Section 2: CORE REQUIREMENTS

The institution has a governing board of at least five members that is the legal body with specific authority over the institution. The board is an active policy-making body for the institution and is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the financial resources of the institution are adequate to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from it. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting members of the board have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.

A military institution authorized and operated by the federal government to award degrees has a public board in which neither the presiding officer nor a majority of the other members are civilian employees of the military or active/retired military. The board has broad and significant influence upon the institution’s programs and operations, plays an active role in policy-making, and ensures that the financial resources of the institution are used to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from the board except as specified by the authorizing legislation. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting board members have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.  (Governing Board)
 

The college participates in the Texas Tech University strategic planning process. The College of Arts and Sciences Strategic Plan for 2003 is available at:
http://www.as.ttu.edu/Mission/Strategic_Plan/strategic_plan.html

The College of Arts and Sciences and its academic units make continuing improvement and accomplish their respective missions as demonstrated in the most recent strategic planning Assessment Report available at: http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf

Links to the academic units’ home pages follow:

Aerospace Studies
www.depts.ttu.edu/afrotc/ 
  

Biological Sciences
www.biol.ttu.edu/biol2003/
   

Chemistry & Biochemistry
www.depts.ttu.edu/chemistry/
 

Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures
www.depts.ttu.edu/classic_modern/
 

Communication Studies
www.depts.ttu.edu/communicationstudies/
 

Economics & Geography
www.depts.ttu.edu/economicsandgeography/
 

English
www.english.ttu.edu/
 

Environmental Toxicology
www.tiehh.ttu.edu/
 

Geosciences
www.gesc.ttu.edu/
 

Health Exercise & Sport Sciences
www.hess.ttu.edu/
 

History
www.depts.ttu.edu/historydepartment/
 

Mass Communications
www.mcom.ttu.edu/
 

Mathematics & Statistics
www.math.ttu.edu/main_11.shtml
 

Military Science
http://armyrotc.ba.ttu.edu/
 

Philosophy
www.philosophy.ttu.edu/
 

Physics
www.phys.ttu.edu/
 

Political Science
www.depts.ttu.edu/politicalscience/
 

Psychology
www.psychology.ttu.edu/
 

Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work
www.depts.ttu.edu/sociologyanthropologyandsocialwork/

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this requirement

Degree programs administered by the College of Arts and Sciences are described beginning on p. 125 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicUnits.pdf). In summary, the College of Arts and Sciences administers:

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this requirement

All degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences adhere to current academic and professional standards of their respective disciplines as presented by the faculty. Program changes and additions follow procedures of peer and administrative approval involving unit (faculty committees and chairpersons), college (the Arts and Sciences Committee for Academic Programs), Graduate School (when applicable), and university (Academic Council) level reviews (http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/ASCAP/ascap.html) (see “Matters of Curriculum” at http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/AS_Faculty_Info/body_as_faculty_info.html#p6 ). The undergraduate or graduate degree programs of some units are recognized as meeting standards of accrediting organizations in the disciplines. These organizations include the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (for the School of Mass Communications, 102 Mass Communications Bldg.), the American Chemical Society (for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 104 Chemistry Bldg.), the American Psychological Association and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (for programs in the Department of Psychology, 119 Psychology Bldg.), the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (for the Masters of Public Administration Program in the Department of Political Science, 113 Holden Hall), and the Council on Social Work Education (for the baccalaureate program in Social Work in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, 158 Holden Hall). The most recent accreditation review reports are available in the respective department offices (as indicated above).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this requirement

Through its General Degree Requirements the College of Arts and Sciences complies with the university-wide Core Curriculum requirement as outlined in the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog (beginning on page 126; http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicUnits.pdf).  In several categories, requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Bachelor of General Studies degree exceed the minimums required by the Core Curriculum.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this requirement

The College of Arts and Sciences controls all aspects of its degree programs except for those courses taught in other colleges which students may elect to complete in partial fulfillment of Core Curriculum or General Degree Requirements. 

The institution has a sound financial base and demonstrated financial stability, and adequate physical resources to support the mission of the institution and the scope of its programs and services.

