DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTION
The focus of study in the Division of Communication Arts and Social Science is
humanity in its broadest dimensions; specifically, those highly developed human
capabilities of communication and social organization. The general goals of the Division
are: 1) to serve the fundamental needs of all students through courses aimed at achieving
stated skills in the communication arts; 2) to help all students achieve a better
understanding of the common cultural heritage, beliefs, and values through the study of
the humanities; 3) to promote an understanding of social organization and interactions
through the study of history and the social sciences; and 4) to promote global awareness
and appreciation of diverse cultures through the study of language and opportunities to
study in other countries.
ORGANIZATION AND RESOURCES
The Division is an academic unit of the University and provides major fields of study in
English, History, Human Resources, Social Science, and Spanish. In addition the
Division provides general educations courses to students in all fields of study across the
university. The Division prepares students for degrees in teacher education as well as
degrees in liberal arts.
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
The following table depicts the number of students who have completed degree
requirements in programs offered through the Division of Communication Arts and
Social Science.
Insert table here.
Make some comment about the table here.
Include another table to illustrate general education courses and service to the university.
Typical enrollments.
Discuss the faculty / student ratio. Stretches the efforts of faculty and support staff to
provide service to the general education program at VCSU.
FACULTY
The Division of Communication Arts and Social Science has twelve full-time faculty
members. Six of these have earned doctorates. Two of the remaining six are enrolled in
doctoral programs at the University of Idaho and North Dakota State University. One
expects to complete the program within the next year, and one projects completion in
2003. Of the twelve full-time faculty members in the Division, three of these are oneyear replacements, and one has primary responsibilities as a librarian in Allen Memorial
Library. In addition, the Department of Communication Arts has one full-time visiting
professor from our sister university, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur
(UABCS) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. During May of 2000 the Department
of Communication Arts experienced one resignation and one retirement. In the
Department of Social Science one full-time faculty member was awarded a Fulbright
Scholarship to study in Norway for the 2000-2001 academic year. Her one-year
replacement holds a doctorate in history from the University of North Dakota. In
addition to these full-time faculty members, the Division often employs 2-4 part-time,
adjunct faculty members. Currently, the Department of Communication Arts is
employing four part-time, adjunct faculty members to assist in the staffing needs of
college composition, forensics, theatre costuming, and public speaking.
As reflected in the faculty vitae, divisional faculty are involved in numerous professional
activities. They are successful teachers, active in professional organizations, take part in
activities for public school students and teachers, serve as consultants for area schools,
conduct research and write for publication, make presentations at various conferences,
and engage in grant writing.
The academic ranks of the divisional faculty consist of one with Professor status, two
Associate Professors, three Assistant Professors, one Instructor, and four Visiting
Instructors. Three of the full-time members are male and eight are female. The unit
faculty members teach a load of twelve semester credits. During any given semester
some faculty members teach more than twelve semester hours. Three of them supervise
student teachers, and two have administrative responsibilities that are reflected in
individual teaching loads.
In an on-going effort to provide educational opportunities at the Jamestown Center,
divisional faculty teach some courses (required for general education) in Jamestown (a
town 30 miles to the west) and some courses over the interactive video network (IVN) to
Jamestown. In addition to the Jamestown commitment, divisional faculty also share
responsibilities for a library media minor and a geography minor with Mayville State
University. Course in these shared minors are taught over IVN. Other responsibilities
carried by faculty in the Division include all tasks related to dramatic production, tasks
related to the production of a student newspaper, and tasks related to the development of
a student news program broadcast over campus webtv.
SUPPORT STAFF
Together with approximately thirty hours of student support, one half-time assistant
serves the Division of Communication Arts and Social Science. She maintains all
divisional documents and records, performs routine budget operations, assists student
interested in study in the Division, assists in communications with sister universities in
Mexico as well as the translation of official documents for Mexican students and VCSU
students studying in Mexico, provides clerical service, assists with the administration of
the correspondence North Dakota Indians course, supports both full and part time faculty
members, and contributes to the general welfare of the unit in a variety of other ways.
Given the number of students that the Division of Communication Arts and Social
Science serves during any given semester [see charts above] the amount of support
services allocated by the university is woefully inadequate.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Located on the second and third floors of McFarland Hall, the Division of
Communication Arts and Social Science has access to several wired classrooms as well
as a small conference room (currently the Title III work station). The faculty offices are
not really grouped together, and some faculty members must teach in other campus areas
such as the basement of Vangstad Hall and in McCarthy Hall. The division teaches most
of its classes in wired rooms, and sometimes the need for a wired room necessitates the
move to other buildings.
The unit receives a portion of the VCSU budget to accomplish its purposes, and library
resources are just adequate for its programs. The chart that follows provides dollar
amounts for the instructional budget from 1997 through 2001.
