37 Review Team: What are program weaknesses/potential threats?
- The Math Pathway problem is acknowledged by the preparers, but the document does not offer clarity. What are some possible solutions? Only “streamlining” is offered as an answer. In our meeting with the faculty, we were able to become more concrete (e.g., identifying actions and courses), so we are satisfied the Program is serious about this.
- Enrollments have been gradually dropping (though there is a recent uptick that should be explored to see if it is random). National trends should be noted. There is some evidence that there is a regional decline in enrollment that is unlikely to abate for some time. The number of NIC “completions” that proceed to successful B.S./B.A. completions seems to have dropped. This is worth investigating to be sure that this is nothing more than a mirroring of the drop in enrollment.
- Advising and its relationship to student retention should be examined. While the program is robust, one faculty member stated, there is a “disconnect” with advising, and another stated they rarely ever meet with their advisees. The addition of a full-time faculty member should be helpful here, but a more vigorous outreach to students is advisable. The shift to online delivery reflects a national trend in student preferences. The Program needs to explore creative options to address their concerns about community given this.
- Our student informant said she would have liked to learn more about research and research support (e.g., statistical and methodological software) at NIC. Clinical and Counseling areas dominate student interests, as they do nationally, but Psychology has a rich research tradition. It does seem that the Program would benefit from more exposure to the research enterprise, and faculty were open to this.