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Art & Art History (AAH)

The Department of Art and Art History is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, the MA, the MFA, and a newly approved PhD. The unit receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Its numerical score increased due to an increase in scholarly accomplishments; resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness remain the same. The unit may suffer on some resource and achievement measures due to the need to teach smaller studio classes, the need for additional space to support educational and creative goals, and the lack of data in Academic Analytics on creative work. The new PhD will improve measures related to degree production when students complete the degree. In its 2016 review, ARPAC noted the unit’s successes in improving its research and creative profile and in maintaining relatively high enrollments despite a nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Asian Languages & Civilizations (ALC)

The Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer these degrees. The unit receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Its numerical score remains unchanged due to an increase in resource efficiency but a decline in degree production. Degree production may be affected by a nationwide downturn in humanities enrollments. In its 2016 review, ARPAC noted the need for the unit to attend to student recruiting, satisfaction, and mentoring as a way of increasing enrollments and degree production. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Classics (CLSS)

The Department of Classics is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer degrees in classics. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Its numerical score remains virtually unchanged due to an increase in resource efficiency but a decline in degree production. Degree production overall may reflect a nationwide downturn in humanities enrollments. Graduate degree production, however, has improved. The department has a strong record of undergraduate teaching effectiveness and scholarly accomplishments. In its 2016 review, ARPAC praised the unit for its scholarly achievements but urged it to attend to mentoring its undergraduates, specifically in terms of career options and opportunities. Such mentoring might improve the attractiveness of the undergraduate degree. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Comparative Literature (CMPL)

The Program in Comparative Literature, which had no rostered or tenured faculty, delivered graduate degrees only. It received a red (less than effective) ranking in the 2014 measurement. Upon the recommendation of ARPAC, it was discontinued in 2017 for reasons of non-viability.

Note: No review report 

English (ENGL)

The Department of English is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, MFA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer the MFA or the PhD. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Its numerical score remains virtually unchanged due to an increase in resource efficiency but a decline in scholarly accomplishments; however, scholarly achievement remains strong. Measures of scholarly accomplishment may reflect the lack of data in Academic Analytics on creative work (the department teaches both literature and creative writing). English is tied with Philosophy as the highest ranked department in the division of humanities and arts on the academic prioritization metrics. Degree production remains steady, indicating that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in humanities enrollments. However, the unit’s low score in the PBA sources and uses measure, which accounts for overall enrollment, indicates that the department needs to work on increasing enrollments in non-major courses. In its 2016 review, ARPAC praised the unit for its scholarly achievements and its graduate programs, but recommended that the unit revise its curriculum to keep the major attractive to students and to offer more courses appealing to non-majors. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Film Studies (FILM)

The Department of Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts, formerly the Film Studies Program, offers the BA and the BFA; it is the only program at a Colorado public university to do so. It offers an MFA through the Department of Art and Art History. The unit receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, up from its silver rating in 2014. Resource efficiency, scholarly accomplishments, and teaching effectiveness all improved. Degree production remains steady, indicating that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments. ARPAC believes the unit may suffer on some measures due to the need to teach smaller film production classes, the need for additional space to support educational and creative goals, and the lack of data in Academic Analytics on creative work. In its 2016 review, ARPAC noted the program’s improvement in key areas reflected in the academic prioritization metrics, including broadening its undergraduate curriculum to appeal to more students. Given the program’s improvement, ARPAC recommended that its request to be promoted to departmental status be approved. That change has since been ratified by the Board of Regents and took effect in fall 2018, along with a change in name to the Department of Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

French & Italian (FRIT)

The Department of French and Italian is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer the PhD. It receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, up from its white rating in 2014. Resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments improved, and degree production and teaching effectiveness remained the same. ARPAC notes that the unit scores well on undergraduate teaching effectiveness, and that the steady state of degree production indicates that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments. In its 2016 review, ARPAC praised the unit for its increased scholarly accomplishments but recommended that tenured and tenure-track faculty, especially senior faculty, teach large, popular courses on French and Italian culture in order to attract more undergraduate students. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

German & Slavic (GSLL)

The Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer these degrees. The unit receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, up from a silver rating in 2014. Resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments improved, and degree production and teaching effectiveness remained the same. ARPAC notes that the unit scores well on undergraduate teaching effectiveness, and that the steady state of degree production indicates that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments.  In its 2016 review, ARPAC praised the department for maintaining its forward momentum in student course demand and in developing a new doctoral program, but advised that the success of the doctoral program must be established as the students graduate and find employment. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

