2018-19 Instructional Program Review
First name
James
Last name
Clifford
Email
clifford@smccd.edu
Program Name
Please select your program. For CTE programs, use the 2018-19 CTE Instructional Program Review form.
Psychology


Division
Please select your division
Creative Arts/Social Science


Submission Date
Oct-26-2018


1a. Provide a brief description of the program and how it supports the college’s Mission and Values Statements, its Diversity Statement, CSM’s and SMCCCD’s Strategic Plans, and the college’s Educational Master Plan. You may also discuss any factors that have impacted the program and its enrollment. Include changes in student populations, statewide initiatives, transfer requirements, advisory committee recommendations, legal mandates, workforce development and employment opportunities, and community needs.
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
See attached file.


Description of Program
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2a. Describe the results of your previous Program Review’s action plan.
f your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
At the close of the previous review cycle, assimilation of AOD coursework into the general courses was being considered, new courses and pathways were in consideration and development, and data gathered for success rates in diverse student populations (EOPS, DRC, first generation, etc.).
Currently, the focus has centered on reflecting upon and engaging strategies to enhance success and retention for the diverse student body, and increasingly incorporating content delivery modes that reflect a stronger emphasis on equity and diversity. Department faculty has increased participation and professional development on issues specifically related to equity, engagement for support of diverse student populations (ethnicity, gender, sexuality, physical needs, first generation student populations) seeking to increase retention and success (discussed in more detail in section 4). The department is also working to integrate Addiction studies into Psychology as per the most recent full-time faculty hire.


2b. Program coherence and effectiveness: Explain any curriculum changes since last program review, including SLO alignments.
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
The program has recently developed new programs and courses, and will progressively add the new courses (Positive Psychology, Sports Psychology, Psychology of Human Relationships and Adjustment) into the course offerings over the next two years. At this time, majority of the new degrees and certificates are in the state approval process and will then be added to the catalog (Psychology of Prejudice & Discrimination, Psychology of Wellness; ADT Child and Adolescent Development, local AA degree Psychology, certificate Psychology: Counseling). As discussed in the above program description, doing so will serve to increase the entry point into psychology, range of opportunity for specialization, transfer preparation, and post-baccalaureate and graduate study preparation.
Course outlines were modified to increase future online and hybrid course offerings as well as to remain consistent with curricular developments and to seek articulation with all possible C-ID offerings. Courses were all reviewed and will continue to be reviewed to ensure current content, cohesive offerings, and alignment with course, program, and institutional SLOs.


2c. Student success and equity: Discuss what your program has done to address equity gaps between student populations and between modes of delivery (online, hybrid, and face-to-face), describing your successes, works in progress, and/or ongoing challenges.
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
The overall numbers of students within the department are consistent with the campus. The diversity of students in the psychology department is consistent with or higher than college averages. The department continues to seek to support the diverse departmental student body through inter-campus collaboration with other disciplines and student support services. One area of reduction of students is within the Native American population, a population that is low at the college, and yet numerically the impact is yet to be determined; this will be observed and strategies will be discussed as needed as the current program cycle progresses.

The department is investigating the gap between the success rate to retention rate. The success rate within the Hispanic student population has increased; there appears to be an increase in withdrawal of the Black student population. Faculty continues to seek approaches to close gaps for success and retention rates in diverse populations through ongoing professional development that informs classroom and pedagogical approaches as well as on-campus collaboration.

Using the science of psychology, the faculty has implemented several different material-based strategies to ensure diverse learning needs in the student population. These methods include working with publishers to ensure lowest rates on texts, including artificial intelligence software with those texts that adapts to student reading levels and to the measures used to establish that level. Within the context of the science of psychology, faculty has used findings from the scientific discipline to develop novel metrics to stimulate success in writing and critical thinking within the classroom. Faculty has increased the rigor through increased written work and exercises based upon scientific principles to increased critical thinking skills across the discipline.


2d. Provide an update on any long-term plans that are still in progress (if applicable).
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Addressed in above (2c).


3a. Course and program assessment. Discuss the results of your program assessment. Explain any strategies, research, initiatives, curriculum development or other activities intended to improve student learning and promote educational equity in your discipline, either at the course or program level.
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
See attached file.


Course and Program Assessment
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3b. General Education / Institutional assessment. Discuss participation in any General Education, Core Competencies, institutional or interdisciplinary assessment activities. 
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Faculty has consistently participated in flex day activities and workshops related to program review, equity, and assessment. We also consult with departments from other California colleges – local community colleges, UC, CSU, and private schools concerning curriculum and the advancement of curriculum as well as with local employers and clinical facilities.

Faculty participates actively in local scientific endeavors at the VA in Palo Alto.


4a. Provide a brief description, including actions, measurable outcomes, and timelines  
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
See attached file.


Description of Planning
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4b. What will your program do to increase student success and promote student equity in the next two years? What kind of professional development and institutional support will be engaged and enacted to meet these goals?  
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
See attached file.


Student Success and Equity
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4c. Describe other professional development activities and institutional support and collaborations that would most effectively ensure that the program achieve its goals and plans.  
If your answer is more than 2000 characters (approximately 300 words), please upload a Word document below (10 MB or less). If you’re not sure, please upload your answer. Please upload text only; we cannot ensure that non-text such as images, diagrams, or charts will be retained in the final submission.
The department would like funds for two conferences concerning field developments in the next 6 months and to further support implementation of equitable pedagogical practices and new curriculum.


Activities, Support and Collaboration
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