Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 Table of Contents Goals ................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Develop academic programs that distinguish the Department of Foreign Languages at Kennesaw State University from other University of Georgia System schools. ........ 2 2. Seek to increase support for professional development of DFL faculty. .................... 4 3. Manage growth effectively. ........................................................................................ 5 4. Build upon strategies and procedures currently in place to assure continuing effective program assessment. ........................................................................................ 5 5. Increase support of the Foreign Languages Resource Center / Language Laboratory by building upon strategies and procedures currently in place. ...................................... 6 6. Increase RPG rates of ML&C majors and minors ..................................................... 7 Key to the University System of Georgia Strategic Goals: ............................................ 8 1 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 Goals 1. Develop academic programs that distinguish the Department of Foreign Languages at Kennesaw State University from other University of Georgia System schools. Objective 1: Implement the M.A.T. in Foreign Languages with options in Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and other languages taught in the department in response to demand simultaneously with an M.A. in Spanish as proposed in the HSS Strategic Plan.[1USG: 1, 3] Implementation Strategies: 1. Implement Spanish and Chinese components of M.A.T. in summer 2010 2. Implement other language components of the M.A.T. in as faculty develop SA programs. 3. Implement M.A. in Spanish in summer 2010. Objective 2: Expand the B.A. in Modern Language & Culture to include options in Chinese, German, Italian, and other languages taught in the department in response to demand. [USG: 1, 3] Implementation Strategies: 1. Implement remaining courses in German required to provide a full complement of 10 courses for a major at the 3000/4000 level; to be completed by fall 2009. 2. Implement courses in Chinese at the 3000 level by fall 2009; prepare 4000-level courses required for a major and offer them as needed by 2010. Objective 3: Build curriculum offerings in the area of critical-need languages, particularly in Arabic, Japanese, and Portuguese. [USG: 1] Implementation Strategies: 1. Implement in fall 2009 an ongoing training program for CL tutors under the supervision of the Director of the FLRC 2. Identify and seek grants opportunities to support CL program in an ongoing basis. Numbers in brackets refer to USG “five planning principles.” See Key to the University System of Georgia Strategic Goals in this document. 1 2 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 Objective 4: Develop upper-division courses where demand indicates a need for special courses for heritage and/or native speakers, first in Spanish and then in other languages in response to demand. [USG: 2, 3] Implementation Strategies: 1. Develop new skill courses: Advanced Written and Oral Expression, and Grammar and Translation. 2. Offer Advanced Written and Oral Expression, and Grammar and Translation as SPAN 4490 Special Topics prior to spring 2011. 3. Objective 5: Develop at the department level increased opportunities for students to have language immersion experiences, such as Learn & Serve, study abroad programs, and internships. Implementation Strategies: 1. Create a webpage (linked to the DFL homepage, DFL syllabus page, etc.) that describes (with sub-pages and further links) the available language immersion experiences 2. Send out once-per-semester announcements of available study abroad experiences for each of the languages taught in DFL 3. . Objective 6: Increase support for Foreign Language Across the Curriculum (FLAC) program. [USG: 2] Implementation Strategies: 1. Create a webpage (linked to the DFL homepage) 2. Create a DFL syllabus page that describes (with sub-pages and further links) the available FLAC program and resources 3. Send out once-per-semester announcements and reminders campus-wide. 4. Identify a contact person for FLAC in the DFL 5. Work closely with the HSS Dean’s office in coordinating expanded FLAC offerings (HSS Strategic Plan Goal 1, Step 7) Objective 7: Increase collaboration with P-12 language programs, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. [USG: 4] Implementation Strategy: 1. Local / state level/regionally/internationally DFL faculty members assume leadership in FLAG and in state chapters of language-specific organizations 3 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 DFL faculty design, publicize, and implement outreach workshops (FLED, language- or content-specific) designed for P-12 FL teachers propose scholarship and appropriate outreach activities in collaboration with P-12 FL teachers Objective 8: Increase support of the FLED and ATP programs beyond current strong level. [USG: 3, 4] Implementation Strategy: Objective 9: Increase the number of courses of language for special purposes [USG 1] Implementation Strategy: 1. Conduct survey needs per vocational areas Business Education Other areas as discovered Objective 10: Take a leadership role in the design and implementation of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) certification of international expertise for KSU faculty and staff. [USG: 4] Implementation Strategies: 1. Provide yearly updates on DFL international activities and initiatives to the QEP coordinator 2. Offer international film series and cultural events open to all KSU faculty, staff, and students as partial fulfillment of QEP certification. 