History (HIST)

The Department of History is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer the PhD. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Its numerical score remains virtually unchanged due to an increase in resource efficiency but a decline in teaching effectiveness; however, teaching effectiveness remains strong. Measurements in degree production and scholarly achievement remain steady. The steady state of degree production indicates that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments. The department has a strong record of undergraduate teaching effectiveness; ARPAC notes that the unit does not produce a large number of graduate degrees by choice. In its 2016 review, ARPAC recommended that the department further increase the quality and degree production of its undergraduate program by increasing its attention to student recruitment and student retention, and by making the undergraduate program more appealing to contemporary undergraduate students. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Humanities (HUMN)

The Humanities Program offers a unique interdisciplinary BA. It is the only program at a Colorado public university to offer this degree. As a small unit, with only two full-time faculty active in it, Humanities does not score very well on some key metrics; its lack of a graduate program also has an impact on its ratings. It has a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Scores on all components remain virtually unchanged since 2014. The program does well on resource efficiency and undergraduate teaching effectiveness, but ARPAC stresses that, as at the time of the last academic prioritization exercise, the unit must improve its number of degrees produced. Notably, however, Humanities has maintained its number of majors at about the same level despite declines in majors in the humanities-related departments overall. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Philosophy (PHIL)

The Department of Philosophy is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer the PhD. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Its numerical score remains virtually unchanged due to a small increase in resource efficiency but a small decline in teaching effectiveness. The department’s record of scholarly accomplishments is strong. The steady state of degree production indicates that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments. Philosophy is tied with English as the highest ranked department in the division of humanities and arts on the academic prioritization metrics. In its 2016 review, ARPAC recommended that the unit work further to market its undergraduate program, increase undergraduate participation in the honors program, and take steps to decrease the graduate student time to degree; these measures may improve the unit’s ranking along several dimensions of the academic prioritization metrics. ARPAC also commended the unit for beginning to address departmental climate issues and urged it to continue to focus on this issue. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Religious Studies (RLST)

The Department of Religious Studies is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA and MA; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer these degrees. It receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement; however, its numerical score has improved. Resource efficiency, scholarly accomplishment, and teaching effectiveness improved, while degree production remained the same. The steady state of degree production indicates that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments, but ARPAC notes that degree production in the unit still needs improvement. The unit’s teaching effectiveness is bolstered by the numbers of non-majors who take its courses. In its 2016 review, ARPAC recommended that the unit increase its majors and its student credit hours through marketing efforts and through developing interdisciplinary courses. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Spanish & Portuguese (SPAN)

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer the PhD. It receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. However, its numerical score has improved due to an increase in scholarly accomplishments. Resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness remained the same. The unit is the largest foreign language department on campus, and it faces some of the same problems as the other language programs: for example, the need to deliver a large portion of its curriculum in small classes in order to preserve the quality of language education. The steady state of degree production indicates that the unit has leveled off on one measure of enrollments despite the nationwide downturn in arts and humanities enrollments, but ARPAC notes that degree production in the unit still needs improvement. In its 2016 review, ARPAC recommended that the unit take steps to use its lower-division program to attract more undergraduate majors and minors, including developing general theme courses taught in English similar to ones in other language departments. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Theatre & Dance (THDN)

The Department of Theatre and Dance is a core department for the College of Arts and Sciences and any liberal arts education. It offers the BA, BFA, MA, MFA, and PhD; it is the only department at a Colorado public university to offer the PhD. It receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. However, its numerical score has improved due to an increase in resource efficiency, scholarly accomplishments, and teaching effectiveness. The unit may suffer on some measures due to the need to teach smaller studio classes, the need for additional space to support educational and creative goals, and the lack of data in Academic Analytics on creative work. The unit scores very well on teaching effectiveness; degree production, however, has declined. In its 2016 review, ARPAC recommended several actions that might reverse this trend, including prioritizing tracks and initiatives with more appeal to students, formalizing ties with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and pursuing more interdisciplinary initiatives with other departments. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2023.

