Consolidation and Removal of Programs of Study
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:16 pm
The following is a copy of an email I just received:
To: Appalachian State University Faculty and Staff
From:
Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, Chancellor
Dr. Lori S. Gonzalez, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Date: March 4, 2014
Subject: Program Prioritization Plan
With grateful appreciation, we thank the members of the Academic Policies & Procedures (AP&P) Committee for their thoughtful evaluation of the recommendations presented in the Academic Program Prioritization report. Their discussion and consideration are highly valued, as this is such an important and challenging task charged to both Appalachian and our sister institutions within The University of North Carolina. We have reviewed their recommendations and now present our decisions.
As you recall, Appalachian’s Academic Program Prioritization planning process began with a conversation between the Faculty Senate and the Provost in December, 2011. It was then determined the Campus Planning Committee would provide guidance on the metrics to be used to evaluate programs. We wanted to ensure inclusivity and faculty involvement and embarked on a two-year process of accumulating data from faculty within the units; discussing issues at numerous meetings; involving faculty work groups at the graduate and undergraduate levels; and, reviewing outcomes and the process with the campus. Once data accumulation was complete, the deans voted on their programmatic priorities, and again, in the interest of transparency, their priorities were shared with the campus community. Based on the process to date, an initial plan was put forward soliciting feedback and additional input on the recommendations for program consolidation, elimination or other action. (This process is summarized on the Institutional Planning, Research, and Assessment website).
As stewards of public resources, we are expected to make challenging decisions. Several of the programs under consideration have consistently been identified on the UNC low enrollment review lists for multiple cycles.
We appreciate the leadership of the AP&P committee members, and the recommendations that emerged from their meeting on February 19, 2014. They supported two recommendations from the report dated December 16, 2013, and we affirm these original recommendations:
Elimination of Master of Arts in Music Education; and,
Elimination of Master of Arts in Gerontology.
Additionally, we accept the following recommendations put forth by AP&P:
Consolidation of Business Education, Family & Consumer Science and Technology Education into a single program, Career & Technical Education. Decisions about how these programs will be consolidated and where they will reside will be made through discussions with the faculty of the units and the deans of the respective colleges; and
Allowing the Master of Arts in Romance Languages to continue for two years. The conditions of this continuation will be established in consultation with the program, the graduate school and the dean.
Other recommendations in the December 16, 2013, Academic Program Prioritization plan will stand as presented. These recommendations include elimination of the following programs:
Master of Arts in History, Education;
Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten; and
Master of Sciences in Criminal Justice & Criminology. We recommend this program become a concentration in the Master of Public Administration degree program.
This plan will be shared with the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees, UNC System President Tom Ross and following his direction, with the Board of Governors.
The realities of the new era mean that we must succeed in different ways. One of those ways is by more regular and prudent review of all of our university activities and expenditures. We must prioritize, and a systematic schedule and process for academic program review must be part of our institutional strategy.
Again, we thank the members of the AP&P Committee for their work and leadership, and we recognize the efforts of everyone involved during this two-year process and respectfully thank them as well.
To: Appalachian State University Faculty and Staff
From:
Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, Chancellor
Dr. Lori S. Gonzalez, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Date: March 4, 2014
Subject: Program Prioritization Plan
With grateful appreciation, we thank the members of the Academic Policies & Procedures (AP&P) Committee for their thoughtful evaluation of the recommendations presented in the Academic Program Prioritization report. Their discussion and consideration are highly valued, as this is such an important and challenging task charged to both Appalachian and our sister institutions within The University of North Carolina. We have reviewed their recommendations and now present our decisions.
As you recall, Appalachian’s Academic Program Prioritization planning process began with a conversation between the Faculty Senate and the Provost in December, 2011. It was then determined the Campus Planning Committee would provide guidance on the metrics to be used to evaluate programs. We wanted to ensure inclusivity and faculty involvement and embarked on a two-year process of accumulating data from faculty within the units; discussing issues at numerous meetings; involving faculty work groups at the graduate and undergraduate levels; and, reviewing outcomes and the process with the campus. Once data accumulation was complete, the deans voted on their programmatic priorities, and again, in the interest of transparency, their priorities were shared with the campus community. Based on the process to date, an initial plan was put forward soliciting feedback and additional input on the recommendations for program consolidation, elimination or other action. (This process is summarized on the Institutional Planning, Research, and Assessment website).
As stewards of public resources, we are expected to make challenging decisions. Several of the programs under consideration have consistently been identified on the UNC low enrollment review lists for multiple cycles.
We appreciate the leadership of the AP&P committee members, and the recommendations that emerged from their meeting on February 19, 2014. They supported two recommendations from the report dated December 16, 2013, and we affirm these original recommendations:
Elimination of Master of Arts in Music Education; and,
Elimination of Master of Arts in Gerontology.
Additionally, we accept the following recommendations put forth by AP&P:
Consolidation of Business Education, Family & Consumer Science and Technology Education into a single program, Career & Technical Education. Decisions about how these programs will be consolidated and where they will reside will be made through discussions with the faculty of the units and the deans of the respective colleges; and
Allowing the Master of Arts in Romance Languages to continue for two years. The conditions of this continuation will be established in consultation with the program, the graduate school and the dean.
Other recommendations in the December 16, 2013, Academic Program Prioritization plan will stand as presented. These recommendations include elimination of the following programs:
Master of Arts in History, Education;
Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten; and
Master of Sciences in Criminal Justice & Criminology. We recommend this program become a concentration in the Master of Public Administration degree program.
This plan will be shared with the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees, UNC System President Tom Ross and following his direction, with the Board of Governors.
The realities of the new era mean that we must succeed in different ways. One of those ways is by more regular and prudent review of all of our university activities and expenditures. We must prioritize, and a systematic schedule and process for academic program review must be part of our institutional strategy.
Again, we thank the members of the AP&P Committee for their work and leadership, and we recognize the efforts of everyone involved during this two-year process and respectfully thank them as well.
