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First Choice/Best in Class Undergraduate Programs in the College of Sciences

Spring, 2008

Similar to the First Choice Program in the Graduate School , the Provost has asked each academic college to engage in discussion and develop criteria and a program for identifying First Choice and/or Best in Class undergraduate programs.  The following summary is presented for discussion in COS departments.

Undergraduate programs in the College of Sciences at EIU are diverse in their missions and departmental cultures.  All function well but their missions, foci, procedures and policies vary.  Some are highly sought by entering freshmen and transfers.  Others are selected by students after they have had a chance to sample the curricula through electives or requirements in other majors.  Most majors have robust enrollments but a few derive their greatest student credit hour production through essential general education and service courses to other majors.  Many majors offer what appears to be a traditional collection of courses for the discipline but some majors are offer curricula that are documented as cutting edge. Only two programs have external accreditors but all programs prepare a self-study and undergo an external review in the year preceding their IBHE reviews.  All programs in COS are working to integrate assessment throughout their curricula and in a few departments assessment is well-defined and embedded in the curricula. All COS departments support undergraduate Honors programs in which faculty mentored research is the cornerstone experience. In summary, all programs in COS have attributes either currently represent First Choice criteria or have the potential meet First Choice criteria.

A program of recognition such as EIU First Choice Undergraduate Programs must allow for the diversity that exists among colleges and programs within colleges.  There is a consensus among the COS chairs that a recognition program such as First Choice would include a set of core criteria for all programs and then a list of additional criteria which are desirable but not required by all programs.  For a program to be recognized, core criteria would be required with additional selected criteria to document unique aspects of the program.  While some First Choice documentation would be common among all programs, programs would also present documentation that is unique to their programs.  

Suggested Required First Choice Criteria

Curriculum

Potential documentation of First Choice Curriculum

ü  Curriculum consistent with external (e.g., national) standards/guidelines.

ü  Systematic and regular departmental review of curriculum and courses with evidence that curriculum is changed as a result of assessment or department review

ü  Departmental Honors program

ü  Assessment program that is integrated throughout the curriculum

Undergraduate Research Program

Potential documentation of First Choice Undergraduate Research Program

ü  Sustainable undergraduate research program with evidence of significant participation (student co-authors, student presentations at professional conferences)

ü  Promotion of undergraduate research experiences early in the course of study

ü  Department support of undergraduate research

ü  Recognition of undergraduate research

 Unit Level Planning

Potential documentation of First Choice Unit Level Planning

ü  Department/program priorities which are aligned with University and College priorities

ü  Departmental planning procedure that provides for regular review and revision of department planning priorities

ü  Documented changes that occur as a result of unit level planning

Co-Curricular Programs

Potential documentation of First Choice Co-Curricular Programs

ü  Outreach opportunities for students

·         Community volunteer opportunities related to curriculum

ü  Internship opportunities

ü  Service learning

ü  Active Registered Student Organizations that are engaged in scholarly, service and outreach related to the program/discipline

ü  Simulations and applied learning experiences such as Model Illinois Government and Mock Trial

ü  Contributions to the intellectual culture of the University (e.g. panel discussions, visiting scholars, debates)

Faculty

Potential documentation of First Choice Faculty

ü  Mentoring/orientation program for new faculty

ü  Faculty development that promotes improvement of teaching

ü  Evidence that faculty implemented effective innovative teaching and learning strategies

ü  Faculty-student mentoring

ü  Research productivity evidenced by external grants, publications, and presentations in prestigious venues

ü  Faculty involvement in professional organizations

Alumni and Development

Potential documentation of First Choice Alumni and Development

ü  Ongoing contact with alumni communicating department achievements and aspirations

ü  Ongoing development activities

o   Organizing activities in conjunction with professional meetings

o   Organizing activities in conjunction with homecoming or other alumni events

Examples of First Choice Select Criteria

Study Abroad and Internationalize Curriculum

Potential documentation of Study Abroad and International Curriculum

ü  Regularly scheduled study abroad programs

ü  Inclusion of international activities and events in curriculum

Development of unique programs consistent with the priorities of the University, College, or Department

      Potential documentation of unique programs

ü  CDS Laptop Initiative

ü  MAT MS Cohort Program for Secondary Mathematics Teachers

ü  Mentoring program for WiSM

ü  Mentoring program for M³S

Scholarship of teaching and learning

Potential documentation of teaching and learning

ü  Presentations or publications related to SOTL

ü  Implementation of SOTL outcomes in teaching

ü  Faculty discussions related to SOTL

Professional or Discipline Accreditation

            Potential documentation of accreditation

ü  Seeking accreditation or is accredited by a recognized specialized accreditor

Implementation of First Choice Undergraduate Programs in COS

The details of implementation are not yet well-defined.  As discussions continue with the Provost, deans, department chairs, and faculty, those details will be developed.  Some ideas for implementation could include:

• After the initial recognition, subsequent “re-authorization” of First Choice could be coordinated with IBHE and External Reviews in the College of Sciences .  The Graduate School has been successful in implementing First Choice as a peer-reviewed process, and therefore, a peer-reviewed process should be considered.
• Some incentives for participation need to be identified.  Some ideas First Choice incentives are
• higher priority in staffing decisions
• higher priority in budget allocations
• one-time grant at the time of the first recognition and at each subsequent “reauthorization) for First Choice to be sustainable