Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
GOAL 2. Identify specific and measurable undergraduate learning objectives integrated across majors and general education.
Create and support high quality research and academic programs.


Title: Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
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School/College: 
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department: 
CLAS-Dean's Office
Planning Year: 
2009
Institutional Themes: 
Improve Students Success
Institutional Academic Initiatives: 
Improve retention/graduation rates
Unit initiative Description: 
a. Complete BETA test (Biology) for undergraduate information and advising webpage template that provides undergraduates with specific departmental activities, requirements, advising and other information. Roll out to all departments. b. Continue to work with departments to actively reach out to students who have indicated interest in departmental major. Specifically target students as identified through FRINQ questionnaires c. Continue Major Exploration Day. d. Study the 60% Report regarding how it might apply to CLAS and make recommendations. e. Hire Student-Success assistant who will continue Student Success Initiative, including working with CLAS advising to assist and enhance advising in CLAS departments. f. Ensure that CLAS implements mandatory advising as determined by the University
Time Frame: 
1 year
Desired outcomes: 
a. The retention rate of CLAS students will increase by 10 percent by AY 2012 (using AY 2007 base) by connecting students with faculty in their major departments and by expanding professional advising in the CLAS Advising Center. b. All CLAS academic departments will have an updated and effective undergraduate advising plan.
How initiative supports overall unit or school/college plans: 
Student Success is the first and most important goal in CLAS.
Measure of progress and success for this unit initiative: 
CLAS will monitor the retention and graduation rates of the College Majors.


Title: GOAL 2. Identify specific and measurable undergraduate learning objectives integrated across majors and general education.
Printer Friendly Version
School/College: 
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department: 
CLAS-Dean's Office
Planning Year: 
2009
Institutional Themes: 
Improve Students Success
Institutional Academic Initiatives: 
Improve retention/graduation rates
Unit initiative Description: 
a. Departments submit plans for a sustainable assessment cycle to the CLAS dean by December 1 of each year. b. Departments annually review their assessment plans, findings, and the proposed application of those findings for improved student outcomes. c. Departments implement the online reporting system for departmental assessment results
Time Frame: 
1 year
Desired outcomes: 
a. Produce a report detailing each CLAS department’s learning objectives, its plans for sustained assessment of those objectives, and timelines for reporting assessment findings. b. Create consistent, systematic, sustainable assessment cycles in all CLAS departments to document undergraduate student learning outcomes and meet the standards of regional accrediting bodies.
How initiative supports overall unit or school/college plans: 
Student success is a key goal of CLAS.
Measure of progress and success for this unit initiative: 
a. Incorporating university-level undergraduate learning objectives, present a matrix of CLAS department learning objectives, assessment plans and assessment findings by the end of each AY.


Title: Create and support high quality research and academic programs.
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School/College: 
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department: 
CLAS-Dean's Office
Planning Year: 
2009
Institutional Themes: 
Achieve Global Excellence
Institutional Academic Initiatives: 
Increase externally sponsored activities/industry start ups/intellectual property management
Unit initiative Description: 
a.Ensure that every academic department updates its seven-year strategic planning goals to improve and expand the quality and productivity of the unit. b.Ensure that every CLAS academic department or program conduct external reviews every seven years. c.Develop a research infrastructure that serves the strategically defined needs of every department. e.Develop additional disciplinary programs in appropriate to metropolitan area. f. Develop and implement interdisciplinary programs in ethnic studies, enviornment, and Internation Development: g. Document sustainability research through three programs: i. School of the Environment ii. Professional Science Masters on the Environment and Renewable Energy iii. Program on Social Sustainability h. Pursue national accreditation for the Challenge Program through NACEP (National Association for Concurrent Enrollment Programs)
Time Frame: 
1 year
Desired outcomes: 
a. CLAS departments will develop a seven-year plan with three-year sub-goals to be updated annually. b. Five programs (departments or units within departments) will be ranked in the top 30 nationally by 2014. c. Five departments will have external reviews by June of 2010. d. Faculty external-grant funding/expenditures will increase to $24 Million in FY 2010 and $30 million by FY 2012. e. Seven new disciplinary or interdisciplinary programs will be established by fall 2010.
How initiative supports overall unit or school/college plans: 
These programs are consistent with the Colleges goal of increasing the academic and research quality of our programs.
Measure of progress and success for this unit initiative: 
a. Each CLAS unit submits to the Dean’s Office an updated seven-year strategic plan by October 15, 2010. b. External reviews completed for Anthropology, Applied Linguistics, Biology and Economics. c. CLAS grant expenditures reach $24 million in FY10