2. Seek to increase support for professional development of DFL faculty. Objective 1: Implement strategies at the department level to support faculty development in all performance areas: teaching, supervision , and mentoring; professional service; research, scholarship, and creative activity; and administration and leadership. [USG: 3, 4] Implementation Strategies: 1. Offer incentives to pursue scholarship projects 2. Diffuse information about opportunities on campus (eg. CETL grants, HSS research fellowships, Year of..., faculty learning communities) and off-campus for faculty to participate in development opportunities and to present or publish results of their experiences in all areas. 4 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 3. Seek opportunities for faculty members to teach abroad and make information available to encourage them to participate. 3. Manage growth effectively. Objective 1: Develop strategies at the department level to assure maintenance of appropriate balance of budget and personnel among languages taught in the department so as to assure the quality of lower and upper-division courses in the undergraduate program. [USG: 4] Implementation Strategies: 1. Create a Budget Advisory Committee. 2. Work closely with the HSS Dean’s office for planning of future hires. Objective 2: Develop strategies at the department level to respond to increased demand for alternative methods of delivery of course content. [USG: 5] Implementation Strategies: 1. 2007-2008 Establish a committee or charge the DFL Technology Committee with this specific task. Explore how the hybrid-course model can be applied to the specific characteristics of DFL course offerings. 2. Consult with experts in the field for acquiring best practices. 3. 2008-2009 Continue exploring the feasibility of the hybrid model after the first pilot (Fa2007 GRMN 3200). If the hybrid model meets the instructional, pedagogical, and logistical needs of the DFL, pilot courses in other languages. 4. 2009-2010 Increase the number of courses offered. A gradual approach allows the DFL to refine its process and methods to fully apply the hybrid model of course delivery. 4. Build upon strategies and procedures currently in place to assure continuing effective program assessment. Objective 1: Increase faculty commitment to program assessment. Implementation Strategies: 1. Provide ACTFL workshop training (not certification) in the evaluation of oral and written proficiency (ACTFL scale) for at least one full-time faculty member in each language where upper-division courses are offered in the department: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish. 2. Affirm the continuation of the position of "Assessment Coordinator" with reassigned time to perform responsibilities. 5 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 Objective 2: Implement strategies to expand current levels of documentation of performance of majors, minors, and alumni more accurately. Implementation Strategy: 1. Shift record keeping of information about majors, minors, and alumni from Excel to an Access database. 5. Increase support of the Foreign Languages Resource Center / Language Laboratory by building upon strategies and procedures currently in place. Objective 1: Acquire additional space. Implementation Strategy: 1. The FLRC/LL will seek to establish three separate areas to respond to the needs of faculty and students. an area for tutoring and small group discussions; a room to serve as a classroom for orientation and various class activities; and an area for viewing films and hosting seminars, conferences, and film festivals. Objective 2: Purchase language learning software. Implementation Strategy: 1. The FLRC/LL will increase its language software collection. Objective 3: Increase outreach to KSU and local communities: Implementation Strategies: 1. The FLRC/LL will expand its film festivals to include a variety of languages and subjects. The FLRC will increase its support of KSU and the community by showing films affiliated with the various languages taught in the DFL. 2. The FLRC/LL will sponsor seminars on topics of general interest, such as teacher training and language learning with technology. Objective 4: Expand use/effectiveness of CAPE Exam. Implementation Strategy: 1. The FLRC/LL will develop a comprehensive plan to increase the placement test resources of the CAPE Exam. The CAPE exam is to be administered online to accommodate the number of students needing to take the placement exam. To achieve this objective, we will work in coordination with KSU CAPS center. 6 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 The long term goal is to have the CAPE exam available in all languages offered by the Department of Foreign Languages. 6. Increase RPG rates of ML&C majors and minors Implementation Strategy: 1. Adopt initiatives following the HSS Strategic Plan a. Establish academic orientation programs b. Engage in a review of our academic program (including GenEd and major requirements (credit hours & flexibility) to assess its achievability for student success c. Establish goals for graduation rates and strategies for assessing new plans d. Increase opportunities for support for student organizations by offering competitive grants annually 7 Department of Foreign Languages Strategic Plan Goals and objectives: 2007 to 2011 Initially approved by the DFL Faculty, Dec. 5, 2006 Updated: September 12, 2007 Updated: April 14, 2009 Key to the University System of Georgia Strategic Goals: 1. As a result of its strategic actions, the University System will re-examine its general education curriculum, renew its commitment to a liberal arts education for this century, and improve the quality of undergraduate teaching and learning. 2. As a result of its strategic actions, the University System will increase capacity to accommodate targeted, programmatic growth. 3. As a result of its strategic actions, the University System will increase Georgia’s control over its own future in a global economy. 4. As a result of its strategic actions, the University System will work with all of Georgia’s education agencies to meet national and international benchmarks on student preparation and achievement. As a result of its strategic actions, university System institutions will remain affordable by providing high-quality academic programs at a more competitive price and cost than comparable institutions. 8