APPENDIX B

FULL DEPARTMENT REVIEW

Department reviews occur once every ten years.  The department review process begins with a self-study, that analyzes the department’s strengths, areas for improvement, and needs.  As part of the review process, the assessment of the department’s goals for student learning is examined. 

 Some things to be included:

• Updated curriculum vitae for each department member

• Assessment reports since the last full review

• Annual reports since the last full review

• Enrollment statistics for all courses and the number of majors and concentrators.

The written report will include an analysis and/or discussion of the following:

• The department’s learning goals for students.  Commentary on how the learning goals for the major are met in terms of the major’s content, the structure and sequence of course work, senior program, pedagogical approaches, use of technology, study abroad experiences, internships, other co-curricular programming or activities.  A summary of the department’s assessment results and how they have been used.

• Student and alumnae surveys of the major.  (Does not need to be separate; could be integrated into other sections of the report.)

•  The department’s academic advising strategies for majors as well as preparation of department faculty to be major advisors.

• Enrollment patterns for the past ten years and of patterns in the number of majors and concentrators.  Enrollment statistics should include the number of students other than majors/concentrators served by the department.

• Staffing.

•  Faculty goals for department and individual professional growth.

•  Summary of strengths and areas for improvement.

• A needs analysis, especially noting gaps in the curriculum, advising issues, recruiting difficulties, scheduling or class size concerns, challenges of meeting learning goals, library holdings, etc.

• Comparison of the major/department with those at peer and aspirant institutions.

• Proposed goals for the next decade.