Applied Math (APPM)

The Department of Applied Mathematics offers BS, MS and PhD degrees. It is the only department at a Colorado public university offering an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged from the 2014 measurement. However, its numerical score has improved due to higher scores in resource efficiency, scholarly accomplishments, and teaching effectiveness. Data on scholarly accomplishments may be more accurate in this review than in the previous (2014) measurement, because faculty in this unit are now compared to faculty in specifically applied mathematics at other, peer institutions, even those housed in a combined department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. A low number of degrees produced, particularly at the undergraduate level, keeps the department from scoring more highly, but the unit does rate highly in teaching effectiveness because of its high level of teaching non-majors. In its 2017 review, ARPAC recommended that the department continue to expand its undergraduate program by means of new interdisciplinary initiatives. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2024.

Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences (ATOC)

The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences offers the MA and PhD degrees, both of which are unique among Colorado public institutions. The department receives a silver rating in the academic prioritization metrics, up from its white rating in the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments increased, and degree production remained the same. Scholarly accomplishment is an especially strong factor for this unit. Degree production is based on graduate degrees only, since ATOC initiated an undergraduate major only recently, in AY 2016-2017.  Having few majors also lowers the income versus expenses component of the resource efficiency score (because half of income is distributed by major count). Because the undergraduate major is so new, no surveys of seniors in the major exist; thus, the unit is not rated at all in teaching effectiveness, an area of evaluation that raises the academic prioritization metric for almost all other units. The unit scores highly in the numbers of credit hours taken by non-majors. In its 2017 review, ARPAC recommended that the department use its popular non-major courses and its undergraduate minor as platforms to recruit majors. ARPAC also recommended that the department grow its graduate program. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2024.

Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences (APS)

The Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences offers the BA degree in Astronomy and MA and PhD degrees in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences. These degrees are unique to the Boulder campus among other Colorado public institutions, and the BA is the largest BA in astronomy in the United States. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Scholarly production decreased slightly, while teaching effectiveness increased slightly. Scholarly accomplishment remains high, however, and APS scores the highest score on undergraduate teaching effectiveness. The unit’s overall rating would be even higher if more majors were graduated; however, the major has recently grown in size, and higher degree production is anticipated in the future. The unit scores highly in the numbers of credit hours taken by non-majors. In its 2017 review, ARPAC praised the unit’s attention to increasing its major but urged it to attend to retention of undergraduate students within the major. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2024.

Chemistry & Biochemistry (CHEM)

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, now two separate departments, offered BA, MA and PhD degrees in both Biochemistry and Chemistry as well as a small PhD degree in Physical Chemistry that is a unique degree among Colorado public institutions. The two disciplines formed one of the premier academic programs on campus and as a combined unit receive a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency decreased slightly, but teaching effectiveness increased slightly. The combined unit rates highly in teaching effectiveness in part due to the large number of non-major credit hours it provides. However, it is a resource intensive program with a relatively small number of degrees produced. As of fall 2018, Chemistry and Biochemistry split into two distinct departments, reflecting the unit’s previous bifurcation into chemistry and biochemistry degrees on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Anticipating this split, ARPAC’s 2017 review treated the two disciplines within the unit separately. ARPAC urged Biochemistry to examine its low service teaching contribution and high cost of instruction compared to Chemistry, factors that will affect its academic prioritization score as a free-standing unit. ARPAC recommended that both Chemistry and Biochemistry continue to plan for continued growing enrollments but also attend to retention of undergraduate students within each of the majors. Each department will undergo review by ARPAC in 2024.

Mathematics (MATH)

The Department of Mathematics offers BA, MA and PhD degrees. The Department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, up from a silver rating in the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency and degree production declined slightly, but scholarly accomplishment increased sharply. Teaching effectiveness, already an area of strength, remained the same and reflects the unit’s high level of teaching non-majors. Data on scholarly accomplishments may be more accurate in this review than in the previous (2014) measurement, because faculty in this unit are now compared to faculty in specifically the mathematics field at peer institutions, even those housed in a combined department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. In its 2017 review, ARPAC recommended that Mathematics make its major more attractive to top students by strengthening its honors program and that it address a relatively high rate of attrition from its graduate program. Improvement in these areas would increase degree production. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2024.

Physics (PHYS)

The Department of Physics offers BA, MA and PhD degrees. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Teaching effectiveness rose slightly; resource efficiency, degree production, and scholarly accomplishment remained the same. The unit’s rating and reputation in scholarly accomplishments are extremely high. However, Physics remains a relatively costly unit when expenses are compared to income produced. In addition, Physics produces relatively few degrees, though it does teach a large number of non-majors. The 2017 ARPAC report praised Physics for its devotion to teaching and for its scholarly profile but urged it to attend to retention of undergraduate students within the major. Doing so will help increase degree production. The department will undergo review by ARPAC again in 2024.

