Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

Disciplines evolve naturally over time as new ideas, evidence, and subfields emerge. Likewise the departments and programs that embody these disciplines change as new members enter, bringing a different spectrum of interests with them. Given this dynamic, the College has found it valuable for departments and programs to pause and reflect upon their evolution at least once every ten years. A self-study provides a structured opportunity for doing just that. In particular, it allows faculty members to step back and consider the whole picture: What are our goals with regard to student learning? What do we expect of our majors? What is our role vis-à-vis non-majors? How effectively does the curriculum serve these curricular goals? How might it be modified to serve them better? What is the range of our individual pedagogies? The question is not “what are we doing wrong?” but rather “are we doing what we want to be doing and doing it as well as we can?”

Self-studies also provide the Board of Trustees, the President, the Dean of the College, and the Faculty Position Advisory Committee with insight into the needs of a department or program and its place in the educational mission of the College as a whole.

Though departments and programs differ from one another in their particulars, their basic similarities lend themselves to a consistent review process. Here you will find timetables, procedural guidelines, and a list of questions meant to stimulate discussion. You may also wish to consult past self-studies, which are available in the Dean’s Office.

  Self Study Timeline
  Self Study Process
  Questions to Consider
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