Enclosure #1B

The University of North Carolina

Program Review and Recommendations Form

(Complete this form for each program identified in Enclosure #1C)

 

Date: December 4, 2008

 

Constituent University: East Carolina University

 

CIP Discipline Number: 25.0101

 

Exact Title of the Program: Library Science

 

Exact Degree Abbreviation (e.g. B.S., B.A., M.A., M.S., Ph.D): CAS

 

1. The accompanying guidelines list questions about centrality to mission, quality, faculty

and physical resources, demand, costs, duplication, and consequences of deletion. After

considering those issues, which of the following does the campus recommend?

 

_____ Retain the program in its present configuration with low enrollments likely to continue.

 

_____ Retain the program in its present configuration with specific steps to be taken to increase enrollments.

 

_____ Restructure the program by combining it with one or more other campus programs.

 

_____Actively investigate collaboration with other UNC campuses in order to conserve program resources and increase course enrollments.

 

__X__Discontinue the program while assuring graduation for any currently enrolled students.

 

2. As more programs, certificates, licensure programs, and courses become available online

through the University of North Carolina Online would you be willing to consider online

courses or programs from another campus to meet the needs in this program?

 

_____Would you be interested in exploring a joint online offering with one or more other campuses to meet the needs this program is currently addressing?

 

_____Would you be interested in utilizing an online degree program or courses from another campus to meet the needs this program is currently addressing?

 

3. Explain the above responses—either the rationale for leaving the program in its current

configuration or specific steps proposed to increase enrollments or pursue other options.

 

 

4. Name/e-mail/phone of department contact person: Dr. Linda Patriarca; patriarchal@ecu.edu; 252-328-1000

Response to the University of North Carolina Program Enrollment / Graduation Productivity Review

 

Department: Library Science  

Program: Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Library Science

 

Program Description: The CAS is a specialist program for library, media, and technology professionals who wish to upgrade and update their knowledge in library, media and technology, develop a specialty in a subject discipline or a library function, or redirect their career path. The CAS is also used by students to earn supervision licensure (078 license), which is required for school district level supervision of media specialist and programs. Finally, the CAS is used for CEU credit by school media specialist for license renewal. CAS concentrations are designed to meet the needs of the student in consultation with an advisor appropriate to the concentration and include:

 

  • School Library Supervision (078) (Requires Praxis II test on Educational Leadership)
  • School Supervision Level I - (Requires Praxis II test on Educational Leadership)
  • Library Studies

 

1. Centrality to University's Mission

  • How important to the mission of the institution is this program?
    • One of the mission critical roles of ECU, the College of Education (COE) and the Department is the support and production of educators (including school media specialist) for North Carolina schools. ECU is a primary provider of licensed school media specialist in North Carolina. Producing greater numbers of more effective educators (e.g., media specialist and supervisors) supports the mission of ECU, COE and the department.      
  • Would the elimination of this program have any adverse effect on the mission of the institution?
    • It would not have a significant adverse impact on the mission of the institution.
  • What is the societal need for the program?
    • The CAS at ECU is one of two remaining programs offering the 078 supervisor's licensure in North Carolina. Eliminating the program will leave North Carolina school districts with only one option for graduates as district level supervisors in school media.
  • Can this program be combined with a similar or related program in the present department or in another department?
    • Currently, there is collaboration with the LEED department for the Curriculum Instructional Specialist – 113 licensure and the 078 Media Supervision.

2. Quality of the Program

  • What is the quality of the program and what indicators are used to assess the quality?
    • 100% of program graduates have passed the supervisor's Praxis on first attempt in the past 3 years (the department’s scores are usually are reported with the ones for supervision in the LEED program).
  • Is the program accredited or has accreditation been sought?
    • The CAS is approved by NC DPI for the 078 media supervision licensure in North Carolina.
    • Accreditation for the MLS program in the Department is being sought; earned accreditation will bring greater interest and need for the CAS to be available to produce and support North Carolina schools and school district level supervisors. Additionally, earned accreditation would make the CAS more desirable for public librarians wishing to advance their career in library administration as the department would then be able to fully participate in the Certified Public Library Administrator program through the American Library Association.

