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College of Arts and Sciences (CASa)

Vision, Goals and Strategies

 

Mission Statement
The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to providing a student-centered education. Our faculty strives to meet students where they are now and to prepare them as globally-educated citizens capable of improving our future world through critical thinking, effective communication, and appreciation of diversity, equality and intellectual inquiry.
Vision
We envision a dynamic college that leads our university and our community as a center for multicultural and cross-disciplinary interchange and that leads our university in teaching effectiveness and scholarly productivity.  Our College will provide our students innovative and contemporary approaches to learning while maintaining a tradition of excellence in teaching and a focus on our graduates’ life-long success. Through collaborative and cross-disciplinary research and teaching, we encourage scholarship and creative expression by developing original ways to view our past, assess our present circumstance and envision our future potential. We are committed to promoting and cultivating the core elements of our mission and vision through ongoing assessments in an effort to meet our goals of graduating informed, creative and skilled citizens.

Goals and Strategies

GOAL 1:

Increase student retention across CASa by meeting students where they are and preparing them for their future. 

Art:

  • Students who express an interest in majoring or minoring in Art, Graphic Design and Music need to see a Department advisor during their first semester.
  • Advisors will inform students so they understand the different degree options available in Art, Graphic Design and Music.
  • Assign all declared Majors to a specific advisor who will meet with the student each semester to monitor progress and plan an appropriate course sequence.
  • Advisors will show advisees how to read a degree plan and work with them in planning so they can graduate in a timely manner.
  • Engage students in beginning level courses and initiate retention (as documented with enrollment In upper level courses by same students) and create relationships through our unique studio settings as well as a process to measure out of class studio participation.
  • Relate course topics to real life situations and possible future workforce positions and maintain relevant opportunities on bulletin boards, canvas, and email.
  • Host a department social event inviting all art students to make students feel part of a larger group and open dialogue.  In addition to art openings and music events the department will host an advising event each semester.

Humanities:

  • Offer more Introduction to Literature sections at a variety of times so that students are placed in the appropriate general education course that best matches their interests and abilities. Encourage FYE advisors to place students who are trying to fulfill this general education requirement in Introduction to Literature instead of more advanced survey courses.
  • Provide enough staffing to the Writing Center so that we can maintain consistent and sufficient hours, as well as enough tutors at critical times, in order to meet the needs of students seeking help, especially for developmental and composition courses. Increase number of classroom visits and student outreach so that students are aware of the services.
  • Take advantage of imbedded tutoring programs; increase number of imbedded tutors in composition and developmental courses.
  • English majors and minors are to be contacted by their advisors every semester to remind and assist them with registration. Advisors are to more closely monitor and track student progress.
Math and Computer Science:

Part A) Strategies - Curricular and Pedagogical:

  • Establish (and test if necessary) proper technology skills, and computer literacy background for students prior to their taking of certain math courses.
  • Ask each student we deem capable of tutoring to consider being a supplemental instructor for future semesters. We will measure our success by whether each viable candidate was contacted.
  • Work with faculty across disciplines within the College and across colleges to redesign general education courses to have more focus and relevance via interdisciplinary connections, e.g., College Algebra can target STEM-H majors with content material adjusted as appropriate; Math for the Liberal Arts can target other majors, again choosing topics that apply to the audience; ask Comp and Rhet can include writing styles that can used in mathematics courses or science courses, etc.
  • Create a structure for professional development to update pedagogical approaches to facilitating courses in mathematics-relevancy of coursework: What we do (interdisciplinary design of gen ed courses); How we do it (pedagogical approaches)
  • Participate in the Embedded Tutoring program sponsored by VPSA&EM and paid for by student fees (DVSM, Calc, and CMPS 111 are participating now). Amp up math tutoring in the department: support of student tutors (training, $$, etc).
  • Collaborate with DVSW/R faculty to develop programs to support the most academically underprepared students (we are doing this, the program is called LEAP).

Support Needed: Time to collaborate (e.g., release time); grants that support interdisciplinary work; administrative support for redesigned courses, help from advisers to direct students in making the appropriate choice for their gen ed math courses; resources for professional development.

Strategy - Personnel:

  • In order to keep a sufficient pool of instructors, advertise for new adjunct faculty who can successfully implement the curriculum and pedagogical strategies deemed important to the department and provide appropriate professional development.

