Livingston Press. Detailed Assessment Report

Transcription

1 Livingston Press Detailed Assessment Report Mission / Purpose As part of the University of West Alabama, Livingston Press sees its mission as fourfold: first, to promote literature in the state of Alabama; second, to promote literature regardless of boundary; third, to serve the immediate community by publishing historical material related to the surrounding counties; and fourth, to provide on-hands eperience to UWA students. The press epects that the four will and should overlap. I. Goals and Outcomes/Objectives, with Any Related Measures, Targets, Findings, and Action Plans A. Goal: Enhance the culture of communication on the UWA campus. Enhance the culture of communication on the UWA campus. 1. Objective: Publish national authors Livingston Press will publish fiction by national authors. a. Measure: Publish fiction by national authors Livingston Press will publish fiction by national authors, as evidenced by the catalog and actual books. 1. Achievement Target: Livingston Press will publish seven books by national authors. Published seven books by national authors: The Bron Kill, written by Philip Cioffari; Hopscotch: A Novel, written by Steve Cushman; Our 13th Divorce, written by Matt Cashion; Robert Walker: a novel, written by Corey Mesler; The Enigma of Iris Murphy, written Maureen Millea Smith; Lowlands: a novel, written by Terence Gallagher; and Haylow: A Novel, written by Gray Stewart. B. Goal: Address the educational, social, and cultural needs of the overall student body. Address the educational, social, and cultural needs of the overall student body. 1. Objective: Provide students with on-hand eperience Livingston Press will provide UWA students with on-hand eperience in four fields, accounting, editorial work, web design, and graphic design. Students will work with computer programs specific to each of the four areas. a. Measure: Press Scholarship recipients will assist with publishing and processing books Four students will receive scholarships from the Livingston Press. These students will assist in publishing, processing, proofreading, and designing books. The students will also assist in accounting, packaging, processing, and shipping books published by the Livingston Press. These students will maintain the Press's website as well. Two scholarships will be provided to students with funds from the Provost's Office. One scholarship will be provided by the James Colquitt scholarship fund, and an additional scholarship will be provided by the Livingston Press scholarship fund. Page 1 of 5

2 1. Achievement Target: Provost's Office scholarship: $1,000/semester for 2 students equaling $2,000 per year. James Colquitt scholarship: $750/semester for 1 student equaling $1,500 per year. Livingston Press scholarship: $450/semester for 1 student equaling $900 per year. Two students received a scholarship for $1,000 a year. These students received scholarship funds for assisting with processing (accounting and shipping) books. One student received a scholarship for $750 for typesetting books. One of the students received a scholarship for $450 for updating the Press's website. C. Goal: Foster growth across all areas of campus. Foster growth across all areas of campus. 1. Objective: Publish Black Belt related books Livingston Press will publish, when possible, non-fiction or fiction books concerning either the Black Belt or Alabama in general. a. Measure: Publish Black Belt/Alabama books The press will publish, when possible, books concerning either the Black Belt region or Alabama in general. 1. Achievement Target: Publish at least one (1) book about the Black Belt or Alabama in general. Published one book about Alabama: Belles, Letters 2: Contemporary Stories by Alabama Women. 2. Objective: Publish national authors Livingston Press will publish fiction by national authors. a. Measure: Publish fiction by national authors Livingston Press will publish fiction by national authors, as evidenced by the catalog and actual books. 1. Achievement Target: Livingston Press will publish seven books by national authors. Published seven books by national authors: The Bron Kill, written by Philip Cioffari; Hopscotch: A Novel, written by Steve Cushman; Our 13th Divorce, written by Matt Cashion; Robert Walker: a novel, written by Corey Mesler; The Enigma of Iris Murphy, written Maureen Millea Smith; Lowlands: a novel, written by Terence Gallagher; and Haylow: A Novel, written by Gray Stewart. 3. Objective: Increase publicity for the University The Livingston Press serves as an academic arm of the University and provides positive publicity throughout the region, state, and nation. a. Measure: Display books at national book shows Display books at national book shows to increase visibility of the University and Livingston Press. The Press will partner with various ehibitors to display books at these shows. Page 2 of 5

