AP-008-134, Academic Program Review for Science, Technology and Society 1
CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA
ACADEMIC SENATE
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
REPORT TO
THE ACADEMIC SENATE
AP-008-134
Academic Program Review for Science, Technology and Society
Academic Programs CommitteeDate:
Executive Committee
Received and ForwardedDate:5/7/2014
Academic SenateDate:May 14, 2014
FIRST READING
May 28, 2014
SECOND READING
BACKGROUND:
The Science, Technology and Society Program is Cal Poly’s only undergraduate interdisciplinary program. Proposed in 2006 and implemented in 2009, it has since been up and running under the direction of Dr. Peter Ross of the Philosophy Department. For its first program review, the Program submitted a Self Study; a report by external visitors (7-21-13 from interdisciplinary programs at San Jose State and UCLA); the Program’s response (August, 2013); and the response by the Dean of CLASS, on behalf of CLASS, Science and AG.
RESOURCES CONSULTED
Peter Ross, Dir., STS Program
Dale Turner, Chair, Philosophy
Steven McCauley, Chair, Physics
External Reviewers (2)
Deans of CLASS, AG, SCI
Assoc. Deans of CLASS, AG, SCI, and EGR
Claudia Pinter-Lucke, Assoc. Provost
DISCUSSION:
At all levels and in all reports, the Program is described as growing, successful, valuable, truly interdisciplinary, fitting the University’s goals, and now at a critical juncture where it needs more resources in order to be sustainable. The program has an increasing enrollment of between 15 and 19 majors.
The Program’s Self-Study was organized and thorough, detailing its administrative structure, resources, curriculum and assessment plan. It identifies needs for recruiting, funding for an official Director, dealing with Senior-Project-supervision workloads, and more clearly compensating contributing faculty and departments for STS courses.
Claudia Pinter-Lucke, the Assoc. Provost, added concerns that some STS students might be double-majors, and that the assessment plans should be implemented more quickly.
The External Reviewers, after saluting the Program’s value, found that the double-majoring is not a problem, and agreed with the other concerns, recommending:
highlighting the Program on the Provost’s website; that the assessment plans begin immediately and continue annually; that interim release time and ultimate permanent resources be given to establish a formal Director; that the administrative relationship of the Program to the contributing departments and the University be clarified; ensuring the dedication of FTEs to contributing departments.
To deal with Senior-Project supervision, the External Reviewers recommended a restructuring of the capstone courses.
They further recommended the ultimate hiring of dedicated faculty for the STS Program, and encouraging connection between students in the program.
In its response, the Program concurred with everything except the restructuring of the capstone courses, failing to see how the recommendations would solve the problem.
The Deans’ (CLASS, AG, Science) response agreed that a Program office and Director be established and supported, but did not agree that a line of dedicated faculty should be instituted, recommending instead that existing faculty be reassigned from a range of colleges, supported by Academic Affairs.
With respect to Senior-Project supervision, the Deans recommended that STS should study other departments to find models for resolving the problem using established curricular practices. Curricular changes suggested by the external reviewers should be studied and incorporated according to the judgment of the director and faculty. The response concluded with a resolution for the Deans to work with the current director going forward.
In sum, the STS Program is valuable, on-track and has a plan to move forward towards sustainability and clearer administrative structure. It is recommended that their program review be approved.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Academic Programs Committee recommends approval of AP-008-134: Academic Program Review for Science, Technology and Society.