Support Needed: Approval to advertise, funding for professional development.

Strategy - Surround:

  • Writing Lab tutors, math tutors, other student services
  • Pair up junior, senior and even some successful sophomore students with first year students as part of a mentoring plan.

Support Needed: Personnel, funding, and flexible scheduling to include evening hours, and remote accessibility.

Math Continued B. Majors in CASa programs –
Strategy - Communication:

  • Improve communication with School of Education faculty in terms of advising Secondary Ed/Math Double majors, in particular, in terms of the rotation of courses.
  • Design and update the adjunct faculty page for the Math/CS department. Instructors of DVSM students in particular, need to thoroughly understand the systems at the university (ie. Mustang Express, Canvas, and ALEKS), and need to be encouraged to share that knowledge with their students. Other processes, (like finals week scheduling, computer lab usage, etc) should be understood and disseminated by DVSM instructors as well.

Support Needed: A structure for communication across Colleges.

  • Pair up junior, senior and even some successful sophomore students with first year students as part of a mentoring plan.

Support Needed: Personnel, funding, and flexible scheduling to include evening hours, and remote accessibility.


Natural Science:

  • Students who express an interest in majoring in Natural Sciences need to see a Departmental advisor during their first semester. 
  • Advisors will inform students  of  the different degree options available in the sciences.
  • Assign, all declared majors to a specific advisor who will meet with the student each semester to monitor progress and plan an appropriate course sequence. 
  • Advisors will show advisees how to read a degree plan and work with them in planning the order in which to take classes, so they can graduate in a timely manner.
  • Develop strategies for mentoring students.
  • Through departmental bulletin boards, e-mail, seminars and personal contact, encourage and assist students in post-graduate planning  for employment, graduate school or professional school.
  • Offer at least one social opportunity (department picnic, potlucks, and similar events) to encourage interaction among students and between students and faculty.

Social Science:

  • A General Education:  Increase the use of embedded tutors in some of our gen ed courses (embedded tutors currently a Student Affairs initiative);
  • Increase opportunities for students to meet with their instructors by encouraging them to visit us in our office hours for midterm conferences, do test corrections and have conversations about their educational objectives. 
  • Hold departmental “open houses”  in order to keep students connected to our department.
  • Designate certain Junior and Senior students to serve as mentors for students in upper-division courses.
  • Faculty will become knowledgeable of support services available to help students.

GOAL 2:

To recruit and increase the number of majors within disciplines in CASa .

Art:

  • Art Department Promotional Event
  • Art High School Recruiting with a student exhibition and demonstrations/workshops in several areas in conjunction to the Mustang Showcase
  • Art Shows/all open to public
  • Concerts/ all open to public
  • Pep Band
  • Artist Lecture Series
  • Collaboration with CASA disciplines- OLST, Humanities, Math and beginning stages with School of Business
  • Graphic Design/English Department/Alumni Association-Western Alumni Magazine
  • Continue positing information release through Expressive Arts Facebook Page
  • Visiting H.S. and Community Colleges
  • Music
    Goal: Increase the awareness and enrollment of the Music program / Music Minor
    Strategies:
    1.      More collaborative performance and visibility on and off campus
    2.      Create educational and performance experiences through travel
    3.      Initiate the grant writing process for the Music program and scholarships.

Humanities:

  • Identify students who show aptitude or interest in reading or writing in general education courses. Speak with them about the possibility and advantages of majoring or minoring in English.
  • Hold at least two student-focused extracurricular events, such as BBQ’s, celebrations, readings, in order to foster community and allow students and faculty to interact socially and allow students to learn more about their professors and the English Major.
  • Participate in two recruitment events, such as the Deming and campus majors fair.
  • Restructure and offer more undergraduate creative writing courses to students, in response to student interest and demand.
Math and Computer Science:

Strategy - Communication:

  • Communicate will all students receiving a grade of A or B in College Algebra, encouraging them to consider a major or minor in mathematics, outlining their next steps and providing information about the connection between mathematics and any other field of interest expressed by the student.

Support Needed: A structure for communication with students.
Strategies – Curriculum/Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

  • Redesign programs and pedagogy in order to give students an advantage in the workplace (e.g., making use of appropriate technologies, teamwork, communication of technical material).
  • Work with faculty across disciplines within the College and across colleges to redesign to coordinate curricula and the scheduling of courses.
  • Support Needed: Time to collaborate (e.g., release time); grants that support interdisciplinary work; administrative support for redesigned courses; resources for professional development.

