Bachelor of Arts in English, Language, and Literature

Assessment Report, 2013-2014

CLASS, English, Languages, and Literature

Assessment Identifiers

College / School:
CLASS

Department:
English, Languages, and Cultures

Program / Major / Certificate:
BA English

Assessment Coordinator(s):
Dr. Catherine Rogers

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan?
No

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Dr Jonathan Elmore and Dr Jordan Dominy

Program Mission Statement

The Department of Liberal Arts offers a multidisciplinary, student-centered approach to learning that enriches the whole person and the larger community. By exploring literature, creative and professional writing, and global languages and cultures, the department provides a strong foundation of a liberal arts education rooted in Africana traditions. The department engages learners in a high level of scholarly and creative work, develops critical and creative thinking and communication skills, and fosters a desire for life-long learning, self-efficacy, and civic involvement.

(Note: this statement has been adapted from that of the Department of Liberal Arts and has not been approved by the new Department of English, Languages, and Cultures. It will be discussed, probably revised, and hopefully approved in August 2014).

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan? No

PSLOs

1. The students will be able to read, analyze and interpret texts using a variety of academic approaches. 

2. The students will be able to develop and implement a successful writing process that results in effective communication choices. 

3. The students will be able to conduct academic research using appropriate sources and documentation. 

4. The students will be able to apply reading, writing and research in creative production and /or professional settings. 

5. The students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the evolution of literature including key genres, movements and figures in the areas of (a) American Literature, (b) British Literature, (c) Africana Literature, and (d) World Literature.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2013-2014 – Supporting Documents

Assessment Results (PSLOs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PSLO	Semester	Professor	Courses	Assessment Artifacts and Instruments	Target Levels	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	1. The students will be able to read, analyze and interpret texts using a variety of academic approaches	Fall 2013	Dr. Lewis	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition	ELC PLO Research Paper -- ENGL Student Research Assignment Rubric	TARGET 1 – 70% of students will score a level 2 or higher (satisfactory) in 2000-level courses TARGET 2 - 70% of students will score a level 3 or higher (satisfactory) in 3000-level courses TARGET 3 - 70% of students will score level 4 or higher (satisfactory) in 4000-level courses	TARGET 1 MET 2000-level: 98% Satisfactory TARGET 2 NOT MET 3000-level: 25% Satisfactory TARGET 3 NOT MET 4000-level: 22% Satisfactory	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: The program will establish a departmental Assessment Committee in order to more effectively plan the streamlined assessment. We will establish an ad hoc committee to create a departmental policy on plagiarism and academic dishonesty that will be driven by 2013-2014 assessment data and review of policies at peer and aspirant institutions. We will also re-conduct a failed search for a tenure-track faculty position specializing in technical writing.
			Dr. Metts	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Martin	ENGL 3218 African-Caribbean Literature
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
		Spring 2014	Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Dominy	ENGL 2105 Introduction to Literary Criticism
			Prof. West	ENGL 3216 African-American Poetry
			Dr. Brevik	ENGL 4011 Shakespeare
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. The students will be able to develop and implement a successful writing process that results in effective communication choices	Fall 2013	Dr. Lewis	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition	ELC PLO Research Paper -- ENGL Student Research Assignment Rubric	TARGET 1 – 70% of students will score a level 2 or higher (satisfactory) in 2000-level courses TARGET 2 - 70% of students will score a level 3 or higher (satisfactory) in 3000-level courses TARGET 3 - 70% of students will score level 4 or higher (satisfactory) in 4000-level courses	TARGET 1 MET 2000-level: 82% Satisfactory TARGET 2 NOT MET 3000-level: 28% Satisfactory TARGET 3 NOT MET 4000-level: 8% Satisfactory	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: The program will establish a departmental Assessment Committee in order to more effectively plan the streamlined assessment. We will establish an ad hoc committee to create a departmental policy on plagiarism and academic dishonesty that will be driven by 2013-2014 assessment data and review of policies at peer and aspirant institutions. We will also re-conduct a failed search for a tenure-track faculty position specializing in technical writing.
			Dr. Metts	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Martin	ENGL 3218 African-Caribbean Literature
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
		Spring 2014	Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Dominy	ENGL 2105 Introduction to Literary Criticism
			Prof. West	ENGL 3216 African-American Poetry
			Dr. Brevik	ENGL 4011 Shakespeare
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. The students will be able to conduct academic research using appropriate sources and documentation	Fall 2013	Dr. Lewis	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition	ELC PLO Research Paper -- ENGL Student Research Assignment Rubric	TARGET 1 – 70% of students will score a level 2 or higher (satisfactory) in 2000-level courses TARGET 2 - 70% of students will score a level 3 or higher (satisfactory) in 3000-level courses TARGET 3 - 70% of students will score level 4 or higher (satisfactory) in 4000-level courses	TARGET 1 MET 2000-level: 87% Satisfactory TARGET 2 NOT MET 3000-level: 17% Satisfactory TARGET 3 NOT MET 4000-level: 8 % Satisfactory)	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: The program will establish a departmental Assessment Committee in order to more effectively plan the streamlined assessment. We will establish an ad hoc committee to create a departmental policy on plagiarism and academic dishonesty that will be driven by 2013-2014 assessment data and review of policies at peer and aspirant institutions. We will also re-conduct a failed search for a tenure-track faculty position specializing in technical writing.
			Dr. Metts	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Martin	ENGL 3218 African-Caribbean Literature
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
		Spring 2014	Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Dominy	ENGL 2105 Introduction to Literary Criticism
			Prof. West	ENGL 3216 African-American Poetry
			Dr. Brevik	ENGL 4011 Shakespeare
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. The students will be able to apply reading, writing and research in creative production and /or professional settings	Fall 2013	Dr. Lewis	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition	ELC PLO Research Paper -- ENGL Student Research Assignment Rubric	TARGET 1 - 70% of students will score a level 2 or higher (satisfactory) in 2000-level courses TARGET 2 - 70% of students will score a level 3 or higher (satisfactory) in 3000-level courses TARGET 3 - 70% of students will score level 4 or higher (satisfactory) in 4000-level courses	TARGET 1 MET 2000-level: 78% Satisfactory TARGET 2 NOT MET 3000-level: 17% Satisfactory TARGET 3 NOT MET 4000-level: 0% Satisfactory	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: The program will establish a departmental Assessment Committee in order to more effectively plan the streamlined assessment. We will establish an ad hoc committee to create a departmental policy on plagiarism and academic dishonesty that will be driven by 2013-2014 assessment data and review of policies at peer and aspirant institutions. We will also re-conduct a failed search for a tenure-track faculty position specializing in technical writing.
			Dr. Metts	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Martin	ENGL 3218 African-Caribbean Literature
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
		Spring 2014	Dr. Michael	ENGL 2104 Advanced Composition
			Dr. Dominy	ENGL 2105 Introduction to Literary Criticism
			Prof. West	ENGL 3216 African-American Poetry
			Dr. Brevik	ENGL 4011 Shakespeare
			Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar
Academic Engagement and Achievement	5. The students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the evolution of literature including key genres, movements and figures in the areas of (a) American Literature, (b) British Literature, (c) Africana Literature, and (d) World Literature	Fall 2013	Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar	Major Field Test (All students in 4700 will take field test) - Answer Key	70% of students will reach 70^th percentile nationally	TARGET NOT MET Student scores ranged from the 1^st percentile to the 46^th percentile nationally.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: We will offer more courses in British literature to address shortcomings in student performance on the ETS major field test in that area. We will also split the Single World literature survey into two World Literature surveys in order to provide broader coverage. We will align the learning outcomes and objectives for the survey courses in order to address the need for students to learn content for the ETS major field test and to improve readiness for 3000-level and 4000-level outcomes.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Spring 2014	Dr. Schroeder	ENGL 4700 Senior Seminar		70% of students will reach 70^th percentile nationally