Aerospace Engineering (AERO)

The Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences offers BS, MS, and PhD programs. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement, and its numerical score also remains the same. Resource efficiency and teaching effectiveness declined slightly; degree production rose; and scholarly accomplishment remained the same. The unit’s rating and reputation in scholarly accomplishments are extremely high. Student satisfaction, as measured by the senior survey, declined since the 2014 measurement, perhaps as a result of increasing enrollments and less personal attention from faculty. In its 2011 review, ARPAC noted the need for increased space to accommodate increasing graduate and undergraduate enrollment; the new Aerospace building broke ground in 2017. The department is undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2018.

ATLAS

ATLAS offers a BS in Technology, Arts, and Media, an MS in Information, Communication, and Technology in Development, and a PhD in Technology, Media, and Society; all three degrees are unique offerings among Colorado public institutions. Based on the data reflected in this report, the unit receives a red rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. This low rating is based on the fact that during the time measured, ATLAS did not have an undergraduate degree and granted few graduate degrees. The recent institution of a fast-growing new bachelor’s degree, however, will quickly remedy this problem. As of fall 2017, ATLAS had 190 majors and 280 minors. ATLAS was moved under CEAS for degree administration purposes and is being reviewed by ARPAC for the first time in 2018.

Note: no review report

Chemical & Biological Engineering (CHBE)

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering offers BS, MS, and PhD programs. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement, and its numerical score also remains virtually the same. Resource efficiency rose slightly and teaching effectiveness declined slightly, due to a decline in student credit hours taken by non-majors; degree production and scholarly accomplishment remained the same. Among its strengths are its scholarly accomplishments (it is in the top quartile on Academic Analytics data) and the effectiveness of its teaching, as scored by student satisfaction surveys. It could work to improve the number of its majors or the number of non-majors who take its courses. Given the nature of its teaching and research, it is a resource intensive unit, which explains its low scores on resource efficiency. In its 2011 review, ARPAC emphasized the need to improve low teaching evaluations by undergraduate students; this problem remains, but is at odds with the department’s high scores on senior surveys. The department is undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2018.

Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering (CEAE)

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering offers BS, MS, and PhD programs. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement; its numerical rating is the highest among the Engineering programs. Resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness all rose slightly from 2014, and scholarly accomplishments remained at their previous high level, in the top quartile on Academic Analytics data. Student satisfaction survey results are also quite high. The fact that relatively few non-majors take courses in this program is perhaps understandable, though ARPAC notes it made recommendations on how to attract students into its courses in its 2011 review. This is, given the nature of its instruction and research, a resource-intensive unit, which explains its low score on the sources and uses metric.  However, ARPAC’s 2011 review urged the unit to make more efficient use of space. The department is undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2018.

Computer Science (CS)

The Department of Computer Science offers BS, MS, and PhD programs; it also offers a BA through the College of Arts and Sciences. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement; however, its overall numerical score increased. Resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments increased; teaching effectiveness declined slightly; and degree production remained steady. Among the unit’s strengths are its scholarly accomplishments (it is in the second quartile on Academic Analytics data) and the effectiveness of its teaching, as scored by student satisfaction surveys. In its 2011 review, ARPAC urged the unit to expand its teaching offerings outside the College of Engineering and Applied Science. The unit has since done so with the very popular BA in Computer Science, and the number of student credit hours taken by non-majors has increased. The department is undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2018.

Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering (ECEE)

The Department of Electrical, Energy, and Computer Engineering offers BS, MS, and PhD programs. It receives a silver rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement; it is the only engineering department to score that far down the scale. However, its numerical score increased because of an increase in the score in scholarly accomplishments. Resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness remained the same. Given the nature of its teaching and research, it is a resource-intensive unit, which explains its low scores on resource efficiency. The department does a good job for its students, as measured by student surveys. It could improve on the percentage of student credit hours taken by non-majors. In its 2011 review, ARPAC recommended streamlining the undergraduate curriculum, which might make the department’s course offerings clearer for non-majors. The department is undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2018.