3 1. Achievement Target: Display books at two national book shows, including the Mid-winter Public Library Association show and the Annual Public Library Association show. Displayed books at two national book shows: the Mid-winter Public Library Association show and the Annual Public Library Association show. Attended and displayed books at the Associated Writing Programs show. III. Other Plans for Improvement: A. Tartt First Fiction Award The Livingston Press presents an award of $1000 to the winning author of the Tartt First Fiction short story collection competition. Established in Cycle: Implementation Description: Authors submit short story collections to the Livingston Press. Responsible Person/Group: Dr. Joe Taylor Additional Resources Requested: $1000 for the award Budget Amount Requested: $1, (recurring) 5/11/2017 John Shea will be awarded the Tartt First Fiction Award in May B. Travel to AWP Conference Livingston Press would like to attend and set up a booth at the 2018 Association of Writing Programs Conference in Tampa, FL. This would recruit writers and students; publicize the University; and solicit manuscripts for the Sucarnochee Review. Established in Cycle: Implementation Description: Book room, airflight, and conference registration fee Responsible Person/Group: Joe Taylor Additional Resources Requested: Airline Tickets: $400 Hotel: $1100 AWP Registration: $900 (booth price) Budget Amount Requested: $2, (recurring) 5/11/2017 Joe Taylor traveled to the AWP Conference in Washington, D.C. in March C. Travel to Montgomery for Alabama Book Festival 10th Annual Book Festival held in the third week of April in Montgomery attracts around 7,000-8,000 people each year. Livingston Press would like to set up a booth at the festival to display books highlighting Alabama authors. In addition to highlighting authors, this would be an opportunity for the Press to provide information to prospective students. Established in Cycle: Implementation Description: Arrange booth and attend festival Responsible Person/Group: Dr. Joe Taylor Additional Resources Requested: $200 for booth costs; $150 for transportation costs Budget Amount Requested: $ (recurring) Page 3 of 5

4 5/11/2017 Director was not able to attend book festival this year, but he will continue to do so in the future. D. Travel to Alabama Literary Festival Director would like to travel to the Alabama Literary Festival in Monroeville, AL in May 2016 to increase publicity of the Press and network. Established in Cycle: Implementation Description: Register for festival and book travel accommodations Responsible Person/Group: Dr. Joe Taylor Additional Resources Requested: Registration: $65 Travel and hotel costs: $200 Budget Amount Requested: $ (recurring) 5/11/2017 Director was not able to attend the Alabama Literary Festival this year but plans to do so in the future. IV. Analysis Questions and Analysis Answers A. What specific strengths did your assessments show? (Strengths) The Livingston Press is able to attract national authors through our reputation in the publishing industry and academia. The Press allows students to receive hands-on training to enhance their skills in areas such as accounting, proofreading, editing, web design, and familiarity with Mac operating systems. Students also gain proficiency in using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, programs which are widely used in all fields of written media and the business world. B. What specific weaknesses or challenges did your assessments show? (Weaknesses) The Press has published over 140 books and over 100 authors. The cumulative effect of this has been an increased workload placed on the director. The demands of the Press, in addition to director's teaching load, limit his ability to function at a high level of efficiency in either field. A reduction of director's teaching load (He now teaches 8 hours per semester, which includes two practicums.) would allow him to increase the Press's visibility in the region and nation. As technology evolves, the director must implement publication of books through varying technologies, including e-books. This requires additional time and knowledge. C. What plans were implemented? 1.Two students received a scholarship for $1,000 a year. These students received scholarship funds for assisting with processing (accounting and shipping) books. One student received a scholarship for $750 for typesetting books. One of the students received a scholarship for $450 for updating the Press's website. 2. Published one book about Alabama: Belles, Letters 2: Contemporary Stories by Alabama Women. 3. Published seven books by national authors: The Bron Kill, written by Philip Cioffari; Hopscotch: A Novel, written by Steve Cushman; Our 13th Divorce, written by Matt Cashion; Robert Walker: a novel, written by Corey Mesler; The Enigma of Iris Murphy, written Maureen Millea Smith; Lowlands: a novel, written by Terence Gallagher; and Haylow: A Novel, written by Gray Stewart. 4. Displayed books at two national book shows: the Mid-winter Public Library Association show and the Annual Public Library Association show. Attended and displayed books at the Associated Writing Programs show. D. What plans were not implemented? Director was not able to attend Montgomery Book Festival or Alabama Writer's Symposium due to health reasons. Page 4 of 5

