Program Review for

Educational Administration (M.A.)

2005-2006 Recommendations

 

I.                   Strengths:

 

  1. Approximately 70% of graduates pass state principalship certification exam and numerous program alumni serving as school administrators all over South Texas.
  2. All courses in the program are graduate-only courses (5XXX level)
  3. The program offers distance learning opportunities (A&M board has approved teaching the entire program on-line)
  4. The program requires administrative internship and graduate research paper.
  5. The program is fully accredited by SBEC (last review in Spring 2005)
  6. Strong student enrollment (340+ headcount student majors registered per year, 60+ full-time majors per year) and graduation rates (70+ graduates per year).
  7. Brochure being developed to promote recruitment.

 

II.                Weaknesses:

 

1.      A critical weakness is the current low number of tenured or tenure/track graduate faculty in the program.

2.      Maybe due to the very strong enrollment levels, the program does not have a tracking system of student job placement.

3.      The very high number of research projects directed by graduate faculty may compromise advising and mentoring of the students.

4.      Absence of research funding and perceived below average research facilities and computer equipment.

5.      Review instrument is missing some information on the program: sections II-01 and II-02 are rather different (should match); III-01 section, missing 2005 data; III-07, missing Student Learner Outcomes; III-08, 2004 academic year graduation numbers; IV-08, missing data for some of the graduate faculty.

 

III.    Recommendations:

 

      1.Complete faculty hiring process. The program needs to add at least one full-time

tenure-track assistant professor (ideally a minimum of two) to replace recent           reductions in faculty, maintain the current strengths on the program, and improve   on   its weaknesses.

      2.Request budget increases to improve computer hardware and software and

      research facilities for the program.

3.Funding for research release should be increased, to promote research activities,

student mentorship, professional presentations and publications. Newly hired assistant professors should be offered reduced teaching loads in initial semesters to promote research activities in the program and the seeking of research funds.

 

Program Recommendation: Program recommended for continuation

 

Dean’s Comments:

 

I appreciate the work of both the program faculty and the review committee.  I am disappointed that there were shortcomings in the report (missing and/or contradictory data). 

 

Recommendation number one is currently being pursued (hiring of at least one and preferably two full-time tenure-track assistant professors to teach in the program).  Current faculty shortages were caused by one late resignation, one early-retirement (cannot replace the FTE until the faculty member fully retires), and loss of two faculty in another program which drained faculty from Education Administration.  All situations are being advertised and we hope to have them filled.

 

Recommendation number two is somewhat disconcerting, since no request for technology within the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling has been denied in at least one year.  In fact, one laptop computer and one portable In-Focus projector requested by and purchased for an Education Administration faculty member in October were “repossessed” in March because they had not been removed from the boxes.  No request for “research facilities” has been received by this office.  The College of Education cannot supply something not requested.  I do not believe that the information within the program review on which this recommendation was based is valid.

 

While I appreciate the spirit of recommendation number three, funding for such a request will have to come from central administration and will have to include a campus-wide commitment.  All the Deans actively pursue this and similar policies, and both the President and Provost agree that this will be a good thing to do.  However, the funds are not available at this time.  I will continue in this pursuit, but this is not a realistic recommendation at this point.

 

 

Outcome/Assessment Report

Master’s Program in Education Administration

Spring 2007

Dean’s Comments:

Recommendation 1:  Complete faculty hiring process. The program needs to add at least one full-time tenure-track assistant professor (ideally a minimum of two) to replace recent reductions in faculty, maintain the current strengths on the program, and improve on its weaknesses.

2007 Response:  One tenure-track position was filled in January 2007, and the second is currently in the interview stage.

Recommendation 2:  Request budget increases to improve computer hardware and software and research facilities for the program.

2007 Response:  There have been no budget increases, but HEAF funds were directed to both hardware and software for faculty members.  No funds or equipment have been explicitly directed toward “hardware and software and research facilities for the program.”  Administrators in the College of Education are unaware as to what is being referenced in that phrase.  All students in this program are employed full time, and the majority take classes in Pleasanton; consequently there is no “research facility” which makes any sense, and therefore no need to equip it with hardware and software.  This “need” must be explicitly expressed to the administration.

Recommendation 3:  Funding for research release should be increased, to promote research activities, student mentorship, professional presentations and publications.  Newly hired assistant professors should be offered reduced teaching loads in initial semesters to promote research activities in the program and the seeking of research funds.

2007 Response:  No progress has been made in this recommendation.  While the intent of the recommendation and the positive outcome of its implementation are correct, there are no funds with which to do this.