students become a = part of the community at Florida Gulf Coast University and come prepared = for our unique learning experience."
For the = 2005-2006 year, the committee recommended several books to the Office of = the Provost for the First Year Reading Project; ultimately, Julia = Butterfly Hill's The Legacy of Luna was selected as the text. = Students were expected to read this book over the summer of 2005, and = then had to write two essays in response to their reading. The book was = then taught in all Composition I and Styles and Ways of Learning = classes.
In = support of this project, in the fall semester, Julia Butterfly Hill was = brought to campus to speak to students and the local community. Over 800 = attended her talk on the FGCU campus. The event was cosponsored by = Edison College, which had over 200 hear her speak on their campus. Julia = also met with the Learning Academy and other student groups.
For the = 2006-2007 year, the committee recommended Tracy Chevalier's Girl = With a Pearl Earring, which was accepted by the Provost's office. = Students will read this book during the summer of 2006 and discuss the = book in their Fall 2006 classes.
The = First Year Reading Project committee has also recently altered its = timeline for the selection of texts, and has already solicited = nominations for the 2007-2008 year regarding the learning outcome of = Ethical Responsibility. The Committee has reviewed all nominations and = has selected=C2=A06 books to read over the summer; final choices will be = recommended to the Provost's office in the fall.

=C2=A0

Goal 2 -- The Student Community: Retention (Learning = Academy)

The Learning Academy is a first year learning = community open to incoming students. The goal of the Learning Academy is = to build a strong community of students and faculty in order to = establish a higher level of learning and engagement. Classes in the = Learning Academy are integrated and interdisciplinary. The retention = rate of students in the Learning Academy has been around 90% over the = last two years.

=C2=A0

Goal 2 -- The Student Community: Increase Academic = Outreach

The College of Arts and Sciences has added several new = programs that will begin Fall 2006. Those programs include the = following:

BA in = Philosophy
BA in Sociology;
BA in = Music;
BS in Chemistry;

In addition, two programs have the approval to = plan:

BS in Biology;
BS in Mathematics.

Finally, we = have continued to work on one final program, which we hope to finalize = for Fall 2007:

MA=C2=A0in History;
MA=C2=A0in=C2=A0Environmental = Studies.

=C2=A0

Goal 7 -- Community Leadership: Project LAUNCH

The College of Arts and Sciences and = the College of Education collaborate on the Whitaker Center, which is = responsible for Project LAUNCH. This past year, the Whitaker Center has = expanded this project into two new areas: PAEC (Panhandle Area = Educational Consortium) and NEFEC (Northeast Florida Educational = Consortium).
The Whitaker Center obtained two = additional grants to support professional development for teachers in = these areas, and has submitted renewal proposals to continue funding for = all other areas.

=C2=A0

Goal 8 -- Ongoing Quality Improvement: Unit Assessment = Plans

The College of Arts and Sciences has developed an = inclusive process of strategic planning and assessment. Each department = contributes goals toward the College's goals, and completes assessment = of all academic programs on an annual basis. Assessment of the College's = goals feed into the Annual Report and the development of the College's = budget request for the following year.
The College of Arts and Sciences has completed and = collected Annual Program Assessments for every academic program for the = last two years. Before that time, program reviews were completed but not = collected in a consistent format.

=C2=A0

Part 2

Section A

Unit Goals=C2=A0for Coming Year = (2006-2007)

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 1 --=C2=A0High Quality Education Goal 2 -- The Student = Community	CAS Goal -- Quality Academic Programs The College will provide a quality educational experience for its = students. Specifically, the College will work to add new academic = programs in order to increase programmatic offerings for our = students.

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

During the 2006-2007 academic year, the College of Arts and = Sciences will seek to add new academic programs at the undergraduate and = the graduate level. Specifically, we will explore adding the following = programs to begin Spring 2007 or Fall 2007:

BS Mathematics
MA History
MA Environmental Studies.