5 E. How will assessment results be used for continuous improvement? The director currently must split his time between teaching and directing the Press. If he is allowed to focus primarily on the Press, its visibility in the region would increase greatly, and consequently, the academic reputation of the University would benefit. Regionally, there is a possibility of attracting students based on their teachers' familiarity with the Press. V. Annual Report Section Responses A. Key Achievements Published seven books by national authors: The Bron Kill, written by Philip Cioffari; Hopscotch: A Novel, written by Steve Cushman; Our 13th Divorce, written by Matt Cashion; Robert Walker: a novel, written by Corey Mesler; The Enigma of Iris Murphy, written Maureen Millea Smith; Lowlands: a novel, written by Terence Gallagher; and Haylow: A Novel, written by Gray Stewart. Published one book about Alabama: Belles, Letters 2: Contemporary Stories by Alabama Women. B. Faculty Achievements Dr. Joe Taylor had a novel published: Pineapple: A Comic Novel in Verse. C. Public/Community Service The Livingston Press manned a booth with books available for purchase at the annual Sucarnochee Folklife Festival on the campus of UWA in April Page 5 of 5

6 Planning and Assessment Approval Depaiiment or Division: Livingston Press Chair or Director: Dr. Joe Taylor Dean or Vice President: Dr. Mark Davis ECUE!:SC Goals Goals are broad statements describing what the unit wants to accomplish. Goals relate to both the unit's mission and the University's mission. The goal(s) is stated as the University goal(s) a unit is attempting to meet. Outcomes/Objectives Outcomes and objectives are statements that describe in some detail what the unit plans to accomplish. Outcomes/objectives are associated with all applicable goals, strategic plans, standards, and institutional priorities. Objectives are active-verb descriptions of specific points or tasks the unit will accomplish or reach. Outcomes are active-verb descriptions of a desired end result related to student learning and the unit's mission. Measures Measures are statements to judge success in achieving the stated outcome or objective. Measures contain information on the type of evidence and assessment tool that a unit will use to verify if stated outcome/objective has been met. Achievement Targets Achievement targets are the thresholds that the measures must meet for the unit to determine that it has been successful in meeting its specified outcomes/objectives. Achievement targets are measurable statements. ---

7 Findings Findings are indications whether an outcome/objective was met or not. Findings are put into the system under each achievement target. Findings include an interpretation of results, possible uses of results, reflection on problems encountered, indicated improvements/changes and strengths or weakness. Action Plans Action plans are detailed plans created by the unit to meet an outcome/objective that was only partially met or not met or to make improvement to those outcomes/objectives that were met but still need some strengthening. The plan includes a projected completion date, implementation description, responsible person(s)/group, resources required, and budget amount (if applicable). Action plans created in previous cycles have been updated with implementation notes. Annual Report The Annual Report section contains information on key achievements, faculty and/or staff achievements, and community/public. Analysis Report The unit has reflected on and created narratives for each of the following areas: specific strengths and progress made on outcomes/objectives, specific weaknesses or challenges, plans that were and were not implemented, and how assessment results will be used for continuous improvement. Approved by: ~ v-- Date: Received by OIE: Date --h~-=-,"/--7"/--t-..._..,..,-..,,..,..,...~~--~~~~~~~~- / {)/p li ~ ( (