Academic Program Review SUMMARY*
Department under review: Department of Art
Date self-study received in Dean’s office: July 2013
Date of external consultant’s review: October 2012 and December 2012
Date APR received report: August 2013
APR’S summary of self-study (first two boxes must be completed)
The Art Department offers a BA and BS degrees in Art, a BS degree in Art Education, and minors in Photography and Art to approximately 135 students as well as operating the University Art
Gallery. In 2008-2009, 26 students graduated with BA or BS degrees from the Art Department, and 46 graduates in that year had Art minors. The Art Department offers courses in Foundations,
Art History, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Metals, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Art Education; additionally, the Department offers five General Education courses, with its
Art Appreciation class (Art 102) enrolling 800-1200 students per year. Additionally, Art Department faculty exhibit their work and conduct research regularly and widely.
The Department has undertaken significant curricular reforms since the last APR cycle and worked to significantly revise its assessment practices. Additionally, in 2006, the Department began
implementation of an approved Writing-in-the-Major program and has added writing components to every art studio and curriculum area.
The Department reports two areas of perceived need: one relates to the inadequacy of equipment and facilities; the second relates to the heavy workload of faculty who teach studio courses.
APR’s comments including:
Notable Strengths:
--A wide-ranging, extensive, and dynamic curriculum which emphasizes both aesthetic and intellectual approaches to art;
--an active faculty engaged in the production of art;
--a commitment to developing and implementing meaningful assessment;
--the creation of a new Foundations curriculum;
--the curation of the University Gallery;
--a commitment to General Education.
Notable Weaknesses
--at this point, no specific assessment program;
--a recent decline in majors and minors;
--limitations in space and available equipment;
--health and safety issues with some studio spaces.
Self Study: Purposes
The purpose of the UWL Department of Art is to teach students to anticipate and impact contemporary, global society through intellectual development, visual literacy, and artistic production and
management, fostering the development of graduates who are active, engaged advocates for the arts.
Self Study: Curriculum
To receive a degree with a major in Art the student must complete 48 credits of 120 University credits, within the Art department. Majors are not required to have an emphasis area, but are
required to take a variety of beginning and advanced studio courses. To prepare for these studio courses, students must take Foundations courses providing a solid understanding of concepts,
materials, and techniques in art making. Upon completion of one or two Foundations courses, the students begin to take studio courses in eight different areas, along with more Foundations
courses. Additionally, students are required to take three art history courses and two capstone classes. The three art history courses detail the history of Western and non-Western art, and the
capstones are in Professional Practices and culminate with a Senior Exhibition. The Department of Art provides and implements a curriculum that is consistent to its Mission Statement, providing
an educational environment that encourages intellectual development, visual literacy, and artistic production while fostering the development of graduates who are active citizens and advocates for
the arts.
Self Study: Assessment of Student Learning & Degree of Program Success
The 2006-2008 Biennial assessment identified three specific areas for improvement, including student writing, student presentation of their work, and proficiency in drawing. Remedies for noted
weaknesses included greater attention to writing assignments throughout the curriculum, changing the presentations course (ART 499) to a graded course and increasing the emphasis on
presentation skills in ART 399, and the hiring of a faculty member who specializes in teaching drawing.
For the 2008-2010 Biennial Assessment, Junior Review presentations and critiques and Senior Exhibit presentations and critiques were assessed for evidence of two of the Department’s five
SLOs. The Department has an Assessment Committee which meets every semester to determine which of the SLOs to assess, and the chair also reports that assessment results are discussed
“throughout the academic year” as well as at the time of the Junior review and the Senior Exhibition. At these points, students present their work to all department faculty, who fill out evaluation
forms on each student. Seniors also fill out a self-assessment form. These forms are collected in the Department office, but the data is not examined or converted to any kind of report. The
Department also used indirect measures, including a survey of graduating seniors.