We will also develop a list of new programs that we will request = approval to plan for the following year, as well as funding and space = requirements for these new programs.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will assess our = achievement of this goal through tracking the development and the = approval of the New Program Proposals and tracking the development and = approval of the Approval to Plan New Programs.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will successfully meet = this goal if the New Program Proposals are developed, accepted by the = College of Arts and Sciences curriculum team and the University = Curriculum Team, and, ultimately, the Provost's office and the Board of = Trustees. Similarly, the College will be successful if our Requests to = Plan New Programs are accepted.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

One of the goals of the strategic plan = of the university is to increase our offering of academic programs for = our students. Under the University Goal #1, Strategy 3, our Strategic = Plan states that we will "Create and develop innovative academic = programs that attract the best students and faculty." Under = University Goal #2, Strategy 5, our Strategic Plan states that we will = "increase the number of degree programs" at the institution. = Each of the new programs that we will develop will include clear = learning goals and outcomes and sustainable and meaningful assessment = strategies; as a result, along with the increase in program offerings, = we will assess the increase in student learning.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 4: A Talented and Dedicated Faculty and = Staff	CAS Goal-- Quality Faculty The College will recruit highly qualified faculty who are = outstanding teachers and scholars, in numbers adequate to fulfill the = college=E2=80=99s = obligations.

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will work with Academic = Affairs to determine the number of faculty needed to meet the increased = enrollment growth of the institution, both at the lower level in General = Education and at the upper level in our majors. The College will follow = the university search process to hire highly qualified faculty at = appropriate levels to meet our obligations. The College will again seek = to hire faculty across a range of ranks with varied = experience.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will assess our = achievement of this goal through tracking our work with Academic Affairs = in determining the necessary number of hires to meet the needs of = increased enrollment growth. In addition, the College will track the = success of our hiring process.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will successfully attain = this goal if we have been provided with adequate lines from Academic = Affairs to meet enrollment growth and if we are able to successfully = hire in all of the new positions that we advertise.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Increasing the number of faculty will = allow us to continue to add depth to our current academic programs and = to add new programs. University Goal #4, Strategy #1, states that we = will "Recruit and retain a diverse faculty who exhibit: exceptional = skills, teaching excellence, scholarly productivity, and service that = reflect knowledge of subject matter and pedagogy, student focus, sense = of community, and commitment to building a University for the = future." Hiring new faculty will allow the College to meet its = obligations to both General Education and to our majors and our graduate = programs.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 4: A Talented and Dedicated Faculty and = Staff	CAS Goal-- Quality Staff The College will recruit, retain, and support highly qualified = staff, in numbers adequate to fulfill the college=E2=80=99s = obligations.=C2=A0 =

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will review all staff = positions to ascertain if staffing is at adequate levels to support the = mission of the college; this review will include an assessment of the = need to upgrade any staff positions and an assessment of the need to add = new staff positions.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will assess our = achievement of this goal through tracking our evaluation of staffing = needs and our success in garnering new staff positions. =

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will have successfully = attained this goal if we are able to hire adequate staff to meet the = obligations of the College. New staff requests have been put forward in = the budget request for 06-07.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Adding staff to the College is central = to providing adequate support to faculty and to allowing us to serve our = students. University Goal #4, Strategy #1 states that we will = "Complement the faculty with the recruitment and retention of a = diverse, educated staff that provides high quality support and = services." With growing enrollments and growing faculty, additional = staff support will be crucial for the college to meet its = obligations.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0

With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?

Unit Goal

=C2=A0

Goal for 2006-2007

Goal 1 --=C2=A0High Quality Education

Goal 2 -- The Student = Community

CAS Goal -- Maintain Quality Academic Programs and Meet = Enrollment Growth Needs

The College will work to maintain high quality academic programs = and courses while also meeting the needs of increased enrollment growth. = Specifically, the college will work to increase the percentage of = Student Credit Hours generated by Full-time Faculty, to increase the = overall class average size, to increase distance learning and hybrid = offerings, and to increase offerings at off-campus = centers.

