Planning Unit: Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Date: November 2000
Planning period: 2000-2005
PLANNING FORM 1. Unit Mission Statement
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, in consonance with the
University's mission, offers a variety of courses in languages, culture and
civilization, and literature which enhance students' understanding and appreciation
of other cultures and languages as wellas their own. In addition to the broad
knowledge base acquired through these courses, students will underand that
language and culture are inseparable. Further more, the courses provide students
with processes and organization techniques for lerning which extend beyond the
foreign language classroom. Upon fulfilling the Department's requirements for
undregraduate or graduate programs, students wil be adequately prepared to
pursue a higher degree or a career in teaching, business or government. The faculty
members of the Department are dedicated to teaching, research, and service.
PLANNING FORM 2. Unit Vision Statement
Part A: Strategic Planning Statement
In keeping with the mission of Appalachian State University, the Department of
Foreign Languages and Literatures may define its role as "exploring the best of what
has been built, created, performed and written." The Department's unique mission
within the College is fostered by the diversity of its faculty, recruited from Europe,
the America's, and Asia. Among them, they speak seven languages (English, French,
German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) and represent, in microcosm, the
global culture sought by Appalachian State University. With degrees from—and/or
teaching experience in—schools in France, Germany, Guam, Japan, China, Russia,
Spain, and Latin America, the faculty seeks diversity and multicultural
understanding through teaching, scholarship, and service.
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures seeks to strengthen the
effective teaching of languages and cultures. Faculty are encouraged to be
knowledgeable of and implement modern teaching methodologies; to become aware
of and participate in computer-assisted language instruction; and, to be well versed
in the use of television and video technologies, and related language laboratory
equipment and realia as they are applicable to language teaching.
Since an extended experience abroad in a county of the target language enhances
student learning by providing direct exposure to culture other than the students'
native culture, the Department will continue to focus on increased
internationalization of the curriculum. While working closely with the Office of
International Programs, the Department will undertake measures to maintain and
improve existing overseas programs, and to develop additional programs and
student and faculty exchanges overseas. The global perspective the Department
embraces is transmitted to students via direct contact with speakers of foreign
languages and representatives of diverse cultures, through travel, by articles and
journalistic mediums, or through news provided by broadcasts in French, German,
and Spanish from foreign countries.
In addition, the Department seeks to support through careful curriculum planning
and/or course offering developing international business programs across campus.
It will continue to review existing programs in the department, to seek ways to
attract foreign faculty, and faculty representing non-Western traditions to enrich its
program offerings, and to establish a platform for collaboration in the humanities
across the campus. Team-teaching courses with a foreign language perspective in
conjunction with, e.g., English, history, political science, sociology, business, art and
music, would enrich both our student and those in other disciplines.
Through the initiation of active grants writing and continued development of
scholarship funds, the Department will seek to provide financial assistance to
students who wish to study abroad.
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
Since all intermediate level courses in languages currently taught in the Department
have become part of the Core Curriculum, the Department has been seen increased
enrollments at all levels.
In response to this increase, development will be encouraged, supported, and
rewarded for faculty who continue to pursue and demonstrate excellence in
teaching. The Department recognizes that teaching excellence must be
complemented by demonstrated evidence of ongoing scholarly activity, reflective
student advising, and generous local, university, community, regional, national and
international service. Therefore, these endeavors will also be encouraged,
supported and rewarded as they relate to individual efforts to enhance effectiveness
in the three areas.
The faculty will continue course development in the French and Spanish graduate
programs to meet new technological M.A. program guidelines in Romance
Languages with concentrations in French and Spanish. This task will be completed
by Spring 2001. Individual and collective efforts by faculty will seek to improve
recruitment and to obtain grant monies to support the programs.
Faculty members will participate in development activities designed for personal
and professional growth, such as those offered by the Department, The Hubbard
Center, and professional organizations. Faculty members are encouraged to
continue to engage in overseas programs in order to maintain and improve
professional skills, enhance cultural awareness, and undertake research.
Part B: Strategic Plan
1. GOAL 1—Improve the quality of graduates:
Improve the fundamental language skills and competencies (as defined by The
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction) of majors and minors.
1.1 Strategy: Refine and implement a Departmental proficiency test for majors and
minors.
1.1.1 Measurement: 90% of majors will successfully complete a Departmental
proficiency test for majors.
1.1.2 Measurement: Average test scores on the subject area of he NTE for all majors
will be in the _th percentile.
1.2 Strategy: Promote participation by students, and particularly majors and minors,
in study abroad programs (China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, Spain.)
1.2.1 Measurement: At the end of 2002 50% of B.A./B.S. will have participated in a
study abroad program of at least 5-6 weeks; this figure should increase steadily.
1.2.2. Measurement: Graduate students will be encouraged to participate in a 5-6
week study abroad experience.
