College Of Liberal Arts & Sciences Annual Report

2009-2010College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Annual Report

Table of ContentsExecutive Summary 3College Strategic Planning 5College at a GlanceOffice of the Dean . 10Department Information . . 11Interdisciplinary Programs . 12Summaries . 132009-2010 College EventsDean‟s Distinguished Lecture Series . 17MSE-Rowan Collaboration 18Faculty Scholarship Showcase . 1911th Annual Dean‟s Recognition Tea 19Summer Grants Reception . 20New Faculty . 21Department ReportsBiological Sciences . 25Chemistry & Biochemistry . 28Computer Science . 32English . 36Foreign Languages & Literatures 40Geography & Anthropology 43History . 46Law & Justice Studies . 51Mathematics . 55Philosophy & Religion . 63Physics & Astronomy . 66Political Science .74Psychology . 77Sociology . 82Program & Center ReportsAfricana Studies . 89American Studies .92Economics . 93Exploratory Studies . 94The Frederic and Jean Edelman Planetarium . 97Liberal Arts & Sciences Institute . 99Liberal Studies: Math/Science . 100Women & Gender Studies . 101167COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES ANNUAL REPORT 2009-20102

Executive SummaryParviz Ansari, DeanI am pleased to present the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 2009-10 Annual Report. This report is a collectionof the achievements of the academic departments and special programs within the College from July 1, 2009 to June30, 2010. The impressive breadth and scope of activities of the faculty, students and staff of the College are trulyimpossible to describe fully in this report. However, this collection provides a meaningful picture of the activities ofthe College and its academic units.This report also covers my first year at Rowan as the new Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. I amprivileged to be leading the largest College at Rowan during such a pivotal time in the University‘s history. In fall2009, CLAS welcomed a record high student population of over 5,200 undergraduate and graduate students taughtby more than 420 full-time and part-time faculty.Given the extent of the current issues and the new opportunities within the College, last fall we began a strategicplanning initiative at the College and department levels. Through the hard work of faculty, each departmentdeveloped its one-year and five-year plans starting fall 2009 and, with the widespread contribution of faculty andstaff, the College began its 2010-2015 planning effort. The College strategic planning process and activities arepresented in some detail in the next section.Other major achievements of the College during the 2009-2010 academic year are as follows:Dean‘s Distinguished Lecture Series: Four well-known experts from both private industry and academiapresented their research.Summer Research Grant: This initiative promotes research and scholarship among full-time faculty.Through a competitive process, seven awardees have been selected for summer 2010.Exploratory Studies Program: This University-based initiative provides an academic home for undeclaredstudents. The program is housed within and supervised by the College.New faculty hires: five new tenure-track faculty: two in English, one in each of the following programs:Chemistry, Biology and Law & Justice Studies.A post doc in the Physics Department: The first-ever post doc in the College is supported both by theCollege and an external grant.New degree programs:o Master of Science in Computer Scienceo Master of Arts in Historyo Accelerated BA/MS in Computer Scienceo Accelerated BA/MA in HistoryNew minors:o Minor in Philosophy and Religion Studieso Minor in Romance Languageso Minor in Business SpanishNew concentrations:o In Geosciences, Geographic Information Sciences, PlanningNew Certificates of Graduate Study (COGS):COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES ANNUAL REPORT 2009-20103

o In Networks, Software Engineering, Web DevelopmentNew Specializations:o In United States History, European Ancient History, Global HistoryFour new program sequences or tracks in Liberal Studies: Humanities/Social Sciences.Faculty scholarly work showcased in the library during the month of February.Hosted events:o The National Geographic Society‘s New Jersey Geography Bee was held at Rowan for the firsttime.o Oslerfest was organized by the Math Department. The Dean has asked the department to continueand expand this conference annually.o Foreign Languages & Literatures: Alumni Benefit Concerto Computer Science: FIRST Lego League Qualifying event and 24th Annual Rowan UniversityProgramming Contest for high school studentso First annual Law & Justice Studies and Sociology Career Exploration Fairo Fourth annual Rowan Sciences Day, showcasing five departments at Rowan: Biological Sciences,Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics & Astronomy.o Annual STEM SymposiumMSE Collaboration Event was held in recognition of a new collaboration between MSE (Mission SolutionsEngineering) and the College through a 100.000 contract, with a room in Robinson Hall dedicated to thisproject.Public Relations: The College has worked to increase awareness of our faculty, student and alumniaccomplishments through enhancements to our website, Facebook presence, new promotional material andrevised newsletter. The College has begun the process of developing a formalized public relations plan incollaboration with the office of Media & Public Relations.My thanks to everyone who has participated in the development and preparation of this annual report!COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES ANNUAL REPORT 2009-20104