Mechanical Engineering (MCEN)

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers BS, MS, and PhD programs. It receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency increased, and degree production, scholarly accomplishments, and teaching effectiveness remained the same. Among its strengths are its scholarly accomplishments (it is in the second quartile on Academic Analytics data) and the effectiveness of its teaching, as scored by student satisfaction surveys. The unit should focus on moving metrics within its control, for example, by attracting more non-majors into its classes. In its 2011 review, ARPAC recommended that the unit manage any growth in faculty with student course demand in mind. The department is undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2018.

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EBIO)

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers BA, MA and PhD degrees. Insofar as many other public institutions in Colorado offer more general degrees in biology, the degrees offered at CU Boulder are unique. The department is among the few that receives a black rating in the academic prioritization metrics, up from a gold ranking in the 2014 measurement. Its resource efficiency, degree production, and scholarly accomplishment scores were higher than in 2014, while its already high score in teaching effectiveness remained the same. EBIO especially operates as a cost effective unit with strong scholarly achievement. ARPAC commends the department for raising its previously relatively low score in degree production.  The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Environmental Studies (ENVS)

The Program in Environmental Studies offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The program’s MA and PhD degrees are unique among Colorado public institutions. The program receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. The score in resource efficiency was down slightly; however, resource efficiency in terms of both space and funds remains quite high. The unit’s graduate programs are fairly new, and in addition, the six-year average rate of Environmental Studies receives only a mid-range score in scholarly accomplishment because it has too few peers to develop a comparative rating. The department should attend to expanding enrollments in its professional master’s degree as a way of boosting its graduate degree production. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Environmental Design

The Environmental Design Program offers a bachelor’s degree with tracks in architecture, landscape architecture, planning and design. While this is the only bachelor’s of ENVD offered in Colorado, the separate tracks are offered at other institutions. The program receives a silver rating in the academic prioritization metrics, but this rating is likely to fall in the future as the unit’s highest score—degree production—is sure to decline as majors have decreased. Environmental Design receives the lowest score in teaching effectiveness among units with undergraduate majors, and it is an expensive unit both in terms of space use and income versus expenses. Environmental Design was reviewed in a special process by ARPAC when its operation was moved from UC Denver to Boulder; however, few of the recommendations of that transfer have been put in place, and for the time being, ENVD is under the charge of the Dean of the Graduate School (unlike the other units in this ARPAC review cycle, which are part of the College of Arts and Sciences). ENVD will be reviewed by ARPAC in 2019, and ARPAC will make further recommendations as to the program’s organization and future.

Note: no previous review report

Geography (GEOG)

The Department of Geography offers a BA degree and the only MA and PhD degrees in geography among Colorado public institutions. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, dipping just below the numerical score for the black rating it had in the 2014 measurement. Degree production declined somewhat, and is an area the department should examine. However, that factor does not keep the department from attaining a highly effective ranking in advancing the CU Boulder mission. The unit’s scholarly achievement and national/international reputation are extremely high. In its 2012 review, ARPAC stressed the importance of renovating the unit’s dilapidated space in the Guggenheim building, which is inadequate for its teaching needs; the Regents approved this capital construction project, which is awaiting state funding. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Geological Sciences (GEOL)

The Department of Geological Sciences offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. It receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. The score in teaching effectiveness declined very slightly, but remains quite high; scores in resource efficiency, degree production, and scholarly achievement remained the same, with scholarly achievement being in the top quintile of this year’s measurement.  The department’s rating suffers in part from a low level of degree productivity, particularly at the undergraduate level. Low degree productivity, in turn, leaves Geological Sciences with a fairly low score in the resource efficiency category in spite of being very efficient in terms of cost per credit hour. ARPAC made recommendations in its 2012 review that addressed key improvements in undergraduate teaching. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Integrative Physiology (IPHY)

The Department of Integrative Physiology was created by combining parts of the former Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology with the former Department of Physiology. The department offers the only BA, MA, and PhD degrees in integrative physiology among Colorado public institutions. It receives a black rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement; moreover, it is the highest-ranked unit in this year’s measurement. Resource efficiency is down slightly from the 2014 measurement, but the department still performs exceptionally in resource efficiency because the major is so popular. In addition, students rate the education they receive strongly. In its 2012 review, ARPAC noted the poor condition of the department’s physical space for research and teaching, including its animal care facilities; renovation of an East Campus building in 2015-2016 provided an interim solution. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology (MCDB)

The Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. All scores—resource efficiency, degree production, scholarly accomplishments, and teaching effectiveness—were virtually the same in the current measurement as in 2014. The unit is especially buoyed by its excellent rating in scholarly accomplishments. The department produces a large number of undergraduate degrees, and it scores well on satisfaction with the major in senior surveys. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Psychology & Neuroscience (PSYC)

