|
Strategic Plan Homepage
College of
Information and Mathematical Sciences
I. Unit Mission
Statement
II. Statement of Long-Range
Goals
III. Statement of and Progress on Objectives for
FY 2005/06
Goals:
-
Provide an
academic process based on truth and integrity, promoting ethical
behavior among students and faculty.
-
Provide a
nurturing and stimulating environment for students, promoting academic
opportunities, innovative instructional environments, student engagement
and community involvement.
-
Provide a nurturing and stimulating
environment for faculty, promoting faculty development opportunities
that include instructional improvement, professional activities,
research, and experience.
-
Develop
curricula, programs and environments that promote life-long learning.
-
Assess curricula, programs and courses regularly
and use the data as feedback for change.
-
Foster considered evolution of programs and courses
to pace the growth of economic and educational opportunities in our
growing community.
-
Actively seek internal and external resources to
support faculty development, college programs, and activities.
-
Provide a system to support the missions, goals and
programs of the schools and departments of the College.
<<Back to Top
II. Statement of Long-Range Goals
(3-5 years)
1.
Develop structure for the College. In March 2003, the
Department of Mathematics moved from the School of Arts and Sciences to join
the Department of Information Technology to form the College of Information
and Mathematical Sciences. The new academic unit continues to develop
policies, procedures, structures, and resources that foster growth into a
cohesive unit recognized for the quality of its faculty, programs, students,
and service. The College will implement a CIMS awards program, coordinated
with but in addition to the annual University-wide Honors Convocation.
Within the Department of Mathematics, assimilation of full responsibility
for the Learning Support Mathematics program will be completed.
To support the growth of the college, the office
of the dean will be moved to suitable space on the third floor of University
Center, a department head for Information Technology will be appointed or
hired, and an associate dean will be requested and appointed or hired.
2.
Develop a program in Computer Science and Information Science. A
program in computer science will be developed to meet the needs of the
evolving disciplines in computing. Several computer science courses already
exist and are being scheduled and taught. In order to build a core of
faculty to support the program, hiring faculty with graduate training in
computer science will be important. However, several faculty members in the
Department of Information Technology are moving closer to completing their
doctorates in Computer Science. Those faculty identified as such will form
the core group of the computer science faculty. As a result of this
anticipated move of IT faculty to computer science, new IT faculty will need
to be hired to maintain the vibrant program in Information Technology. A
minor in Computer Science will be proposed as a part of the proposal for the
BS program. The College will conduct a study to determine the need for a
program in Information Science to be offered at Clayton. A Department of
Computer Science will be formed to implement the new Computer Science
program.
3.
Review, revise, and expand programs in Information Technology.
The Information Technology curriculum will be reviewed to assure continued
effectiveness in meeting student and industry needs and to identify courses
that can be moved to the proposed major in Computer Science. The University
is a member of a five-institution consortium (within the University System
of Georgia) offering a B.S.I.T. degree that is delivered completely on-line;
this program is called WebBSIT. CIMS faculty and administrators will target
appropriate involvement in advising WebBSIT students, developing and
teaching WebBSIT courses, and participating in the WebBSIT administrative
boards. Support for faculty development, recruitment for new faculty
positions, and future revisions in the BIT curriculum should include
planning for the future addition of a Masters degree programming in
Information Technology.
4.
Review, revise, and expand programs in mathematics.
The BS in Mathematics was approved and was implemented in the fall
of 2004. Recruitment and retention activities to build enrollment and a
plan of strengthening the mathematics faculty will be solidified and
implemented. A minor in mathematics will be offered to students who have a
serious interest in mathematics but are majoring in other disciplines.
Additional options for mathematics majors will be developed in a later phase
of implementation of the bachelor’s degree program. Tracks in statistics,
traditional mathematics, and secondary teacher certification should be
included.
5.
Review and revise service course offerings in both lower and upper
division mathematics curriculum. The
faculty of the Department of Mathematics will reassess the learning support
mathematics curriculum to help better prepare these students to succeed in
college level mathematics. The department will work with other departments
that are preparing new degree proposals or with established degrees to
ensure that their programs have mathematics courses that have the correct
content and pedagogy for their degrees.
6.
Upgrade Academic Advising. The
college views good advising as a fundamental mechanism for increasing its
retention rate. The college plans to hire an additional General Academic
Coordinator to assist in directing students to the right courses and career
paths.
7.
Increase the level of professional development and scholarly activity
of CIMS faculty and increase the percentage of full-time faculty who are
tenured. Supporting
faculty development and scholarly activity will be a priority in resource
allocation. At the beginning of FY 2004, the majority of full-time faculty
members in the College were in non-tenure track positions. Faculty with
non-tenure track appointments will be supported in efforts to obtain
credentials necessary to move to tenure track. Increasing the percentage of
tenure track lines will be an important consideration in filling vacancies
which occur and in obtaining new faculty positions.
8.
Increase external funding and resources. The College needs to produce
and implement a development plan aimed at increasing monetary gifts and
in-kind gifts. New degree programs, new options within existing programs,
and the new facilities in the University Center provide stimuli for
development efforts. All full-time faculty members are encouraged to submit
grants for funding.
<<Back to Top |