 

3. Faculty Involved

  • How many faculty members are teaching in this program?
    • 1-3 depending on courses needed.
  • How many graduate assistants and part-time faculty usually teach in this program?
    • 0 graduate assistants or part time faculty are used.
  • How many of the faculty have appropriate terminal degrees?
    • All.
  • What is the average teaching load of the faculty in this program?
    • Average is a 3/3 or 3/2 teaching load.
  • What is the percentage of reassigned faculty time per semester?
    • None.
  • If this program should be discontinued, can the faculty members teaching in it be continued in this or a related area?
    • Yes.

 

4. Facilities / Equipment

  • Is the available space (classroom, laboratory, etc.) adequate and appropriate for the program?
    • Yes.
  • Is the necessary equipment available and in working order?
    • Yes.

 

5. Demand

  • For how many years has the program been in place?
    • Since 1994.
  • Is it serving the predicted number of students?
    • The low enrollment is due to a limited number of vacancies in the district level supervisor position in school districts (1 per county) and the program is only available to instate students due to licensure requirements.
  • What are the job prospects for these graduates?
    • Excellent. Most students are already employed and are using the CAS to either advance their careers of maintain their current positions.
  • Are there courses in the program that are essential supporting courses for other programs?
    • No.

 

6. Costs

  • How many different concentrations or options are available in the program?
    •  Five concentrations.
  • Could some of them be consolidated or eliminated to reduce course proliferation and costs?
    •  Essentially, there is no course proliferation and costs.
  • What is the program productivity as it is reflected in course enrollments?

 

·          

·         There are currently no students enrolled in CAS courses for fall 2008 or spring 2009.

 

  • Given a threshold of at least 10 students for undergraduate courses and at least 5 students for graduate courses, does the program have under enrolled courses?
    • Yes, it has under enrolled courses in the past three years. Recent students were enrolled in their capstone project, similar to thesis enrollment.
  • What are the yearly costs for specialized equipment and library resources to support the program?
    •  None.
  • If the space, equipment and library holdings are not adequate, what would it cost to make them adequate?
    • Space, equipment and library holdings are adequate for the program; no additional resources require to make them adequate.
  • Would the campus/department rather spend those dollars on other programs/activities?
    • n/a

 

7. Duplication

  • Can this program's objectives be accomplished equally well through another program?
    • Possibly; there is another department (LEED) within the COE at ECU with the expertise to provide the program in general curriculum supervision. The specific course and internship for media supervision would be a responsibility of this department. 
  • Are courses in the program duplicated in other programs/departments?
    • CAS students have unique program courses, thus there are no duplicative courses for the CAS.
  • Has there been any effort to eliminate the duplication of these courses?
    • Yes. There are no duplicative courses. 
  • Could enrollment be increased by sharing some courses with another institution through distance education (with your institution as a provider or a recipient)?
    • Yes. The program could share some courses with UNC-G.
  • Is there an online option that might be pursued by your campus or with another campus or are online programs or courses available from other campuses?
    • All of our courses are offered exclusively online
  • Is this program distinctive in the UNC system? If yes, briefly indicate how.
    • The CAS is distinct as it is the only sixth year degree program resulting in school district media supervisor licensure in North Carolina.  The other program leading to the 078 licensure is an ad-on and not a degree.
  • Is there a location (geographic/demographic/cultural) advantage to the program?
    • Most of the CAS students come from eastern North Carolina. However as the program is offered online, access from any part of North Carolina is possible, so all locations within North Carolina are easily served.

 

8. Critical Mass

  • What would be the impact on the department if the program under review were eliminated?
    • The impact of concern would be for the schools of North Carolina. Eliminating the degree program would eliminate the only instate advanced degree option for the supervision licensure of district level school media specialist available to North Carolina schools. 
  • Would the department still exist? For what purpose?
    • Yes, the department would still exist as we offer the MLS degree with a large student enrollment and a lot of demand for our graduates.
  • If it were delivered in part or entirely by another institution through distance education?
    • Our program offers it exclusively online already. We would welcome the opportunity to share the offerings with another institution.

 

9. Recommendation about the Program

  • Should the program be continued as a separate degree program? If continuation is recommended, provide a sound and compelling reasons.
    • It is recommended that the CAS degree program be eliminated due to the following reasons:

 

      • Low program enrollment for several years.
      • There is no expectation to believe that an immediate enrollment increase will occur.
      • Limited market to increase program enrollment.
      • The program does commit potential resources if offered.

 

    • If the recommendation is to continue the program, can it be made more productive? If so, how?
      • The program is not recommended for continuation.