Overview of Assessment and Programmatic Change

Office of the Dean

Over the course of the last ten years, in response to both external and internal assessments, a number of significant personnel and structural changes have occurred which have improved the functionality of the Office of the Dean. In addition, the office has led, participated in, or aided and abetted a number of programmatic or administrative developments at the college. The following list summarizes the significant developments in the 1990-2000 period.

• Administrative

• With the departure of the Assistant Dean in 1992, the Assistant Dean’s position was restructured. Responsibility for international students and students studying abroad was reassigned to a new part-time position – the Coordinator of International Studies. The Assistant Dean’s position was replaced with a Dean of Academic Affairs and Academic Advising whose responsibilities included organizing and coordinating the academic advising program, planning the academic component of orientation and serving as the liaison with the student affairs office. Dr. Cynthia Patterson accepted the new position and served until 1997. The International Studies position was expanded to half and then to full-time and raised to the Director level in order to meet the needs of students wishing to study abroad and to serve international students on campus.

• The half-time position of Director of Foundation and Government Grants, reporting to the Dean of the College was expanded to a full-time position in 1996-97 with dual reporting lines to the Dean and the VP for Development. Total external funding for faculty development and programmatic activities has risen from 96K$ in 93-94 to 476 K$ in 97-98 and is approaching 500K$ annually.

• The Director of the Library and the Dean co-chaired the Technology Planning Group (TPG) which developed a plan for technology at the college. The plan was approved by the Board of Directors at their spring meeting in April 97. In a subsequent restructuring, the Director of the Library was appointed Director of the Library and Integrated Learning Resources. In the later role, the director reports to the president. In recent years the college has been nationally ranked for its use of technology in the furtherance of its educational mission.

• The Office of the Registrar developed a Registrar’s web site which enables on-line registration and access to student academic records by advisors and by personnel in the Office of the Dean.

• Programmatic

• The college concentrated on strengthening the Honors Program and developing the Science Initiative in the mid-nineties. These initiatives were the programmatic core of the last capital campaign. This college raised over a million dollars to provide a four for one match to a Kresge Grant which allowed us to modernize the equipment in the science laboratories and provided a base to support an undergraduate research program. A separate gift added a new wing to the Guion Science Building and provided additional funds for equipment. The college successfully began to market itself to women interested in pursuing careers in the sciences.

• The Office of the Dean leads in the analysis of a survey on Educational Priorities which was administered to faculty, alumnae and students in 96. The results identified perceived strengths and weaknesses in the educational program and led to extended faculty conversations about the general education program in 97-98. ( See Frameworks and Foundations ) The dialogue led to the adoption of a new general education program in May 1998. The new program emphasizes the development of communication and reasoning skills, student reflection on their education purpose and extended academic and experiential learning experiences.

• The Office of the Dean works with faculty in the development of major programs in Environmental Sciences, Computer Sciences and a minor program in Law and Public Policy.

• The College established a Center for Civic Renewal as a component supporting the academic program.

• Major new Facilities for Environmental Sciences and Studio Art were brought on line in the summer of 2000.