History Department Strategic Plan
2012/2013
Outcome Assessment Report
Strategic Planning
2012/2013
Outcome Unit Report
The CWU Strategic Plan is the map that guides the progress toward fulfilling our institutional mission. A large and representative group of faculty and
staff, the Strategic Operations Team, collaboratively developed this plan more than two years ago. Since that time, as the fluid document it was
designed to be, it has undergone several revisions. In its current form, the CWU Strategic Plan can be found at this link:
http://www.cwu.edu/resources-reports/current-strategic-plan-and-versions.
Last year (2012/2013), units developed and revised Unit Strategic Plans. Unit Strategic Plans will serve as the basis of reporting progress toward
achieving the mission of the institution. These reports are to be submitted to your appropriate reporting authority (Dean for academic departments,
Director, Assistant/ Associate Vice President for other areas) no later than November 1, 2013.
As you will see in the attachment, the format for reporting will utilize the template of your Unit Strategic Plan. You may wish to simply add a column
titled “Outcome Assessment” to the Unit Strategic Plan that you submitted in December 2012, and that was subsequently approved by your reporting
authority.
AY 2012/2013
Unit Strategic Planning Report
Unit: HISTORY DEPARTMENT
Reporting Authority: CAH
Date: November 1, 2013
A: Please complete the column titled “Outcome Assessment” on your own Unit Strategic Plan. Complete with as much detail as you can provide.
Where you cannot obtain data to complete the assessment, put “Data not available.” in the space.
B. Please summarize each of the University’s Five Core Themes from your Unit Strategic Plan Outcome Assessment report.
The History Department focused on Theme 1, Teaching and Learning; Theme 2, Inclusiveness and Diversity; Theme 3, Scholarship and Creative
Expression; Theme 4, Public Service and Community Engagement; Theme 5, Resource Development and Stewardship.
Toward which theme(s) did you make progress, and how are students benefitting from this?
The History Department made progress in all five areas, but particularly in Theme 1. The hire of two new FTTT faculty in African and East Asian
history restored our full catalog of global history offerings. We improved our advising with new four-year plans and revised checklists for both
teaching and non-teaching majors. We maintained our high scores on student satisfaction, as measured by SEOIs. Data from our capstone rubric
shows that students are exceeding our success benchmark. Students benefit from our global approach to history because it enables them to
critically analyze events and conditions in the current increasingly globalized and diverse world. They benefit from improved advising materials
because they can complete their degree programs efficiently and in ways tailored to their interests.
On Theme 2, the Department continues to offer its expertise to University-wide committees and interdisciplinary programs. We have also begun
to actively create an environment of inclusiveness by hiring faculty from underrepresented groups, and by ensuring that all of our courses develop
themes of human diversity. Five of our students studied abroad last year, to gain immediate international experience.
On Theme 3, the Department continues to promote undergraduate research at internal and external venues, particularly SOURCE and the Phi
Alpha Theta regional conference. This attention to research reflects the extraordinary productivity and currency of the faculty in externally
disseminated scholarship. Students thus have the opportunity to work closely with faculty who are actively engaged in scholarship, and to present
their own work in professional conference settings.
On Theme 4, all members of the Department actively serve local, regional, and national committees, organizations, and task forces. Students are
exposed to the need for and benefits of service to communities beyond the University.
Theme 5 highlights progress the Department made toward ensuring adequate faculty to meet our goals for a global curriculum, in hiring two new
FTTT faculty members. For the last five years, History has been seriously understaffed, limiting our ability to cover necessary courses in the global
history curriculum and putting undue pressures on remaining faculty to cover these responsibilities. The students now have the opportunity to
expand their connections to new faculty who are specialists in their fields, and to work with older faculty who can fully attend to their own
specialties. All faculty can begin to recreate or reimagine cross-specialization and interdisciplinary ties, of great value to students in today’s more
flexible and interconnected professional world.
Which theme(s) deserve special attention next year?
In 2013-14, The History Department will strengthen our performance in Themes 3 and 4, specifically by promoting grant writing for faculty and
study abroad for students. The Department has always been quite successful in securing internal grants, but could be stronger in the number of
applications for external grants. We would like to revive our past success in Faculty-Led Study Abroad, and make wider use of our scholarship fund
for study abroad so that more students have an opportunity to benefit from this vital experience.
C. How do you intend to utilize the data gathered this year to assist you in developing stronger programs?
The data from 2013-13 is important in showing areas in which we improved, did not improve, or perhaps did not improve enough. Specifically, we
hope to recruit more majors and minors, and to insure they have access to the global curriculum, service learning opportunities, and research
experiences, domestically and abroad.