The member institution provides the following financial statements: (a) an institutional audit (or Standard Review Report issued in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by the AICPA for those institutions audited as part of a systemwide or statewide audit) and written institutional management letter for the most recent fiscal year prepared by an independent certified public accountant and/or an appropriate governmental auditing agency employing the appropriate audit (or Standard Review Report) guide; (b) a statement of financial position of unrestricted net assets, exclusive of plant assets and plant-related debt, which represents the change in unrestricted net assets attributable to operations for the most recent year; and, (c) an annual budget that is preceded by sound planning, is subject to sound fiscal procedures, and is approved by the governing board.

Audit requirements for applicant institutions may be found in the Commission policy entitled "Accreditation Procedures for Applicant Institutions.  (Resources)

(Not applicable for the Compliance Certification submitted by institution).

Section 3:  COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS

Institutional Mission, Governance, And Effectiveness

The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience,
competence, and capacity to lead the institution.

The institution defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of
faculty and staff.

OP 32.02 Certification of Faculty Qualifications
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.02.pdf

OP 32.07 Other Employment, Faculty Consulting, and Public Offices
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.07.html

OP 32.16 Faculty Recruitment
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.16.pdf

OP 32.17 Faculty Appointments and Titles
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.17.pdf

OP 32.20 Annual Renewal of Certain Faculty Employment Contracts
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.20.pdf

OP 32.27 Review of Vita of Prospective Faculty
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.27.html

OP 32.34 Approval of Faculty in Non-Tenure Acquiring Ranks
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.34.pdf

OP 64.03 Graduate Students Employed as Teaching Assistants and Graduate
          Part-Time Instructors
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP64.03.pdf

OP 64.10 Graduate Faculty
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP64.10.pdf

OP 70.11 Appointment of Staff Employees
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.11.pdf

OP 70.27 Employment of Student Employees
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.27.html

OP 70.36 Temporary Workers with (H1-B) Immigration Status
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.36.pdf 

Pursuant to university OP 30.15, Academic Administrator Evaluation (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP30.15.pdf) the Dean of the College is evaluated annually by the Provost, and department chairs are evaluated by their faculty approximately every three years (but for purposes of the College of Arts and Sciences these evaluations are done using a questionnaire different from the one given in the OP; copies are available in Holden Hall 202).  In those evaluations, the dean sends out the questionnaire via email, and it can be returned via email, or printed out and returned by campus mail, or hand delivered.  The Dean’s annual evaluations of department chairs and associate deans are quite varied, depending on the year, the circumstances of the department and college, etc.  For chairs, much of it is done through face-to-face meetings while the chair and dean are reviewing faculty annual reports and the chairperson’s assessment of faculty.  For associate deans, no written formal evaluations are done; their work is commented on intermittently.  The following statement about evaluation is included in the appointment letters of chairpersons and of associate deans (except the first sentence):  “The Department of XYZ faculty will be asked to review your performance as department chairperson at intervals of approximately three years.  However, just as deans serve at the pleasure of their provost, department chairs serve at the pleasure of their deans.  The actual length of service of any academic administrator at Texas Tech University depends more upon the decisions of the administrator and the individual to whom he or she reports than it does upon a predetermined plan of service.  All of us enjoy tenure in our academic appointments, not in our administrative appointments.”

The institution’s policies are clear concerning ownership of materials, compensation,
copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from the creation and production of all
intellectual property. This applies to students, faculty and staff.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

       The college determines institutional effectiveness by means consistent with the mission of Texas Tech University, stated on p. 2 of the 2004-2005 University Catalog (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf ) and with its own mission statement (http://www.as.ttu.edu/Mission/mission.html) and those of its constituent units (a complete printed set of the academic units’ mission statements is on file in Holden Hall 202a and can be viewed at the units’ websites listed above in item 5 of Core Requirements).  The recently completed university strategic planning and assessment process provides assessment reports by each of the 19 academic units (available in their respective main offices and in the college office, Holden Hall 202a) and by the college (available at  http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf  and in Holden Hall 202a).  Those units that have academic programs accredited by their disciplines’ professional associations possess further documentation of those programs’ ongoing planning and outcomes assessment (recent accreditation reports are available in the main offices of the following departments: Chemistry & Biochemistry, 104 Chemistry Bldg.; Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences, 101 Sport Studies Center; School of Mass Communications, 102 Mass. Comm. Bldg.; Department of Physics, 101 Science Bldg.; Department of Political Science, 113 Holden Hall; Department of Psychology, 119 Psychology Bldg.; Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, 158 Holden Hall).

