CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATION REPORT
Planning and Review Committee
Consultant Recommendation
I.
Degree: MS in Training and Human Resource Development
Date of Review: 2013-2014
Program Director: Wendy Dittmann
PRC Consultant(s): Kimberly Zagorski and David Seim
Purpose of the Review: To assess the quality of the MS in Training and Human
Resource Development program as part of the seven-year cycle required of all degree
programs at UW-Stout
Committee Findings: The PRC recommends continuation of this program through the
next scheduled review and that the recommendations of the committee be implemented.
Abstract: Recently revised during 2012-13, the program for the M.S. in Training and
Human Resources Development prepares professionals who will research, implement,
and manage the learning and development programs and services within a variety of
organizational contexts. The program focuses on applied learning and research, with
students learning how to develop the employee and the organization through designing
and implementing training and learning opportunities. The program requires 30 credits,
with classes offered in late afternoons, evenings, and online. The program can be
completed in 18 months.
II.
Process Followed for Current Review:
The PRC consultants met with the program director to review the procedures and offer
assistance. Data regarding several aspects of the program were collected from students
enrolled in the MS Training and Human Resource Development program, key faculty and
alumni. The data were analyzed and returned to the program director and PRC members.
The program director then completed the self-study report and presented the report to the
PRC. The consultants then wrote the recommendation report. This report was forwarded
to the dean for her response. The PRC reviewed the dean’s response, approved the
recommendation report and forwarded the report to the Faculty Senate.
III.
Previous Review Year: 2006-2007
Previous Recommendations for Program Director:
1. Work with the department chair to ensure that the current two full-time faculty search
positions have the potential to attract qualified candidates to fill the positions.
2. Work with the department chair in identifying potential new off-sites for the
development of program cohort groups to meet with growing needs of students.
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3. With the department chair, review the thesis advising loads and determine an
appropriate load and identify what resources are needed to have the advisement needs
of all students in their thesis stage met.
Response from Program Director:
1. The role and responsibility of the program director is to ensure students have
coursework available when needed. To do this requires collaborative effort with the
department chair. The Operations, Construction and Management department has
been responsive to the needs of the program. In that vein, the MSTD program director
is serving on the search & screen committee for the two full-time faculty.
2. This is something that CTEM is attentive towards. Residing at the Associate Dean’s
level, in consultation with the MSTD advisory board and OCM department, all are
supportive of efforts to grow in areas where there is need. The department and college
are mindful of balancing opportunity with capacity to deliver. Personnel associated
with distance education programs housed in CTEM convene periodically to discuss
plans for delivery.
3. The new University policy guidelines for thesis release (6 theses = 3 credit release),
have been adopted by the OCM department. In addition to this policy, hiring two new
faculty will provide the resources needed for advisement.
Previous Recommendations for Department Chair:
1. Investigate with the program director the potential of offering more off-campus
cohort programs synchronically or through other delivery approaches to serve larger
populations with fewer needed faculty.
2. Investigate with the dean a solution to faculty and resource needs to meet the current
thesis advising concerns of students and to address the problem of over reliance on
full-time faculty overloads to cover program courses.
Response from Department Chair:
1. The department chair, in concert with the program director, will work to identify
emerging or continuing demand for the distance delivery of the Training and
Development program.
2. The OCM department will continue to utilize funding from the Provost’s office to
provide release time for faculty members serving as graduate advisors. The
department is conducting a search for two new faculty members to replace two recent
retirements in the behavioral science discipline. These faculty will contribute to our
ability to offer the necessary graduate level courses and to provide assistance in the
advisement of graduate research projects. In addition, the department is conducting a
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search for another faculty position utilizing customized tuition revenue, to reduce, in
part, reliance on overloads to deliver required program coursework.
Previous Recommendations for Dean:
1. If information validates the need, work with the program director and department chair
to submit a plan to central administration to obtain needed resources to expand the offcampus cohort program to additional marketable sites using the current delivery mode
or new delivery modes.
2. Review with the program director and department chair the current concerns regarding
thesis advisement and over reliance on overloads to cover needed MSTD courses.
Also, identify and enact a solution to these concerns.
Response from Dean:
1. The College of Technology, Engineering and Management has recently developed a
plan to recruit additional faculty using customized tuition revenues to support the M.S.
in Training & Development. The off-campus cohort program has relied heavily on
existing faculty to teach overloads for course delivery. Adequate revenue has been
generated by the MSTD cohort program to hire faculty against the Training and
Development account and the department chair has been charged to begin the
recruitment process. Bringing in additional faculty will allow for continued delivery of
the distance education cohort model, including the investigation of new site
development.
2. The College of Technology, Engineering and Management has adopted the new
university graduate education workload model and release for thesis advisement. The
College and its departments utilize the 6-theses-equals-3 credits-release model.
Regarding overloads, refer to the response #1. With the addition of new faculty in the
OCM department and an additional Training & Development faculty member hired
using customized tuition revenue, the use of overloads to delivery courses for the
MSTD program will decrease.
IV.
Current Year Program Review:
Program Strengths-Indicate Source:
1.
A curriculum that is focused on applied learning and research (PD report; Student
surveys; Faculty Surveys; Program Advisory Committee surveys).
2. Flexibility in program delivery, reaching students beyond the Stout campus (PD
report; Student surveys; Faculty Surveys; Program Advisory Committee surveys).
3. A rigorous curriculum that surpasses industry guidelines (PD report; Student surveys;
Faculty Surveys; Program Advisory Committee surveys).
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4. A committed Program Director and Advisory Board (Faculty Surveys; Program
Advisory Committee surveys).
Issues of Concern-Indicate Source (NOTE: All issues of concern need to have a
recommendation related to it. However, there may be some recommendations that don’t
relate to a particular issue of concern):
1. As the program initiates its online program, there may be a shortage of qualified
faculty to deliver both on-campus and online courses. (PD report; Student surveys;
Faculty Surveys.)
2. Faculty face challenges in accessing resources to assist them in instructional design
and delivery for both on site and online classes. (PD report; Student surveys; Program
Advisory Committee surveys).
3. Reoccurring shortages of faculty advisers for student theses. (PD report; Student
surveys; Faculty Surveys.)
4. Absence of certificate options in the areas of Training, Organization Development
and Talent Development/Human Resource Development. (PD report)
Recommendations for the Program Director:
1. Monitor the need for additional faculty and communicate program needs with the
Chair of Operations and Management and the Dean of the College of Management.
2. Assist the Chair of Operations and Management in supporting faculty efforts to
access instructional design and development resources.
3. Work with Chair of Operations and Management to identify long-term strategy to
maintain a consistent advisement pool for thesis projects.
4. Work with faculty to develop certificate options in Training, Organization
Development and Talent Development/Human Resource Development.
Recommendations for the Chair of Operations and Management:
1. Monitor the need for additional faculty and communicate program needs to the Dean
of the College of Management.
2. Assist the Program Director in in supporting faculty efforts to access instructional
design and development resources.
3. Continue assigning thesis advisement as part of load as a short-term solution. Work
with Program Director to identify long-term strategy to maintain a consistent
advisement pool for thesis projects.
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Recommendations for the Dean of the College of Management:
1. Maintain close communication with Program Director and Chair of Operations and
Management to be aware of future program needs, such as resources to maintain a
consistent advisement pool or increase in faculty lines.
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