AIS Final MOU 11_13_14
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Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review
American Indian Studies
Program Review – 2014-2015
Memorandum of Understanding
The CSUN American Indian Studies Program (AIS), housed in the College of Humanities, offers
a minor in American Indian Studies. The Program undertook a self-study submitted December
12, 2013, followed by an external review on March 19 and 20, 2014. The external reviewers
were Professor Michelle H. Raheja, Ph.D., Department of English and Co-Director, Center for
Native Nations at UC Riverside and Professor Craig Stone, M. A. /M. F. A., Director,
American Indian Studies Program and Professor, AIS & School of Art, Public Art Practice,
CSU, Long Beach. The Department’s MOU meeting occurred on November 13, 2014. Followup will occur at one and three years. Their next program review cycle will culminate in a new
self-study, external review, and MOU in AY 2020-2021.
The following commendations and recommendations are intended to help the Department focus
its efforts over the next 6 years. They are arranged in topical order as follows: program,
students, faculty, curriculum, assessment/strategic planning, other/misc.
Commendations: The Department is commended for:
Program
1. Developing strong partnerships with several organizations to help connect the academy
and Native American community.
2. Being on its way to becoming one of the strongest American Indian Studies (AIS)
programs in the U.S.
3. A successful transition from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences to the College
of Humanities.
4. Increasing staff support since moving to the College of Humanities.
Students
5. Their dedication to supporting extracurricular activities for their students.
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AIS Final MOU 11_13_14
6. Encouraging students to consider graduate school.
Faculty
7. Enthusiastic faculty who show genuine respect and regard for students.
8. Faculty grounded in the discipline with national recognition as researchers and leaders in
their respective fields.
9. A wide range of faculty disciplines and specialization; a variety of teaching styles.
10. Hiring its first tenure-track faculty solely in AIS and an additional shared faculty
position.
Curriculum
11. Developing recent cross-listed courses with other departments that fulfill general
education requirements including GE Paths.
12. Developing a capstone course to provide internships to support students’ career goals.
Assessment/Strategic Planning
13. Clearly articulated student learning outcomes.
14. Holding regular meetings to discuss strategic planning.
Recommendations: The Department should:
Program
1. Explore the option of offering a shared BA or MA in partnership with other CSU and/or
AIS Programs.
2. Explore potential alliances with other Departments on campus to support the career goals
of students.
Students
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AIS Final MOU 11_13_14
3. Work with SRC/EOP advisors to make the general student population aware of the
program and to inform students about the AIS minor.
4. Create more research opportunities for students.
Faculty
5. Increase support for the director who is expected to engage in the Southern California
American Indian community which is the largest in the U.S.; to represent the Native
voice on many committees; and to advise all American Indian students at CSUN.
6. Continue to support faculty research and publication.
7. Find additional support for faculty to conduct research and publication.
8. Develop a faculty hiring and retention plan.
Curriculum
9. Continue to develop courses that can become part of minors and general education,
including GE Paths.
Assessment/Strategic Planning
10. Seek funding from external sources.
11. Clarify how assessment results are used for strategic planning.
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