1
Planning and Review Committee (PCR)
AY 2011-12 Annual Report to the Faculty Senate and UW System
Results of Program Analysis and Recommendations:
During the 2011-12 academic year, the Planning and Review Committee reviewed the following degree programs and made the listed recommendations.
Program/
Component
Dietetics, B.S.
Education, M.S.
Strengths
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
1. UW-Stout student scores for the Registered
Dietitian exam are trending upward over the
past several years with the national average
remaining flat.
2. UW-Stout graduates are acquiring internships
at a rate of 70% while the national average of
acceptance is 52%.
3. Small class size, experiential experiences
such as internship, coursework and the
supportive faculty.
4. Increase in student retention and graduation
rates.
5. Student expectations are clearly defined.
6. B.S. Dietetics Program Director and key
faculty.
7. The implementation of a successful student
mentoring program has resulted in students
learning the requirements of the degree and
field experience while gaining leadership and
volunteer opportunities.
1. Quality of Instruction: some instructors
need improvement on classroom
instruction techniques.
2. According to the accrediting body,
UW-Stout is required to have a program
director (PD) employed as a 1.0 FTE.
3. Nutrition counseling lab still does not
exist. Lab mods were submitted at the
time of the last PRC review in 2004-05,
but space was not allocated. In addition,
there is a need for more lab space, and
improvements in the existing lab
spaces.
4. Advising: Due to current PD having a
limited appointment, time to spend
advising students is limited.
5. Course scheduling/planning: A
continuing need for collaborative,
cross-department and cross-college
course offerings on a regular schedule
exists.
6. Fulfill open position searches until
complete to allow for adequate service
to the Dietetics program.
1. Develop more consistent assignment of
faculty to deliver courses
2. Consider exploring feasibility of adding
more courses to existing array to meet
student requests for more variety
The PRC recommends that the Dietetics
program continue to be one of UWStout’s degree programs for the ongoing
seven-year cycle, that recommendations
made by the committee be implemented,
and that a memo from the dean reporting
on unresolved accreditation issues be
filed in fall 2013.
1. Recent program revision to address previous
concerns and improve program
2. Addition of assessment of learning
components in the program
3. Data driven decision making for real world
research
4. Enrollment has been strong and increasing
5. Accredited by the National Council for the
Accreditation of Teacher Education
(NCATE)
6. Students can take all courses online, requires
The PRC recommends continuation of
this program through the next scheduled
review in 2018 and the recommendations
made by the committee be implemented.
2
Program/
Component
Hotel, Restaurant &
Tourism Management,
B.S.
Information &
Communication
Technologies, B.S.
Information &
Communication
Technologies, M.S.
Management, B.S.
Strengths
no travel to campus
7. Flexibility of programming for adult learners
1. Healthy Enrollment
2. Strong core of classes and strong faculty
expertise
3. Industry recognition and reputation
4. Strong placement record
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
1. Need for additional faculty and support
staff
2. Need for an independent building
3. Need for more faculty development
resources
4. Need for more publicity of the new
school designation
1. Switch to CI model has the potential to
create limited flexibility in both course
offerings and access of lab facilities by
online students.
2. Inconsistency in delivery of online
courses is creating a disconnect
between students and instructors.
Students are having difficulty
establishing relationships with
instructors, and understanding both
course-specific and program goals (e.g.
the need for General Education courses)
3. Limited number of faculty prevents
consistent delivery of courses in
emerging areas of network development
and security.
4. The growing disparity between faculty
and industry salaries creates a potential
scenario where there is loss of faculty
to industry and an inability to hire new
faculty.
The Committee recommends that this
program continue to be one of UW
Stout’s degree programs for the ongoing
seven-year cycle and that
recommendations made by this
committee be implemented.
1. Strong, consistent enrollment
2. High level of student satisfaction
3. Access to the IT lab in the ACT department
which includes NetLab
1. Ongoing need to keep up with new
course delivery methods
2 Additional staff to reduce/remove
overloads and use of adjunct faculty, to
develop and deliver additional courses,
and to support an on-campus cohort of
students
The Committee recommends that this
program continue to be one of UW
Stout’s degree programs for the ongoing
seven-year cycle and that
recommendations made by this
committee be implemented.
1. Strong program leadership by the current
program director
1. Inconsistent experiences between
courses and instructors.
The PRC recommends continuation of
this program through the next scheduled
1. Online course delivery – allow flexibility for
degree completion
2. Strong students with either AA degrees or
work experience in technical fields related to
ICT who bring real-world experience to the
classroom
3. Classes provide hands on learning and up-todate curriculum, reflecting Stout’s mission as
a Polytechnic University.
4. Adding in ICT-100 in Fall 2011 to
communicate programs goals and
information to students
The PRC recommends continuation of
this program through the next scheduled
review in 2018 and that the
recommendations made by the committee
be implemented.
3
Program/
Component
Professional
Communication &
Emerging Media, B.S.
Vocational
Rehabilitation, B.S.
Strengths
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
2. The program is student-centered and focused.
3. Active engagement with external publics,
resulting in market-smart and responsive
program.
4. The program curriculum provides the
outcomes and capacity building
acknowledged by program graduates and
employers.
5. Instructors are perceived as the experts
providing real field experiences through their
teaching strategies and curriculum.
