Academic departments at USM must undergo a formal review every seven years, according to UMaine Board of Trustees policy. But there is no such requirement for non-academic departments.
It’s something University President Selma Botman is looking to change.
The University has invited two external consultants to review the following departments: Advising Services, Career Services, Early Student Success, Learning Foundations, and Community Service.
The consultants – Jayne Drake of Temple University and Betsy McCalla-Wriggins of Rowan University – engaged each department in an abbreviated self-study, in the form of eight standard questions submitted to each department director. The two consultants also met with department staff, faculty, and students to hear their thoughts and feedback.
Marie Follayttar, a senior and Undergraduate student representative to the Board of Trustees, says that as a student advocate she has had many students share their difficulties with some of the departments in question, especially Advising Services.
“I think the University needs to re-examine the role and expectations of the advising process,” Follayttar says, “and the role the department plays in student success after graduation.”
The overhaul is just one element of the Botman administration’s new strategic planning strategy, a wide-ranging look at how every aspect of the University can be improved to enhance students’ experiences here at USM.
Students aren’t the only ones to react positively to this evaluation process; the departments themselves are expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to find areas of improvements. Beth Higgins, the Executive Director of Advising and Academic Resources, welcomed the chance to take a close look at her department.
“I think what it does is it allows departments to really reflect on what they’re doing and ask how can we really improve for students,” Higgins says.
But with any kind of evaluation, there is always an unnerving aspect for those having their work put under careful observation and scrutiny. She says that’s where a department has to have a certain “departmental and professional confidence” in itself.
“The way that I look at it, if we’re doing what we think is our best, knowing that we can always improve, then why shouldn’t we want people to look at us?” She says. “And if they see something that needs improvement then ok, let’s move forward and make it happen, because that’s what we’re trying to do here, make it the best experience.”
Susan Campbell, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, who helped facilitate and organize the whole evaluation process, says she believes that overall the process went pretty well. So far, all the feedback she has received about this process from staff, faculty, and students has been enthusiastic and positive. However, she and others have already started reflecting on how even the process itself can be improved, and how to ensure that it’s only the beginning of more consistent oversight.
“I think we should refine the self-study questions and create a document that will guide this process,” Susan says. “We also need to develop a timeline and schedule for the review of all non-instructional areas to make this process part of our institutional fabric.”
The evaluation process is still a work in progress. Drake and McCalla-Wriggins now have a couple of weeks to prepare a report of their findings that will be sent directly to President Botman, later to be shared with the respective departments. Betsy says that her and Jayne are still in the process of receiving more information before they make any concrete recommendations.
They are willing to say that they were impressed with the majority of the feedback they received.
“We can say without reservation that all the individuals we met at USM are committed to the university and the students who attend,” Betsy says. “They care deeply about the students they serve and their success.”