Academic Program Review 2005-2006
Executive Summary
Department of Art
The Department of Art was included in the fourth cycle of academic program review for the
2005-2006 school year. Based upon feedback from the previous cycles, the contents of the selfstudy were modified as were some of the implementation details. Included in the process was the
composition of a self-study document based upon faculty’s analysis, a departmental retreat
where the data were reviewed and the final two sections discussed. The visitation by an external
reviewer, Mr. Donald Van Horn, Dean, College of Fine Arts, Marshall University, who read the
self-study, interviewed faculty, staff, administration, and students, and submitted his analysis.
The departmental self-study completed by the faculty and staff is the major document for this
program review. This complex document reveals the strengths and challenges through the
departmental perspective and reflects the commitment of the department for self-analysis,
reflection, and evaluation. The institutional expectation is that the department and college
administration will use the self-study document, the dean’s report, and the executive summary as
guides to the faculty, staff and administration for the next several academic years as the
department addresses the recommendations and continues its record of excellence.
Since this process requires an enormous amount of time and effort from all of the participants, it
is necessary to ensure that the results are used to inform decisions and future course of actions.
Therefore, the department faculty and college administration will be expected to provide a
summary of activities undertaken during the 2006-2007 academic year as a consequence of the
program review.
It should be noted that Mr. Van Horn’s analysis is very thorough and detailed and, along with the
dean’s report, provide the depth and context for the faculty and administrators to move ahead in
addressing the recommendations and celebrating the commendations.
Commendations
The self-study document as submitted by the Department of Art was informative in nature. It was
clear in reading both the summary comments of the reviewer and the college dean that the
department has several strengths and challenges. After reading the self study, I have also come
to the conclusion that the department is integral to the mission of the university and should be
commended in the following areas:
Service Learning: Faculty and students seem to be regularly engaged in service learning
experiences. It is extremely important to develop student civic responsibility and the faculty in
the Department of Art are clearly engaged in this endeavor.
Departmental Goals and Plans: The department has developed very thoughtful and achievable
goals. The department has established committees and structures for achieving each goal. It will
be important for the department to routinely measure their progress of achievement in all goal
areas.
Facilities & Equipment Resources: The facilities and equipment provided and used by the Art
Department seem to be up-to-date and adequate for the various programs offered. Equipment is
well cared for and used to maximize student learning and opportunity.
Recommendations
Although the department is clearly successful and should be commended in many areas, there is
also a need to continuously improve. Following are areas that should be addressed to improve
the functioning and quality of the department and its associated programs:
Collaborative Research between Students and Faculty: Although the department admits that
collaborative research between faculty and students is not frequent, it has had success when these
activities have occurred. The department is encouraged to continue to increase these types of
experiences for the benefit it provides both faculty and students. Internal processes, programs,
and grants should be pursued to help support these efforts at the departmental, college, and
university levels.
Faculty Needs: There appears to be a need for more faculty in various teaching areas with Art.
The university, college and department are encouraged to analyze current resources and
reallocate and/or redirect resources as based on their respective priorities. The department offers
four undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees with nine concentrations. There needs to
be discussion as based on number of student majors and graduates as to the viability of each
program. In other words, can the college and department continue to support the varied number
of undergraduate degree and graduate specializations offered in a quality manner? Based on
reviewer and Dean comments, the answer seems to be no. Strategic planning and analysis should
help the department and college answer this question and provide direction for college and
department actions. In addition, there seems to be a climate issue that needs attention by all
faculty. Collegial relationships and collaboration is encouraged and will be supported through
mediation or other means recommended by the Dean.
Programmatic Goals & Assessment: Although there are departmental goals, there is a need to
develop specific student learning outcomes in each program offered as these were not clearly
articulated in the self-study. Although all art degrees may have some common goals, there
should also be specific goals relevant to each program and these be made known to all
constituents. An effort should be made to collect, analyze, and make relevant interpretations of
assessment data. It should be noted that little student learning data was provided in the selfstudy other than a single survey of program graduates. This is problematic as outcome
attainment, including interpretation and conclusions about program quality could not be made.
Results should also be disseminated in specific quantitative and/or qualitative terms to internal
and external groups once these data are available.
Advising: An area of concern for all majors is advising. Good advising improves degree
efficiency and overall satisfaction with the program and institution. This should be an area of
increased and focused effort on the part of the Art Department. Course specific and major
advising is certainly important, although other aspects of advising and student development can
be addressed through various peer, faculty, and alumni mentoring initiatives. The extra effort in
this area will go far in improving the overall quality and satisfaction of Art students.
Summary
Overall, the department of Art is an important part of Central Washington University. The
department chair and faculty can be instrumental in continuing to uphold the high standards and
reputation of their program if they work together effectively. If the department continues to
improve its advising, assessment, strategic planning, and development processes, it will certainly
help meet their own mission and goals as well as those of the college and university.