6. Stable and increasing enrollment numbers.
7. The flexibility of the program resulting from
the program's curriculum.
1. The program has been responsive and is in
tune with current trends and technologies.
(Key faculty survey - A [inside department],
Key faculty survey - B [outside department],
PD self-study)
2. The program has a delivery structure that
makes degree completion accessible to off
campus students. (PD self-study)
3. Placement of graduates, as noted in the prior
review continues to be high. (PD self-study)
4. National and international recognition was
reported along with strong support and
connection to industry. (Program Advisory
Committee, PD-self-study
5. Enrollment is growing rapidly. (PD selfstudy)
6. The current Program Director and staff were
noted as a strength being knowledgeable and
committed to the students. (PD self-study)
7. Strong, diverse, current and rigorous
curriculum. (Key faculty survey - A [inside
department], Key faculty survey - B [outside
department], Program Advisory Committee,
Student surveys, PD self-study)
8. Placement of graduates continues to be high.
(PD self-study)
1. The BS in Vocational Rehabilitation (BSVR)
is a dynamic and flexible program that
2. Curriculum rigor inconsistencies.
3. Need for additional clarity
communicating added expenses such as
computer buying peripherals or course
products.
4. Course access impact due to the 2011
implemented CI/Non-CI class model.
5. Access to a consistent program learning
experience in a growing program is
challenged by the program's reliance on
adjunct faculty.
review in seven years. It further supports
that recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
1. The need for a Journalism faculty -search is underway, but the hire needs
to happen for the Applied Journalism
concentration to be successful. (PD
self-study)
2. Library resources. (PD self-study,
student surveys)
3. Classroom facilities need to keep up
with the evolving field and changing
technology. (PD self-study, student
surveys, advisory board)
4. Laboratory equipment needs to keep up
with the evolving field and changing
technology. (PD self-study, student
surveys, advisory board)
5. The current smaller size of the program
forces most of the classes to be
delivered in the traditional and online
format by the same instructor -- this
seems to dramatically increase the
workload of instructors.
The PRC recommends continuation of
this program through the next scheduled
review in 2017-18 and that the
recommendations made by the committee
be implemented.
1. The size of student enrollment results in
limited course accessibility and students
The PRC recommends continuation of the
BS in Vocational Rehabilitation through
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Program/
Component
Strengths
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
STATUS REPORT: Art
Education, B.S.
1.
2.
3.
4.
prepares student for successful careers in
their chosen fields.
The BSVR has one of the highest enrollments
for student diversity across the institution.
The BSVR program is registered with the
Commission on Rehabilitation Education
(CORE), and is in the process of full
accreditation, anticipated Summer of 2012.
Program offers 10 concentration areas plus
an individualized concentration option, which
makes the program unique amongst its peer
programs, and provides a wide variety of
options for students with diverse career
orientations.
Students have a variety of academic as well
as field-based experiences, focused on both
career awareness as well as professional
development.
A primary emphasis of the program is
focused on hands-on, experiential
coursework and experiences, which aligns
with the polytechnic mission of the
institution.
Faculty has expertise across a variety of
domains related to this broad field, and
sustains a commitment to continuing
professional development.
Program faculty members are perceived a
passionate, professional and enthusiastic.
Program faculty provides intensive student
advisement opportunities, including both
individual and group advisement events.
Fall 2011 student surveys indicate resolution
of previous concerns about course overlap
Student surveys indicated no concerns about
preparation in the areas of assessment,
teaching strategies, or content/curriculum.
Previous student concerns about needing
updated curriculum and new methods of
instruction appear to have been resolved.
Fall 2011 student surveys reflect no further
concerns about program information or
Concerns
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
ability to follow their prescribed course
sequence.
Ability of program faculty to keep up
with effective student advisement based
on large student enrollments.
Organization of student program plans
and course sequences as integrated with
required coursework housed in other
programs (coordination of course
scheduling across programs).
Students understanding of perceived
areas of content overlap across program
courses.
Continued facilitation of student
professional writing skills.
A need to stay current and up-to-date
with technical resources, lab equipment
and training tools.
Physical accessibility to classrooms
utilized by the BSVR program.
1. Current program director is an
emergency-hire position and
sustainability of this position should be
addressed.
PRC Recommendations
the next scheduled review in 2018, and
that recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
The committee commends the program
director and the SOE Director in
addressing the concerns raised in the
2006-2007 program review and status
reports of 2008-2009 and 2010-2011.
Results of the 2011 surveys indicate that
previous issues of concern have been
resolved. The survey results also clearly
identify recent successes of the program,
including the leadership of the current
5
Program/
Component
Strengths
requirements and how to plan out their
programs of study for timely completion.
5. Surveys also indicated no further concerns
about a need for rapport and collaboration
between the art education faculty and the
studio art faculty.
Additional Committee Actions:
The committee recommended to the Senate the following Entitlement to Plan proposals:



M.S. in Construction Management
Ed.D. in Career and Technical Education
M.S. in Sustainable Management
The committee also received the following Authorization to Implement proposals:


M.S. Sustainable Management
Concerns
PRC Recommendations
program director.
Having closely reviewed the survey and
status report, the PRC believes all of the
major concerns have been addressed and
recommends that the program receive an
extension to undergo its next scheduled
full program review in five years.