Academic Program Review 2009
Executive Summary
Department of Physical Education, School and Public Health
The Department of Physical Education, School and Public Health was included in the seventh
cycle of academic program review for the 2008-2009 academic year. Included in the program
review process was the composition of a self-study document based on faculty analysis, a
departmental retreat where the data were reviewed and the final two sections discussed, and a
visitation by an external reviewer. Dr. Brad Strand, served as the external reviewer and read the
self-study, interviewed faculty, staff, administration, and students, and submitted a separate
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. 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 20092010 academic year as a result of the program review. This report will be due to the provost in
October, 2010.
It should be noted that Dr. Strand’s analysis was detailed and, along with the dean’s report,
provide the depth and context for the faculty and administrators to celebrate commendations and
also move ahead in addressing noted challenges and recommendations.
Commendations
The self-study document as submitted by the Department of Physical Education, School and
Public Health was informative and understandable. It can be determined from reading the selfstudy report, the observations of the reviewer, and the summary comments of the college dean
that the department has several strengths and challenges. It should also be concluded that the
department is integral to the mission of the college and university and should be commended in
the following areas:
Departmental Structure:
The department is now structured along disciplinary lines that have the potential to maximize
faculty collaboration, programmatic cooperation, and scholarly teaming. This structure currently
seems to effectively manage business related to curriculum, personnel, research, and technology.
With the recent addition of several new faculty, it will be important to engage and involve them
in the workings of the department as well as provide effective mentoring.
Faculty:
Faculty of the Department of Physical Education, School and Public Health are characterized by
their high level of teaching ability and background in their respective fields. Faculty actively
engage students through courses, practical experiences, and technology and are noted as being
accessible and very student focused. Faculty are known nationally and serve in several
professional leadership roles at the state, regional, and national levels.
Undergraduate Curriculum:
The undergraduate programs within the department have current and relevant curriculum as
compared to national and professional association standards. The curriculum is experientially
based and is noted to foster student success.
Technology Application
The use of current technologies in all programs is commendable. Students have gained
familiarity and skill with the latest tools of their profession. This improves their employability
and ability to do their jobs well once hired. The use of online courses as a teaching modality in
the Masters program is noted. This application has led to increased enrollment and greater
educational access to place-bound students.
Recommendations
Although the department should be commended in areas, there are also areas for improvement.
Following are areas that should be addressed to improve the functioning and quality of the
department and its associated programs:
Facilities & Equipment
There is a need for departmental space in terms of faculty, classroom instruction, student work
centers, and support staff. The current Purser Hall building is inadequate to service the two
departments currently occupying it. The department is encouraged to work with the other
department sharing the building and the Academic Facilities Planning Office to determine
potential solutions. Once potential solutions and alternatives are determined, both departments
should work with the Dean’s and possibly Provost’s office to determine the best course of action
to meet both department’s needs. Equipment also seems to be an issue where effective planning,
action, and effort is needed. Although several areas have been listed in the external evaluator and
Dean summaries as needing attention, a prioritization of needs seems required in these budgetary
times if the department hopes to make any appreciable progress in this area. Follow-up and
continued on-going assessment will be critical in improving this area over the next few years.
Assessment:
Although somewhat developed in the undergraduate program, the department needs to put
continued energy and focus in examining student learning and department goal-related data.
This is especially true for the graduate program where program goals are established but
measurement of their attainment is weak or nonexistent. Effort must be made in the future to
collect, analyze, and discuss assessment data for each academic program and as a department.
Results should be explicitly linked to programmatic and student learning outcomes and include
interpretation each year. Data should also be compared to established standards of mastery and
be disseminated and discussed with various stakeholders (students, faculty, administrators,
advisory groups). These processes should be firmly in place and effectively utilized during the
time period before the next program review. Requests for resources (including equipment) can
be driven by the types of data that could be collected through a systematic and ongoing
assessment system. Assistance is available through the Office of Undergraduate Studies and it
should be sought.
Advisory Committee Formation
The department is encouraged to develop an advisory committee(s) made up of various
constituencies by program to obtain greater guidance with regard to curriculum and other
programmatic matters. This can be accomplished by combining internal and external
constituents or by creating separate groups by major. Although this may be occurring in some
programs, it does not seem consistent across the department. The benefits of utilizing such
committees is manifold and worth the time and effort of establishing.
Graduate Program
The graduate program of this department has a history of being innovative in the way curriculum
is offered (i.e., online). This is positive and should be continued in the future. However, there is
a need to focus departmental attention in improving the graduate program in a variety of ways.
Although goals have been established, it is unclear as to whether students are meeting them.
Effort must be made in the future to collect, analyze, and use assessment data to improve the
program. In addition, the development of a programmatic course schedule is needed. Students
need to know in advance what is to be offered and be confident that the department will deliver
it. The consideration of alternatives to projects and thesis assignments as capstone activities
should also be considered in light of the audience pursuing the degree. Internships, composite
exams, and other culminating written papers may be viable alternatives. An enrollment
management plan should be developed to bolster recruitment and retention efforts. This plan
should provide some strategic direction for the department in terms of increasing enrollment and
providing further access to students.
Summary
Overall, the Department of Physical Education, School and Public Health is an important part of
Central Washington University. Faculty are dedicated and effective in terms of students and
learning. By examining and improving its equipment and space issues, assessment processes,
and graduate program planning, the department has great potential in achieving its goals and
those of the college, and university.