The Department’s Assessment committee has decided that previous assessment plans were not adequate and has worked with University Assessment Coordinator Dr. Patrick Barlow to develop a
new assessment plan that is more suitable for the visual arts. The initial plan was to implement new direct and indirect measures in 2010, but a letter from the University Assessment Coordinator
indicates that the department would use AY 2010-2011 to discuss and develop a new plan, and he offers his opinion that the choice to halt data collection on the old plan in order to develop a new
plan seems like a positive use of the department’s energies. For direct measures, the department intends to develop an assessment plan which would use an e-portfolio system to assess three areas
within the department -- Studio/Art History, Art Education, and General Education -- at three points in the students’ career -- Foundations, Professional Practices (ART 399) and Senior Exhibition
(ART 499).
Responding to both the previous APR report and the results of their 2006-2008 and 2008-2010 Biennial Assessments, the Art Department did write new Art major Student Learning Outcomes in
2011 covering five categories: intellectual development, visual literacy, active citizenship and advocacy for the arts, breadth of artistic production, and proficiency in artistic production. The
department will also use indirect measures such as student self-evaluations, graduate school placement, and job placement to supplement direct measures of the SLOs.
The Art Department is also tasked with assessing the Art Education major, but the specific Art methods courses have not been assessed. The Art Education majors are assessed in ART 399 and
ART 499, as non-education majors are, but their education courses are not. The UWL General Education Assessment committee has approved the assessments of the General Education Art
courses regularly since 2009, and the department has conducted General Education assessments since 2003.
The two biennial assessment reports included in the self-study describe Student Learning Outcomes and key points for assessing them, but no results of the assessments were presented. It seems
that the department has made some curricular and hiring decisions based on discussions of these assessments, but the actual results of the assessments have not been compiled.
Self Study: Previous Academic Program Review and New Program Initiatives
The last APR report for the Art Department was submitted in 2003. In that report, the department’s most significant strength was identified as its low student-to-teacher ratio; the areas most in
need of improvement were available space/facilities and recruitment of majors.
The issue of space/facilities has not been resolved, as it is not in the control of the Art Department.
Enrollment of majors had been fairly stable, with a total of 127 in 2003, 109 in 2006, and 118 in 2009. Enrollment in the various art minors had steadily increased, with 105 in 2003, 112 in
2006, and 131 in 2009. More recently, numbers have declined and appear to be moving in a downward direction. As of Fall 2013, there are about 70 Art majors and 65 Art minors. The
Department is in the process of developing a plan for recruitment of new majors and minors.
The Department’s major initiative since the last APR has been the creation of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree; that proposal is now at the system level. (Note: as of Fall 2013, the Art
Department has voted to withdraw the proposal for the BFA, based on system-level changes and concerns)
The Department has future plans to assess the Writing in the Major program, plan for new gallery space on campus, work with Continuing Ed to offer art courses on and off campus, update the
Department website and literature, raise funds for scholarships, revise department by-laws, and examine budget needs for studio accounts, general education courses, and Foundations courses.
Some programs have specific goals: the Ceramics program has a goal of fostering more collaboration between Ceramics and other art media, the Metalsmithing program has the goal of adding new
courses in blacksmithing, and the Painting program has the goal of integrating encaustic and other non-traditional techniques into course offerings. The achievement of this last goal is contingent
upon funding for a new “lab mod” studio space.
The Department would also like to hire a faculty member who specializes in Integrated Media in order to increase course offerings in technology and electronic processes as image-making tools.
Self Study: Personnel
The Art Department has traditionally had ten tenure-track faculty. One new tenure-track faculty position was created with GQA funds with the goal of creating a new Foundations and drawing
curriculum; the faculty member hired serves as Coordinator of the Foundations courses. One full-time IAS position was also created with GQA funds for a position in graphic design/electronic
imaging. A 0.5 FTE IAS hire was also made in 2012. In addition to the current 11 tenure-track, 1 full-time IAS, and one half-time IAS, the department hires part-time IAS to teach general
education and Foundations courses as needed.
Since the last self-study, every faculty member has exhibited his or her work and/or presented at regional or national conferences, and faculty members regularly receive a variety of grants. Four
faculty members have taken sabbaticals; several faculty members have also participated in UW Faculty College and the Teaching Fellows and Scholar program.
The department has a 92% Administrative Department Assistant, but would like this position to be increased to 100%.