Division of Communication Arts & Social Science Budget
Compared with the Total Instructional Budget, 1997 – 2001
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
554,914
570,330
577,873
555,261
3,011,339
3,034,016
3,096,342
3,127,575
12,475
16,045
16,045
16,045
?
394,936
230,699
316,445
290,897
286,326
-
1,800
-
-
?
Salaries and Wages
Comm.Arts & Soc. Sci.
Total Instructional Budget
?
3,247,628
Operating
Comm.Arts & Soc. Sci.
Total Instructional Budget
Equipment
Comm.Arts & Soc. Sci.
Total Instructional Budget
27,818
9,278
14,373
19,000
37,400
567,389
588,175
593,918
571,306
?
3,434,093
3,273,993
3,427,160
3,437,472
Totals
Comm.Arts & Soc. Sci.
Total Instructional Budget
3,571,354
Although it has allocated some equipment expenditures to the Division over the past five
years, VCSU has not formally provided an equipment budget to any unit since 1995. The
anticipated inception of the notebook computer initiative necessitated that move. The
lack of designated line-item equipment dollars has hindered the upkeep of the language
laboratory, but has not in other ways significantly hampered the efforts of the Division,
primarily because of the sophisticated technological tools that exist on campus, tools that
divisional faculty and students use effectively to enhance the teaching and learning
experience. This year, because of private donations, the language laboratory has received
new equipment. We have been able to use some instructional monies to improve the
learning opportunities in the language laboratory. The unit could benefit from an
additional faculty position, one that has been requested for each of the past three
academic years. Although the additional position would help to provide better
programmatic stability, the unit continues to provide state of the art instruction.
ABILITIES
Courses leading to a major in the Division of Communication Arts and Social Science
will help students develop the following abilities:
Communication:
Aesthetic Engagement / Problem Solving:
Problem Solving / Technology:
Global Awareness:
Excellent writing and speaking abilities
Sophisticated analytical skills
Competent researcher
Synthesizes language, life, and culture
ASSESSMENT
The Division of Communication Arts and Social Science uses a multi-faceted assessment
process to ensure high quality and promote valuable changes within its programs.
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Development of criteria and policies for admission to and continuance in the
programs.
Adoption of the Abilities Model.
Clinical and field-based experiences with review by student, cooperating
instructor or employer, and faculty mentor.
Student portfolio development.
Student evaluation of course objectives.
Digital portfolios as an exit requirement.
[Divisional improvement plan.] The division recognizes the need to integrate the
results of the various assessment tools and develop a Divisional Improvement
Plan.
Assessment of student success takes place from entry to exit:
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General education courses are linked to the abilities.
Major courses track abilities to higher levels.
Portfolio development documents abilities.
Successful completion of field experiences, internships, or study abroad.
The division is developing specific rubrics to assess student portfolios both to
assist students in developing their work and faculty in assessing final portfolios.
Divisional hold students to appropriate standards of excellence:
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The Division and its programs have specific requirements, goals, and objectives.
The requirements are linked to University abilities and skills.
Specified course projects are linked to University abilities and skills.
The programs meet the standards established by the following: the State of North
Dakota, the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Council of
teachers of Social Studies, the Association of Foreign Language Teacher
Educators, the Human resources ones
The Division builds systems for change through the following:
 Through assessment and reflection, abilities and portfolios continue to evolve.
 Definitions and rubrics for abilities and skills reflect University program
objectives.
 Employer surveys provide input regarding the changing needs of the workplace.
Exit information regarding new graduates is gathered through:
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Surveys of first-year teachers conducted by the VCSU Career Planning and
Placement Office.
Surveys of employers who have hired VCSU graduates conducted by the Career
Planning and Placement Office.
Focus group discussions with graduating seniors.
DIVISIONAL GOALS This is where we talk about where we’re headed. Increase
enrollment in Spanish and History, reduce faculty / student ratios in the general education
courses to the levels indicated in the national standards. Continue to develop innovative
instructional technology. Increase opportunities for mulit-cultural or cross-cultural
experiences. Continue to develop abilities projects in the general education courses
offered through our division as well as develop rubrics for assessing the projects.
The Division of Communication Arts and Social Science identifies the following goals
for its programs:
Goal 1: Serve the fundamental needs of all students through courses aimed at achieving
stated skills in the Communication Arts.
Goal 2: Help all students achieve a better understanding of the common cultural
heritage, beliefs, and values through the study of the humanities.
Goal 3: Promote an understanding of social organization and interactions through the
study of history and the social sciences.
Goal 4: Promote global awareness and appreciation of diverse cultures through the
study of language and opportunities to study in other countries.
INSERT ABILITIES MAPS HERE
Abilities Map for English
Abilities Map for Spanish
Abilities Map for History
Abilities Map for Human Resources
Abilities Map for Social Science