The Department of Psychology has a long and distinguished history as one of the strongest campus departments, a position confirmed by the academic prioritization metrics that give a black rating, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. It offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. Scores in resource efficiency and teaching effectiveness were down slightly from 2014, but they remain very high overall. Scores in degree production and scholarly accomplishment were the same as in 2014. The qualities of the department are evident in the metrics: it effectively educates enormous numbers of students, it is cost efficient, and it remains one of the top psychology programs in the country in terms of scholarly output. In its 2012 review, ARPAC recommended creating a separate undergraduate BA in Neuroscience in the department, and this new degree has only strengthened departmental excellence. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2019.

Anthropology (ANTH)

The Department of Anthropology offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The department’s PhD degree is unique among Colorado public institutions, and the undergraduate program is recognized as one of the largest anthropology majors in the country. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency was down slightly, whereas the score for teaching effectiveness was up slightly. Scores for degree production and scholarly accomplishments were the same as in 2014. Teaching effectiveness is a special standout for this department because of its large amount of teaching non-majors and the high satisfaction of its students, based on senior surveys. The department is held back from a higher rating only by its rather small size and relatively low degree production. In its 2013 review, ARPAC recommended some changes to undergraduate major requirements that might encourage more students to complete the degree; the department subsequently streamlined its major requirements along these lines, effective fall 2017. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Economics (ECON)

The Department of Economics, a “mainline” social science discipline, offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. It receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, down from its black rating in the 2014 measurement; however, this change reflects only a small shift downward in its overall numerical score. Scores in resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments were down slightly, but still at very high levels, while scores in degree production and teaching effectiveness remained the same. As is the case for all of the large social science disciplines, Economics is a highly cost-effective unit. A particular area of effectiveness for Economics is that it has the second highest number of graduate degrees awarded among the social science disciplines, and the department also scores well in scholarly achievement and in undergraduate student satisfaction. In its 2013 review, ARPAC recommended shifts in faculty teaching assignments, which the department has implemented. These changes increase faculty contact with students despite increased numbers of majors. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Ethnic Studies (ETHN)

The Department of Ethnic Studies offers the BA degree, and in 2014 it launched the only PhD program in Comparative Ethnic Studies in Colorado. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, up from a silver rating in the 2014 measurement. The increase was due to a higher score in scholarly accomplishment; resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness scores remained the same. The department rates highly in measures of undergraduate teaching effectiveness both on the senior survey and in its role in teaching non-majors. The degree production score is likely to improve in the future pending successful graduation of the program’s first doctoral students. In 2013, ARPAC’s review urged the department to focus on building the doctoral program to full strength, and ETHN is currently engaged in that process; however, student funding packages are an issue in recruiting. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

International Affairs (IAFS)

The Program in International Affairs offers the BA degree and receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. Numerical scores in all four areas of academic prioritization remain the same as in 2014. International Affairs depends heavily on other departments, notably Political Science, Economics, History, and Anthropology, in order to deliver its undergraduate program. It is not a tenure home to faculty, meaning that even faculty hired and budgeted in International Affairs are tenured in one of its associated departments. The unit excels in offering its undergraduate degree nevertheless. It is resource efficient, and students rate their International Affairs experience highly. For its 2013 ARPAC review, International Affairs requested permission to explore offering graduate degrees. ARPAC, however, did not recommend adding degrees to this program, suggesting instead that the unit maintain its focus on undergraduate education and explore a possible graduate certificate. IAFS has followed this advice. The program will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Linguistics (LING)

The Department of Linguistics offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The department’s MA and PhD degrees are unique among Colorado public institutions. The department receives a silver rating in the academic prioritization metrics, down from its gold rating in the 2014 measurement. However, this change represents only a small decline in overall numerical score. The decrease is due to a decline in its score in resource efficiency, but Linguistics remains a strong performer overall in terms of efficient use of space for both teaching and research. The department’s rather small size and relatively small degree production lower several of the dimensions that affect the metrics. Graduating seniors express fairly high satisfaction with their degrees, but a lower score in their evaluation of how well they are prepared for jobs. In its 2013 review, ARPAC recommended that the department examine its advising system; changes in advising can include career advice. Linguistics has since appointed a faculty member to oversee undergraduate studies, including advising. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Political Science (PSCI)

