TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
2010-2020STRATEGIC PLAN
December 31, 2011
The Plan
The Department of Communications’ Strategic Plan is consistent with the goals and objectives of the University’s and the College of Liberal Arts’current strategic plans. The following documents serve as the basis for the goals and objectivesoutlined in the department’s plan: The Academic Master Plan 2008-2028: Envisioning the Future through the Lens of our Heritage; The 2010-2015 Strategic Plan: Transforming Tennessee State University; The Tennessee Board of Regents 2010-2015 Strategic Plan: Charting the Course, the TSU 2010 Institutional Assessment and Improvement Plan, and the College of Liberal Arts 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. The Department of Communications’chair, concentration coordinators from mass communication, speech, and theatre, and select faculty from the department contributed to this Plan. Summary reports from the advisory boards of each concentration were also used in determining the goals and objectives in this Plan. The 5 goals are listed below and offered in more detail in the following pages.
Strategic Goal 1: Access and Diversity (Student Recruitment)
Strategic Goal 2: Program Quality
Strategic Goal 3: Business-Friendly Practices
Strategic Goal 4: Resourcefulness
Strategic Goal 5: Active Learning, Collaboration, and Engagement
Mission
The mission of the Department of Communications is “to prepare lifelong learners with balanced theoretical and practical approaches to the rapidly evolving discipline of communication in the areas of theatre, mass communication, and speech communication for global application in a diverse culture and world.”
The Department of Communications at Tennessee State University exists to:
1. Develop effective and ethical communicators.
2. Prepare lifelong learners with balanced theoretical and practical skills.
3. Prepare graduates for academic or professional careers in the field of mass communication, speech
communication and theatre.
4. Engage students in community service and cultural enrichment.
Strategic Goal 1: Access and Diversity (Student Recruitment)
The Department of Communications will continue to increase enrollment and diversity, and offer flexibility in course offerings to meet the needs of traditional and non-traditional students over the five-year period.
University Key Performance Indicator: Access and Diversity
College of Liberal Arts Key Performance Indicator: Recruitment
Department of Communications: Recruitment
Performance Outcomes:
Recruitment:
Diversity:
On-line Courses:
Advising:
Performance Measures:
Recruitment:
Diversity:
On-line Courses:
Advising:
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Recruitment |
Department Chair |
Recruitment Committee |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Diversity |
Department Chair |
Diversity Committee |
2011 |
2020 |
|
On-line Courses |
Department Chair and Concentration Coordinators |
Faculty from each Concentration |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Advising |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Faculty from each Concentration |
2011 |
2020 |
Strategic Goal 2: Program Quality
The Department of Communications is recognized by the universityfor excellence in mass communication, speech communication, and theatredue to increased faculty, and improvements in curriculum, infrastructure, and technology in the last five years. The department will continue its productivity with increases in faculty, including an endowed chair or artist/producer/director-in-residence for the creative areas, and improvements in academic programs and technology.
University Key Performance Indicator: Academic Quality and Student Success
College of Liberal Arts Key Performance Indicator: Program Quality
Department of Communications: Program Quality
Mass Communication
The goal of mass communication through 2020 is to continue its growth in multimedia education while strengthening existing concentrations in news, production, and integrated marketing communications. Part of the plan is to create a non-production track that focuses on the study of media and the research methods that surround it, and a to create an interdisciplinary track called iAMM, bringing together the disciplines of art, media, and music. Faculty hires in each of these areas, curricular review, improvements in advising, and upgrades in technology and facilities will continue in an effort to support program goals. Below are objectives for the next five years.