One studio professor serves as director of the University Gallery (with 0.5 FTE assignment to that position in addition to 0.5 FTE in teaching).
Self Study: Support for Achieving Academic Program Goals (Resources)
The Department’s physical space/facilities needs continue to be unmet. Although the opening of Centennial Hall did create some possibilities for expansion because of Communication Studies
moving there, the available space has not yet been allocated. The Center for the Arts is scheduled for renovation in the 2021-2023 biennium. In addition to needing new/improved spaces for
teaching and studio facilities, the Art Department needs additional space for the University Gallery. As noted by the external reviewer, the Department also needs to address some health and safety
issues in some of their facilities.
While the Department has received some CLS Technology and Equipment Grant funds to add equipment to several classrooms and studios, they continue to need new or additional equipment for
Metalsmithing (ventilation, sinks, valves, paint), Painting (additional space, windows), Printmaking (larger space, an additional press), Photography (a technical assistant, additional space), and
Sculpture (concrete surfacing for outdoor space, materials storage). Clearly, the limitations in facilities and equipment do impede some of the department’s curricular goals.
External Reviewer Recommendations
APR’s Comments on External Reviewer (if applicable):
Dr. Ron Mottram, Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Art at Illinois State University visited in 2007 to prepare the UW-L Department of Art for accreditation to The National
Association of the Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Although the 2007 visit focused on issues related to NASAD requirements specifically, the same issues were raised during the
Self Study: Personnel
The Art Department has traditionally had ten tenure-track faculty. One new tenure-track faculty position was created with GQA funds with the goal of creating a new Foundations and drawing
curriculum; the faculty member hired serves as Coordinator of the Foundations courses. One full-time IAS position was also created with GQA funds for a position in graphic design/electronic
imaging. A 0.5 FTE IAS hire was also made in 2012. In addition to the current 11 tenure-track, 1 full-time IAS, and one half-time IAS, the department hires part-time IAS to teach general
education and Foundations courses as needed.
Since the last self-study, every faculty member has exhibited his or her work and/or presented at regional or national conferences, and faculty members regularly receive a variety of grants. Four
faculty members have taken sabbaticals; several faculty members have also participated in UW Faculty College and the Teaching Fellows and Scholar program.
The department has a 92% Administrative Department Assistant, but would like this position to be increased to 100%.
One studio professor serves as director of the University Gallery (with 0.5 FTE assignment to that position in addition to 0.5 FTE in teaching).
Self Study: Support for Achieving Academic Program Goals (Resources)
The Department’s physical space/facilities needs continue to be unmet. Although the opening of Centennial Hall did create some possibilities for expansion because of Communication Studies
moving there, the available space has not yet been allocated. The Center for the Arts is scheduled for renovation in the 2021-2023 biennium. In addition to needing new/improved spaces for
teaching and studio facilities, the Art Department needs additional space for the University Gallery. As noted by the external reviewer, the Department also needs to address some health and safety
issues in some of their facilities.
While the Department has received some CLS Technology and Equipment Grant funds to add equipment to several classrooms and studios, they continue to need new or additional equipment for
Metalsmithing (ventilation, sinks, valves, paint), Painting (additional space, windows), Printmaking (larger space, an additional press), Photography (a technical assistant, additional space), and
Sculpture (concrete surfacing for outdoor space, materials storage). Clearly, the limitations in facilities and equipment do impede some of the department’s curricular goals.
External Reviewer Recommendations
APR’s Comments on External Reviewer (if applicable):
Dr. Ron Mottram, Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Art at Illinois State University visited in 2007 to prepare the UW-L Department of Art for accreditation to The National
Association of the Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Although the 2007 visit focused on issues related to NASAD requirements specifically, the same issues were raised during the
department’s 2012 self-study.
Positives for the Department:
·
Faculty members are supportive of student need and provide utmost support despite facility and/or budgetary constraints.
·
Students voiced an overall positive attitude toward the department.
·
The initial development of an e-portfolio system.
·
Increased emphasis on writing within the major.
·
Expanding and improving the Foundations Core.