Educational Programs

     Program expected outcomes are identified through several sources including the college and department strategic plans (see item 5, Core Requirements). Assessment of achievement of expected outcomes is done through formative and summative grading practices in courses, capstone projects (e.g., internships, theses, and dissertations), tracking placement of graduates, teacher certification exams where applicable, and student achievement awards.  Site visits and subsequent visit reports from accrediting bodies (where applicable; see immediately above) also serve as assessments of expected outcomes. Evidence of improvement can be noted through longitudinal grade comparisons, results of all review processes as well as student teacher observation and final evaluations forms from cooperating and supervising teachers (where applicable). Evidence of improvement may also be found in department responses to accreditation visitors’ reports, copies of which are located in the departmental offices in which accreditation is necessary.  New and revised curricula and courses brought through the college committee on academic programs also evidence improvements in educational programs (records of approved new and revised curricula and courses are on file in Holden Hall 202a).

Administrative Services

     The college strategic plan and assessment report (http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf) states some expected outcomes and accomplishments pertaining to administrative support services.  Expected outcomes are elsewhere identified in position responsibilities and task assignments as outlined in position descriptions and other personnel documents on file in the College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office, Holden Hall 102.  Expected outcomes for administrative and other support personnel within academic departments are outlined in documents on file in the respective department offices.  To evaluate outcomes, the Dean meets annually with the Provost (2003 A&S Deans Evaluation Report on file in Holden Hall 202a); each chairperson meets at least annually with the Dean to discuss faculty annual reports, unit strategic plans and assessments, and chairperson performance; and chairpersons evaluate or oversee evaluation of staff in their units.  Relevant reports are available in Holden Hall 202.  Evidence of improvement is gleaned from comparisons of performance or productivity across evaluation sessions for each individual.  Particular issues and incompatibilities within two departments resulted in the Dean reassigning the respective chairpersons to the other department, with marked improvements occurring across several factors in both departments (documentation on file in Holden Hall 202).

Educational Support Services

      The college strategic plan and assessment report (http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf) states some expected outcomes and accomplishments pertaining to educational support services.  Expected outcomes are elsewhere identified in position responsibilities and task assignments as outlined in position descriptions and other personnel documents on file in the College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office, Holden Hall 102, or in the respective academic department offices.  To evaluate outcomes, the Dean meets regularly with her staff (associate deans, development officer); associate deans, as appropriate, meet with department level personnel (chairpersons, academic advisors); and chairpersons evaluate their support staff at least annually.  Evidence of improvement is gleaned from comparisons of performance or productivity across evaluation sessions for each individual, from informal or formal student reports of personnel behavior, or from changes determined to meet newly identified needs.  For example, the college recently added an academic advisor position to assist with the certification of academic progress of student athletes in the college.

PROGRAMS

(a) 

The approval process for adding, changing, and deleting courses, and changing the method of course delivery is found in OP 36.01 (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP36.01.htm).  The approval process for adding or terminating programs, and changing the method of program delivery is found in OP 36.04 (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP36.04.htm).  The review process for approvals of course and program additions, changes, and terminations begins with faculty at the department level.  The Arts and Sciences Committee for Academic Programs (ASCAP) is charged by the Dean to administer the review process for the college.  Policies and procedures of ASCAP can be found at (http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/ASCAP/ascap.html).  Copy of the document is distributed to each chairperson and administrative assistant via email prior to the start of each academic year and upon request thereafter.
 

