Date:

April 10, 2006

Division:

College of Arts and Sciences

Dean:

Dean William Richardson

Department/Discipline:

Political Science

Chair:

Professor Paul Wilson

Academic Unit Supervisor:

Alice Mendez

Building Name and Location:

Chance Academic Center: Room 223

Address:

1300 San Pedro, San Antonio, Texas 78212

Phone:(210) 733-2545

Fax: (210) and 733-2570

Chairman: Prof.Paul Wilson

pwilson@accd.edu

Academic Unit Assistant:
Alice Mendez

amendez@ accd.edu

I. Degree: Political Science is part of the core curriculum for an Associates Degree in Political Science. The department course delivery mode is through the classroom, internet, and video. Currently, state statutes require Government/ Political Science courses for graduation from state supported colleges and universities.

II. Expected Program Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete courses in Political Science and/or transfer to a four-year college or university or take Political Science in support of other college programs will be able to:

-Perform communication/technology skills based on political science and national, state, and local government.
-Validate the ability to critically examine the major governmental institutions emphasizing the content enumerated in the United States and Texas Constitutions
-Employ the scientific method to the study of political science and government topics
-Interrelate professionally with peers and supervisors
-Demonstrate knowledge of diversity in politics as it pertains to the Texas political system and the U.S. political system.
-Implement problem-solving skills to viable and possible solutions to global political issues and problems.
-Synchronize presentations indicating knowledge of political issues.

III. Measures of Program Learning Outcomes
-Role-Playing/Simulations
-Comprehensive final Exam
-Student Survey
-Syllabus Audit
-Poster Presentations
-Student Journals
-Professor Assessments
-Written Critiques
-Student Records (GPA)
-Student Retention
-Collaborative Research Teams
-Group Projects
-Learning Communities
-Multi-media/Oral Presentations
-Panels/Debates
-Civic Participation
-Web-based Group Exercises
- Students who complete courses in Political Science must pass the requirements of each course with a minimum of 70% accuracy.

A. To make certain that each unit reaches the reaches the aforementioned objectives/goals, faculty will be encouraged to commit to the following outcomes for student academic success:

-Perform comparative analysis of assigned topics employing critical-thinking skills.
-Organize written assignments that reflect spatial, chronological, relational, and logical contents as applied to political science theories and principles.
-Exhibit comprehension of theories and principles as related to political science and government.
-Recognize suitable sources competently in conducting political science research.
-Create written assignments attaining requisite standards and criteria as set in the course.
-Create web materials with technology and other delivery modes.

B. To accomplish the unit outcomes, faculty will employ the following approaches:

-Provide courses that guide students to specific foundations as related to the study of political science and government.
-Offer course projects designed to reflect technological, creative, and articulate writing skills.
-Offer courses in political science which cover domestic and international political theory
-Offer courses which provide an internationalized, global curriculum as reflected in the U.S. and Texas governmental systems.
-Offer courses and activities which reflect multiculturalism in the political system, such as the Model Organization of American States.
-Offer web-based courses for students
-Provide faculty with access to multi-media and technology in the classrooms
-Increase ratio of women and minorities both in full time tenure track and adjunct faculty positions.
-Commit to increase productive and completion rates
-Increase certification of faculty for implementation of web based instruction
-Increase ratio of women and minorities both in full-time tenure track and adjunct positions
-Commit to increasing student's use of technology

IV. List of Courses in support of degree programs:

-Govt. 2301: American Government, National and State
-Govt. 2302: American Government, Public Policy and Problems
-Govt. 2304: Introduction to Political Science
-Govt. 2305: American Government, National
-Govt. 2306: American Government, State
-Govt. 2378: International Relations
-Govt. 2389: Internship

V. Faculty and Staff

Government/Political Science Department Program Review
and
Five-Year Plan: 1996-2001

In 2001, the Department of Political Science was assessed by the San Antonio College Review Committee resulting in a Government/Political Science Department Program Review and Five-Year Plan. The Government/Political Science Department Review and Five-Year Plan was approved by the former Dean of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Margaret Hyde. The present Dean, Dr. Bill Richardson recommended a review of the Government/Political Science Department Program Review and Five-Year Plan to be included with the Political Science Degree Program and Learning Outcomes document as recommended by SACS accreditation.
The Department Program Review and Five-Year Plan documented the assessment in four categories: 1) strengths of the program, 2) limitations of the program, 3) suggested remedies, and 4) additional comments.

Category One-Strengths: The strengths of the program included excellent faculty and leadership, commitment to alternative delivery modes and class time offerings, increase in grade and productive rates, commitment to global awareness, commitment to faculty participation in college and community activities, and commitment to increasing ethnic and gender diversity in faculty.

Category Two-Limitations: Limitations of the program included limited increase in the grade and productive rate, lower rate of contact hours taught by full-time faculty, reliance on adjunct faculty, limitations imposed by lack of access to multi-media, technology and cable-television access, limited number of certified internet teachers, and the limited number of women and minorities in faculty positions.

Category Three-Remedies: Remedies suggested by the committee included increase the number of multi-media units and technology funding, wiring the CAC building with internet and cable-television access, investigate the impact of adding college level reading as a prerequisite, upgrade faculty and staff computer workstations and internet certifying additional faculty.

Category Four-Comments: After the Department of Political Science was assessed by the San Antonio College Review Committee and former Dean Margaret Hyde, positive comments reflected that the Political Science Department is an effective, excellent, innovative and challenging program.
-a strong department with dedicated faculty
-a department committed to high academic standards
-a faculty committed to increase retention and productive grades
-impressive publication record
-a well organized program review document
-excellent leadership
-use of institutional measures
-hiring of additional faculty, especially women and minorities
-use of multimedia technology in the classroom

 Conclusive Analysis: In conclusion, under the leadership of Chairman Professor Paul Wilson and the Department Faculty Team, the Department of Political Science attained most of the goals and objectives outlined in the 2001 Government/Political Science Department Review and Five-Year Plan. Future projections may include requesting additional funding for cable/satellite news programming, updating multimedia technological equipment, and expanding the enrollment in the Political Science Department. Overall, the Political Science Department succeeded in implementing the remedies to the limitations, and continued to build on the strengths.