Section 1. Goals and Accomplishments
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| Goal 1: |
Access & Diversity: Recruit, retain, and graduate a
larger, more academically prepared, and diverse body of
undergraduate Philosophy majors, minors, and Masters
students.
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Headcount increase of 18.18% on the undergraduate
level. SCH increase of 21.27% on the graduate
level.
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Improvement in SAT scores, 2.07%.
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Math scores improved by 19.63%.
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Maintained an undergraduate student evaluation
average of 4.00 for all undergraduate courses. Increased the
number of B.A. degrees from 7 to 21.
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Deanna Hackworth accepted by Catholic University
Law School; Marissa Kelberlau accepted by TTU Environmental
Toxicology M.S. program.
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Undergraduates accepted by graduate programs:
Michael Mebane (Ph.D., in Psychology, Vanderbilt); Dustin
Benham (Baylor Law School); Kyle Highful (M.A., in Classics,
TTU); Russell Myers (M.A., Philosophy, TTU).
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| Goal 2: |
Excellence: Attain national recognition as one of the very
best Masters-only Philosophy Departments in the country.
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Philosophical Gourmet ranks M.A. program here as
one of top ten in the nation. Articles published or accepted
by outstanding journals: British Journal of Aesthetics;
Canadian Journal of Philosophy; Journal of Aesthetics and
Art Criticism; Journal of Medicine and Philosophy; Law and
Philosophy.
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Maintained a graduate student evaluation average
of 4.00 in all graduate courses but one (3.87).
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M.A. headcount increase of 23.84%. M.A. SCH
increase of 21.27%. Attained the goal of four M.A. degrees
in 2003.
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Preparation of list of 2003 publications and
acceptances. Display of books published by departmental
faculty (in Departmental Office). Display of outstanding
articles (one per faculty member) in glass case (outside
Departmental Office). Dr. Rupert was awarded an NEH
Fellowship. Dr. Sowaal participated in an NEH summer
seminar.
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Faculty presented papers at meetings of the
American Philosophical Association, the Society for
Philosophy and Psychology, the American Society for
Aesthetics, the National Women's Studies Association, an
international symposium on aesthetics and epistemology, and
a conference on Feminism and Rhetoric. There was also an
invited paper at Penn State.
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| Goal 3: |
Engagement: Build quality community connections
internally, locally, and regionally that enhance the quality of life
for our communities.
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Four sections of Honors courses offered. Four
sections of Religion Study courses offered. Two sections of
Women's Studies courses offered. The department continues to
play a central role in Fine Arts Doctoral Program through
the following activities: Regular course offerings; Service
on core exams (writing exams and service on core exam
committees); Service on doctoral committees; Planning and
organization of FADP events.
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Guest lectures; The department continues to
co-sponsor lectures with other departments and programs,
such as the Fine Arts Doctoral Program. Dr. Meskin and Dr.
Rupert scheduled lectures and colloquia with
interdisciplinary components, such as lectures on the
philosophy of music and the philosophy of psychology. Dr.
Sowaal started interdisciplinary reading group on issues in
Women's Studies.
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Outstanding lecture series of outside speakers
provided for Tech community. Philosophy Club and Phi Sigma
Tau remain active.
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Continued to provide and promote fine arts and
cultural and scholarly events that will improve quality of
life of our communities.
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A specialist in environmental ethics has been
hired as Visiting Assistant Professor.
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Spacious and comfortable Student-Faculty Lounge
available to all students. Computer Lab (with 12 computers)
available to all students. Individual departmental mailboxes
have been provided for all undergraduate majors. A director
of undergraduate studies functions effectively. The
department regularly schedules student-only sessions when
outside speakers visit. Phi Sigma Tau sponsors weekly
informal meetings with faculty at Philosophy Cafe.
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Two spacious and comfortable group offices have
been provided to graduate students. Each graduate student
has been provided with own desk and cubicle. A spacious and
comfortable lounge with kitchen facilities is available to
graduate students. The department regularly schedules
student-only sessions when outside speakers visit. Phi Sigma
Tau sponsors informal meetings with faculty at Philosophy
Cafe.