(b)

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

All the academic units of the college provide outreach, continuing education, or service programs of some sort.  Specific accounts of these activities for academic year 2002 are available for review in each unit’s strategic plan assessment report (hard copies available in department offices, in 202A Holden Hall; and, after June 2003, online).  Examples are (see the college 2003 Strategic Planning Assessment Report section 3b. Qualitative Information at (http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf):

a.  The college was one of two colleges representing TTU at the annual Lubbock Juneteenth Celebration on 15 June 2002; A&S also participated in the annual “Back to School Fiesta” sponsored by Raiders Rojos on 17 August 2002.

b.  CMLL produced a play in Spanish, performed it in the spring semester in Allen Theatre and once in Junction; and a CMLL faculty member presented a local Spanish language television series on KTXT -TV.

c.  ECOG provided faculty guidance and computer lab resources for the University Interscholastic League; faculty collaborated on research with the High Plains Underwater Conservation District; facilitated a GIS seminar series open to faculty, students, and interested others across the university.

d.  Six courses in HESS incorporated service learning projects involving schools and the community; HESS faculty served on local boards and committees of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

e.  PSY added courses in "Service Learning in Psychology;" faculty collaborated with Head Start, Texas Migrants Council, Childrens Advocacy Center, and United Way Advisory Committee.

f.  SASW faculty worked with the Presidio de San Saba Restoration Council, incorporated service learning in Honors courses, mentored elementary school students through the "Help One Student to Succeed" program, and served with the Board of Directors of Lubbock Interagency Hospital Network.

g. SASW faculty were the principal participants in organizing the Vatican Art Exhibit Symposium, presented in September as a public academically -oriented event for the university and wider community; and a faculty member in SASW consulted with the Lubbock Medical Examiners office.

h.  ENGL developed, hosted, and maintained the website of the Association for Teaching Technical Writing, and provided administrative offices for the Executive Director of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association.

i.  HIST collaborated with other institutions through the West Texas Historical Association, Chambers Lecture Series, and the Southwest Collection. History faculty were instrumental in the Vietnam Center and in Seville, and supported developmental leaves and external fellowships and visiting speakers.

j.  POLS developed strategic alliances through the Center for Public Service which involved three cohort groups of appointed and elected public officials and servants, and conducted research projects for the City of Lubbock and State Office of Rural Community Affairs; the Earl Survey Research Center did projects for the University of Nebraska and Georgia State University.

k. The Department of English administers online distance learning degree programs:  the M.A. and the Ph.D. in Technical Communication.

l.  The college administers as a distance learning program through the Division of Outreach and Extended Studies the Bachelor of General Studies degree.
 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The amount of credit students earn by completing a course is determined through the course approval process involving the college curriculum committee (ASCAP; http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/ASCAP/ascap.html) in accordance with university policy on course additions and changes (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP36.01.htm).  Evaluation of proposals to add new courses or to change existing courses includes careful consideration of course credit—e.g., whether course assignments and meeting schedules are commensurate with the amount of credit.  These procedures are administered regardless of format or mode of delivery.  The Division of Outreach and Extended studies (http://www.dce.ttu.edu) requires department chairperson’s authorization for preparation and delivery of print-based and electronic courses it administers for the college.  Such authorization is an assurance that the courses offered through Extended Studies are equivalent in requirements and credit to the same courses offered on campus.

The assignments and requirements are virtually identical for the onsite and online versions of courses in the MA in Technical Communications Program. The major difference is in delivery: that is, online students work from their own sites and connect via the internet to the instructor and classmates. Onsite students meet in classrooms at Texas Tech University. In both versions, courses are scheduled according to semesters, include synchronous as well as asynchronous discussion, and are taught exclusively by graduate faculty at Texas Tech University. Online students must be prepared to commit 10-15 hours a week to each graduate course, including the time for synchronous discussion and review of the transcript generated, posting to the course’s electronic bulletin board, reading lecture notes and other assigned readings, and preparing course assignments. Anecdotal evidence from onsite students who have enrolled in online courses, as well as from online students who have enrolled in onsite courses, indicates that onsite and online courses are entirely equivalent in the teaching and grading practices of the instructor and the time and effort expected of the student.