Performance Outcomes
Curriculum Development:
Student Skills Development:
Faculty and Staff Development:
Faculty Hires:
Facilities Upgrades
Accreditation:
Co-curricular Activities:
Media Competitions:
Performance Measures
Curriculum Development:
Student Skills Development:
Faculty and Staff Development
Faculty Hires:
Facilities Upgrades
Accreditation:
Media Competitions:
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Curriculum Development |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Mass Communication Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Student Skills Development |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Mass Communication Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Faculty and Staff Development |
Department Chair and Concentration Coordinator |
Mass Communication Faculty and Staff
|
2011 |
2020 |
|
Faculty Hires |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Search Committee Appointees |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Facilities Upgrades |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Faculty and Staff Overseeing Facilities |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Accreditation |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Faculty assigned to Accreditation team |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Co-curricular Activities |
Faculty and Staff Supervisors |
Faculty and staff assigned to key areas |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Media Competitions |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Mass Communication Faculty, Staff, and Media Supervisors |
2011 |
2020 |
Speech Communication
The Speech Communication concentration is the oldest in the Department and has served the university well for 70 years inoffering degrees to thousands of graduates while providing its Public Speaking course as a general education requirement to the university. The program’s goal in the next five years is to broaden its focus beyond speech communication to other areas of communication based on academic trends at universities across the U.S., resulting in a name change for the concentration. Along with this goal, the curriculum with be enhanced with an increase in faculty in new communication areas.
Performance Outcomes
Curriculum Development:
New Faculty Hires:
General Education Mission:
Performance Measures
Curriculum Development:
New Faculty Hires:
General Education Mission:
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Curriculum Development |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Speech Communication Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
New Faculty Hires |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Search Committee Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
General Education Mission |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Faculty assigned to Courses |
2011 |
2020 |
Theatre
The Theatre program has continued to provide strong teaching, practical experience, and exceptional stage productions for many years. The concentration has been improved recently with the re-design of the curriculum, the establishment of an advisory board, the creation of a small black-box laboratory and the continued production of award-winning stage performances. One of the primary goals of the concentration is to establish a well-articulated mission and vision, increase the number of faculty in the discipline, while fostering an atmosphere ofcollegiality and collaboration among faculty in the discipline, throughout the Department of Communications, and with other departments across the university. The program has the potential to attract more students, but suffers from few faculty and staff to meet the demands of an active performance and production agenda. One of the principalgoals in the next five years is to grow the concentration’s enrollment, faculty, and facilities, working toward more collaboration with faculty and staff within and outside of the department. The approval of a formal degree program in Theatre will be considered as the program grows over the next five years.
Performance Outcomes
Program Vision:
Curriculum Development:
Faculty and Staff Hires:
Facilities Upgrades:
University and Departmental Collaborations:
Accreditation:
Formal Degree in Theatre:
Structured Production Process:
Performance Measures
Program Vision:
Curriculum Development:
Faculty and Staff Hires:
Facilities Upgrades:
University and Departmental Collaborations:
Accreditation:
Formal Degree in Theatre:
Structured Production Process:
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Program Vision |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Theatre Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Curriculum Development |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Theatre Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Faculty and Staff Hires |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Search Committee Appointees |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Facilities Upgrades |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Faculty and Staff Overseeing Facilities |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Accreditation |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Faculty assigned to Accreditation team |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Departmental Collaborations |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Key Faculty and Staff within and outside the program |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Accreditation |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Theatre Faculty and Staff on Accreditation committee |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Theatre Degree |
Dean Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Key Theatre Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Structured Production Plan |
Concentration Coordinator Senior Faculty |
Theatre Faculty representing key areas |
2011 |
2020 |
Forensics
The Forensics program is recognized nationally as an outstanding program, and studentshave consistently performed at a superior level by winning 2,287 awards during the fifteen yearspan (1997-2012). Efforts will continue to encourage faculty support from the Department of Communications, while continuing to recruit new faculty to support the program. With the departureof the program’s director in 2012, one goal is to hire a new director while adding key faculty in areas of weakness.The program will continue to compete in regional and national competitions while hosting tournaments as well.
