Program Review for
Adult Education
2003-2004
Recommendations
1) Strengths:
a) The program has two faculty members with Ph.D.s in Educational Human Resource Development and focuses in the field of adult education. Combined experience of the faculty in the field of adult education is greater than 30 years. As a result the program does a good job in combining theory and practice in training graduate students.
b) The versatility of both the faculty and the program itself makes possible a degree of individualization and cooperation with other disciplines that is noteworthy.
c) Topics courses have been utilized effectively to develop the most current and relevant issues in the field. Modification of the degree and its adjustment to the most immediate concerns in the field have are a strength.
d) Recent enrollment increases illustrate the strength and flexibility of the program’s course offerings and the ability of the faculty to tailor the program to the most pressing issues in the field.
e) A substantial effort to recruit local community college students, particularly through STCC and Laredo Community College, is evidence of the commitment of the faculty to the success of the program.
f) The faculty in the program have been active at professional conferences and in research, most often at their own expense.
2) Weaknesses:
a) The critical weakness of the program is that it lacks a full-time, tenure/tenure track faculty member to give the program a stable basis for continued expansion.
b) The current coordinator is currently in transition to retirement. Though his energies and activity are unflagging, the program will need to seek his replacement in the fore-seeable future.
c) The resources to continue the program’s expanded recruitment efforts will need to be increased or maintained for on-going success.
d) Other programs within the university have not been adequately informed of the degree to which the Adult Education program would enhance their students employability and professional development.
3) Recommendations:
a) The program needs to hire one full-time, tenure track assistant professor to ensure the continued development of the program.
b) Develop an integrated plan for recruiting in and outreach to the community colleges in the San Antonio area.
c) A successful recruitment effort will require greater funding, funding graduate assistantships and fellowships, but also an increased budget for recruitment materials, visits, etc. These budgeting demands will be made through the IEP reporting process.
d) Funding for research release time, research travel and materials, and travel for presentations must be increased. These requests will be made through the usual IEP reporting process.
Program
Recommendation: Program recommended for
continuation.
Dean’s Comments:
In reference to our meeting of Tuesday, August 3, 2004, with the Provost
concerning the Review of the Master’s Program in Adult Education, I would like
to formalize my conclusions and commitment for action. I fully agree with the recommendations of
the Review Committee, and will in the coming year examine ways in which to
bolster the Adult Education program.
The primary recommendation was to hire a tenure-track faculty member;
while the creation of a new FTE is unlikely, this review and the production
level of this program require that I explore means by which a qualified faculty
member can be assigned. I will in the
next 9 months be exploring the redirection of an FTE to the Adult Education
program.
Outcome/Assessment Report
Dean’s Report: A request has been submitted to redirect a faculty FTE to this program. Funds have been allocated to the Department of Education and Counseling for recruitment materials for all programs with the Department, to include Adult Education. If the FTE is approved and a full-time person is hired for this program, that person will be directed to inform other programs/students about the role on Adult Education as a resource area. This person will also be tasked with the program expansion.