<= /div>

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will work to meet the needs of increase enrollment even = while maintaining quality in its academic programs and courses. = Specifically, the College will:

Hire adequate Full-time faculty to increase the percentage of SCH = taught by Full-time Faculty;
Provide support for faculty to develop and teach large enrollment = classes in all areas of the college in order to increase the overall = class average size;
Track the enrollment in distance and hybrid courses;
Track the enrollment in off-campus = centers.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will assess achievement of this goal through:

Tracking the percentage of SCH taught by Full-time vs. Part-time = faculty in the Fall semester;
Tracking the support provided to faculty to develop large enrollment = classes and tracking the overall class average size in the college;
Tracking the student credit hours generated in virtual sections = starting with the 2003-2004 academic year;
Tracking enrollment in off-campus = centers.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will successfully attain these goals if we have met the = targets that we have set out in each area. Specifically, our targets are = as follows:

For the overall SCH in the College and in General Education as = measured in the Fall semester, over 70% by Full-time faculty; = additionally, our target is to have an increase in specific areas in = General Education as follows:

Composition I and II:=C2=A0=C2=A060% by Full-time faculty (up from = 40%)
Statistics: 60% by Full-time faculty (up from 52%)
Social Sciences: 70% by Full-time faculty (up from 58%).

Provide support to 10 faculty to develop large enrollment courses, = which will be offered in the 2006-2007 academic year; our overall class = average size in the college will rise to 32 in the 2006-2007 year.
Our tracking will demonstrate a gradual increase in student credit = hours in virtual sections, with a goal of generating 15% of SCH by = distance or hybrid classes by Spring 2008.
Our enrollment in off-campus centers will increase about 30%, from = 158 to 200.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Increasing the percentage of courses = taught by Full-time faculty will offer students the opportunity to = interact with highly qualified faculty who are engaged in the university = community. In addition, increasing the average class size in the college = allows us to support the enrollment increase at the university, and = providing faculty support to develop large enrollment classes ensures = that these classes will be developed with the high quality that is = standard in the college. Increasing enrollments in virtual sections = fulfills the mission and strategic plan of the institution and offers = students a variety of opportunities for their learning experience. = Finally, increasing enrollments in off-campus centers allows us to = increase our service to=C2=A0students in the local = region.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 6 -- Research and Sponsored = Programs	CAS Goal -- Support Scholarship and Sponsored = Programs Provide support for the increase of scholarship and sponsored = programs in the college, especially as that support is tied to other = college = goals.

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will work with the Office = of Research and Sponsored Programs in order to generate funding to = support faculty in writing grants tied to a variety of college goals, = including assessment, large enrollment classes, and distance learning = (other activities could include grants to support guest lecturers, = symposiums, research, etc.). In addition, we will seek to generate = funding for graduate assistantships to support faculty and start-up = costs for new faculty who will be conducting research that may lead to = external grant funding. Finally, the College will continue to mentor = faculty in their scholarship.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will assess achievement of = this goal through tracking the generation of funding for college = projects, the development of calls for proposals, and the successful = submission of grants. In addition, we will track the generation of = funding for graduate assistantships and start-up costs for new faculty. = Finally, the College will continue to track scholarship and grants and = awards.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will successfully attain = these goals if funding has been procured from ORSP, a call for proposals = has been developed and sent out to the college, faculty have responded, = and grants have been submitted. Additionally, the college will be = successful if we have generated funding for graduate assistantships and = start-up costs for new faculty. Finally, the college will be successful = if we see an increase in scholarly activity, including in numbers of = grants and/or funded amounts for grants and in numbers of peer-reviewed = scholarly pieces published or presented, as compared to last = year.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Providing support for faculty to work = on such projects as assessment, the development of large enrollment = classes, and distance learning will ensure that these projects will be = completed with the high level of quality expected in the college. In = addition, providing this support demonstrates that the college and the = university are committed to maintaining a high level of quality in its = teaching and learning, even with enrollment growth. Finally, providing = graduate assistantships to support faculty and providing new faculty = with start-up costs allows faculty to embark on research that improves = their teaching and provides students with opportunities to be involved = in scholarship.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal=C2=A03 -- Co-curricular and Athletic = Programming Goal=C2=A07 -- Community = Leadership	CAS Goal -- Support Conferences and = Workshops Provide support for a variety of conferences, workshops, and = speakers that will bring students, faculty, staff and the wider = community to campus and local area=C2=A0to engage issues relevant to the = mission of the college and the = university.

