AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SELF-STUDY Prepared for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the AU Community JANUARY 2014 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SELF-STUDY Prepared for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the AU Community JANUARY 2014 Contents CHAPTER 1 Introduction Overview of American University .............................................................................................. 1 Recent Accomplishments ............................................................................................................. 6 Nature and Scope of the Self-Study ........................................................................................... 7 Organizational Structure of the Steering Committee and Subcommittees ........................ 16 Subcommittee Membership ....................................................................................................... 20 Supporting Documentation ....................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER Advancing and Supporting the Mission 2 of American University Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 25 The Statement of Common Purpose and the Strategic Plan................................................ 26 Financial Resources Supporting the Strategic Plan ................................................................ 40 Other Resources: Personnel, Technology, and Facilities ...................................................... 49 Institutional-Level Assessment ................................................................................................. 54 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 63 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 65 Supporting Documentation ....................................................................................................... 66 CHAPTER Leadership, Shared Governance, 3 and Administration Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 69 Board of Trustees ........................................................................................................................ 70 Contents i Other Governance Structures ................................................................................................... 75 University Administration .......................................................................................................... 78 Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 85 Staff ................................................................................................................................................ 87 Diversity and Inclusion............................................................................................................... 90 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 93 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 94 Supporting Documentation ....................................................................................................... 95 CHAPTER 4 Faculty Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 97 Strategic Goals and Changing Expectations for Faculty ....................................................... 98 Faculty Profile ............................................................................................................................ 100 Ensuring Excellence in Teaching ............................................................................................ 111 Ensuring Excellence in Scholarship ....................................................................................... 117 Challenges and Opportunities ................................................................................................. 123 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 129 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 131 Supporting Documentation ..................................................................................................... 132 CHAPTER Admitting, Supporting, and 5 Retaining Undergraduates Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 133 Enrollment Practices in Support of the Strategic Plan ........................................................ 133 Services to Support Academic Success .................................................................................. 143 Services to Support a Positive Student Experience ............................................................. 150 Ensuring Retention and Graduation ...................................................................................... 154 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 158 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 159 Supporting Documentation ..................................................................................................... 160 ii Contents CHAPTER 6 Undergraduate Education Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 161 Ensuring a High-Impact Educational Experience ............................................................... 162 Common Intellectual Experiences: General Education, Writing, and Math Requirements ........................................................ 162 Undergraduate Degree Programs ........................................................................................... 170 Academic Quality ...................................................................................................................... 172 High-Impact Educational Practices ........................................................................................ 173 Using Assessment to Improve the Educational Experience .............................................. 180 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 193 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 196 Supporting Documentation ..................................................................................................... 197 CHAPTER Graduate and Professional Education 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 199 Fit to Mission and Strategic Goals .......................................................................................... 200 Strengthening Shared Governance and Regulations ............................................................ 202 Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management ......................................................... 206 Student Support Services ......................................................................................................... 212 The Graduate Student Experience ......................................................................................... 215 Retention and Graduation ....................................................................................................... 220 Effective Assessment of Graduate and Professional Student Learning Outcomes ....... 222 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 225 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 226 Supporting Documentation .................................................................................................... 227 Contents iii CHAPTER Other Educational Initiatives 8 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 229 AU’s Initiatives in Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Educational Delivery, and Learning Location .............................................................................................................. 230 Enhancing the Sciences at AU ............................................................................................... 244 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 246 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 247 CHAPTER 9 Conclusions A Transformed University