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Faculty presented papers at meetings of the
American Philosophical Association, the Society for
Philosophy and Psychology, the American Society for
Aesthetics, the National Women's Studies Association, an
international symposium on aesthetics and epistemology, and
a conference on Feminism and Rhetoric. There was also an
invited paper at Penn State.
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| Goal 4: |
Technology: Make effective use of technology in all facets
of the Department’s mission.
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Web page has been enhanced and improved.
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Improved quality of computer access for students.
Computer Lab access for students is good. Number of
computers is currently sufficient.
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Faculty IT equipment is sufficiently up-to-date.
Dr. Rupert and Dr. Curzer used TOPIC. Increased number of
courses have websites. Increased use of overhead projection
systems in lecture.
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| Goal 5: |
Partnerships: Collaborate in strategic alliances with
other academic, government, community, corporate, and private
entities.
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Four Honors courses offered. Four sections of
Religion Study Courses were offered. Two sections of Women's
Studies courses were offered.
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Two graduate courses per year are offered, for the
benefit of the Fine Arts Doctoral Program. Three Philosophy
faculty members serve as chairs or members of dissertation
committees. The Philosophy Department has co-sponsored
various talks and conferences with other programs, in
addition to our own lecture series mentioned
below.
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Philosophy members presented five lectures in the
Lubbock community. One faculty member gave a radio
presentation. Philosophy Department faculty members have
served on numerous interdisciplinary panels presenting
topics of interest to members of the Tech and Lubbock
communities. The Philosophy Department, Philosophy Club, and
Philosophy Honorary Society have teamed up to present a
lecture series bringing nationally renowned speakers to TTU.
These lectures are typically attended by members of the Tech
community and the larger Lubbock community.
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| Goal 6: |
Human Resources: Enhance the quality of the work and study
experience for Department employees and students.
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The Philosophy Department offers an orientation
meeting for new graduate students. The Philosophy Department
offered a Teaching Philosophy course for the training of
teaching assistants. Each GPTI with full responsibility for
a class is assigned a faculty mentor.
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Faculty members actively participate in setting
goals and implementing them.
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All faculty now have reasonably up-to-date
computers, printers, phones, and access to reliable copy
machine. A departmental server has been obtained and is now
being used for webpages, etc.
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The Philosophy/English Building is a terrific
facility in every respect.
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Academic freedom and shared governance within the
department are producing a substantial increase job
satisfaction and faculty morale.
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The department organized and catalogued the
Philosophy Library, now an especially pleasant place for
research and study that is utilized by students and
faculty.
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| Goal 7: |
Tradition and Pride: Project a strong positive
Departmental image locally, regionally, and nationally.
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The Philosophy Department website has been
continually updated.
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Preparation of a list of 2003 publications and
acceptances. Display of books published by departmental
faculty (in Departmental Office). Display of outstanding
articles (one per faculty member) in glass case (outside
Departmental Office). The Director of Undergraduate Studies
has done much to centralize and organize the procedures for
identifying and nominating philosophy majors for important
academic awards and fellowships. The Philosophy Department
awarded four scholarships on the basis of academic
achievement.
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The Philosophy Department used its website, the
University Calendar, and the University Daily to publicize
activities such as the speaker series to the campus and
larger community.
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| Goal 8: |
Institutional Advancement and Accountability: Strengthen
the Department''s fiscal performance in development and Formula
Funding, while conforming to public accountability
expectations.
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The Philosophy Department has stayed within its
operating budget, despite the lower level of funding.
Masters student semester credit hours rose 21.27%, and
doctoral student semester credit hours have risen 41.67%.
The number of Philosophy majors rose 18.18% on the
undergraduate level and 23.08% on the graduate level. Two
faculty members participated on interdisciplinary IGERT
Grant Proposal.
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The Graduate Advisor has distributed about 1000
fliers (stressing the strong points of our M.A. program) to
appropriate colleges and universities. Faculty members
visited other universities to present talks and personally
recruit graduate students. The Philosophy Department website
has been continually updated. It promotes the department as
a whole as well as various departmental
activities.
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