A lot of work has been done over the course of 2022. Some highlights from the Academic Programs transformation team are:
1. Program Array Approval
Since Summer 2021, the faculty have been creating an optimized program array for VTSU. This work consolidated 250+ into just over 100+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many of the programs were designed to be delivered in an in-person+ mode to ensure state-wide access while attending to quality, efficiency, and relevance. The process was detailed and rigorous involving program review by the four Faculty Assembly curriculum committees. Following governance process, all programs approved by the four Assemblies, go to President Grewal for his final approval. The programs represent a blend of liberal arts, technical, and pre-professional degree programs that are aligned with the VTSU mission and vision.
2. Gen Ed Approval
A faculty working group began developing a proposal during the Spring 2022 semester that has resulted in the recently approved VTSU Connections General Education requirements for Associate’s and Baccalaureate students. The program consists of three Connections Seminars to help students develop essential academic skills, understand the value of DEI within the university culture and beyond, understand the connectivity between the Gen Ed program, their major, and co-curricular activities and how they all contribute to their personal and professional goals, including civic engagement and career readiness. The program also includes seven breadth categories that are shared with CCV to facilitate transfer. Notable elements of this program include the infusion of DEI outcomes, the inclusion of co-curricular events and activities, and an e-portfolio that will be used to curate the student experience. A group of faculty and staff will begin working on a phased implementation plan this spring with the goal of full program implementation by the Fall of 2026.
3. Undergraduate Policy Alignment
The Academic Programs Core Team spent considerable time aligning the 30+ academic policies that were in place at CU, NVU, and VTC. Registrar staff created initial drafts that were then reviewed by a DEI working group, student success staff, and many faculty across the three institutions. The collective feedback was then synthesized and refined to final form. The policies will be published in the inaugural VSTU catalog this fall. This coming spring, the core team will spend additional time developing processes for these policies with efficiency and the student experience in mind.
4. FTF+ Pilot
Many of our degree programs will be offered in the in-person+ modality, a signature component of this hybrid university that we are creating. One of the important course modalities to support this vision is face-to-face+ that includes students in the classroom with the instructor and additional students connecting remotely, typically through Zoom. This modality has proven challenging to implement as it requires the requisite technology and a retooling of the classroom pedagogy. To support faculty as they address these challenges, a FTF+ pilot project supported by the Davis Educational Foundation was implemented during the summer of 2022 and will run through the Spring 2023 semester. During this time, a cohort of 27 faculty have been developing expertise in the FTF+ modality and have been offering redesigned classes this past fall and will do so again this coming spring. Much has been learned thus far by the pilot faculty. A few are also experimenting with a 1:1 device strategy that provides an iPad bundle for every student. This aspect of the pilot has proven to be quite successful for the faculty and students involved. We plan to expand the FTF+ pilot during the summer of 2023.