2018-19 Unit Plan
Philosophy
Mission Statement
The mission the Butte Philosophy Discipline is to introduce students to the intellectual and religious traditions that shape western and non-western cultures while fostering skills in logical thinking, clear writing, sound argumentation and the thoughtful consideration of diverse world views.
Program Description
FA2016 (1 semester) - 56.5 FTES, 19 sections, 534 students
Faculty- 2 Full time (1 retiring May19); 4 Associate
Butte Philosophy supports student success in meeting General Education transfer and diversity education requirements, strengthens student ability to think logically, write well and provides them with a foundation of knowledge about the rich intellectual traditions of both western and eastern cultures from which to meaningfully reflect on their lives. PHIL6, Logic and PHIL8, Methods of Argument meet the CSU and IGETC Critical thinking requirements.Philosophy courses also meet requirements for the Sustainability and Peace and Conflict Resolution Certificates.
Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes
Philosophy is dediated to using assessment data for program deveopment and improvement, and is making the following changes in response to program assessment outcome data:
- Develop a PHIL AA-T degree working in alignment with faculty from CSUC and the Butte Pathways
- Strategically adapting the schedule to meet student need and increase enrollments
- Identify strategies to raise student success rates in difficult courses PHIL6,Logic
Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (OSLED Departments)
2016 Program Review Data - 1 semester, not incuding Winter or Summer
FTES 56.5
- 19 sections, 534 students
- 74% fill rate
- 83.4% retention
- 49.7% success
The philosophy course that students have the most difficult time with is PHIL6, Intro to Logic. The success rates in this course at 56% are the most divergent from the college average of 73%, but statewide success averages for this course are low because of the rigorous nature of the material. We are now working to identify and implement strategies to improve students success in PHIL6 such as reducing ped caps to students receive more faculty attention.
Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)
Strategic Direction
A few highlights -
1.e Completion. Philosophy courses arm students with essential critical thinking and analysis skills required to succeed at Universities and provide core transfer curriculum
1.d. Progress. Philosophy collaborates with faculty at CSUC to discuss curriculum and goals that support student transfer.
1.f Strategic Plannnig, 1.g Technology and 5. Modeling Sustainaiblty. Philosophy was one of the first disciplines to offer online courses and is increasing online offerings, which also helps reduce the carbon footprint. We are also working to incorporate the elements of strategic scheduling into our planning
Program Review
Department Goals
- Strategically analyze the schedule to support increasing enrollments by 4% in 2018/19
- Identify and implement strategies to raise student success rates in difficult courses(Phil6)
- Develop the curriclum needed and establish a Phil AAT Major
- Define and outreach transfer and career pathways for Phlosophy majors
- Hire a full-time faculty member to ensure the strength of the program
Future Development Strategies
Strategy 1 - Strategically analyze the schedule to meet student need and increase enrollments by 3% in 2018/19
- Increase online course offerings
- Strategic scheduling analysis - identify optimal day/times for courses
- Develop zero textbook costs courses
- Add currilcum to establish the AA-T major and add vitiality and the program
Initiatives
- Modeling Sustainability
- Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
- Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
- Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
- Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
- Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
Supporting Rationale
Addresses the campus wide goal to reach underserved students and provide a greater variety of educaitonal options
Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: No
Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes
Strategy 2 - Identify and implement strategies to raise student success rates in difficult courses (Phil6)
The content of Phil 6, Introduction to Logic is amongst the most challenging a student will encounter. Like other courses at this level the succeess rate is lower than the campus average of 73%. Our strategy is to incrementally improve the success rate while staying true to the rigorous intention of the material by
- Reduce the high class size from 45 to 38 so that faculty can give students an appropriate level of attention to promote success
- Provide PHIL6 Associate Faculty funds for 2 office hours/week, and/or a student assistant intern to work with individual students
- Invest in Logic "drill" programs for student practice
- Hire a full-time faculty with demonstrated excellence in teaching Phil6 and experience with Phl AA-T Majors. This is to prepare cfor the SP19 retirement of sernior Phil full time faculty Wei-Ming Wu.
- Offer professional develpment opportunities for faculty on tested and successful methods for teaching Logic courses
Initiatives
- Modeling Sustainability
- Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
- Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
- Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
- Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
- Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
Supporting Rationale
These actions are in respose to a primary course and program assessmet outcome and directly support student success
Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: Yes
Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes
Strategy 3 - Develop the currilum needed to establish a Phil AAT Major
Develop the coursework needed to launch a Phil AA-T Major
- The Philosophy Department at Chico State in FA18 supports the need and development of the AA-T Philosophy major at Butte College. Philosphy courses sharpen student thinking, writing and oral skills it prepares students for careers in education, law, medicine, business, journalism, ministry, and government.
