Mission Statement

Housed in the Sociocultural Studies Department, Anthropology promotes student success, completion and transfer, and seeks to create lifelong learners who understand and appreciate the significance of culture as a major factor in the lives of humans.

Program Description

Anthropology is the study of humans worldwide, both in the past and present. The program is designed to introduce students to culture as the core concept for understanding human behavior. The four subfields of anthropology (physical, archaeological, linguistics and cultural) are used as a foundation to examine varied perspectives about the world. Anthropology students graduate with an awareness of cultural and biological diversity and the complexity of past and contemporary societies. The degree offers preparatory courses for the major core program at CSU Chico, in addition to courses approved for CSU General Education.

The program in anthropology is designed to prepare students for a variety of exciting careers, which may include education, research, medicine, business, non-profit and public service fields. As an example, anthropologists may be employed on international research teams, such as with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists working to control Ebola outbreaks in West Africa. Anthropologists may also be employed as resident scientists at the Intel Corporation or as curation specialists in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Numerous anthropological skills, such as the ability to think critically and creatively about the world and the ability to apply research methods to solve problems, translate to various employment sectors.  

Upon successful completion of the Anthropology program, the student will be able to:

1. Identify and discuss major topics relevant to Physical Anthropology, including human and primate evolution and variation among hominids.
2. Define culture and apply the concept to a broad cross-cultural understanding of human behavior.
3. Examine past cultural systems through analysis of physical cultural remains.
4. Describe and analyze human linguistic systems and the influence of language on human perceptions of the world.

The courses that comprise the AA-T degree are also for Butte and transfer General Education. With close to 60 sections offered each school year, Anthropology serves a significant number of students and meets an array of important General Education and transfer requirements. Most Anthropology courses are dedicated to understanding culture process. One course, ANTH 2 Physical Anthropology, focuses on physical/natural phenomena.

Anthropology does not have a fulltime instructor as present. Heading into the second semester in the same situation, Anthropology historically has had two FT instructors to support students and the program. Eight associate faculty are currently utilized this semester; teaching 100% of sections offered in Anthropology.  

Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes

A review of SLO "deep-dive" assessments undertaken in Fall 2015, which was the last in-depth review for Anthropology. Major findings from the assessment of Fall 2015 brief reflections found:
1. Instructors in the Cultural courses and in Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion generally feel that all SLOs are well- represented in a wide variety of course materials, lessons, and assignments.
2. Physical Anthropology instructors expressed dissatisfaction with student performance of SLO A (scientific process) and SLO H (hominin fossils and alternate phylogenies).
3. One Physical Anthropology instructor observed that it is easier to examine student learning in the face-to-face section than in the online section.
4. The majority of brief reflections focused on course coverage of SLOs, and less on the degree of student achievement of the SLOs.
The strategies at the time were to include in-class lab activities to better demonstrate concepts of the scientific process and to provide opportunities for fossil identification, with a longer-term strategy to create a Physical Anthropology lab course. Furthermore, it was suggested to explore more activities demonstrating best practices n assessment at the department level and also through the college’s professional development program. 

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (Instruction Departments)

Retetion rates are above the goal established 2020-2021 goal of 73 percent for all courses.

Student success rates are mixed in relation to retetion rates. While the retetion rates are well above the 2020-2021 goal, most courses are below the 2020-2021 success goal of 75 percent. The lower success rate may be in part because of the high retetion rate. Students may stay in the class even though they are not passing. This is yet another reason for a fulltime faculty postition for Anthropology. The program really needs a content expert to provide leadership to the associate faculty if this is to change.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)

 
To support these classroom efforts, in conjunction with ANTH, GEOG, HIST, and POS faculty, the Sociocultural Studies Department will continue to hold special Forums each fall. Previous Forums included presentations on Reading Strategies, Helping International Students Succeed, and Tried-and-Test Teaching Ideas, 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, and help associate faculty, which carries the bulk of the teaching duties, to keep up-to-date on what is happening at the College.
 

Strategic Direction

Current efforts in the Anthropology program are classroom centered. Committed to excellence in the teaching of rich and rigorous course content, discipline faculty play a key role in supporting the college to meet these strategic directions.
Implementing AB 705
AB 705 does not directly impact Anthropology, and it is too soon to determine any impacts beyond Math and English, but it may improve the writing capabilites of students within Anthropology courses, which typically require a great number of writing assignments.
Implementing Guided Pathways
               a. Strategic Scheduling
While most faculty will not have a direct position on developing strategic scheduling, they will be involved on accomplishing those goals. Strategic scheduling may require a major overhaul of the current scheduling system of rolling over sections and thereby when and what is offered. This is the point at which the faculty, especially associate faculty, will begin to notice the changes.  
b. Hobsons Starfish
The most important aspect at the discipline is to keep faculty informed on how Hobsons/Starfish is being implemented at the College, and what they should expect as it relates to them.
 Closing Equity Gaps
Closing equity gaps requires an understanding of where those gaps are. Data has been a gap in that understanding, but is quickly being filled. For example, below are the retention and success rates for all Ethnicities except white, in Anthropology.

