| James E. Goodwin | Chair, Professor of English |
| Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences | |
| Paul W. Child | Assistant Professor of English |
| Donald Coers | Professor of English |
| Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs | |
| Caroline Crimm | Assistant Professor of History |
| Tommy Davis | Professor of Mathematics |
| Faculty Athletic Representative | |
| Jo Ann Duffy | Associate Professor of Management |
| Director, Gibson D. Lewis Center for Business and Economic Development | |
| Nancy Horton | Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice |
| Bill Hyman | Associate Professor of Health |
| Coordinator, Health Program | |
| Eren Johnson | Professor of Education |
| Associate Dean, College of Education and Applied Science | |
| Mitchell Muehsam | Associate Professor of Business Analysis |
| Associate Dean, College of Business Administration | |
| Darryl Patrick | Professor of Art |
INTRODUCTION
FINDINGS OF THE REPORT ON GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.1
COMPLIANCE TABLE: SECTION 4.1
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.1
To accomplish its stated mission, Sam Houston State University confers six undergraduate degrees in eighty-nine programs, seven graduate degrees in seventy-five academic areas, and two doctoral degrees in three programs. The effectiveness of these degree programs is discussed in this section in relation to the general requirements of the educational program.
In the report on General Requirements of the Educational Program which follows, the Self-Study Steering Committee addresses "must" statements from Section 4.1 of the SACS Criteria for Accreditation and, in the order in which the statements appear in the Criteria, reports on the University’s compliance or noncompliance with these imperatives. Following the "must" statements and findings, the Committee makes recommendations and/or offers suggestions, according to the University’s compliance status.
1. All aspects of the educational program must be clearly related to the purpose of the institution (Criteria 24).
The Steering Committee determined that the University complies with this imperative.
The Sam Houston State University Mission Statement announces that the goal of the institution is to provide "academic programs to enable its students to become informed, thoughtful, and productive citizens with the skills necessary to evaluate issues critically and to appreciate the cultural and aesthetic values of life" (1998-2000 Undergraduate Catalogue 92). In fulfilling this mission, the University confers six undergraduate degrees in eighty-nine programs: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Music (BM) and Bachelor of Science (BS). The University’s seven graduate degrees in seventy-five academic areas include the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Library Science (MLS), Master of Music (MM). and Master of Science (MS). The University also confers two doctoral degrees in three programs: the Doctor of Education (EdD, established in 1997) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Each year the Vice President for Academic Affairs publishes an inventory of degrees. This inventory, which includes information on the implementation of new degree programs and the phasing out of degree programs, is a result of work by the University Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee reviews degree programs, then makes recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council, which, in turn, makes recommendations to the governance hierarchy. Rationale for changes in degrees must be provided to the University Curriculum Committee as a part of the review procedure; the rationale provides the link between the educational program and the stated purpose of the University.
2. The institution must provide a competent faculty, adequate library/learning resources, and appropriate computer resources, instructional materials/equipment and physical facilities (Criteria 24).
The Committee found that the University complies with this comprehensive criterion.
Each area addressed by the criterion—faculty, library/learning resources, computer resources, instructional materials/equipment, and physical facilities—is discussed in detail in specific sections of the SACS Self-Study report: Sections 4.8.2 through 4.8.4 affirm the competency of the faculty; Section 5.1 attests to the adequacy of library/learning resources; Section 5.3 establishes the adequacy of computer resources; and Section 5.2 affirms the adequacy of instructional materials/equipment and physical facilities for instructional support.
3. The student enrollment and financial resources of an institution must be sufficient to support an effective educational program (Criteria 24).
The Committee determined that the University complies with this "must" statement.
The enrollment at Sam Houston State University for the fall semester of 1997 was 12,709. Of this number, 9,368 were full-time students and 3,341 were part-time students. Students enrolled in undergraduate classes numbered 11,224, while those enrolled in graduate classes numbered 1,034. Four hundred fifty-one students enrolled as post-baccalaureate students were not classified among the undergraduates or graduates. The total enrollment is "sufficient to support an effective educational program."
As indicated in Section 6.3.1 of the self-study report, financial resources are adequate to support this student enrollment.
4. [T]he institution must ensure appropriate levels of student achievement and equivalent quality of programs regardless of method of instruction or location of program (Criteria 24).
The Committee found that the University complies with this criterion.
Student achievement and the quality of programs are measured by a number of different evaluators, both internal and external. Examples of such assessment can be noted in various programs in all four of the colleges. One such example exists in the College of Education and Applied Science. In the Interdisciplinary Academic Studies program leading to state certification as an elementary school teacher, students have benchmarks at which specific levels of achievement are demonstrated. Multiple measures include grade point averages, scores on standardized examinations, and academic portfolio assessments. This program is accredited by external evaluators: the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Texas State Board for Educator Certification.
As discussed in Section 3 of the self-study report, effectiveness in all educational programs, delivery systems, and support structures is a goal of the University.
Having determined that the University complies with all of the imperatives in this section of the Criteria, the Steering Committee has no recommendations.
| Imperative | Statement of Compliance | Supporting Documentation |
| 1. All aspects of the education program must be clearly related to the purpose of the institution. | Compliance | University Mission Statement |
| 2. The institution must provide a competent faculty, adequate library/learning resources, and appropriate computer resources, instructional materials/equipment and physical facilities. | Compliance | SHSU 1998-99 SACS Self-Study Report (Sections 4.8.2-4.8.4, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3) |
| 3. The student enrollment and financial resources of an institution must be sufficient to support an effective educational program. | Compliance | SHSU 1998-99 SACS Self-Study Report (Section 6.3.1) |
| 4. [T]he institution must ensure appropriate levels of student achievement and equivalent quality of programs regardless of method of instruction or location of program. | Compliance | SHSU 1998-99 SACS Self-Study Report (Section 3) |
None
SUGGESTIONS: