1
Planning and Review Committee (PCR)
AY 2012-13 Annual Report to the Faculty Senate and UW System
Results of Program Analysis and Recommendations:
During the 2012-13 academic year, the Planning and Review Committee reviewed the following degree programs and made the listed recommendations.
Program/
Component
Applied Mathematics
&Computer Science,
B.S.
Applied Science, B.S.
Strengths
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
1. Dual nature of the degree combining
mathematics and computer science,
which provides graduates with problem
solving and programming skills.
2. Strong experiential component in the
curriculum for all the concentrations,
including a high quality co-op
experience.
3. Knowledgeable and helpful faculty/staff.
4. Strong leadership of Chair and Program
Directors.
5. Healthy enrollment and improvements in
retention.
6. Continuing rates of high placement of
graduates even during a recession
economy; high starting salaries.
7. Continuous efforts to keep pace with
industry demands; strong industry
partnerships.
1. High quality instruction that fosters
critical thinking.
2. New facilities with well-funded labs.
3. Strong and growing student enrollment
in the program.
4. A body of faculty that is knowledgeable
and committed to student learning within
an interdisciplinary setting.
5. Dedicated faculty that is available to
communicate and assist students.
6. Curriculum that allows for experiential
learning and faculty/student research
1. Challenges related to balancing
mathematics and computer science
courses for the dual degree with
different concentrations. Students
majoring in a particular
concentration express the desire for
more computer science or
mathematics courses, even though it
is a dual degree program.
2. Difficulties in offering higher level
computer science courses due to
shortage of faculty.
3. Challenges in retaining new faculty;
loss of two faculty members due to
difficulties experienced by spouses
in finding employment.
4. Difficulties in recruiting and
retaining high-achieving and
dedicated students.
1. Students have difficulty taking
courses in required sequences, due
to conflicts in course scheduling
among the sponsoring departments.
2. Staffing issues related to lack of
faculty to meet student demand for
course offerings.
3. Lack of student preparation,
especially in the area of
mathematics.
4. Issues of course overlap in the
ethics area and relevance to the
The PRC recommends continuation
of the program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and that the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
The PRC recommends continuation
of the program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and that the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
2
Program/
Component
Strengths
opportunities.
7. High job placement rate for graduating
majors.
8. Program has increased diversity in
student enrollment.
Concerns
5.
6.
7.
Career & Technical
Education, M.S./Ed.S.
1. Coursework is relevant to students’
learning needs, enabling them to apply
theory to practice in their current jobs.
2. Courses delivered through combination
of methods provide flexibility and meets
a variety of learning preferences.
3. Program revision in 2009-2010
addressed previous concerns and
improved program.
4. Enrollment has been strong and
consistent since last review.
5. Alumni follow-up surveys indicate 100%
employment and above average salaries.
6. MS CTE degree from UW-Stout is
highly regarded in the field.
7. Faculty committed to providing quality
instruction and helping students achieve
their goals.
8. Students, alumni, faculty, and external
stakeholders report high levels of
satisfaction with the program.
9. Program’s courses are designed to enable
students to apply theory to practice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
major.
Retention of enrolled majors is
lower than the Stout average (52%
vs. 75%).
Faculty unable to access up-to-date
scientific literature through the
University Library.
Level of communication among
associated departments regarding
program needs and goals.
Lack of permanent program director
for the BS CTET program, which is
a feeder to the MS CTE program,
has a negative impact on the
graduate program.
Issues in providing consistent
course offerings, affecting course
availability.
Develop more consistent
assignment of key faculty to deliver
courses.
Variability in quality of instruction
in some online courses.
Need for improved classroom
facilities.
Administrative and clerical support
inadequate for program needs,
especially for offering courses
during the weekends and during the
summer.
Enrollment barriers for students
wishing to take face-to-face classes
due to CI coding issues.
Lack of doctoral program in CTE at
UW-Stout.
Potential decrease in student
support services in the areas of
library resources and D2L
PRC Recommendations
The PRC recommends continuation
of this program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and that the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
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Program/
Component
Computer
Engineering, B.S.
Food & Nutritional
Sciences, M.S.
Strengths
1. Healthy Enrollment since Fall 2009
[ABET Self-Study Report and Program
Facts]
2. Accessible advisors and instructors and
small class sizes [Student Surveys]
3. “Strong working relationship with
Computer Engineering and Computer
Science faculty including research” [Key
Faculty Survey]
4. Students graduating with this degree will
automatically receive a minor in
Mathematics and Computer Science. If
students choose to take an additional nine
credits (three courses) the will also
graduate with a minor in Biomedical
Instrumentation. [ABET Self-Study
Report]
5. Mixture of theoretical and practical
instruction emphasizing both design of
hardware and software for engineering
systems [ABET Self-Study Report and
Advisory Board Surveys]
6. Key faculty are well qualified and
knowledgeable [ABET Self-Study
Report and Advisory Board Surveys]
1. Experiential emphasis of the program.
2. High level of preparedness for obtaining
and performing nutritional science
positions.
3. The program houses diverse faculty and
students – currently 40% are
International students.
4. Recent hiring to full complement
enabling possible IFT accreditation.
Concerns
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
instruction.
C and C++ programming earlier in
program [Key Faculty Survey and
Advisory Board Surveys]
Limited co-op opportunities [ABET
Self-Study Report, Student Surveys
and Advisory Board Surveys]. *
Program director notes co-op
requirement of all students is part of
curriculum revision.
Labs were noted as outdated or not
up to current technology [Student
Surveys]
The increase to 12-credit load for
faculty could be detrimental;
contact hours in labs are greater
than content hours in this discipline.
[ABET Self-Study Report]
Library resources [Student Surveys]
Currently 131 credits, but there are
plans for revision. [ABET SelfStudy Report, Key Faculty Survey]
1. There has been a significant amount
of faculty turnover, particularly in
the food science area, which has
impacted thesis advisement and the
thesis completion rate.
2. Continued need to update labs and
facilities, integrating new
equipment into the appropriate
laboratory courses, and obtaining
PRC Recommendations
The PRC recommends continuation
of this program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
The PRC recommends a status report
be submitted in Spring of 2014, to
update progress on key impacts to the
program.
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Program/
Component
Strengths
Concerns
assistance from a laboratory
technician.
program director.
3. The program is limited in the
6. Accessibility of instructors in the
number of online and 700-level
program courses.
offerings that are available.
7. High quality faculty producing a high
Insufficient number of thesis
pass rate on national dietetic registry
advisors since not all PhD faculty
exam.
members in the department are
8. Excellent research support from the UWinterested in serving as research
Stout library.
advisors.
4. Insufficient number of graduate
assistantships to help recruit and
retain more students.
5. Low graduation rates.
1. Labs and “hands-on” curriculum provide 1. Organization of course scheduling
students with real-world experience prior
and limited access to advisors
to graduation. (Program Director,
makes it difficult for students to
Student Surveys, Key Faculty, and
plan their course of study. (Student
Program Advisory Board.)
Surveys.)
2. High placement rate of program
2. The need of a required co-op.
graduates. (Program Director, Key
(Program Director, Program
Faculty and Program Advisory Board.)
Advisory Board).
3. ABET Accreditation. (Program Director, 3. Faculty turnover has created
Key Faculty and Program Advisory
situation where many core courses –
Board.)
including those at the upper level are being taught by adjuncts.
4. Committed Faculty and program director.
(Program Director, Student Surveys,
(Program Director, Student Surveys, Key
Key Faculty, and Program Advisory
Faculty, and Program Advisory Board.)
Board.)
4. Lab modifications are needed, so
the program can continue to expose
students to current manufacturing
processes. (Program Director, Key
Faculty and Program Advisory
Board.)
1. Unique program with blended discipline
1. Continual admissions growth of the
PRC Recommendations
5. Accessibility to and support from the
Manufacturing
Engineering, B.S.
Plastics
The PRC recommends continuation
of this program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and that the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
The PRC recommends continuation
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Program/
Component
Engineering, B.S.
Psychology, B.S.