1.3 Strategy: Maintain and improve the yearly awards event for all language majors
and minors to encourage and honor outstanding work.
1.4 Strategy: Continue its scholarship program for language majors and minors.
1.4.1 Measurement: Review guidelines for award distribution.
1.5 Strategy: Establish goals and objectives for courses at the 1000 level.
1.5.1 Measurement: Students be familiarized with CAI (computer- assisted
instruction), CD ROM, and new technologies.
1.5.2 Measurement: 90% of the students will successfully complete a departmental
test at the end of levels 1020 and 1050.
1.6 Strategy: Assess student proficiency by refining and implementing the Goals and
objectives for Majors in course levels 2000-4000.
1.6.1 Measurement: All major will present a portfolio, and demonstrate proficiency
through a Departmental proficiency test.
2. GOAL 2—Increase the number of B.A., B.S. and M.A. degrees awarded:
Increase the number of undergraduate majors by 25% over the next five years;
increase the number of graduate students to at least 10 in both French and Spanish
over the next five years.
2.1 Strategy: Communicate each semester with all foreign language departments in
the state to recruit prospective language majors and graduate students to the
university.
2.1.1. Establish and maintain a strong undergraduate Student Orientation Task
Force charged with improving efforts for better student recruitment.
2.1.2 Measurement: Enrollment figures from Institutional Research and Planning.
2.2 Review the Graduate Program focused on providing the majority of course work
over three consecutive summers.
2.2.1 Encourage and reward faculty participation in graduate student recruitment
and career development.
2.2.2 Measurement: Enrollment figures from Institutional Research and Planning.
2.3 Strategy: Continue biannual receptions for majors and minors.
2.4 Strategy: Formalize and enhance a German Consortium among several NC
institutions.
2.4.1 easurement: Formalize course-offering sequence with respective members of
the Consortium.
2.4.2 Measurement: Develop, conduct, and assess distance learning course
effectiveness.
2.4.3 Measurement: Develop method of advertising for recruitment.
2.5 Strategy: Establish and conduct classes through asynchronous methods
(distance learning).
2.6. Strategy: seek to increase a greater number of students in the teaching major.
2.6.1 Measurement: Establish and conduct a survey and enhance recruitment
efforts.
3. GOAL 3:- Increase enrollment in non-degree areas: Chinese, German, Italian,
Japanese, Latin, and Russian.
3.1 Strategy: Establish a German Major.
3.2 Strategy: Review current course offerings in Russian.
3.3. Strategy: Undertake study to assess feasibility of a program in Italian.
3.4 Strategy: Develop more courses in Chinese and Japanese.
3.4.1 Measurement: Departmental statement of guidelines for developing minors in
these areas.
3.5 Strategy: Review the Latin program and develop a plan to reinstitute the Latin
minor.
3.5.1 Review need and develop a Classics program.
3.5.2 Measurement: Department plan for the Latin program.
GOAL 4 - Support Teaching: Sustain the high quality of teaching within the
Department.
4.1 Strategy: Establish yearly workshop/seminar focused on the improvement of
teaching.
4.2 Strategy: Integrate effective use of teacher resource materials (e.g., language
laboratory, video equipment, computers) into a wider range of classes through the
purchase of additional portable multimedia units over the next five years.
4.3 Strategy: Continue to provide faculty offices with up-to-date computer hardware
with direct Ethernet connections to central computing resources.
4.4 Strategy: Continue to provide faculty with access to up-to-date copying and
printing hardware.
4.5 Strategy: Continue to provide software enhancements for classroom use.
4.6 Strategy: Provide each classroom with Ethernet connection and localized
computer.
4.7 Strategy: Continue to provide classrooms with audio-visual units containing
overhead, TV, and VCR.
GOAL 5—Support Faculty Research & Development:
Sustain the high quality of faculty expertise by providing ongoing opportunities for
faculty development.
5.1 Strategy: Encourage, facilitate, and reward faculty participation in conventions
and professional meetings with emphasis on rewarding faculty who present
research, organize and/or chair sessions at such meetings.
5.1.1 Measurement: Faculty approval of guidelines for determining merit pay
increases.
5.2 Strategy: Seek to increase the availability of released time for faculty engaged in
research and in the development of instructional materials for direct use in the
classroom by developing set of policies, approved by the faculty, to be used in
granting released time.
5.2.1 Measurement: Faculty approval of guidelines for determining released time.
5.3 Strategy: Provide release time for faculty appointed as directors of successful
study abroad programs with a track record (Germany, France, Spain, etc.)
5.3.1 Measurement: Faculty approval of guidelines for determining released time
based on study abroad faculty record.
5.4 Strategy: Establish a mechanism for sharing and reviewing the work
accomplished during released time.