Assessment Results (POs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase number of tenure-track, PhD holding faculty teaching in the program, with one specializing in Technical Writing	Post position and form hiring committee.	Successful completion of hiring process	One Tenure Track faculty hire with specialty in Technical Writing	TARGET MET Dr. Neesha Navare was hired.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Target met. No further action required.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase English majors	a. Verbal recruitment in class. b. Outreach at Open Campus.	Blackboard Analytics	Increase of 10% from previous year	TARGET NOT MET Fall 2013: 92 Majors. Fall 2014: 103 Majors. Target shortfall 1.1%	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of projected use of results from the 2012-2013 academic year that is being addressed in the 2013-2014 academic year: Verbal recruitment in class and outreach at Open Campus. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Given that we saw an increase of 9% and nearly met our goal, the program will continue activities into next year.

SSU Strategic Plan Goal

PO Goal

Enabling Strategies

Measures

Targets

Results and Analysis of Results

Actions in Response to Results

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Increase number of tenure-track, PhD holding faculty teaching in the program, with one specializing in Technical Writing

Post position and form hiring committee.

Successful completion of hiring process

One Tenure Track faculty hire with specialty in Technical Writing

TARGET MET

Dr. Neesha Navare was hired.

OVERALL: TARGET MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Target met. No further action required.

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Increase English majors

a. Verbal recruitment in class.

b. Outreach at Open Campus.

Blackboard Analytics

Increase of 10% from previous year

TARGET NOT MET

Fall 2013: 92 Majors. Fall 2014: 103 Majors.

Target shortfall 1.1%

OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET

Description of projected use of results from the 2012-2013 academic year that is being addressed in the 2013-2014 academic year: Verbal recruitment in class and outreach at Open Campus.

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Given that we saw an increase of 9% and nearly met our goal, the program will continue activities into next year.