College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Design, Textiles, Gerontology, & Family Studies
Strategic Plan 2007­2012
Mission Statement
As an academic unit, we are bound together by our common interest in the theoretical
and empirical study of the Social and Behavioral foundations of the near environment,
which encompasses the specific disciplines of Interior Design, Textiles and Apparel,
Gerontology, and Family Studies. Further, we are equally committed to executing high
quality, rigorous; career oriented undergraduate education programs of excellence that
are experiential and professional in structure and emphasis.
Teaching and Pedagogical Vision:
Our vision for the academic mission of the Department is to engage students in rigorous
programs of study and excellence that prepare students for advanced graduate study or
engagement as leaders and highly trained and skilled professionals. To accomplish
this, our vision also entails students being exposed to classroom technology, instruction,
opportunities and faculty of excellence.
Goal 1: The excellence of teaching within the areas, and DTGFS as a whole, will be encouraged
and supported.
Objective 1.1: Faculty will be expected to seek support and resources for their
professional development as teachers.
Objective 1.2: Resources are mutually sought and advocated for by both faculty
and administration on behalf of the enhancement of teaching.
Objective 1.3: Resources to enhance the teaching mission of the department will
continuously be evaluated in respect to pedagogy and the technological
and experiential standards of the respective areas.
Objective 1.4: Faculty will develop an individualized evaluation strategy that
will provide input to the effectiveness of their teaching and will assist in
their professional development. Non­tenured faculty will work with the
Professional Assessment Committee and/or a faculty mentor to develop a
strategy that will promote their development as a teacher of excellence
and that may assist in their promotion and tenure review process.
Objective 1.5: Resources within the Areas and DTGFS will be developed,
advocated for, and/or evaluated to ensure that each of the respective
areas have the personnel and resources to provide programs of quality.
Goal 2: Prepare professionals with a solid knowledge base and leadership potential.
Objective 2.1: Graduates will be prepared to be active lifelong learners
whereby:
· graduates will exhibit skills and a knowledge base to be
informed consumers.
· graduates will be self reflective practitioners in their
respective areas of studies.
· graduates will understand, value, and engage in ongoing
professional development.
Objective 2.2: Students will have an academic plan of study that leads to the
establishment of a professional identity including:
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knowledge of, and adherence, to the academic standards
and expectations of their respective discipline or field of
study.
the development of skills, knowledge, and professional
experiences and opportunities to succeed in their
professional career or goal.
opportunities to learn about and/or participate in
professional associations related to their field of study.
exposure to the professional standards, ethical
guidelines/code of ethics, and expectations of professionals
as it relates to their field of study.
Objective 2.3: Students will be exposed to curricula and/or programs of study
that:
· are recognized within the respective areas as being on the
leading edge and provide emerging competencies for their
field of study.
· are current and reflective of emerging technology and/or
experiential opportunities that provide highly valued skills
and knowledge base.
· are utilized within the field of studies that may fall outside
the realm of traditional academic courses.
· provide opportunities in their programs of study to engage
in, and/or exhibit, a knowledge base and skill sets that are
utilized and valued within their professional areas.
Objective 2.4: Programs will provide, and/or, encourage student initiative in
leadership development whereby:
· Students are exposed to opportunities to examine and develop
their leadership skills both within the campus community and
within their professional areas of study.
Goal 3: Area programs will work to maintain or enhance experiential learning opportunities for
students that are reflective of the challenges, issues, and opportunities found in professional
settings. To this end:
Objective 3.1: Students will be exposed to, and have opportunities to engage in,
experiential learning opportunities in professional settings that are
consistent with their respective professional goals.
Objective 3.2: Students will be exposed to experiential learning within the
classroom that integrates curricula with professional experiences and
issues.
Research and Scholarship Vision:
Our vision for the department is a setting where research and scholarship is recognized,
supported, and valued as it relates to the respective areas. We envision a department
where the scholarship potential of faculty members, areas of study, and the
interconnection of the areas making up the department are developed and supported.
To this end, our vision is one in which the resources to engage in scholarship and
research are mutually sought and advocated for by both faculty and administration.
Goal 4: The development of scholarship within the areas, and DTGFS as a whole, will be
encouraged and supported.
Objective 4.1: Individual faculty members establish a program and plan of work
that is reflective of their academic standing and professional goals.
Objective 4.2: Non­tenured faculty are provided consultation and mentoring
opportunities to successfully engage in, and develop, their plan of
scholarship and research.
Objective 4.3: Professional development opportunities as it relates to
scholarship are developed and/or a plan to pursue and advocate for such
resources are established.
Objective 4.4: Funding opportunities and support for the engagement in
research and scholarship are pursued and advocated for by both faculty
and administration alike.
Goal 5: The development of interdisciplinary scholarship will be encouraged, supported and
pursued..
Objective 5.1: Interdisciplinary opportunities for engagement of
research/scholarship, internal and external to, the areas of DTGFS are
explored.
Objective 5.2: Interdisciplinary scholarship opportunities that utilize the
program Area of Gerontology as the uniting thread among the Areas will
be explored and developed.
Objective 5.3: Internal and external resources will be explored, and advocated
for, to undertake interdisciplinary scholarship.
Professional Communities Vision:
Our vision is a department that is intricately connected with the professional
community as it relates to our respective areas, and to the Department as a whole. This
connection is one that is mutually beneficial to DTGFS and the respective areas as well
as to the professional community.
Goal 6: DTGFS will develop strong connections with the professional community that will
inform the teaching and academic visions of the areas and DTGS.
Objective 6.1: The respective areas, and/or DTGFS, will develop a mechanism
that will provide input to the respective areas on the latest issues, trends,
concerns and developments in the respective fields.
Objective 6.2: Partnerships between faculty and the professional community
will be established that will inform and enhance scholarship and/or
teaching. When possible, partnerships will be developed that are
mutually beneficial to both parties.
Objective 6.3: Faculty engagement in the professional community and
associations as it relates to the respective areas will be recognized and
supported.
Alumni Community Vision:
Our vision is one in which the relationship between the respective areas, DTGFS and
alumni is a vibrant and mutually beneficial one that builds a bridge between alumni,
faculty, and students.
Goal 7: DTGFS will develop a mechanism in which communication between alumni, the
department and respective areas occurs on a regular and timely basis.
Objective 7.1: Develop a plan for assessing the communication needs, interests
and potential method(s) of communication with, and among, alumni.
Objective 7.2: Develop a plan to integrate alumni into teaching and scholarship
activities of the areas and respective faculty.
Objective 7.3: Develop and/or facilitate a mechanism in which alumni are
working with current students to engage them as future alumni.
Objective 7.4: Develop a plan in which the relationship of alumni as
stakeholders in DTGFS is recognized and developed.