Mission statement

Unit Mission Statement: SCULPT is a faculty resource for teaching through inquiry-based learning (IBL). IBL includes research, scholarship, and creative activity inside and outside the classroom.

Objectives

Objective Name: Expand UR and IBL Opportunities and Recognition

Objective: Expand opportunities for all students to participate in undergraduate research (UR)/creative works and inquiry-based learning (IBL) activities, communicate their scholarly and/or creative works, and recognize students engaging in UR/creative works and IBL activities across campus.

Supported UVU Objectives:

Primary Objective (required):  Student Success 1: Academic Success

Additional Objective (optional): Inclusive 1: Accessible Education

Additional Objective (optional): Engaged 1: Engage Students

Supported UVU Objective Rationale:

Student Success 1: Academic Success: Students who participate in high-impact practices, such as UR and IBL, have higher rates of retention and completion and develop skills central to UVU’s Essential Learning Outcomes.

Inclusive 1: Accessible Education: Under-represented students show a significant persistence benefit from participating in UR and IBL.

Engaged 1: Engage Students: UR and IBL activities are inherently engaging because they are built around student initiative and goals/questions. They allow students to practice professional skills and problem solving that are essential to career success.

Objective Name: Promote a campus environment of UR and IBL.

Objective: Foster a campus environment that supports UR and IBL activities through faculty development training on UR and IBL as well as supporting the broad participation of underrepresented students in UR and IBL activities.

Supported UVU Objectives:

Primary Objective (required): Student Success 1: Academic Success

Additional Objective (optional): Inclusive 1: Accessible Education

Additional Objective (optional): Engaged 1: Engage Students

Supported UVU Objective Rationale:

Student Success 1: Academic Success: SCULPT promotes curricular integration of UR and IBL, helping students develop key skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, content acquisition, and oral and written communication skills.

Inclusive 1: Accessible Education: SCULPT has a core goal of broadening participation in UR and IBL among under-represented and first-generation students; events such as the student showcase help students realize they can successfully participate in UR and IBL.

Engaged 1: Engage Students: SCULPT faculty development efforts are geared towards helping faculty become effective mentors for students, and to help students develop their own questions, ideas, and application of class material to new situations.

Objective Name: Advocate for Curriculum Integration of UR and IBL

Objective: Advocate for program curricula that help students develop the skills needed to succeed in UR and IBL activities beginning early in their major.

Supported UVU Objectives:

Primary Objective (required): Student Success 1: Academic Success

Additional Objective (optional): Inclusive 1: Accessible Education

Additional Objective (optional): Engaged 1: Engage Students

Supported UVU Objective Rationale:

Student Success 1: Academic Success: Without early opportunities to develop key skills in communication, research/evaluation within the discipline, and foundations for inquiry and critical thinking, students will not be positioned to implement their own projects later on. Program curricula that explicitly address IBL-related skills enhance student chances for success in later courses and in launching their own projects.

Inclusive 1: Accessible Education: Under-represented and first-generation students are more likely to struggle with the idea of doing UR or IBL activities on their own. By promoting development of foundational IBL skills early in the major program and following up in later courses, students develop confidence in their capabilities and see examples of success by other students.

Engaged 1: Engage Students: In-class utilization of UR and IBL related activities from the beginning of a program or major promote student active involvement in the discipline, encourage active interaction with peers and the professor, and prepare students for successful implementation of later projects in capstones, individual, or team-based work.

Assessment Indicators

Assessment Indicator Name: Assessing Expanded Opportunities and Recognition

Assessment Indicators:

1. Number of student participants at the Fall Student Showcase.
2. Number of abstracts from the Fall Student Showcase archived at the Library.
3. Number of students spotlighted for their UR or IBL work (see Quality Improvement Initiative).

Assessed Objective: Expand UR and IBL Opportunities and Recognition

Rationale: By establishing baseline numbers and charting growth in each area, we will be able to measure the effectiveness of our efforts at creating UR and IBL opportunities for students.

Threshold of Objective Achievement:

1. Twenty-five percent growth in student participation in the Fall Student Showcase as compared to the baseline year.
2. Seventy-five percent of all abstracts from the Fall Student Showcase archived at the Library.
3. Nine students (one per month of the academic year) spotlighted for their UR or IBL work on the SCULPT webpage and digital signage around campus.

Data Year: 2018

Results: Forthcoming

Assessment Indicator Name: Assessing the Environment of UR and IBL

Assessment Indicators:

1. Number of faculty applying for grants and mini-grants per academic year.
2. Number of faculty participating in Mentoring Academy.
3. Number of faculty attending CUR workshops.
4. Number of underrepresented students linked to UR and IBL activities (from OEL).
5. Number of underrepresented students graduated who participated in UR and IBL activities (from OEL).

Assessed Objective: Foster an Environment of UR and IBL

Rationale: If the environment for UR and IBL is improving, we should see increases across all these measures. Each of these are measurable and will give insight to current UR and IBL activities at UVU.