Performance Outcomes
Personnel:
Competitions:
Conference Hosting:
Performance Measures
Personnel:
Competitions:
Conference Hosting:
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Personnel |
Department Chair ForensicsDirector |
Search Committee Appointees |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Competitions |
Forensics Director |
Assigned Forensics Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Conference Hosting |
Department Chair ForensicsDirector |
Department of Communication Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
Strategic Goal 3: Business-Friendly Practices
This goal focuses on assessment outcomes and measures of the department’s performance including current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and external customers with the goal of improving the program.
University Key Performance Indicator: Business-Friendly Practices
College of Liberal Arts Key Performance Indicator: Business-Friendly Practices.
Department of Communications: Business-Friendly Practices
Performance Outcomes:
Program Review:
Student Program Assessment:
Academic Assessment:
Alumni Placement and Performance Assessment
Evaluations of Department Chair/Faculty/Staff
Performance Measures:
Program Review:
Student Program Assessment:
Academic Assessment:
Alumni Placement and Performance Assessment
Evaluations of Department Head/Faculty/Staff
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Program Review |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Department Faculty and Staff
|
2011 |
2020 |
|
Student Program Assessment |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Assessment Committee Members |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Academic Assessment |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Search Committee Appointees |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Alumni Placement and Performance Assessment |
Department Chair
|
Assessment Committee Members |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Department Chair/Faculty/Staff Evaluations |
Dean Department Chair Concentrations Coordinators |
Assessment Committee Members |
2011 |
2020 |
Strategic Goal 4: Resourcefulness
Critical to the improvement of the department’s overall contribution to the University and its community is its ability to generate revenue outside of the traditional sources of tuition, student fees, and state appropriations. The department will look to federal grants, corporate funding, private donations, and revenue generated from in-house projects, student media outlets,and its state-of-the-art facilities to improve its program.
University Key Performance Indicator: Revenue Generation/Research/Resourcefulness
College of Liberal Arts Key Performance Indicator: Resourcefulness
Department of Communications: Resourcefulness
Performance Outcomes:
Grants:
Alumni, Faculty and Staff Giving:
Theatre Stage Productions:
In-house Projects:
Student Media Productions:
Performance Measures:
Grants:
Alumni, Faculty, Staff Giving:
Theatre Stage Productions:
In-house Productions:
Student Media Productions:
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
Grants |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Faculty and Staff Grant Writers |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Alumni, Faculty, Staff Giving |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Faculty and Staff on Grant Committees |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Theatre Stage Productions |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator Theatre Directors |
Faculty and Staff associated with the productions |
2011 |
2020 |
|
In-house Projects |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Search Committee Appointees |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Student Media Productions |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinator |
Faculty and Staff Media Advisors |
2011 |
2020 |
Strategic Goal 5: Active Learning, Collaboration, and Engagement
The Communications Department will serve the campus, TSU and Nashville communities, and region with communications and theatre workshops, seminars, and productions, research projects, radio, television/video, on-line programming,forensics presentations, and publications over the five-year period. These projects will allow faculty, staff, and students from across the university and region to work together resulting in faculty development and student learning, service to the community, and external funding for the department.
University Key Performance Indicator: Engagement
College of Liberal Art Key Performance Indicator: Active Learning, Collaboration, and Engagement
Department of Communications: Active Learning, Collaboration, and Engagement
Performance Outcomes
TSU Collaborations
Conference Hosting
Community Outreach and Industry Collaborations
All student media outlets (WTST Radio, TSU TV 98, The TSU News Network, The TennState IMC Agency, PAC House Productions, and The Blueprint) provide programming and media services to the university community, or take part in one service project per year for TSU, the Nashville community, or for an entity outside the region.
Performance Measures
TSU Collaborations
Conference Hosting
Community Outreach by Student Media Outlets
Action Plan
|
Action |
Administrative Responsibility |
Faculty and Staff Support |
Start |
Completion |
|
TSU Collaborations |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Conference Hosting |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Faculty and Staff |
2011 |
2020 |
|
Community Outreach/ Industry Collaborations |
Department Chair Concentration Coordinators |
Search Committee Appointees |
2011 |
2020 |