D. Based on your learning from this first year report, what parts of your strategic plan will you modify, add to, or omit for next year? (Please attach
an updated Strategic Plan with changes highlighted.)
The Department is currently evaluating our recruitment strategies for majors and minors, and also our community outreach. Our strategies may
include revising interval major surveys, creating Department promotional materials, locating and publicizing student internship opportunities, and
initiating alumni surveys. An updated strategic plan is attached.
UNIVERSITY CORE THEME: 1. TEACHING AND LEARNING
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 1.1 Enhance student success by continually improving the curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs.
Unit Outcomes
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Performance
Level Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Department will
fill gaps in Asian
and African
history faculty
Two new hires
Department roster
Departmental
academic
programs will
demonstrate
academic
excellence in
relation to
teaching and
learning
SEOI data
Higher than
College and/or
University Mean
Student
Learning
Outcomes data
All programs
meet set criteria
levels for all
student learning
outcomes
Complete two searches
for September 2013
start date
Two searches completed:
hired African and East
Asian historians to start
September 2013.
Data provided by Office of
Effectiveness or
Assessment
Department SEOI
averages for FWS (all
substantive questions) is
4.40; CAH is 4.41, showing
that the Department is very
near its goal. On student
learning outcomes rubric
for HIST 481 (senior
capstone course), 32%
exceeded expectations;
51% met expectations; and
17% did not meet
expectations. These
figures exceed our 80%
success benchmark.
Department
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 1.2 Enhance the effectiveness of student support services.
Unit Outcomes
Indicators
Department will
update advising
tools to improve
time to
completion of
History majors
and minors
Revised advising
worksheet with a
checklist on web
and in-person
meetings
Expected
Performance
Level
(Criterion)
All advisees
receive the new
checklist
Indicator/Performance
Level Reported By
Distribution of the new
checklist
Key Strategies/
Initiatives
Budget/Resource
Analysis
Outcome Assessment
Advising checklist updated
and distributed to all
students in hard copy and
posted on the department
webpage. Sample 4-year
student course plan posted
on website.
UNIVERSITY CORE THEME: 2. INCLUSIVENESS AND DIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 2.1 Enhance the environment of inclusiveness for faculty, staff, and students
Unit
Outcomes
Department will
demonstrate its
commitment to
inclusiveness
through active
participation of
faculty on
University-wide
committees and
organizations
Indicators
Participation on
University-wide
committees as
indicated on
faculty activities
report.
Expected
Performance
Level
(Criterion)
All Department
faculty, as
appropriate to
academic rank
and experience,
are engaged in
at least one
University-wide
committee or
organization.
Indicator/Performance
Level Reported By
Data provided by Office of
Effectiveness or
Assessment
Key Strategies/
Initiatives
Encouragement and
self-assignment at
Department faculty
meeting to Universitywide committees
Budget/Resource
Analysis
Outcome Assessment
All Department faculty
served on at least one
University-wide committee
or organization.
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 2.2 Increase faculty, staff, and student diversity by active programs of recruitment and retention for members of
underrepresented groups.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Outcomes
Performance
Level Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Department will Higher numbers
Higher numbers
Department major and
Department recruited two
increase
of diverse
of diverse
minor statistics
FTTT faculty members from
diversity of
students signing majors and
underrepresented groups
majors and
up to be History
minors
and in global fields as first
minors
majors and
step toward encouraging
minors
majors from
underrepresented groups.
From 2010-2013, the
number of self-declared
non-white students
decreased from 14% to
10%, as did the number of
military students (from 2%
to 1%).
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 2.3: Ensure that CWU has an inclusive and diverse curriculum
Unit
Outcomes
Indicators
Department will
maintain global
curriculum with
attention to
diverse cultures
Course offerings
on diverse
national and
global cultures
Department will
expand
curriculum for
Asian and
African history
New and revised
courses on
Asian and
African history
Department will
encourage an
expansion of
global
understanding
Number of
students
studying abroad
Expected
Performance
Level
(Criterion)
All syllabi
indicate
attention to
diverse global
and national
cultures
Increased
number of new
and revised
courses on
Asian and
African history
5% of majors will
undertake
student study
abroad trip
Indicator/Performance
Level Reported By
Key Strategies/
Initiatives
Department course
schedules
History course catalog
Encourage new and
revised course
proposals on Asian
and African history
OISP data
Publicize study
abroad opportunities
Budget/Resource
Analysis
Outcome Assessment
Department hired two NTT
faculty in East Asia and
Africa to insure coverage in
these regions. Taught 80
courses, all of which
included themes related to
cultural diversity.
Department hired two NTT
professors in East Asian
and African History;
completed two FTTT
searches in these fields to
begin in 2013-14.