The Department of Political Science is a “mainline” social science discipline that offers the BA, MA, and PhD degrees. It receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, unchanged since the 2014 measurement. Scores in resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness were down very slightly. The scholarly accomplishment score, however, rose significantly, a development that was noted as a need in the 2014 academic prioritization report. As is typical for the larger social science units, Political Science generates credit hours efficiently and produces a large number of degrees, particularly at the undergraduate level. It serves as an important source of credit hours for students in other majors and is highly evaluated by its own students. In its 2013 review, ARPAC recommended restructuring undergraduate courses to eliminate duplication, and the department has completed this task, which may result in more resource efficiency. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Sociology (SOCY)

The Department of Sociology, a “mainline” social science discipline, offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. It receives a black rating in the Academic Prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement; as in 2014, it remains the highest-rated social science department and one of the highest overall on campus. The score in scholarly accomplishment declined slightly since the 2014 measurement, but remains very high; all other scores remain the same, with resource efficiency remaining a particular standout. The department clearly benefits by its close ties to the Institute for Behavioral Science. For a department with so many strengths, however, it does not have a large graduate program. In its 2013 review, ARPAC recommended revisions to graduate support that would improve graduation rates; the department has implemented these changes and has recently begun to graduate more graduate students per annum. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences (SLHS)

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, including unique graduate degrees that are essential in the training of Colorado audiologists. The department receives a silver rating in the academic prioritization metrics, down from its gold rating in the 2014 measurement. However, this change represents only a small decline in overall numerical score. The score in degree production remained the same and the score in teaching effectiveness rose, whereas the scores in resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments declined somewhat. Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is a relatively costly unit when expenses are compared to income produced. In its 2013 review, ARPAC recommended the department raise its low PhD enrollments (as distinct from its Doctor of Audiology program); the department is currently low on faculty and is rebuilding its ranks before recruiting more graduate students. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Women & Gender Studies (WGST)

The Department of Women and Gender Studies offers the BA degree. The program receives a silver rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. However, its overall numerical score has risen noticeably due to higher scores in scholarly accomplishment and teaching effectiveness. The score in resource efficiency dropped slightly, and the score in degree production remained the same. The small number of faculty and relatively low degree production continue to hamper the overall rating. While it does not offer a graduate degree, WGST does offer a successful graduate certificate program; in its 2013 review, ARPAC proposed that this certificate be developed into graduate degree offerings. The department has been shaping plans along these lines. WGST offers important teaching expertise to the rest of the campus, as students in other majors account for more than ninety percent of the credit hours taught by the program. The department will be undergoing review by ARPAC again in 2020.

Note: The College of Media, Communication, and Information was founded in 2015. It comprises two preexisting departments, Communication and Journalism, along with four new departments. Of these four new departments, two emerged from the former School of Journalism: Media Studies; and Advertising, Publication Relations and Media Design. Two of the four were entirely new: Critical Media Practices; and Information Science. All departments in CMCI, new and preexisting, will undergo review by ARPAC in 2021.

Because our full set of data for the current measurement ends in 2015, academic prioritization measurement of the four new departments will begin with the next cycle of data. We present here the prioritization measurement for the two preexisting departments.

Communication (COMM)

The Department of Communication offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The PhD degree is unique among Colorado public institutions and is offered jointly with the Department of Journalism. The department receives a gold rating in the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. Scores in resource efficiency and scholarly accomplishments were down slightly, but resource efficiency is still close to the highest level seen among all departments. Communication is currently one of the larger undergraduate majors on campus, a fact that may limit both its ability to offer courses to serve students outside the major and the size of its graduate program. Adjustments in such metrics as the number of majors and the percentage of student credit hours taken by non-majors are to be expected as students in the new College of Media, Communication, and Information have a wider suite of options to choose from. In its 2013 review, ARPAC applauded the department for anticipating possible changes to its program in light of a future move from the College of Arts and Sciences to the new CMCI.  ARPAC’s next review of the department is scheduled for 2021.