·
Expanding and further integrating photography into the art major.
Recommendations for improvement:
·
The creation of a BFA program: Dr. Mottram believes that a small BFA program is important to the integrity of the Department of Art. His experience is that it raises the artistic standards of
the entire department as well as enables the school to attract good students.
·
Apply for NASAD accreditation.
·
Improvement of studio space.
·
Improve the health and safety of students and faculty by using better ventilation and increasing work space or making better use of present work space.
·
Address the shortage of equipment in the studios.
·
Increased storage space for student work.
·
Teaching load for faculty is heavy considering faculty contact hours.
·
Better lighting in all rooms, especially for painting, which has no natural light.
It is clear, through Dr. Mottram’s report that there are a number of key issues that need to be resolved. The most pressing is that of the health and safety of faculty and students which will require
the assistance of professionals who know the current standards needed to make changes to the ventilation system, chemicals being used and lighting that is needed. Extensive remodeling and
construction is also needed to increase the efficiency of the space. The issue of heavy teaching load also needs to be addressed.
Additionally, Ms. Laurel Bradley, Director and Curator of the Perlman Museum at Carleton College, conducted an external review of the University Gallery in December 2012. She noted that the
gallery exhibition program is well balanced between internal and external offerings, with the schedule divided between student and faculty exhibitions, and "outside" exhibitions featuring works by
regional, national, and international
artists. She commended gallery director John Ready on his ability to manage a diverse and culturally relevant collection that is well-integrated into the course curriculum. Her major
recommendation was for an increase in the University’s base budget funding, which has not changed since 2000-2001.
Department’s response to the Reviewer Recommendations
APR’s Comments on the Department’s Response (if applicable):
The Department agrees with Dr. Mottram regarding the need to pursue NASAD. A working group was established in April 2013 to guide the department through accreditation. The Department
also rewrote its major and minor requirements to expand the Foundations curriculum. Studio space has been improved marginally and equipment has now been modified and improved. Painting
however is the most crowded studio with no real solution in sight until a new space is developed. The department is working with experts on ventilation for the studio.
The Department agrees with Dr. Mottram, that more rigorous requirements for majors would result in higher quality work from the students. The Art faculty believes that the high quality of the
most recent senior show is traceable in part to expanded course opportunities.
The Department agrees with Ms. Bradley’s assessment of both the successes and the needs of the University Gallery; they note in their response that within days of Ms. Bradley’s visit, the CLS
Dean’s office increased its support of the gallery from $5,000 per year to $7,500.
Dean’s Letter
APR’s Comments on Dean’s Letter (if applicable):
The Dean’s letter indicates that new student exhibition space is forthcoming, in some of the space formerly occupied by the Department of Communication Studies. The letter also indicates that
Facilities Planning and Management is working on the ventilation issues in the studio spaces.
The Dean’s letter also indicates that her office increased the University Gallery’s base budget from $5,000 to $7,500 during the 12-13 AY.
In general, the Dean’s letter indicates a willingness on the part of the college to support the Art Department in their effort to improve their facilities and equipment.
APR’s Recommendations (must be completed)
Recommendations:
Major:
1.
The APR recognizes that the Art Department provides a wide-ranging and extensive curriculum and would recommend that it continue to hold this as a central value of all planning.
2.
Move forward with completing and implementing new assessment plan, including a rubric that illustrates how student success on SLOs is evaluated. This new plan should include a plan
for assessing Art Education courses.
3.
Work on recruitment efforts to increase number of majors and minors.
4.
Continue to seek the funds to update and expand facilities and equipment.
5.
Given the retraction of the BFA proposal, work toward getting NASAD accreditation.
6.
Work with University Safety Committee to remedy health and safety issues.
Minor:
1.
Continue to seek the funds to hire a faculty member specializing in Integrated Media.
No serious areas to address – review in 7 years
□ Some areas to address – review in 7 years
X Some areas to address – department should submit short report on progress to Fac Senate/Provost’s Office in 3 years. This report should focus specifically on program assessment, providing
data and description of how data was used.
* APR’s report to faculty senate will consist of this completed form in electronic form.