Retention rates for all courses are well above the 2020-2021 goal of 73 percent, but there is considerable progress that needs to be made concerning student success rate, which are well below the 2020-2021 goal of 75 percent. Currently, only ANTH 33 – Ancient Mesoamerica has a success rate above the set goal. A fulltime faculty with content expertise is critical to help bring Anthropology up to a higher percentage of student success.
Below are the retention and success rates based upon gender; 1) F, 2) M, 3) U, 4) X.
1) F
 
2) M
 
3) U
 
4) X
 
               All categories are showing improvement concerning the student retention and success rates, except for the X Gender group.
Meeting enrollment targets 
Anthropology:
 
College:
 
Anthropology has seen a 13. 5 percent drop in FTES while the College experienced a 10.6 percent drop in FTES during the same time.
Meeting student achievement goals 
Anthropology
 
College
 
The percent of Anthropology students graduating as it relates to the College was 0.7% in 2015, compared to 0.6% in 2018.
Fostering a Culture of Inclusiveness
Promote attendance to the Cultural Awareness Community of Practice (CACP) professional development program to assist faculty in better understanding and fully meeting the needs of culturally diverse students and colleagues.

Program Review

Anthropology completed its most recent Program Review in July 2015. The Validation Team provided 12 Recommendations. Due to the recency of the last Program Review and the lack of full-time leadership, there has been limited progress on meeting the Recommendations. Below is an abbreviated version of the Recommendations, with comments.

Hire two additional full-time faculty members in the discipline (one as a replacement hire). One hire should be a Cultural Anthropologist, the other a Physical Anthropologist. 

Note: In the past three years, the Anthropology Department has lost three fulltime instructors, two from retirement, and another left after losing home and personal effects in the Camp Fire. The 2015 Program Review Recommendation called for a second full-time hire, and at the time would have brought the number of full-time instructors in the program to 3. Instead, there are none.

Ensure compliance with associate faculty evaluation timelines. *** The area dean has offered a stipend payment of $150 per evaluation to full-time faculty who assist the department chair in completing associate faculty evaluations as scheduled. However, because our one full-time faculty in ANTH is only in her first year, reaching compliance in the near future is unlikely. The department chair will continue to work toward meeting this Recommendation.
Enhance comprehensive SLO/PLO/GELO analysis and reporting by increasing associate faculty participation. *** Still to be addressed.
Engage in collaborative activities with faculty in other social science and relevant science disciplines. *** Still to be addressed. While important, right now this is a lower priority for the program.
Maintain breadth of course offerings, especially ANTH 14 and 33 (at risk due to  retirement). *** Previously, we were able to offer these two courses because of a retired instructor had made themselves available in retirement as an associate faculty. The prospect for continuing to offer these two courses long-term is uncertain.
Encourage Administration to approve/adopt the policies and procedures of Archaeology collections. *** Still to be addressed.
Enhance the relationship with Chico State. *** Still to be addressed.
Provide opportunities for student learning experiences outside of the classroom (field trips, Chico State events, student club activities, etc.) *** Still to be addressed.
Lower pedagogical caps in Anthropology courses to encourage the use of more student-centered instructions. *** Still to be addressed. This would be ideal, but likely would be exceedingly difficult if not impossible to achieve. Right now, this is a lower priority for the program.
Advocate with Professional Development to change the policy that currently limits to 50% (75% with dean approval) the FLEX hours awarded for Individual Activity Contracts. *** Still to be addressed. Right now, this is a lower priority for the program.
Explore the viability of a multidisciplinary Certificate in Museum Studies. *** Not a priority, as this is not feasible to implement with current faculty.

Department Goals

Provide the program a fulltime instructor. The department goals that were listed in the 2019-2020 Unit Plan also called for a program of guidance and support to students who have chosen Anthropology as their major. Currently there are 59 students that list themselves as an Anthropology major. Another department goal was to identify root causes of Anthropology's lower than average course success rate or, at least rule out possible causes. This will help us to identify remedies and make progress toward meeting the college standard. In addition another department goal was to enhance comprehensive SLO/PLO/GELO analysis and reporting by rebuilding the deep dive assessment schedule, and by increasing associate faculty participation in assessment activities and dialogue. Finally, the last department goal was to review and make changes to the ANTH program curriculum. All the goals listed in the 2019-2020 Unit Plan that were unmet necessitate the hire of a fulltime instructor for Anthropology.
Online Course Alignment to meet CCC system standards. California Community college must have 20% of their online courses aligned to the @ONE Rubric in order to continue receive CVC-OEI Consortium benefits at reduced charge. Without this state-wide support, the cost to the district will be $125,000. The requested funding will provide training, travel, and stipends to align X number our current online courses.

Future Development Strategies

Requested Non-Financial Resources

Current Financial Resources

Augmentation Requests