Journalism

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication was discontinued in 2011. In addition to being located in a new college, CMCI, as of AY 2015-2016 the former School of Journalism and Mass Communications was split into three different units: Journalism; Media Studies; and Advertising, Publication Relations, and Media Design. The Department of Journalism offers the BA, the MA, and a new PhD that is offered in conjunction with two other CMCI departments (Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design; and Media Studies). They are the only unit in a Colorado public university to offer the MA. As a department in the new CMCI, Journalism receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. Scores were down very slightly in resource efficiency and teaching effectiveness, but remained the same in degree production and scholarly accomplishments. Now that Journalism is no longer an independent school, the numbers of non-majors who take courses in this department are improving. Indeed, adjustments in such metrics as the number of majors and the percentage of student credit hours taken by non-majors are to be expected as students in the new College of Media, Communication, and Information have a wider suite of options to choose from. The previous School of Journalism and Mass Communication did not undergo recent ARPAC review as it was in the process of being dismantled and reorganized. ARPAC’s next review of the Department of Journalism is scheduled for 2021.

Note: no review report

Leeds School of Business (BUSN)                                                                             

The Leeds School of Business offers BA, MS, MBA, and PhD degrees. The PhD degree is unique among Colorado public institutions. Business receives a black rating in the academic prioritization metrics, up from a gold rating in the 2014 measurement. This increase is due to a higher score in scholarly accomplishments. The score in resource efficiency declined very slightly, and the scores in degree production and teaching effectiveness remained the same. The school’s large number of degrees at both the undergraduate and the graduate levels is a special standout. The school’s effectiveness at undergraduate teaching was hampered in the past by the inability of non-business students to take courses in the business curriculum. However, this problem is moving toward resolution with the growth of a new and popular business minor. In its 2014 review, ARPAC recommended that the school continue to develop its suite of master’s degrees in response to market need; Business has followed that recommendation and has launched four new one-year specialized master’s programs. ARPAC will conduct its next review of Business in 2021.

School of Education (EDUC)

The School of Education offers the BA, MA, and PhD; it is the only education school in a Colorado public university to offer the MA and PhD. Its BA degrees in Elementary Education and Leadership and Community Engagement are new; previously, Education at the undergraduate level offered only licensure, an important contribution to the training of teachers in Colorado. Education receives a gold rating on the academic prioritization metrics, down from its black rating in the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency, degree production, and scholarly accomplishments are all down slightly; the school does not receive an overall score in teaching effectiveness since its undergraduate degrees are too new to be captured in the prioritization data. Degree production and scholarly accomplishments remain at very high levels. In its 2014 review, ARPAC recommended that the School of Education expand its masters-level programs and address declining enrollments in its teaching licensure programs; the school’s new BA, BAM (bachelor’s/accelerated master’s), and professional master’s degrees are designed to fulfill these recommendations. ARPAC will conduct its next review of Education in 2021.

Law School (LAW)

The Law School is the state’s only public-university law program. It receives a silver ranking on the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. Resource efficiency was down very slightly, and degree production and scholarly accomplishments remained the same. Of course, the Law School does not teach undergraduate students, so it has no score for undergraduate teaching effectiveness for the purposes of academic prioritization metrics. As a full-service law school that does not serve undergraduate students, it also does not score well on resource efficiency (perhaps because a significant amount of its space is devoted to a public law library), but it has in recent years improved its income and expenses ratio; it scores highly on degree production. Academic Analytics does not currently provide reliable data on law schools. In its 2014 review, ARPAC recommended that the Law School examine its use of space to create efficiencies; the Law School has since implemented this plan and is in the process of reconfiguring space formerly allocated to part of the law library. ARPAC will conduct its next review of the Law School in 2021.

College of Music (COM)

The College of Music offers the BA, the MA, the PhD, and the DMA; it is the only Colorado public college of music to offer these doctoral degrees. It receives a silver ranking on the academic prioritization metrics, the same as in the 2014 measurement. Its overall score rose, however, due to an increase in scholarly accomplishments. Scores in resource efficiency, degree production, and teaching effectiveness remained the same. While the College of Music scores highly on undergraduate teaching effectiveness and does well on degree production, it does not score well on resource efficiency owing to a student-intensive arts degree program that requires performance and other spaces. The score in scholarly accomplishments does not take into account artistic work, which is not yet fully measured by Academic Analytics. However, ARPAC has observed from other measures that the College of Music is considered among the top fifteen music programs nationally, and that its ranking has been rising. In its 2017 recommendations, ARPAC recommended that Music expand its course offerings to cover topics in contemporary music, entrepreneurship, and new technologies in order to remain on the cutting edge of music pedagogy and to continue to attract top students; Music will report on the success of these efforts in 2019. ARPAC will conduct its next review of the College of Music in 2023, in the same cycle as Arts and Humanities units.