2017-18 Unit Plan
Political Science

Mission Statement

Housed in the Sociocultural Studies Department, Political Science promotes student success, completion and transfer. Political Science seeks to create lifelong learners who understand and appreciate the significance of politics and government, as well as civic engagement.

Program Description

The Political Science program creates a transfer pathway for students who plan to complete a four-year degree at a California State University. Upon completion of an AA-T degree in Political Science, students will possess the requisite foundational knowledge as well as the practical skills necessary for subsequent completion of the baccalaureate degree. Upon successful completion of the Political Science program, the student will be able to:
1. Identify major aspects of governmental systems of the United States, for individual states (especially California), and compare governmental systems on a global basis.
2. Place various governmental systems within a developmental/historical framework. Methods of description, analysis, and theory will also be important factors for students who select Political Science as their major.

The AA-T degree in Political Science is a newer program, listed for the first time in the 2013-2014 catalog. Five students graduated from this program in the 2015-2016 academic year. There are currently eighty-three declared majors, eighteen more than a year ago.

The courses that comprise the AA-T degree are also for Butte and transfer General Education. With about 60 sections offered each academic year, Political Science serves a significant number of students and meets an array of important General Education and transfer requirements.

Currently, there are two full-time faculty in the discipline, and eight associate faculty. In Spring 2017, 66% of courses offered in Political Science were taught by associate faculty.

Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes

Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 SLO assessment activities revealed a persistent challenge in Political Science courses.  This quote from a deep-dive assessment in POS 3 summarizes the problem:


Students do not have sufficient research skills for the assignment. Student grades were generally lower because they were not able to identify peer-reviewed sources and news based articles. Even though we spent time in the computer lab working on assignments to discuss and evaluate different types of sources, students seemed to want to include opinion based sources. Student also were required to scaffold for the annotated bibliography, and many of their homework assignments needed multiple revisions. Perhaps, opinion pieces are easier to find or comprehend. Either way, next semester we will need to spend more time working on basic social science research skills. Students were able to compare political systems, but did not score well because they did not understand how to conduct basic political science research.


Program majors are now being guided through a more detailed process of Political Science research, which involves scheduled library workshops designed by faculty, in the 206 lab with a reference librarian, and campus activities like the Critical Media Literacy workshop from Student Life. Due to the increase in terms like “fake news” and “alternative facts” and opinion vs. news, most Political Science students are also discussing the topic of information literacy in a more comprehensive and penetrating manner during class discussions of current events. Several POS faculty have added readings on Information Literacy.


Also, the Sociocultural Studies Department is planning a day-long workshop in Spring 2017 focused on teaching research skills. Specificallly, the department aims to build a toolkit that instructors can pull from for teaching various steps in the research process.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (OSLED Departments)

Indicator

Source

College

Program

2014-2015

Standard

Six Year Goal

Fall 2011

Fall 2012

Fall 2013

Fall 2014

Fall 2015

Standard

Six Year Goal

Access

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-          Unduplicated Headcount

PDR

12,691

 

 

939

908

949

977

952

 

 

Course Success

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-          Overall

PDR

70.6%

70.0%

73.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-          Transfer/GE

PDR

71.7%

 

73.0%

70.4%

70.4%

68.2%

69.1%

71.2%

67.0%

73.0%

-          CTE

PDR

75.3%

 

77.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-          Basic Skills

PDR

51.7%

 

55.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-          Distance Ed (all)

PDR

62.6%

 

64.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Persistence (Focused).  Note:  The Persistence (Focused) that is included in the PDR is a different indicator than the three-primary term persistence indicator, from the State Student Success Scorecard that is used to measure institutional persistence.  The Focused Persistence indicator measures the percentage of students that took a second course in a discipline within one year. There is no relationship between the college and program standards in this area.

PDR

71.8%

67.0%

75.0%

9.6%

9.5%

10.2%

10.1%

12.7%

 

 

(Three-Term) Scorecard

(Three-Term) Scorecard

(Three-Term) Scorecard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Degrees - annual

PDR

1,421

 

1,475

 

 

 

3

4

3

10

Certificate of Achievement (CA) - annual

PDR

814

 

475

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Certificate (CC) - annual

PDR

518

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developmental Strand Completion

 

 

 

 

 

-          English

State

43.7%

 

45.0%

-          Math

State

33.8%

 

35.0%

-          ESL

State

42.9%

 

45.0%

Licensure Pass Rates

 

 

 

 

-          Registered Nursing

SC

 

 

 