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will provide funding to support a variety of = conferences, workshops, and speakers that will bring a wide audience to = our campus and the local area. These activities will support the mission = of the college and the university. Several possible activities = include:

Human Trafficking Conference
Guest Artist Series
Interdisciplinary Studies Speaker Series
Human Rights Roundtable
FGCU Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Southwest Florida Writers' Conference
Samuel Pepys Reading Series
Sigma Tau Delta Student Conference

Each of these activities will require a different level and kind of = support; the support will be determined=C2=A0as the faculty and chairs = work with the Dean's office.=C2=A0

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will assess achievement of = this goal through determining the level of funding provided to = activities and=C2=A0the number of successful activities mounted in the = year, as well as through surveys of those who participated and reports = from activity organizers. Each activity will necessitate a different = kind of assessment.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will have attained this = goal if funding has been provided to several of these activities, if the = activities are well attended and assessment is complete, and if the = response to the activities is positive.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

The activities that the College will = support will be tied to the learning goals of the college, and often to = specific classes or programs. By offering co-curricular activities, = student knowledge and awareness is expanded, and the learning that takes = place in the classroom begins to move outside of four walls. In = addition, these activities will connect the work of the College and the = University to the wider community, which is in line with the university = strategic plan. University Goal #3, Strategy #2 states that we will = "Design and operationalize a plan to increase and enhance faculty = and staff participation in co-curricular activities." University = Goal #7, Strategy #1 states that we will "Create internal = structures that encourage and reward staff and faculty service to = external constituencies=E2=80=A6"

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 1 --=C2=A0High Quality Education Goal 2 -- The Student = Community	CAS Goal -- Refinement of the Interdisciplinary Core and = Training of Faculty The College will continue to strengthen the Interdisciplinary Core = through bringing coherence to the Issues courses and the Capstone course = and through offering training for the Foundations = course.

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will undertake three related activities that build on = the work completed last year in order to continue strengthening the = Interdisciplinary Core. These activities are as follows:

Complete a training program for all faculty who will teach the = Foundations course;
Review syllabi for the Issues courses to ensure that they meet the = learning objectives outlined by the IDS Faculty and distributed to the = college;
Review the syllabi for the Capstone course and work towards = developing coherence in this course.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

We will assess achievement of this goal through several means, as = follows:

We will track the number of participants who complete the training = program for the Foundations course and track their teaching of this = course; in addition, we will complete a review of the effectiveness of = the training module;
We will track the review of syllabi and the feedback provided to = faculty in order to increase the coherence of the Issues courses and we = will track student responses to the courses;
We will track our review of the syllabi for the Capstone course in = order to ascertain whether or not we can bring coherence to this = course.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

We will know if we have successfully attained these goals if we = achieve the following measures:

We have enough trained faculty to staff the Foundations sections for = Fall and Spring and we have used the review of the training module to = improve it for the following summer;
We have Issues courses that are offered with approved syllabi, with = a goal of having 100% of sections approved; and we increased positive = student responses to the courses over the year, with a goal of = increasing SAI averages over time;
We have completed the review and developed a standardized syllabus = for the Capstone course.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

The Interdisciplinary Core is the central component of all = Bachelor of Arts degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. Having a = pool of trained faculty who will offer the Foundations Course on a = regular basis will bring continuity to the common curriculum in the = college.=C2=A0 Also, by encouraging a common development of the course = syllabus for the Foundations course and the Capstone course, we will be = able to maintain the academic integrity of these courses while being = able to compare best practices in order to improve the courses.=C2=A0 = Further, this process should address student complaints about the = =E2=80=9Cspectrum=E2=80=9D of expectations they have experienced from = different faculty who have been offering these courses as well as = establish a common foundation for the rest of the interdisciplinary core = curriculum.

=C2=A0

As a result of these activities, the interdisciplinary core = will increase its consistency of rigor and focus.=C2=A0 Addressing = specific university learning goals in the Issues courses, along with = meeting other guidelines, will improve the teaching and learning in the = core.=C2=A0 These activities will also give students the opportunity to = have a better understanding of the differences between sections of = Issues in Culture and Society and Issues in Science and Technology prior = to enrollment.=C2=A0 By asking faculty to submit their syllabi for = approval we can identify, by theme, different sections of these courses = prior to registration as well as ensure that each section is meeting a = minimum level of academic quality.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 5 -- State of the Art = Infrastructure	CAS Goal -- Participate in = planning of the Performing Arts Complex and Academic = 7