See http://www.english.ttu.edu/tc/dl/faqs.htm

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The Dean’s office and the academic unit offices coordinate with the various student support offices on campus, offering referrals of services and contributions of information as appropriate.  A list of the offices and services—such as Career Center, Center for Campus Life, Learning Center, and Student Counseling Center--is available at (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf).  Aside from these institutional sources, two associate deans of the college and their advising and business staff of 16 (in the Student Division of the Dean’s office, 102 Holden Hall) work directly with undergraduate students on issues of academic progress and degree matriculation (see http://www.as.ttu.edu/Student/student.html).  These personnel coordinate regularly and carefully with other student support offices to address student needs.  The Student Division staff consists of these authorized numbers and types of positions:

2 Associate Deans
1 Unit Supervisor
1 Administrative Business Assistant
1 Senior Advisor
4 Advisors
2 Assistant Advisors
3 Senior Business Assistants
1 Technician II
1 Student Assistant

The associate deans and the Dean also work closely with the Advising Center at Texas Tech (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/actt/) to assist students who have not decided on a major to select appropriate courses and aspire to reasonable academic goals, with the Pre-Professional Health Careers office in facilitating matriculation of those students, and with the Honors College to assure appropriate curricular options.  One of the associate deans and an academic program advisor conduct assessments for academic certification of student athletes in the college.  Each academic unit of the college provides at least one academic advisor to its undergraduate majors and minors, often a faculty member, although most also employ professional advisors.  Several units share a professional Academic Program Advisor who specializes in the degree requirements for those disciplines (e.g., English shares with Philosophy; History, Political Science, and Economics and Geography share).  Another associate dean, housed in the Faculty Division of the college, coordinates student scholarship applications, screening, and selection (http://www.as.ttu.edu/Student/Scholarship/scholarship.html).  The associate deans in the Student Division also coordinate student grade appeals (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP34.03.pdf) for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Support of graduate students in Arts and Sciences programs resides largely with the academic units and with the Graduate School (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/).  The Deans office coordinates with the Graduate School in support of its graduate students, and manages most of the finances used for graduate assistantship stipends.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

Uniform undergraduate degree requirements, including the Core Curriculum, can be found on pp. 43-49 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf).  General degree requirements for baccalaureate degrees in the college are outlined on pp. 126-128.  General requirements for graduate degrees are described on pp. 70-73 of the Catalog.  Major program requirements—both undergraduate and graduate--are described in each academic unit’s section of the Catalog, pp. 134-198 (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicUnits.pdf).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The university maintains student records electronically on the student information system, TechSIS.  The system is password protected and accessible only to university personnel with appropriate permissions and training.  Within the college (Student Division, 102 Holden Hall) all student information is kept on a local computer file server.  Computers for accessing files on the server require password access to the network and to the server.  The file server is backed up daily.  Tapes are kept in a locked cabinet.  Direct access to the server is available only to the Server Administrator, Randy Lacy (202 Holden Hall).  Paper files also are maintained on every student.  These files are stored in metal file cabinets that can be locked if necessary.  They are in view of staff throughout the workday.  A color-code system is used for tracking any student file removed from the cabinets.  Entry to office space housing these cabinets requires use of university-distributed keys, held only by members of the office staff (see item 9 above for staff list).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The College of Arts and Sciences places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with its faculty.  The Arts and Sciences Committee for Academic Programs (ASCAP; http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/ASCAP/ascap.html), chaired by an associate dean, is charged with overseeing implementation of university operating policies pertaining to course and curriculum additions, changes, and deletions (relevant policies cited above in Educational Programs section 1.a.).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

All majors, minors, and concentration areas in all degree programs are the responsibility of academically qualified faculty.  With the exception of three interdisciplinary majors (General Studies, Latin American and Iberian Studies, and Russian Language and Area Studies; see, for example, http://www3.tltc.ttu.edu/Perez/) and 17 interdisciplinary minors (for both the majors and minors see pp. 128-132 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog at (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicUnits.pdf) all academic programs are coordinated by faculty within the academic units.  The Interdisciplinary majors and minors are coordinated by qualified faculty whose teaching and research expertise qualify them as directors or advisors of those programs, and thus who are appointed by the Dean.  These advisors and their contact information are: 

Asian Studies, Dr. Patricia Pelley, Department of History, Holden Hall 131, ph. 742-1004

Community and Urban Studies, Dr. Yung-mei Tsai, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, Holden Hall 162, ph. 742-2401

Comparative Literature, Dr. Rob Stewart (Interim), College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office, Holden Hall 202A, ph. 742-3833

Dramatic Writing, Dr. Norman Bert, Department of Theatre and Dance, University Theatre, ph. 742-3601