Strengths
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
directly related to current in-demand
plastics engineering job market.
2. Strong collaboration with industry for
donations, laboratory equipment and
machinery, and advisement which keeps
content current and up-to-date.
3. Courses are a specialized hands-on
combination of lecture/laboratory with
the laboratory experience ranging from
basic experimentation and material
testing to full project-based semester
long capstone projects.
4. Rigorous curriculum objectives and
requirements from outside accrediting
body ABET ensures acceptance of the
high standards of the program, the
faculty, and the graduates into the
industry.
5. Faculty members hold degrees in
appropriate fields with significant
industrial and consulting experience in
the plastics industry bringing a wealth of
industrial and research experiences to the
students’ educational experience.
1. Employment and educational
continuation rate of graduates (PD
report).
2. Assessment of program objectives
through Education Testing Service Major
Field Test, Writing Assessment, and
Experiential Learning Assessment (PD
report).
3. Incorporation of diversity into the
curriculum, numerous research
opportunities for students, and flexibility
and relevance of the curriculum (PD
report, advisory board, key faculty,
student surveys).
program will require additional
qualified faculty and course sections
which will tax the current space and
budgetary limitations.
2. Maintaining up-to-date laboratory
facilities, equipment, and
production machinery will be
required to properly prepare
students to enter the industry for
employment.
of the program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and that the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
1. Curriculum: overlap in course
content; need for written
communication skills and to
strengthen research methods
sequences; “limited seating” courses
not offered enough; preparation for
field experience and post-graduation
planning (PD report, advisory board
report, key faculty, students
surveys).
2. Need for more tenure track faculty
to teach needed areas of expertise
(PD report, advisory board report).
3. Inadequate lab facilities (light, noise
The PRC recommends continuation
of this program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
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Program/
Component
Strengths
4. Program director providing strong,
capable leadership (PD report, advisory
board, key faculty surveys, student
surveys).
5. Professors (PD report, advisory board,
key faculty, surveys, student surveys).
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
and electromagnetic pollution) and
resources (computers, software,
polling equipment) (PD report, key
faculty, student surveys).
4. Need for professional journals in
library (PD report, key faculty).
School Psychology,
M.S.Ed./Ed.S.
1. 100% Internship/Employment rate for
program repeaters (PD report, key
faculty, student and advisory board
surveys.
2. Enrollment fairly stable despite
downward trends nationally (PD report,
key faculty, student and advisory board
surveys).
3. Applied focus (PD report, key faculty,
student and advisory board surveys).
4. Clinical Services Center (also known as
CSC) (PD report, key faculty, student
and advisory board surveys).
5. Strong connections with School
Counseling program at UW-Stout (PD
report, key faculty, student and advisory
board surveys).
6. Positive support and resources from
School of Education and CEHHS (PD
report).
1. Need for more stable faculty (PD
report, key faculty, student and
advisory board surveys).
2. The hiring of new faculty member
is crucial for continued
accreditation by the National
Association of School Psychologists
(PD report and advisory board
surveys).
3. Need to investigate a possible
revision of research requirements
(PD report).
4. One assigned space for Graduate
Assistants and Resource library.
The PRC recommends continuation
of this program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
Sustainable
Management, B.S.
1. Fully online instruction.
2. UW-Stout Academic Director.
3. The program is vetted by four campuses
and therefore there is increased scrutiny
of curriculum and objectives.
4. Collaborative/interdisciplinary program.
5. Regular communication between
academic directors helps the program run
smoothly.
1. There are too many program
objectives (total of 16).
2. The program objectives are unclear
and do not reflect the nature of the
program.
3. The membership of advisory board
is unclear.
The PRC recommends continuation
of this program through the next
scheduled review in 2019 and the
recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
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Additional Committee Actions:
The committee recommended to the Senate the following Notice of Intent proposals:
•
•
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B.S. in Environmental Science
P.S.M. in Conservation Biology
B.S. in Criminal Justice & Rehabilitation
M.S. in Packaging Science
The committee also received the following Authorization to Implement proposals:
•
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B.S. in Environmental Science
M.S. Construction Management