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will assign specific = faculty or administrators to participate in the planning process for the = Performing Arts Complex and Academic 7; these faculty and administrators = will attend planning meetings.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

We will assess our achievement of this = goal through determining if appropriate personnel have been assigned to = the planning of these two buildings and if these personnel attend = meetings for planning the buildings.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

We will have successfully attained = this goal if appropriate personnel were assigned and if they attended = meetings in order to participate in the planning of these = buildings.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Participation of appropriate personnel = in the planning process for these buildings will allow the College to = have input on the creation of these buildings, which will maximize their = usefulness.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0 With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?	Unit Goal =C2=A0 Goal for 2006-2007
Goal 8 -- Ongoing Quality = Improvement	CAS Goal -- Review and Refine = the CAS Leadership Structure and Advising = Office

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will review the tasks that = are completed in the Dean's Office as well as the tasks that have been = completed over the last year by the Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant = Dean, and the Budget Manager; in addition, we will review staff support = for the Dean's office and the Advising Office. We will work to determine = if sufficient administrators and staff exist to cover all tasks and = work=C2=A0to align the tasks with appropriate personnel. =

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

We will assess achievement of this = goal through tracking the review of the Dean's Office tasks and the = alignment of work. We will collect data to include: FTE generation, = Unduplicated headcount in CAS and in pre-majors in other colleges, = Undeclared Unduplicated headcount, number of faculty in each department, = number of majors in each program.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

We will successfully meet this goal if = we have created a work plan in the Dean's office and in the advising = office, with sufficient personnel, to cover all tasks. If additional = personnel are warranted (either administrators or staff), we will = request those positions in the coming year.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Providing sufficient staffing in the = Dean's office and clearly assigning tasks will allow the college to = function more smoothly, providing improved services for both faculty and = staff and allowing the college to meet the requests of the Office of = Academic Affairs.

=C2=A0

Str= ategic Plan Goal=C2=A0

With which 1 or 2 goals from the 8 current = strategic plan goals does your 2006-2007 = goal best align?

Unit Goal

=C2=A0

Goal for 2006-2007

Goal 1 --=C2=A0High Quality Education

Goal 2 -- The Student = Community

CAS Goal -- Maintain Quality Academic Programs and Meet = Enrollment Growth Needs

The College will work to maintain high quality academic programs = and courses while also meeting the needs of increased enrollment growth = in graduate programs. Specifically, the college will work to increase = the support offered to graduate students in terms of tuition waivers and = assistantships and to increase the quality and number of graduate = students enrolled in graduate = programs.

=C2=A0

What action(s) will you undertake to achieve the = goal?

The College will work to attract = quality graduate students through participating in orientations and = seminars designed to provide information regarding our graduate = programs, as well as continue to work with Academic Affairs to increase = support for graduate students.

=C2=A0

By what means will you assess goal = achievement?

The College will track several aspects of our graduate programs and = graduate student enrollment, including:

total number students enrolled in graduate programs in the = College;
total amount provided in in-state tuition waivers provided to the = College;
total number of out-of-state tuition waivers provided to the = College;
total amount provided in graduate assistantships to the = College;
GRE scores and BA/BS GPAs of students who receive support from the = College.

=C2=A0

How will you know if you have successfully attained each = goal?

The College will successfully attain our goals if we meet the = following targets:

an increase in the total number of new students enrolled in = graduate programs, as follows:

in English: from 9 (in 06-07) to 12 (in 07-08);
in=C2=A0Environmental Studies: from 14 (in 06-07) to 18 (in = 07-08);
in History:=C2=A0we will admit our first cohort of students in the = History program, totaling 5 students.

an increase in in-state tuition waivers from=C2=A0306 credit hours = (17 students at 18 credit hours each) for a total of $55,386 in = 2006-2007 to=C2=A0432 credit hours (24 students at 18 credit hours each) = for a total of approximately $78,192.
an increase in out-of-state tuition waivers from 1 student in = 2006-1007 to 2 students in 2007-2008.
an increase in graduate assistantships from $79,000 in 2006-2007 to = $90,000 in 2007-2008.
increasing or maintaining GRE scores and BA/BS GPAs of students who = receive support in comparison to the scores of students in = 2006-2007:

in English: from an average 600 on the GRE Verbal and an = average=C2=A03.74 BA GPA
in Environmental Science: from an average 666 on the GRE = Quantitative and an average=C2=A03.29 BA/BS = GPA.

