TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEW
VICE PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEWED: .....
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Self Study Committee Chair: Julia Hammett and Thomas Kies
Division: Liberal Arts
Year of Review: =20~1=2~-2~0~1~3_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Date Submitted to the President: July 31. 2013
Vice president's findings ofstrengths and weaknesses of the program/unit:
Strengths: Anthropology plays an important role in providing excellent courses to meet the social sciences and diversity
requirements in general education. Their classes have a history of filling quickly, as students hear about excellent classes.
The faculty's commitment to students and to the importance of cultural diversity is evident in all the program does. Their
Anthropology internships are outstanding for those students who are able to participate. All general education
Anthropology classes transfer seamlessly to UNR and other universities. The program offers an emphasis in
Anthropology leading to an AA transfer degree, and at the time of the self-study there had been 132 students with
declared majors in the Anthropology emphasis. Anthropology has been a leader in assessment of student learning
outcomes and continues to use data to make curricular and program decisions. They are offering on line and hybrid
courses which serve students well.
Weaknesses: The program has two tenure-track faculty positions and requested an additional one, given student demand
r classes. After the study was complete, one of the two faculty resigned to take another position, so that currently there
one tenured faculty and one new full-time temporary hire for 2013-14. The permanent faculty member has assumed
responsibility for the coordinator role, internships and the lab, in addition to teaching five courses. Filling the employee
needs for part-time faculty and student workers is an ongoing issue. Budget constraints make an additional faculty
position unrealistic. Of the 132 students with declared majors in the Anthropology emphasis, 44 have successfully
transferred and 4 have received an associate deg ree. The low numbers of AA graduates raise questions about the need for
the emphasis if students are not completing.
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Summary action recommended for program/unit: Continue
Recommendations for development strategies and anticipated time lines:
Review and revise Student Leaming Outcomes as recommended. Timeline 2013-15
Continue Prog ram Level Assessment: Timeline: 2013-15
Define and implement department strategies to improve retention. Timeline: Ongoing
To address the low completion numbers, faculty should develop an aggressive advising program to track students with a
declared Anthropology-emphasis goal to identify and support pathways to degree-completion or a reverse transfer degree
with early transfer. Success could be measured by successful transfer, reverse transfer degrees, or AA degrees. Time line:
2013-15 and ongoing
Vice President's Recommendation
Develop realistic plan for Anthropology Lab, RDMT 244, including materials, remodeling, and future instructional use.
Timeline: 20 13-14
l"""Pevelop plan for one or more student workers (perhaps those who have been successful in Anthropology classes) to
V assume appropriate duties related to the program. Timeline: 20 13-15
Explore workforce demand for Certificate of Achievement or Skills Certificate if faculty have indications that there is a
need. The creation of an Industry Advisory Committee for any movement toward workforce credentials would be
necessary. Timeline: Ongoing if undertaken
ldentiCy additional resources and/or actions necessary from each administrative unit for implementation of
recommended development strategies:
Academic Affairs: Support resources for student workers for program and other strategies developed by program
to improve student success. Support revision of Student Learning Outcomes as recommended.
Student Services: Support provision of work study students to meet program needs.
Finance: Work with Anthropology to develop plan for Lab in Red Mountain within space study currently
underway.
Human Resources: None
Faculty Senate: None
Other: None
O
xecutive Summary:
The Anthropology Program provides excellent instruction and student support in courses that meet the social science and
diversity requirements for General Education at TMCC. It has clearly established itself as a leader in promoting cultural
diversity through its classes and its faculty leadership. Its classes are regularly filled as student demand outpaces the
number of available sections. With only two full-time faculty, it relies heavily on adjunct faculty who have excellent
credentials in Anthropology. Faculty partnerships beyond the College have afforded the opportunity for outstanding
internships. The program offers an Anthropology emphasis within the AA degree, but few complete the emphasis and the
degree. About one-third transfer early and indications are that those who transfer to a baccalaureate program are
successful. The Anthropology program has identified the need for more faculty and resources to meet student demand for
classes, but the current budget shortfall makes the addition of these additiona l resources impossible. The program will
need to focus on continuing its excellence within limited resources and developing strategies that may bring in additional
support, such as grants or community partnerships.
Vice President of Academic Affairs:
Name
Signature
Date
Dr. Jane Nichols
7/30/201 3