Environmental Studies, Dr. Mark Stoll, Department of History, Holden Hall 131, ph. 742-3744

Ethnic Studies, Dr. Jorge Iber, Department of History, Holden Hall 131, ph. 742-3744

European Studies, Dr. David Troyansky, Department of History, Holden Hall 131, ph. 742-3744

Family Life Studies, Dr. Charlotte Dunham, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, Holden Hall 158, ph. 742-2400

Forensic Studies, Dr. Robert Paine, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, Holden Hall 158, ph. 742-2401

General Studies, Dr. Rob Stewart, College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office, Holden Hall 202A, ph. 742-3833

Geographic Information Science, Dr. Jeffrey A. Lee, Department of Economics & Geography, Holden Hall 248, ph. 742-2201

International Studies, Dr. John Barkdull, Department of Political Science, Holden Hall 113, ph. 742-3121

Latin American and Iberian Studies, Dr. Alberto Julian Perez, Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures, Foreign Languages 256, ph. 742-1562

Linguistics, Dr. Sharon Myers, Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures, Foreign Languages 201, ph. 742-1565

Religion Studies, Dr. Paul Johnson, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, Holden Hall 158, ph. 742-2400

Russian Language and Area Studies, Dr. Anthony Qualin and Dr. Erin Collopy, Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures, Foreign Languages 201, ph. 742-3145

Substance Abuse Studies, Dr. Kitty Harris, Center for the Study of Addiction, Human Sciences 172, ph. 742-2891

The Pre-Professional Health Careers tracks are overseen by a fulltime director who reports directly to the Office of the Provost (http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/predentalorg/Predental/advisors.htm).  Advising and guidance of students in the Pre-Law track is coordinated by the Advising Center at Texas Tech (ACTT; see http://www.depts.ttu.edu/actt/prelaw.html) for students whose majors are undecided or undeclared, and by a faculty director for students who have a major and want to tailor it to preparation for law school (Dr. Catherine Miller, Department of History, Holden Hall 131, ph. 742-3744). Curriculum development in all these academic programs follows procedures noted in item 12 above.

The institution’s use of technology enhances student learning, is appropriate for meeting the
objectives of its programs, and ensures that students have access to and training in the use
of technology.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

Most departments in the college have computer labs available for students’ use.  Some are unique to a particular department, and some are shared by multiple departments.  They include:

·         Language Learning Laboratory and Resource Center, Foreign Languages Bldg. Room 019

·         English Computer Labs, English/Philosophy Bldg. 303, 352, 353, 357, and 358

·         English (Technical Communication) Usability Labs, English/Philosophy Bldg. 354-355

·         Mass Communications Computer Lab, Mass Communications Bldg. 015

·         Communication Studies Computer Labs, Mass Communications Bldg. 261 & 274

·         Mathematics Computer Labs, Mathematics Bldg. rooms 006, 009, and 113

·         Philosophy’s Microcomputer Logic Laboratory, English/Philosophy Bldg. 326

·         Earl Survey Research Lab, Holden Hall 112A and 108

·         Political Science Graduate Student Lab, Holden Hall 009

·         Psychology Graduate Student Computer Lab, Psychology Bldg. 451

·         Social Sciences Computer Laboratory, Holden Hall 105

·         Geographic Information Systems, Science Bldg. 203 and 221, Holden Hall 204 and 221

Strategic planning assessment reports available in each academic unit’s main office refer to faculty’s and student’s various uses of technology.  In accordance with the Applied Science and Technology component in the university Core Curriculum (see p. 46 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf), every major program requires students to complete at least one 3-credit course that meets the component.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard. 

     The college follows university policies on program approval and evaluation (go to http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/New.contents.links/36academic_programs.htm for links to relevant policies on program approval: 36.01, 36.04, 36.05, 36.06, 36.07; and to http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/New.contents.links/34academic_policies_students.htm for links to policies on learning outcomes: 34.04, 34.09, 34.12, 34.20).  Objectives for each of the categories of the TTU Core Curriculum are stated in pp. 46-49 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf).  Specific competencies of the courses included in Core Curriculum are identified and developed by the departments responsible for those specific courses. Evidence that graduates have attained those college-level competencies is manifested in the grades that are assigned to students in those courses.  Further, recent examples of academic units’ evaluations of their programs can be found in their strategic planning and assessment reports for 2003, available at (http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf) as well as in department offices and in the Dean’s Office, Holden Hall 202A.  