=C2=A0

How will the results of the above assessments be used to = improve student learning or services?

Increased support for = graduate programs allows us to increase the size of our graduate = programs, one of the key goals of the university, as well as to increase = the strength of the graduate students that we admit. In addition, our = graduate programs allow the faculty to complete teaching, scholarship, = and service relevant to the mission of the institution and allow = students to participate in scholarly endeavors that fulfill the mission = of the university.

=C2=A0

Section B

Resources

=C2=A0

What additional resources have you requested and received a = commitment for during 2006-2007 from your area VP or the President that = is based on your analysis of assessment data for = 2005-2006?

We have received commitments for the following budget items for the = 2006-2007 academic year:

=C2=A0

1.=C2=A0 New Faculty Lines (14) and Upgrades of Existing Faculty = Lines -- $752,000

New Faculty Lines (3) from Donations -- $160,000

2.=C2=A0=C2=A0New Faculty=C2=A0Operational Expenses=C2=A0(for 17 = lines) -- $51,000

3.=C2=A0 New Faculty Computers (Nonrecurring) -- $25,500

4.=C2=A0=C2=A0Graduate Assistantships --=C2=A0=C2=A0$63,000

Graduate Tuition Waivers -- 270 credit hours (15 x 18 credit = hours)

=C2=A0

Total Funding Request

Recurring=C2=A0 $866,000
Nonrecurring $25,500
Total:=C2=A0 $891,500

=C2=A0

Funds from Donations

$160,000

=C2=A0

What additional resource needs do you have for fulfillment = of your goals that you wish for consideration from your area VP or the = President that is based on your analysis of assessment data for = 2005-2006?

We are requesting the following additional funding for the = 2006-2007 academic year:

=C2=A0

1. Recruitment for New Faculty Lines (22) -- $88,000

Recruitment for New Faculty Line (4) from Donations -- = $16,000

2.=C2=A0 USPS and A&P positions and upgrades -- $247,650

3.=C2=A0 Adjunct Funding (if over 1800 FTICs) -- $120,000

4.=C2=A0 OPS Funding -- $70,000

5.=C2=A0 Environmental Studies Graduate Assistantships -- = $56,000

6.=C2=A0 Travel Increase -- $6,500 (recurring) + $6,500 = (nonrecurring)

5.=C2=A0 Equipment -- $60,000 (recurring) + $110,000 = (nonrecurring)

6.=C2=A0 Miscellaneous Expenses -- $121,000 (recurring) + $10,000 = (nonrecurring)

7.=C2=A0 Renovation -- $50,000 (nonrecurring)

=C2=A0

Total Funding Request

Recurring $769,150
Nonrecurring $176,500
Total: $945,650

=C2=A0

Funds from Real and Potential Donations

$16,000

=C2=A0

Section C

Assessment = Plans

=C2=A0

What assessments are you planning to conduct during = 2006-2007?

The College of Arts and Sciences will complete the = following Seven-Year State Mandated Program Reviews due next year:

Environmental Studies (BA), =
Biology = (BA),
Communication (BA),
English = (BA), and
English = (MA).=C2=A0

Each of these programs submitted their Program Review = Goals by March 31 and will work towards completing their Seven-year = Review for next year.

=C2=A0

In addition, every degree program in the College of = Arts and Sciences=C2=A0will identify 1-2 outcomes for detailed = assessment during 2006-07, and will conduct those assessments, and use = the data gathered for improvement of student learning. Program = Assessments are to be completed by February 1, = 2007.

=C2=A0

Section D

Coming Year - Strategic Plan = Contributions

=C2=A0

Goal 1: 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.3.1, = 1.3.3, 1.3.5

Goal 2:=C2=A02.1.1, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.5.1, 2.5.2, = 2.5.4

Goal 3: 3.2

Goal 4: 4.1, 4.2

Goal 6: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3.1, 6.4.1

Goal 7: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3.1, 7.3.2, 7.3.8

Goal 8: = 8.2.1

=C2=A0