Developing Internal Departmental
Self-Studies for Mathematical Sciences Departments
Nancy Baxter-Hastings
June 11-14, 2006
Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Registration
For This Workshop is Now ClosedThe MAA Guidelines for Programs and
Departments in Undergraduate Mathematical Sciences recommends
that “departments should participate at regular intervals in a process
of periodic planning and evaluation.” A self-study provides an
opportunity for department members, colleagues in partner disciplines
and institutional administrators to discuss issues facing the
department. Moreover, self-study is an on-going, dynamic process that
does not end with production of a document or a visit by an outside
evaluator.
The goal of this workshop is to help teams from mathematical science
departments plan and lay the groundwork for undertaking an effective
self-study of their departments. The teams will examine questions such
as: How does a
purposeful program review play out? How does a department plan ahead
while looking back? How does a department take ownership of the
process? How can a department create a habit of mind of on-going review
and assessment and an on-going quest for excellence? How does a
department overcome obstacles? How do members of a department develop
an openness and willingness to change? How does a department dovetail
its self-study with institutional priorities, financial realities,
strategic plans, and so on?
To help the institutional teams achieve their goals, colleagues
experienced in undertaking departmental reviews and conducting outside
evaluations will serve as presenters during the workshop and as mentors
during the following year. Additionally, a group of colleagues training
to be outside evaluators will meet jointly with the institutional teams
to discuss common areas of
interest and case studies that illustrate issues and complications that
may arise.
For more information, please visit the program website at
http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/mathcs/MAAPrep/prepindex.html