-          Licensed Vocational Nursing

SC

 

 

 

-          Respiratory Therapy

SC

 

 

 

-          Paramedic

SC

 

 

 

-          Cosmetology

SC

 

 

 

-          Welding

SC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Job Placement Rates

PIV

 

 

 

At 71.2%, success rates for Political Science are at the high end of the five-year range (64.3% - 69.9%). To move toward the six year goal of 73%, program faculty will focus on research skills -- identified through assessment activities as an area where many students struggle. There were five AA-Ts awarded in Political Science in 2015-2016. We expect the number of degrees awarded to grow steadily, as eighty-three students currently have Political Science as their major. Additionally, a revived and active Civic Engagement student club will likely attract majors and provide the kind of connection that will see them through to program completion. The focused persistence for Political Science is at the middle of its five-year range (9.5% - 12.7%). Most students take a course in this discipline to meet General Education requirements. However, the AA-T may result in more students taking subsequent courses in this discipline.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)


        

        

        
Strategic Direction

        
Current efforts in the Political Science program are classroom centered. Faculty are committed to excellence in the teaching of rich and rigorous course content. Surprisingly, there does not seem to be anything in the Strategic Direction that directly speaks to this, our core mission. This comes closest:


Creating a culture of meaningful interactions with students. (2.a.1)


To support these classroom efforts, in conjunction with ANTH, GEOG, and HIST faculty, instructors in Political Science participated in the first two Sociocultural Studies Department Forums. The first forum was held in Spring 2015, and included presentations on Reading Strategies, Helping International Students Succeed, and Tried-and-Test Teaching Ideas. Held in Fall 2015, the second forum included presentations on Helping Student Athletes Succeed, No/Low Cost Textbooks, and Tried-and-Tested Teaching Ideas. Forum topics are "just-in-time" -- meant to help instructors with recent and/or ongoing teaching challenges. The most recent forum, in October 2016, included presentations on "Facilitating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom," "Library Resources," and "GIS Applications in SCS Classrooms." The SCS Department Forum supports the college mission to meet this Strategic Direction:


Providing just-in-time and scheduled Professional Development opportunities. (2.b.1)
Intellectual climate and teaching excellence. (2.b.4.a)


Participation by Political Science faculty and students in Chico State's Town Hall Meeting, Butte College's Fireside Debates, and the Butte College Civic Engagement student club supports these elements of the Strategic Direction:


Creating a culture of meaningful interactions with students. (2.a.1)
Engaging students in campus life (e.g. student government, participatory governance, activities, clubs, and committee service). (2.a.2)
Creating a positive campus culture aligned with its values. (2.b.2)

        

        
        
        
Program Review

        
Political Science completed its most recent Program Review in May 2012. The Validation Team provided three Recommendations. Below is an abbreviated version of the Recommendations, with comments.


    

  1. Recommends a full-time faculty hire. *** Cynthia Bynoe was hired as a full-time instructor in the discipline, starting in Fall 2013.
    2. 

  2. Recommends a dedicated classroom for the Political Science program, preferably in the LRC building or in LB 105. *** Political Science now has priority scheduling in LB 106. However, the room has limitations. It is small, and difficult to use with a full class. The room was twice its size when it was first designated as a POS classroom. Since then, however, it was cut in half to make room for workspace for the Technology Center. Additionally, it is difficult for students to hear in that room, and students in the back two rows cannot see the bottom of the screen.
    3. 

  3. Look into the transferability and/or articulation of POS 12 to the UC. *** Currently in process as a part of Curriculum Review.
    4. 


        

        
        
        
Department Goals

        
    

  1. Develop and sustain a well-defined program to guide and support students who have declared or who are considering a major in Political Science. These efforts will be informed by outreach activities (e.g. Sociocultural Studies Programs Fair), and regular tracking of students who have completed the program and contact with colleagues in the Chico State Political Science Department.
    2. 

  2. Develop a POS 2 Honors course that is C-ID approved, and develop/submit POS 2 for the online modality.
    3. 

  3. Explore the transferability and/or articulation of POS 12 to the UC.
    4. 

  4. Secure priority scheduling for Political Science classes in a better-suited classroom (than LB 106), preferably in the LRC.
    5. 

  5. Continuing to develop events on and off campus to generate awareness about the program (e.g. Town Hall Meeting, Fireside Debates, Constitution Day, Civic Engagement student club).
    6. 


        



        
Future Development Strategies

        

                    
Strategy 1 - Program Promotion and Tracking

                    

                        
Identify and implement processes for promoting, tracking, evaluating and generally stewarding the program.