The College of Arts and Sciences audits students’ degree plans according to the 25% rule.  TTU OP 34.09, section 2.a. states the 25% rule (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP34.09.pdf). The rule is also published on p.43 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf). 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

Primary responsibility for the academic content of these programs resides at the department level with oversight at the college and institutional levels. Requirements reflecting advanced academic content are found in the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, pp. 70-73, (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicUnits.pdf). Additionally, specific information is located in each of the departmental offices. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

Graduate programs in the Arts and Sciences units adhere to standards of the respective disciplines for developing and delivering quality instruction.  The units follow institutional regulations for graduate education and program evaluations as administered by the Graduate School (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/).  Conformity to the standards of departmental accreditation (applicable to a few departments) ensures that graduate instruction and resources foster independent learning, enabling the graduate to contribute to a professional field of study. Additional attention to this standard is derived through the Strategic Planning Annual Assessment Reports of the institution, its colleges and its departments. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

Minimum residence requirements and regulations regarding transferred work are published in the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, p. 70-72, (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicUnits.pdf). 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

TTU regularly evaluates the effectiveness of each faculty member in accordance with published criteria. Performance evaluation of faculty is detailed in OP 32.32, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.32.html, and comprehensive performance evaluation of tenured faculty members and faculty members who receive an academic promotion is detailed in OP 32.31, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.31.html.  Policies related to tenure and promotion in the College of Arts and Sciences are available online at http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/AS_Faculty_Info/body_as_faculty_info.html#Tenure Individual departments and schools within the college may have more specific instructions for faculty within their units about the annual review process.  Teaching evaluations by students as well as chairpersons' evaluations are part of the annual review process.  Faculty members' annual reports, teaching evaluations, and chairpersons' evaluations are all reviewed in the college office, and these materials also become part of the dossiers for tenure review, promotion review, or comprehensive performance evaluation. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The college provides a website with information about professional development: http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/Faculty_Info/faculty_info.html.  Each faculty member submits an annual report of activities as per OP 32.32, section 3.a. (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.32.html) including professional development activities. TTU provides for leaves of absences, (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.15.pdf), and for development leaves (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.29.html).  Departments allow faculty to attend professional meetings for purposes of professional development.  On-campus professional development activities (such as provided by the Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center [http://www.tltc.ttu.edu/content/asp/main/services.asp] and the Office of Research Services [http://www.ors.ttu.edu/Newors/newhome/New&Events/Workshops.html] are encouraged by the Dean’s office.  Moreover, the college provides two sessions per year to faculty in their first and second years on the tenure track in order to discuss professional issues, university resources available for faculty development, and expectations for the tenure track.  The college provides mentoring and information sessions for tenure-track faculty seeking tenure and promotion to associate professor and for mid-level tenured faculty seeking promotion to full professor.  Initially developed for female faculty, the mentoring program is open to all faculty, and the college particularly encourages faculty from any underrepresented groups to participate.  Further evidence of faculty participation in such activities can be found in the Strategic Planning Annual Assessment Reports of the departments (available in department offices or in the Dean’s office, Holden Hall 202A; contact Associate Dean Mary Jane Hurst, 742-3833, maryjane.hurst@ttu.edu).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

TTU faculty is assured of academic freedom as stated in the Faculty Handbook, p. 33
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/pdfs/FacultyHB.pdf. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

     TTU OP 32.06, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.06.pdf, Faculty Responsibility outlines expectations in the areas of teaching, research and creative activity and university, community and professional service. It also allows for faculty to have authority in their respective classroom.  Faculty governance procedures may be found in the by-laws for the Faculty Senate at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/senate/. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

The TTU library supports the mission, objectives, degree programs, and research needs of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Most of the academic units within the college also maintain their own various holdings consistent with the mission of TTU, p.2 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf, and with the mission statements of the College of Arts and Sciences and its constituent units (http://www.as.ttu.edu/Mission/mission.html).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