Five students studied
abroad in 2012-13,
somewhat short of our goal
of 5% (7 students).
UNIVERSITY CORE THEME: 3. SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 3.1 Increase the emphasis on and the opportunities for students, faculty and staff to participate in research, scholarship, and
creative expression activities.
Unit Outcomes
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Performance
Level Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Department will Student
10% of majors
Department and SOURCE
Increase CWU funding
Thirteen students participated
continue to
participation in
will participate in data
for student conference
in SOURCE; 11 students
encourage and
SOURCE, Phi
SOURCE, Phi
participation
participated in the Phi Alpha
direct graduate
Alpha Theta,
Alpha Theta,
Theta conference in Portland.
and
and internships
and internships
undergraduate
research
Department will Number of
All tenure /
Annual activity report data
Reserve summer
Department TT faculty
continue to
external
tenure-track
profits for faculty
produced 23 external
demonstrate
presentations
faculty will
development only.
publications and
excellence in
and publications present and
Secure timely report
presentations, including two
faculty
by faculty
publish
on summer profits and
monographs.
scholarship
externally,
award more research
through
consistent with
time
participation in
Department
external
standards
presentations
and/or
publications.
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 3.2 Increase the external funding received for research, scholarship, and creative expression by faculty, staff, and students.
Unit Outcomes
Indicators
Department will
continue to
seek external
funding by
increasing the
number of
external grants
that are
submitted
and/or funded
each year
Number of
grants submitted
and funded
Expected
Performance
Level
(Criterion)
Higher numbers
of grant
submissions and
funding
Indicator/Performance
Level Reported By
Graduate Studies and
Research Office and annual
activity reports
Key Strategies/
Initiatives
Encourage faculty to
apply for more grants
Budget/Resource
Analysis
Faculty members in the
Department received two
external grants.
UNIVERSITY CORE THEME: 4. PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 4.1 Enhance the commitment and the level of cooperation between the university and external communities.
Unit Outcomes
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Performance
Level Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Department will Number of
All departmental Annual activity report data
Encourage faculty to
Each FTTT faculty member
demonstrate
faculty serving
tenured and
seek out and accept
served on at least one
public and
on local,
tenure-track
responsibility for
external committee,
professional
regional, and/or
faculty serve on
service on local,
organization, or task force.
service through national
one external
regional, and/or
active faculty
committees,
committee,
national committees,
participation on
organizations,
organization,
organizations, and
local, regional,
and task forces
and/or task
task forces
and/or national
force,
committees,
appropriate to
organizations,
rank and
and task forces.
experience.
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 4.2 Increase participation in university sponsored life-long learning opportunities.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcomes
Performance
Level Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Outcome Assessment
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 4.3 Enhance the efforts of members of the university community to strengthen the economic base of the region and state.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Outcomes
Performance
Level Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
CORE THEME: 5. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT & STEWARDSHIP
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 5.1 Maximize the financial resources to the University, and assure the efficient and effective operations of the University
through financial stewardship.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance Level
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Outcomes
Performance
Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 5.2 Develop and implement enrollment management and marking plans that meet the enrollment objectives of the university.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance Level
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Outcomes
Performance
Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 5.3 Ensure the University has human resources necessary to accomplish all university objectives.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance Level
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcomes
Performance
Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Outcome Assessment
Department will Tenured/tenureSufficient
Data provided by Office of
Hire Asian and African
Department numbered
insure the
track and nonfaculty and
Effectiveness or Assessment. historians
six FTTT faculty
appropriate
tenure-track
staff to meet
members and three
number of
faculty FTE totals programmatic
Replace faculty on leave
FTNTT in 2012-13; two
faculty and staff
teaching
or sabbatical
new TT hires were
necessary to
Number of
needs
completed in 2013.
meet
graduate
Increase number of
Graduate assistantships
programmatic
assistantships
teaching assistantships
remained the same at 6
teaching needs
students.
at all
instructional
delivery
locations
UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE 5.4 Provide the facility and technology infrastructure and services appropriate to meet the university objectives, while
maximizing sustainability and stewardship.
Unit
Indicators
Expected
Indicator/Performance Level
Key Strategies/
Budget/Resource
Outcome Assessment
Outcomes
Performance
Reported By
Initiatives
Analysis
Level
(Criterion)
Department will
maintain up-todate technology
in faculty
offices
Age and
performance of
computer
equipment used
by faculty and
staff
All
Department
computers
are up-todate
Department’s Ledger 1
budget report
Secure CWU funding to
replace computers that
are out-of-date
Department has
maintained a four-year
rotation for replacing
computers, with new
computer purchases for
two new faculty members
and one computer
upgrade.