- Develop the 3 new C-ID aligned courses needed to launch a Phil AA-T Major: Ancient Philosophy, Modern Philosophy and Western Civilization.
Initiatives
- Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
- Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
- Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
- Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
- Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
Supporting Rationale
Outcome and program reivew feedback data support the developmet of the Phil AA-T Major. It provides a direct pathway for students to the CSUC and other Philosophy programs and hones crtiical thinking skills essential to student success.
Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: Yes
Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes
Strategy 4 - Define and outreach career pathways and market value of a Phil AA-T
- Provide career and transfer information that inspires student retention and completion
- Develop Philosophy outreach materials with Transfer pathway and career information for public events, high school visits, etc.
Initiatives
- Modeling Sustainability
- Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
- Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
- Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
- Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
- Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
Supporting Rationale
Raise awareness and opportuntiies for student success
Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: Yes
Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes
Strategy 5 - Hire a full-time faculty member to ensure the strength of the program
Hire a full-time faculty with demonstrated excellence in teaching Phil6 and experience with Phl AA-T Majors.
Initiatives
- Modeling Sustainability
- Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
- Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
- Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
- Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
- Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
Supporting Rationale
Prepare for the SP19 retirement of sernior Phil full time faculty Wei-Ming Wu
Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: Yes
Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes
Requested Non-Financial Resources
Current Financial Resources
Augmentation Requests
| Original Priority |
Program, Unit, Area |
Resource Type |
Account Number |
Object Code |
One Time Augment |
Ongoing Augment |
| Description |
Supporting Rationale |
Potential Alternative Funding Sources |
Prioritization Criteria |
| 1 |
Philosophy |
Personnel |
|
51110 |
$0.00 |
$109,877.00 |
| Full Time Faculty |
One full-time faculty with expertise in core courses in the AA-T major is needed to support program growth and integrity in preparation for the SP20 retirement of a senior full-time faculty member. |
|
- Meeting Standards and Goals for Student Achievement
- Addressing Program Review Recommendations
- Implementing improvements identified during Outcomes Assessment
- Meeting standards and working to achieve goals for course success, retention, degree achievement, certificate completion, transfer, and credentialing
- Continuing to implement Learning Outcomes (Course, Program, General Education,
Administrative and Student Services) to include disaggregating data by student
characteristics
- Implementing a Guided Pathways Model that makes career and transfer pathways clear, easy to navigate, tailored to meet labor market needs, and promotes success after transfer
- Practicing strategic enrollment management that integrates financial planning with student need and achievement
- Continuing to make progress toward 75% full-time faculty
- Recruiting, hiring and retaining a diverse workforce
|
| 2 |
Philosophy |
Personnel |
|
|
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Increase SBS Department Chair by 20% |
Philosophy is one of four disciplines in Social and Behavioral Sciences, which serves over 2000 students and generates +225 FTES each semester. SBS has lost 2 full time faculty positions to retirement that were not replaced in the last 5 years (Sociology, Philosophy), a third is retiring SP18 (Psychology) and a fourth SP20 (Philosophy). Low full time faculty ratios which increase the workload of the Chair.
SBS is entering an outreach program to support the college goals of increasing enrollments by 3%
The program is growing with new structures like AA-T Majors and Online major Pathways. Sustaining current standards of excellence already require Chair commitment beyond the allocated time. |
|
- Meeting Standards and Goals for Student Achievement
- Addressing Program Review Recommendations
- Implementing improvements identified during Outcomes Assessment
- Aligning the instructional schedule with Guided Pathways
- Collaborating effectively with K-12 administrators, faculty, and counselors to set
appropriate student expectations, align curriculum and pathways, and provide
opportunities for high school students to earn college credits while in high school
- Continuing to implement Learning Outcomes (Course, Program, General Education,
Administrative and Student Services) to include disaggregating data by student
characteristics
- Meeting standards and working to achieve goals for course success, retention, degree achievement, certificate completion, transfer, and credentialing
- Using data, research and collaborative efforts to develop and maintain appropriate
program and pathway based course offerings, locations and modalities
- Offering a schedule that reflects and coordinates initiatives such as Guided Pathways,
providing high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high
school, and providing programming for working adults
- Recruiting, hiring and retaining a diverse workforce
|