                        

                   
                            Initiatives
                            

                            
    
                                    
  • Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
    • 
                                    
  • Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
    • 
                                    
  • Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
    • 
                                    
  • Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
    • 
                                    
  • Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
    • 
                            

                            


                        Supporting Rationale

                        
The new associate degrees for transfer award students an associate degree and prepare them for special benefits/guarantees upon transfer to CSU. To maximize student completion and success, the new degree programs must be thoughtfully stewarded in terms of program learning outcomes, supporting curriculum, and scheduling of courses. Students must also be made aware of the existence of the degrees, the potential benefits upon transfer, career prospects, and how best to move through our programs. The following is a list of promotion strategies: 


    

  • Contribute to a Sociocultural Studies Programs Fair in each Fall semester.
    • 

  • Continue to collaborate with other areas and CUSC on projects like Town Hall Meeting, International Education Week, and Fireside Debate and Forum, Constitution Day, etc.
    • 

  • Continue to work with CSUC to build bridges to transfer.
    • 


                        

                    
                    
                        Supporting Rationale Alignment

                        Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: Yes

                        Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes

                        
                        
                    

                    
Strategy 2 - Curriculum and Related Professional Development

                    

                        
Create new courses/modalities as needed and encourage professional development and collaboration among faculty to support new and existing courses.

                        

                   
                            Initiatives
                            

                            
    
                                    
  • Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
    • 
                                    
  • Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
    • 
                                    
  • Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
    • 
                            

                            


                        Supporting Rationale

                        
Political Science will create new courses as needed and work to revise and update existing courses with C-ID alignment and alignment to CSU transfer institutions. Political Science will continue to encourage professional development and collaboration among faculty to support new and existing courses. Faculty are encouraged to develop and teach courses that are deemed necessary for students to achieve both learning outcomes and completion outcomes, and to assess courses and make changes based on student performance.


In the coming year, program faculty will focus on:


    

  1. creating an Honors version of POS 2 that is C-ID aligned, as well as developing/submitting POS 2 for the online modality. As only one of two options for students in Category 2 of the United States History, Constitution and American Ideals GE area for CSU/UC transfer, it is important to provide options such as Honors and online in order to better serve the needs of diverse students. 
    2. 

  2. exploring the transferability and/or articulation of POS 12 to the UC.
    3. 


                        

                    
                    
                        Supporting Rationale Alignment

                        Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: No

                        Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Yes

                        
                        
                    

                    
Strategy 3 - New Classroom for POS Classes

                    

                        
Secure priority scheduling for Political Science classes in a better-suited classroom (than LB 106), preferably in the LRC.

                        

                   
                            Initiatives
                            

                            
    
                                    
  • Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
    • 
                                    
  • Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
    • 
                            

                            


                        Supporting Rationale

                        
Political Science would like to have a designated classroom in the LRC building. The library basement room (LB 106) is a very difficult room to use with a full class, especially now that the classroom has been reduced by half (to make space available for the Technology Center). Our classes are often full, on the main campus, and students are cramped. The classroom makes it very difficult to apply innovative teaching methods because students have no room to move. Students often complain that they are not able to hear or see. It is not possible to use the PowerPoint in slideshow mode because students in the back two rows are unable to see the bottom of the screen. The lighting is also a major problem when the class is full (40 or more students). The active full-time faculty member has brought this to the attention of the department, and is working with Facilities to work on solutions for the lighting concerns. 

                        

                    
                    
                        Supporting Rationale Alignment

                        Supports Previous Program Review Recommendations: Yes

                        Supports Changes from Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: No

                        
                        
                    


        
    
    
    
        
Requested Non-Financial Resources

        

            
Political Science would like to have a designated classroom in the LRC building. The library basement room is a very difficult room to use with a full class, especially now that the classroom has been reduced by half (to make space available for the Technology Center). Our classes are often full, on the main campus, and students are cramped. The classroom makes it very difficult to apply innovative teaching methods because students have no room to move. Students often complain that they are not able to hear or see. It is not possible to use the PowerPoint in slideshow mode because students in the back two rows are unable to see the bottom of the screen. The lighting is also a major problem when the class is full (40 or more students). The active full-time faculty member has brought this to the attention of the department, and has requested a meeting with facilities to work on solutions for the lighting concerns. 

            
        

    


        
Current Financial Resources

        

            
The Butte College General Fund is the sole source of financial support for the Political Science discipline. The annual budget allocation is $1617.