Millersville's academic programs represent the core of both its mission and vision. The mission opens with the statement, "The primary mission of Millersville University is to promote intellectual development through an exemplary liberal arts-based education . . . while preparing students to engage in productive and contributive lives as professionals." The opening theme of the Millersville University vision is "Strong, responsive student programs for academic and personal growth." The theme begins, "Millersville University will continue to provide an excellent undergraduate and graduate learning environment for students..."
This chapter examines and analyzes our academic programs. It specifically considers evidence of whether our programs are indeed strong and responsive; the effectiveness of our academic policies and academic decision-making structure; and some of the innovative academic programs and partnerships that help meet the diverse and changing needs of our students.
Millersville's comprehensive undergraduate and graduate curriculum is organized into three schools and 26 academic departments. Our academic programs include 51 baccalaureate programs, four associate degree programs, 22 master's degree programs, 38 minors, 38 educational certification programs, and two certificate programs. For those not interested in a formal program of study, we offer courses, workshops, and seminars for personal and professional development. Pages 1-6 of our 1998-1999 Fact Book give a complete listing of our current degree, certification, and minor programs. Pages 31-48 of our 1998-99 Fact Book give a five-year history of student enrollment by major, and pages 70-71 give a five-year history of students graduating with a minor.
A key Millersville value, expressed in our mission, is that a thorough, broad-based foundation in the liberal arts is necessary for the development of the whole person. All our undergraduate degree programs therefore include a general education component designed to provide a broad foundation in the liberal arts and develop communication and critical thinking abilities.
To encourage diversity and multicultural education, we offer several interdisciplinary programs and minors, including an African-American Studies minor, a Women's Studies minor, and an International Studies major and minor (see Chapter 8). Numerous courses focus on women, specific ethnic groups or cultures, or adopt a multicultural perspective.
We supplement our curricula with many special educational opportunities, such as honors curricula, independent study, and study abroad; these opportunities are described on pages 34-39 of the 1998-2000 undergraduate catalog. The Adult & Continuing Education (ACE) program, launched in 1995, is attempting to address the needs of local adult learners by enabling them to obtain a college degree by attending evening and weekend classes, many at off-campus locations (see Chapter 9). The Honors Program serves 300 talented and highly motivated students. We are presently discussing transforming this program into an Honors College to encourage curricular and programmatic flexibility, enhance its capabilities as a recruitment and retention tool, and provide greater academic and intellectual opportunities to all our students.
Since 1995, the University has introduced several new degree programs, including master's degrees in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, Nursing, and Sport Management. We have also created several new options within existing majors, including an Archaeology option in the Anthropology major, Science and Reading/Language Arts options in the Elementary Education major, a Criminology option in the Sociology major, an Engineering Geology option in the Geology major, and a Quantitative option in the Economics major. We have also added a minor in African-American Studies and certificate programs in International Business and Health Care Management. Over the past three years, we have also created 80 new courses, many tied to these new programs.
We have placed in moratorium some programs with low demand, including B.A. and B.S.Ed. programs in Greek, Latin, and Russian. We are no longer accepting applications for master's programs in Gifted Education and Earth Science, and we have deleted 46 courses.
Evidence of Strong, Responsive Academic Programs
Accreditations
Academic Goal-Setting
Program Review
Academic Outcomes Assessment
Assessment of the General Education Curriculum
Surveys of Students and Graduates
Academic Policies
Innovative Programs
Progressive Partnerships
Partnerships among University Programs
Partnerships with Other Schools, Colleges, and Universities
Partnerships with Area Businesses, Agencies, and Organizations
Conclusions and Recommendations
Strengths
Areas of concern
Recommendations
Suggestions
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