Academic Program Review 2009
Executive Summary
Department of Law and Justice
The Department of Law and Justice 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. Phyllis Gerstenfeld 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. Gerstenfeld’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. The following executive
summary of commendations and recommendations reflect some of the same points that the Dean
and reviewer noted as well as some areas that are different.
Commendations
The self-study document as submitted by the Department of Law and Justice was informative,
well written and easy to read. It can be determined from reading the self-study report, the
observations of the reviewer, and the summary comments of the college dean that the department
has several strengths. It should be concluded that the department is integral to the mission of the
college and university and should be commended in the following areas:
Faculty:
Faculty of the Department of Law and Justice are characterized by their high level of teaching
ability as evidenced by high SEOI data as compared to the college and university. Ratings are
typically well above a 4 on a five point scale. The student perception that instruction is effective
is important in verifying that a positive learning environment is being created by faculty. In
addition, faculty are engaging students in meaningful and impactful experiences like internships,
research opportunities, and cooperative education experiences. Faculty have increased their own
scholarly activity through an increase in publications in the last five years. Although the number
of presentations and grants has not similarly increased, faculty involvement in service related
activities has increased in professional leadership roles as well as internal and external
committees.
Assessment:
The Law and Justice program has made significant progress in their development of an
assessment plan, methods, and processes. Although progress needs to continue to improve
efficiency and meaning, the program seems somewhat committed to following an appropriate
assessment regimen.
Technology Application:
The use of current technologies (online courses, ITV) in its program is positive. It matches the
needs of students that are place bound and/or have nontraditional schedules and needs. These
methods also allow students to gain familiarity and skills that might serve them later in their
profession. This may also improve students’ employability in the future. The idea of examining
student perception and achievement differences by delivery mode is positive and should be
implemented in future assessment cycles.
Community Collaboration:
The department should be commended for their involvement and effort in connecting with
community partners and agencies. It is clear faculty think this is important and have made this a
distinctive quality of the department.
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:
Enrollment Management:
There is a need for the department to examine enrollment patterns at all locations and ascertain
the reason for lower than average retention and graduation rates. Although the department cites
internal competition with other degree offerings, there are clearly other reasons as well for these
phenomena. Note that the program in Peirce is especially susceptible to low annual retention and
graduation rates while having no other internal competing programs. With a Law and Justice
program starting in Tacoma by the University of Washington, the addition of Social Services and
Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Sciences, the department needs to determine the future viability
of the site.
Curriculum Planning:
The department needs to develop and make known a long-term plan for course offerings at all
program delivery locations. This will assist students and faculty alike as to planning and
advising.
Program Integrity:
The program has made several curriculum changes that should assist it with regard to course
substitutions, etc. This is positive. However, the department should immediately cease any
further practice of wholesale waiving of prerequisites and other requirements to increase FTE,
department revenue, and faculty income. This practice is not consistent with best practices or
educationally defensible. Standards should indeed be constant unless changed for some
educational reason.
Assessment:
Although developing, the department needs to put continued energy and focus in examining
student learning and department goal-related achievement. Continued effort should be made in
collecting, analyzing, and discussing assessment data. 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 Testing and Assessment and it should be sought.
Advisory Committee Formation
The department is encouraged to develop an advisory committee made up of various external
partners and constituencies to obtain greater guidance with regard to curriculum and other
programmatic matters. The benefits of utilizing such a committee is manifold and worth the time
and effort of establishing.
Summary
Overall, the Department of Law and Justice is an important part of Central Washington
University. Faculty are dedicated and involved and the department has made great progress in
terms of assessing educational outcomes. However, by examining and improving its retention
and graduation issues, assessment processes, and program planning and integrity, the department
has great potential in achieving its goals and those of the college, and university.