Strategies - Surround:

  • Sponsor a Math club, to include social activities and opportunities for participating in professional conferences
  • Offer opportunities for internships and undergraduate research
  • Ensure that classrooms have up-to-date equipment (document camera, computers, etc.) and software access
  • Ensure that students have 24/7 access to needed software for their courses.
  • Create profiles of department alumni
  • Provide helpful information to students/parents on the department webpage

Support Needed: Grant funding, and structures that support collaboration with WNMU marketing activities.


Natural Science:

  • Improve departmental web site and brochure.  Continue to highlight “Not your usual classroom” and emphasis on our strengths (field-based learning).
  • Increase communication with students who express an interest in natural science, with a letter or e-mail contact.
  • Participation in outreach events on and off-campus.
    • On-campus and in Deming: Majors fairs
  • Interact with high school and junior high students through Science Olympiad, Expanding Your Horizons, Science Fairs and summer science camps.

Social Science:

  • Attend First Year Experience Office recruitment events
  • Hold departmental "open houses" (i.e. like Halloween Parties)
  • Provide promotional literature to advisors in the First Year Experience Office and recruiters in the Admissions Office.
  • Increase efforts to work with the Dual Enrollment Office in order to promote our programs.
  • Reorganize CCHS into Latin American and Latino Studies to make it more attractive to students.
  • Have work-studies and graduate assistants handout flyers in classes advertising our classes and programs.
  • Help with student groups, like the History Club, the Gay-Straight Alliance, and the Native American Club.
  • Maintain flyers regarding our programs on all boards across campus.

GOAL 3:  Increase community presence and outreach as representatives of WNMU and CASa. 


Art:
  • Continue posting information release through Expressive Arts Facebook Page and links/info  from our WNMU EA website
  • Continue Artist Lecture Series - collaboration between WILL, MRAC and Expressive Arts.
  • End of semester student exhibition celebrations were students invite their families and the university community.
  • Clay Festival
  • Gila River Festival
  • Fiber Festival- Studio Facilitator Donna Foley Fall 15: DS community students are working on projects to exhibit and increase WNMU student interest.

Humanities:

  • Create a relationship with Southwest Festival of the Written Word by having a faculty member serve on the organizing board, sponsoring readings, and maintaining an information table at the festival.
  • Create a guest lecture series by inviting well-known, published writers to WNMU to read and speak about their work. Open series to the public.

Math and Computer Science:

Strategies – Communication/Activities:

  • Annual (maybe Homecoming time?) department alumni/students/faculty BBQ or dinner or luncheon to meet, honor, showcase, network, and eat.
  • Ensure involvement in any Majors Fairs.
  • Create a “WNMU MATH” Facebook page that would allow the department to show the university community what we do and offer. It would allow the department to keep in touch with alumni and share their successes.
  • Become a presence in any alumni correspondence (e.g., as part of any University alumni newsletters/magazines)
  • Involve middle and high school students in summer programs that focus on mathematics and computer science (this could also be a strategy for Goal 2).
  • Create a bridge (readiness) program that helps prepare students for placement exams; a short (2-week) class, possibly during the summer, that would help refresh skills and offer test-taking strategies that will help students be placed more accurately.
  • Partner with high schools to help their students prepare for higher ed math; could be coordinated between high schools and the Math for Secondary Ed classes; would give students early hands-on experience, while helping to build relationships with other educational communities.
  • Create a course offered for parents (along with there children) who find themselves struggling to help their children with math homework, e.g., the class could include skills such as “how to read and interpret a text book” or “where to go online for help.”

Support Needed: Grant funding and personnel to run summer programs; release time to create and implement some of the activities.

Natural Science:

  • Highlight WNMU’s role in hosting and participating in community organizations related to Natural Science:  Audubon Society, Native Plant Society and the Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society

Social Science:

  • Offer service learning classes and internships that collaborate with community agencies.
  • Advertise departmental “open-houses” off campus, like in newspapers, local radio shows, etc.
  • Have faculty members participate in off-campus events, like giving talks for museums, etc.
  • Contact high school counselors and inform them of our classes and programs.

 

 

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