College Strategic PlanningDuring the academic year 2009-2010, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences began the unprecedented task ofdeveloping a strategic plan for the next five years. The process was initiated by Dean Ansari in spring 2010 inrecognition of the need for the prioritization of various initiatives and the allocation of college resources. TheStrategic Planning Executive Committee was formed and members were identified based on nominations receivedfrom different venues. The Executive Committee reviewed and approved five strategic goals for the College.These goals concentrate on the enhancement of undergraduate and graduate education, faculty and staff enrichment,college infrastructure, and localization and globalization initiatives. With the supervision of the ExecutiveCommittee, five Goal Committees were formed, with specific charges to each committee as outlined at the bottomof this report. Lists of the members of the Executive and Goal Committees are also found below.Each Goal Committee was asked to compile a set of SWOTs (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) for theCollege before developing a set of strategic objectives and associated action plans. A template and instructions wereprepared for the Goal Committees. A member of the Executive Committee serves on each of the Goal Committeesto ensure proper communication among all members of the planning committees. In addition, we have formed agroup of SWOT consultants and have invited University-based consultants to each Goal Committee and theExecutive Committee.A Blackboard portal allows smooth communication among the members of the planning committees, and a Collegewide Blackboard site was developed to share the progress of the initiative with all members of the College.The Executive Committee will receive the final reports of the Goal Committees in spring 2011 and will finalize theplan as a set of recommendations to Dean Ansari. The implementation of the plan will be led by the Dean soonafter.Committee ChargesGoal Committee 1 – Undergraduate EducationEnhance and support undergraduate education1. Develop SWOT data by reviewing the current status of undergraduate programs2. Develop a set of practical yet innovative and entrepreneurial action plans fora. improving the learning outcome assessmentsb. reviewing and improving general education courses and the inventory of general education coursesc. focusing on interdisciplinary education among our clustersd. enhancing undergraduate research programse. encouraging the acquisition of sponsored researchf. developing partnership with the Camden Campusg. developing partnerships with regional and national industriesCOLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES ANNUAL REPORT 2009-20105

Goal Committee 2 – Graduate EducationEnhance and strategically expand graduate education programs1. Develop SWOT data by reviewing the current status of graduate programs2. Develop a set of practical yet innovative and entrepreneurial action plans fora. improving existing programsb. enhancing research outputs of participating facultyc. encouraging the acquisition of sponsored researchd. identifying promising areas of graduate studies and developing new self- supported graduateprograms in those arease. developing partnerships with regional and national industriesf. designing activities at the Tech ParkGoal Committee 3 – Faculty and Staff EnrichmentEnhance the commitment of the College to academic quality and integrity by focusing on faculty- and staff-relatedissues1. Develop SWOT data2. Develop a set of practical yet innovative and entrepreneurial action plans fora. advancing faculty and chair developmentb. advancing staff developmentc. developing a mentorship program for junior facultyd. fostering an environment of research and scholarshipe. developing a peer-to-peer teaching enhancement programf. rewarding faculty and staff for their contributions to the advancement of the mission of the CollegeGoal Committee 4 – College InfrastructurePromote the College and strengthen its financial base1. Develop SWOT data2. Develop a set of practical yet innovative and entrepreneurial action plans fora. developing and funding new academic and entrepreneurial programsb. promoting external grant activitiesc. increasing foundation and corporate fundingd. establishing ongoing fundraising initiatives to increase available resourcese. improving the quality and number of students and their retention ratesf. promoting the College through online and print publications and other meansGoal Committee 5 – College Localization and GlobalizationDevelop partnership at local, national and global levels1. Develop SWOT data2. Develop a set of practical yet innovative and entrepreneurial action plans forCOLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES ANNUAL REPORT 2009-20106

a.b.c.d.e.f.g.h.developing and strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships with other academic units within theUniversityincorporating study abroad programs in our educationdeveloping partnerships with selected high schools and community collegesimproving internationalization in our curriculum and cultural activitiesadvancing the green initiative within the Collegedeveloping new strategic academic partnerships with universities abroadpromoting student and faculty engagement in civic services in local areasimproving our town and gown relationshipCLAS Strategic Planning CommitteesExecutive CommitteeParviz AnsariBill CarriganJohn HasseKaren Magee-SauerDeMond MillerCathy ParrishCindy VittoCathy YangDeanHistoryGeography & AnthropologyPhysics & Astronomy (liaison with Graduate Education)Sociology (liaison with Undergraduate Education)English (liaison with Localization and Globalization)Associate Dean (liaison with Faculty/Staff Enrichment)Chemistry & Biochemistry (liaison with College Infrastructure)Consultants:Jim NewellBob ZazzaliAssociate Provost for Academic AffairsAssociate Provost for Faculty AffairsSWOT ConsultantsJay ChaskesDavid ClowneyRon CzochorHabib JamRichard ScottSonia SpencerMaria TahamontSociologyPhilosophy & ReligionMathematicsEconomicsGeography & AnthropologyForeign Languages & LiteraturesBiological SciencesGoal 1: Undergraduate Education CommitteeKate DaytonLarry ButlerKristen diNoviMira Lalovic-HandChair, Biological Sciences/Health ProfessionsPolitical ScienceAssistant DeanAssociate Provost, Institutional Research and PlanningCOLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES ANNUAL REPORT 2009-20107