The TTU Library has staff available for instruction in the use of their facilities and resources on a formal or informal basis in support of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Faculty members provide instruction on the use of library resources in some of their courses. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

The TTU Library has qualified and sufficient staff to accomplish the mission of TTU as far as the College of Arts and Sciences is concerned. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

Student rights and responsibilities are published in the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, pp.52ff, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf, and in the Student Affairs Handbook on the Student Affairs web site, http://www.studentaffairs.ttu.edu/. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

TTU keeps student records electronically on its student information system TechSis, which is password protected. The College of Arts and Sciences also maintains in its Student Division (Holden Hall 102) undergraduate student records both electronically and in hard copy format.  There is sufficient electronic, physical, and personnel security for the student records.  TTU and the College of Arts and Sciences adhere to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The university, the college, and its units employ qualified personnel in all positions that provide student services.  Recently a new position was added in the Student Division of the Dean’s Office (Holden Hall 102) to assist in the assessment of academic certification of student athletes. 

RESOURCES

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

Facilities for the College of Arts and Sciences and its 19 academic units are distributed over many different building locations on campus.  Many of these facilities need renovating or expanding to meet fully the needs of students, faculty, and staff; in particular, space for science laboratory instruction.  Moving some research laboratories to the new Experimental Sciences Building likely will make available some space for instructional purposes in existing science buildings.  Very limited office space exists for graduate teaching assistants and other instructional staff hired to meet increasing demands in general education courses.  The same limitation bodes a challenge to placing new faculty hires.  Efforts directed toward more efficient use of space and reclamation of space are a priority for the college.  The opening of the new English/Philosophy Building in 2002 significantly improved the instructional and office space for the Department of English (which generates the largest enrollments in the college), Philosophy, and other offerings.  Other recent improvements in instructional space include the new Geographical Information Systems laboratories in the Department of Geography (Holden Hall 204 and 221; http://www.depts.ttu.edu/economicsandgeography/) and our recent (2002) installation of a state-of-the-art language laboratory in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures (Foreign Language Building 019, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/classic_modern/langlab/index.htm), as well as new “smart” classrooms in Holden Hall 104 and 150 and an interactive teleconferencing classroom in Holden Hall 038.

Section 4:  FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

As part of the Strategic Planning and Assessment Reporting process, the college keeps track of student retention rates, overall GPAs, graduation rates, and to the extent possible, acceptance to graduate schools and job placement rates. (http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/2_0_2003.pdf)

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

The various curricula of the college are appropriate to the mission of Texas Tech University and the diplomas and degrees awarded.  The college has a curriculum committee (Arts and Sciences Committee on Academic Programs, or ASCAP; http://www.as.ttu.edu/Faculty/ASCAP/ascap.html) who oversees any curricular additions, changes, or deletions requested by departments.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance with this standard.

     Texas Tech University publishes its Academic Calendar in the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog (pp. 7-9, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf,) and also on its website (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/calendar.html). The University also posts a Campus Calendar of Events accessible at http://calendar.ttu.edu/.  University grading policies are specified in OP 34.12 (http://www.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP34.12.pdf). Additional information on grading can be found in OP 34.02, 34.03, 34.04, 34.05, 34.07, 34.13, and 34.15. Published grading policies can also be found in the Texas Tech University Catalog (pp. 52ff) or at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf.  Refund policy information can be found in the University Catalog (pp. 30ff) and at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

Texas Tech University’s undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 hours (p.43 of the 2004-2005 Texas Tech University Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GenInfo.pdf), master’s degree programs require 30-36 hours (p. 65) and doctoral degree programs require at least 60 hours (p. 67).

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

TTU has outlined student grievance procedures in the Student Affairs Handbook, pp. 12-13 (http://www.studentaffairs.ttu.edu/publications/SAHandBook_2003-2004.pdf).  Contact information for student visits in or with the Dean’s office are posted outside Holden Hall 102 and online at http://www.as.ttu.edu/Student/Student_Visits/student_visits.html.

The College of Arts and Sciences is in compliance on this standard.

The college’s recruitment materials and presentations accurately represent Texas Tech University’s practices and policies. They are updated when possible to accurately represent the university and the college.  Copies of materials from some of the academic units of the college are available outside Holden Hall 102 and from the individual department offices.