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TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW -ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014-15
Program/Unit Reviewed: Anthropology
Self-Study Chair: Thomas Kies, Julia Hammett
Division: Liberal Arts
Year of Last PUR: 2012-2013
APR Authors: Christine Boston, Julia Hammett
Dean: Armida Fruzzetti
Year of next PUR: 2018-2019
Program/Unit Mission Statement: The anthropology program supports student success by
providing quality, affordable and accessible educational opportunities in anthropology
designed to serve the needs of our students. We prepare students in a changing world by
promoting an appreciation of the values and wisdom inherent in culturally diverse societies
and communities.
The Description ofthe Degree(s)/Emphasis(s)/Certificate(s) for your PUR area is listed below.
Please review for accuracy.
Description of Degree/Emphasis/Certificates:
AA Degree Anthropology Emphasis: The associate of arts degree in anthropology is designed
for students seeking careers in anthropology or related fields. The degree requirements include
general education requirements to gain a breadth of knowledge in a wide array of disciplines.
Students will also specialize in the theoretical, methodological, and topical concerns of
anthropology. This course of study is designed as a university transfer degree or can be tailored
for those wishing an emphasis in applied anthropology to gain the practical knowledge to
enter the workforce in entry level positions. The associate of arts degree is fully accepted at
any four-year institution in the NSHE system and is fully transferable to most four-year schools
in the nation.
SECTION I
The Outcomes and Measures listed below were retrieved from Degree/Emphasis or Certificate submissions provided by
your area to CAP and approved. Please review the outcomes to ensure accuracy or submit changes to CAP via the
Degree, Emphasis, Certificate (DEC) Revisions form located on the CAP Resources web page. Ifyour area is scheduled
for a PUR in the nearfuture, please plan on reporting assessment efforts around these learning outcomes when you
participate in your PUR.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
• Understand the theory and methods used by anthropologists.
•Discuss core concepts of the discipline including stewardship of cultural heritage, the differences
between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, and why anthropologists assert race as a social
construct.
•Demonstrate an ability to conduct research, data analysis, and report writing on specific topics
within anthropology.
APR I REV: 5/2014
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TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW -ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014~15
SECTION II
The following recommendations and strategies were identified in your most recent Program/Unit Review.
Please respond to the strategies by including the status, actions taken to respond to the strategy, projected
timeline, and if resources are anticipated to fulfill the strategy.
Unit Strategy #1
Status: choose
Timeline:
Review and revise Student Learning Outcomes as recommended .
Ongoing
Timellne: 20 13-15
Action: Each semester Anthropology assesses their Student Learning Outcomes for every course as a means
of evaluating the learning of students enrolled in anthropology courses, as well as teaching methods for each
faculty member. The department generates CARs annually for every course taught.
In Fall 2014, all general education course Student Learning Outcomes were revised and mapped as per the
requirements of the Curriculum, Assessment, & Programs (CAP) Committee. Standardized rubrics still need
to be created. Attempts to complete this were conducted in the Spring 2015 term, but this work is on-going.
Anticipated Resources Needed: A stipend for part-time faculty to assist in creating a standard rubric as per
the CAP Committee requirements for revised Student Learning Outcomes.
Unit Strategy # 2
Status: choose
Timeline:
Ongoing
Continue Program Level Assessment:
2013-2015
Timeline: 20 13-15
Action: We continue to do assessment by collecting data on every class every semester and completing
CARs every year. This facilitates individual faculty-based assessment and program-level assessment.
Anticipated Resources Needed: None at this time.
Timeline:
Status: choose
Unit Strategy # 3
Ongoing
Ongoing
Define and implement department strategies to improve retention.
Timeline: Ongofng
Action: As part of the evaluat ions of Student Learning Outcomes, each instructor in the Anthropology
Department is tracking their enrollments and retention rates per course and addressing how to improve
them (as necessary) as part of their self-evaluation. These data are now being aggregated and reported on
theCARs.
Twelve students were mentored during the Fall 2014 term & six in the Spring 2015 term by eight part-time
instructors & both full t ime faculty. Mentoring was available not only to Anthropology emphasis students
but also non-emphasis students as a means of encouragtng an increase in anthropology course enrollments
and potentially emphases. This expansion to non-anthropology emphasis students has led to one new
anthropology emphasis student and potentially an increase in anthropology course enrollments in the Spring
2015 and Fall 2015 terms.
Anticipated Resources Needed: None a t this time
Unit Strategy # 4
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 t ransfer, reverse t ransfer
Status: choose
Ongoing
Timeline:
Ongoing
....,pR I REV: 5/2014
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TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW -ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014-15
degrees, or AA degrees.
Timeline: 2 0 13-15 and ongoing
Action: During the 2014/2015 year Dr. Boston joined Dr. Hammett in advising of anthropology majors. In
addition the anthropology faculty maintains working partnerships with colleagues in Financial A id,
Counseling, Advisement and Re-Entry in an effort to improve transfer rates.