5.4.1 Measurement: Faculty approval of guidelines for reviewing the work
accomplished during released time.
5.5 Strategy: Enhance criteria for linking faculty development to merit pay
increases.
5.5.1 Measurement: Faculty approval of guidelines for determining merit pay
increases.
5.6 Strategy: Continue to provide faculty with up-to-date computer hardware with
direct Ethernet connections to central computing resources.
5.7 Strategy: Continue to provide faculty with access to up-to-date copying and
printing hardware.
GOAL 6—Enhance Faculty Visibility within the Profession
6.1 Strategy: Continue to encourage, support, and reward faculty participation in the
departmental Blue Ridge international Conference on the Humanities and the Arts
(BRICHA).
6.1.1 Support and reward appointed Directors and Coordinators of BRICHA.
6.1.2 Support and reward faculty with specified responsibilities for the conference.
6.2 Strategy: Encourage, support, and reward faculty who provide service in
regional, national and international consultantships, boards, conferences,
editorships, etc.
6.2.1 Measurement: Faculty approval of guidelines for determining merit pay
increases.
GOAL 7 - Communicate with teaches and alumni state wide:
Increase communication with area school systems and alumni.
7.1 Strategy: The current departmental Advancement Committee will develop ways
to improve communication with language teachers and alumni.
7.1.1. Strategy: Implement a biannual Newsletter to communicate with language
teachers and alumni.
7.2 Strategy: Establish a database of materials and resources (personnel available
for consulting, advising, offering workshops) for use by university and area teachers
accessible via the Internet.
7.3. Strategy: Continue to support attendance at state and regional professional
meetings for all faculty.
GOAL 8—Establish a platform for Collaboration
8.1. Strategy: Review the need and importance of team-teaching courses with other
faculty and departments.
PLANNING FORM 3. Resource Request
RESOURCE REQUEST
1. Priority for Planning Unit. 1 of 1
2. Title.
Language laboratory in Sanford Hall 505.
3. Description.
The Language Lab, housed in Room 505 Sanford Hall, is a 32-year old audio
component with 27 listening booths. When in working order, tape recordings may
be made. However, due to its age, the audio portions (electrical components) are
rarely in order for successful usage.
Request for updating was made initially in the Unit Plan, Planning Period, 1986-91;
but funds have not yet been provided.
Up-dating present interactive audio equipment; purchase of digital audio and video
equipment; purchase of appropriate audio-visual materials, including projection
equipment, smart board and accompanying ancillaries is recommended.
4. Justification and Recommendation
In order to continue to perform its mission and meet student demand, a reliable,
properly equipped language laboratory is needed. Therefore, this request responds
globally to the goals and objectives of the Department.
With modifications to the current old desktop booths, a complete audio lab (with
additions of a Smart Board, projection mounts, TVs and VCRs), the old audio lab may
serve a variety of functions: a multi-media classroom, a distance learning room
(since connection to Sanford Hall is planned), a film viewing/screening room, and a
fully-functional audio language laboratory.
5. Space and Other Physical Resource Requirements.
The new equipment would be located in the current Language Laboratory space,
room 505 Sanford Hall. Estimated cost of equipment needed, installation, and
rewiring is listed below.
6. Funding Requirements Estimated ,027
Proposed FLL Audio Lab Improvements
Amount
1 Smart Tech 72' Smartboard (-30% Grant) 49
1 Sony LCD projector 1400 Lumen VPL-PX20 89
1 Sony Projector Mount 5
2 Sony VHS Recorder/Player PSS610 0
1 Sony VIDP50 Video Document Projector 50
1 Crown D45 Stereo Amplifier 9
2 JBL 75 Watt Stereo Speakers (subwoofer) 0
2 JBL Speaker Mounts 0
1 Extron System 5cr Switcher 60-293-01 54
1 Extron MBC Buffer 26-338-01 8
1 Extron 12'hr Date cable
1 Extron 50'hr Data cable 0
1 Wall Control 0
1 Installation with cables & connections, S&h. 00
Telecomm Data/Phone, TV/Cable Lines: Materials 0
Labor 0
Network Connection 0
Physical Plant
Electrical Mount projector, run lines, & connect power 0
Mechanical For audio lab upgrade 8
Carpentry Re-top & stain 3 existing tables 8
Cover 5 windows with stained wood 6
15" Wood Cornices 0
Multi-shelf Equipment Housing 0
Paint Rooms 504,505,workroom & office
Paint Labor 4
J&J Commercial Carpet #310 Comedy 00
30 HR Hughes Rankin Ergo Chairs 1-2401PB 33
Renaissance Fabric
Grounds Remove workroom audio bank & desks
ESTIMATE: 027
Sony, Extron, & JBL are compatible. Brand Compatibility is essential.