Sociology Report Summary - December 31, 2002

To: Linda Lade, Sociology Liaison

From: Deborah White, Sociology Lead Facilitator

Date: January 8, 2003

End of the Semester Report

This report describes the activities conducted by sociology faculty who participated in three transfer curriculum meetings in 2002. It also provides a description of activities proposed for spring 2003 to address issues raised during these meetings.

Spring-Fall 2002

April 19th

A group of sociology faculty from various MnSCU institutions met at Cragun’s Conference Center to discuss issues and problems related to transfer. The group identified three main issues/problems: (1) Insure the quality and integrity of the curriculum, (2) Insure that sociology faculty members have required credentials in the field, and (3) work together as a statewide discipline to improve communication, resolve trust issues, clarify our institutional mission, and share research. The group also identified strategies for addressing these issues/problems (See Sociology Discipline Report Summary for details on these strategies.).

October 10^th

Three sociology faculty (Deborah White, Scott Magnuson-Martinson, and Carol Pogue) met at the Bandana Square Conference Center to begin to develop a workplan for implementing the strategies identified in the April 19 meeting and to develop an agenda for a Nov 22 meeting. The workplan proposed the following activities:

To increasing communication among MnSCU sociology faculty regarding transfer issues, we proposed that the lead facilitator (Deborah White) send personal communications to MnSCU sociology faculty encouraging them to participate in the discipline listserv and distribute information regarding the listserv at the November 22nd meeting. We also proposed that the lead facilitator send information regarding the discipline listserv to Sociologists of Minnesota (SOM), the state professional association, requesting that they distribute the information to members.
We proposed developing a Sociology Discipline Review Committee that would evaluate sociology programs system-wide, based on specific criteria, and make decisions regarding transferability of courses from these programs. Deborah White, Scott Magnuson-Martinson, and Carol Pogue agreed to present a plan for organizing a Sociology Discipline Review Committee to those who attend the November 22^nd meeting.
We began to develop a plan to conduct research to gather data on transfer issues. We proposed developing and administering a system-wide survey of students and faculty in sociology regarding transfer issues. Deborah White agreed to analyze the data, prepare a report of the findings, and distribute the report to the Sociology Discipline Review Committee, MnSCU Program Collaboration and Transfer administrators, and others.

November 22nd

A group of 13 sociology faculty met at the Four Points Sheraton to discuss and refine the proposed workplan developed at the October 10 meeting. The revised workplan details the work that will be done during spring 2003, described below. We also discussed ways of improving communication between faculty. Deborah White distributed information about the sociology discipline listserv.

Spring 2003

The activities we have planned for spring 2003 include the following:

In order to increasing communication among MnSCU sociology faculty regarding transfer issues, Deborah White will continue to send personal communications to MnSCU sociology faculty encouraging them to participate in the discipline listserv. She will also send information regarding the discipline listserv to Sociologists of Minnesota (SOM), the state professional association, and request that they consider addressing transfer issues at the next annual meeting.
We will implement our plan to conduct research and prepare a report on the status of the sociology discipline in MnSCU. A subcommittee of approximately 9 individuals will gather data and write a report on MnSCU programs that offer sociology courses. At the Nov. 22 meeting it was proposed that the committee consist of 2 representatives from each of the following: 4-year schools, technical colleges, community colleges, and outside representatives. The subcommittee will meet during the beginning of the semester to work on developing an instrument for gathering data on programs. After the meeting they will gather data and prepare a final report that will be distributed to the Chancellor’s Office and to programs offering sociology courses. Our intent is to provide information that the Chancellor’s Office can use to assess the status of the discipline, and that programs offering sociology courses can use to help make decisions regarding transfer. The report will be completed by the end of spring semester 2003.