Anticipated Resources Needed: None at this time
Unit Strategy #s
Status: choose
Timeline:
Ongoing
Develop realistic plan for Anthropology Lab, RDMT 244, including
Ongoing
materials, remodeling, and future inst ructional use.
Timeline: ongoing
Action: The laboratory space is currently be ing used to teach archaeology and physic.al ant hropology (e.g.
ANTH 102, 110L, 202, 226, 2 2 7, and 229) as it houses teaching materials and equipment necessary for these
courses. The Anthropology Lab ls also currently housing research materials on loan from various public and
private agencies that are being utilized for Dr. Hammett's research. In addition, as part of Or. Hammett's
research she is training students in necessary archaeological skill sets that are necessary for the students to
acquire employment in the public and private sector. This lab space will continue to be used to teach
students in the aforementioned courses as well as providing students practical skill sets necessary for
employment.
Student workers have been working on digitizing lab materials, but the funding for student workers has
waned in the past few years. Also, due to the challenges associated w ith t ime scheduling conflicts between
the lab teaching schedule and when student workers have been available the digitization of the lab materials
has gone slower than expected. Additional t ime will be necessary for this digitization to be completed, and
resources for funding student workers are essential. Once the digitization is completed, remodeling of the
lab space to create more classroom space can begin.
Three student workers were employed in the 2013-2014 academic year, with a small grant obtained by Dr.
Hammett and one student also qualified for work study. The plan was to employ additional student workers
for the digitization of the lab materials in order to facilita,te lab remodeling for additional classroom space,
however, the g rant funds were dedicated to a research project. Funding for digitizing the technical library has
remained scarce. Funding to employ additional student workers would facilitate a faster completion of the
lab remodeling and keep students enrolled in the program. TMCC campus employment keeps students
invested in TMCC and alleviates some of their stress from trying to fund their educational pursuits
Anticipa_ted Resources Needed: Student workers,fundina for student workers
APR I REV: 5/ 2014
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TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014-15
SECTION 111
(OPTIONAL- Fill out only if adding new Unit Strategies)
Please include any newlv identified strategies for the Program/Unit. Please respond to the strategies by
including the status, actions taken to respond to the strategy, projected timeline, and if resources are
needed to fulfill the strategy. Ifthere are no new strategies, please leave this blank and no signatures are
required.
Unit Strategies: Explore possibilities for offering labs at
the Meadowood Center
Status: choose
Ongoing
Timeline: 20152017
Action: During the last Facilities Master Plan outside consultants tried to designate the Meadowood
Center as specializing in Business courses even though many of we faculty argued with in open sessions
that this location was ideal for General Education courses serving the general public as it is on a major
t ransportation home and near a residential district. Now there is more recognition for the need for
General Education courses at Meadowood. We would like to put a science dry lab course (ANTH
102/110L). There is already a downstairs room with vinyl flooring, a secured storage closet, one sink and
cabinets and suitable tables and chairs to accommodate the course. We need funding to buy a limited
number of lab materials to accomplish this.
Anticipated Resource Needed: s 5000 - s10,ooo to purchase lab materials in order to establish science lab
course at Meadowood.
Unit Strategies: Explore workforce demand for Certificate Status:
Timeline: Ongoing
of Achievement or Skills Certificate iffaculty members
Ongoing
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
Action: Dr. Hammett with the assistance of Dr. Boston and part-time faculty member Arthur Krupicz
have been working together to explore and implement a Skills Certificate in Cultural Resource
Management (Archaeology). This Skills Certificate would meet the needs of Cultural Resource
Management firms and state and federal agency managers tied to the Federal 106 Archaeological
Assessment and Compliance Process. Dr. Hammett also devoted part of her sabbatical leave to the
exploration of this topic. In 2014/2015 a needs assessment survey regarding this possible certificate was
developed with the assistance of Dr. Boston, Arthur Krupicz, and Nevada Deputy State Historic
Preservation Officer Karyn De Defour; the data were collected in the Spring 2015 term. The needs
assessment and implementation of this possible new certificate program are ongoing.
Anticipated Resource Needed: None at this time
Summary of Annual Progress Report:
The Anthropology program is on track with all Unit Strategies, which include the revision of Student
Learning Outcomes (SLO), SLO assessment, student completion & retention, and maximizing the use of
the Anthropology Laboratory. Additional Unit Strategies have been added, and they focus on more
emphasis on mentoring and advising students, working in the lab with Anthropoloqy students and the
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A,.~ REV: 5/2014
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TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW -ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014-15
creation of a Skill Certificate in Cultural Resource Management (Archaeology). Continued progress and
completion of these Unit Strategies will require funding for part-time faculty stipends for developing
rubrics and for student workers to hel com lete di itization of the technical libra in the teachin lab.
Approvals (Signatures and dates are required)
/
APR I REV: 5/2014