Threshold of Objective Achievement:

1. An increase in the number of faculty applying for grants and mini-grants each academic year for five consecutive years.
2. Hold Mentoring Academy twice during the year with a total of 20 faculty participants per year.
3. At least one faculty team attending CUR Institutes for five consecutive years.
4. An increase in the number of underrepresented students linked to UR and IBL activities for five consecutive years.
5. An increase in the number of underrepresented students graduated who participated in UR and IBL activities for five consecutive years.

Data Year: 2018

Results: Forthcoming

Assessment Indicator Name: Assessing UR and IBL in the Curriculum

Assessment Indicator:

1. Number of faculty enrolled in the GEL Seed Grant or SCULPT Summer Institute programs who are making curricular changes that include UR or IBL.
2. Number of archived curriculum maps that include UR or IBL on SCULPT website.
3. Conduct a census of courses using UR or IBL in the classroom.

Assessed Objective: Advocate for UR and IBL in the Curriculum

Rationale: Measuring financial support for curricular changes related to UR or IBL is an indirect indicator of UR and IBL being included in courses and degree programs. Curriculum maps are a direct indicator of UR and IBL being included in courses and degree programs.

Threshold of Objective Achievement:

1. Increase in the number of faculty enrolled in the GEL Seed Grant or SCULPT Summer Institute programs who are making curricular changes that include UR or IBL for five consecutive years.
2. Increase in the number of archived curriculum maps that include UR or IBL on SCULPT website for five consecutive years.

Data Year: 2018

Results: Forthcoming

Assessment Findings

Overall State of Achievement: We are collecting baseline data during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Mission Rating: Satisfactory
Objective Expand UR and IBL Opportunities Rating: Unsatisfactory
Objective Foster an Environment of UR and IBL Rating: Unsatisfactory
Objective Advocate for UR and IBL in the Curriculum Rating: Unsatisfactory

Quality Improvement Initiatives

Quality Improvement Initiative Name: Improving the Quality of UR and IBL Opportunities and Recognition

Problem Statement: Students often don’t realize that they can participate in UR or IBL, or don’t know who to talk to or how to get started. By demonstrating successful student activity with UR and IBL, we hope to provide role models and examples for students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Initiative Description:

1. Expand and improve the annual Fall Student Showcase at UVU.
2. Encourage students to archive their abstracts from the Fall Student Showcase through the library.
3. Spotlight students through the SCULPT website, digital signage, and display at the Fall Student Showcase.

Rationale: These activities directly support expanding student opportunities and recognition related to UR and IBL by increasing access to them. Further, students who can see themselves in the role of UR or IBL practitioners are more likely to engage with it.

Goals:

1. Seek increase funding for the annual Fall Student Showcase at UVU for a “Best of College” cash award for the best UR, creative work, or IBL presented at the Showcase, with one $500 award per college.
2. Collaborate with librarians to create clear instructions on how to archive abstracts from the Fall Student Showcase with the library.
3. Create the monthly SCULPT Student Spotlight that will identify students doing UR and IBL successfully on the SCULPT website, campus digital signage, and at the Fall Student Showcase.

Resources: We will seek additional funds to create a student Showcase “Best of Research” award. We will also seek funds to allow the Student Spotlight on campus digital signage and in large posters at the Showcase.

Initiative Begin Year: 2018

Expected Initiative Completion Year: 2023

Action to Date: We have completed this Strategic Plan in order to make a PBA request for funds.

Assessment Plan: We will track the dollar amounts we receive to support this work.

Quality Improvement Initiative Name: Improving the Environment of UR and IBL

Problem Statement: If we can institute an institutional culture of UR and IBL, faculty will expect to incorporate them in their classrooms, thus students will also embrace this culture. UR and IBL are high-impact practices that can increase student success when implemented well.

Initiative Description:

1. Sustain the Mentoring Academy and UR/IBL Learning Circles.
2. Advocate for UR and IBL at orientation for new faculty.
3. Increase faculty attendance at Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR) Institutes
4. Host a CUR Institute at UVU.
5. Encourage Faculty participation in UR and IBL activities by advocating for department recognition of such activities in their Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Criteria.
6. Advocate with UVU and USHE for faculty reassigned time for UR and IBL activities with students.
7. Promote internal and external funding for UR and IBL activities.

Rationale: These activities directly support expanding student opportunities related to UR and IBL by increasing access to them. Further, students who can see themselves in the role of UR or IBL practitioners are more likely to engage with it.

Goals:

1. Gain appropriated funds for an operating budget which will sustain the Mentoring Academy and UR/IBL Learning Circles.
2. Have a brief SCULPT presentation on UR and IBL at orientation for new faculty.
3. Secure appropriated funds to support faculty travel to Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR) Institutes.
4. Secure one-time funds to hold a CUR Institute at UVU and subsidize attendance by SCULPT members.
5. Meet with department RTP committees to advocate for UR and IBL to be included in RTP Criteria.
6. Meet with Academic Affairs and USHE personnel to advocate for faculty reassigned time for UR and IBL activities with students.
7. Advertise internal and external funding opportunities for UR and IBL activities to SCULPT members.

Resources: We will seek additional funds to support the Mentoring Academy, Learning Circles, CUR Institute attendance and/or hosting a CUR Institute at UVU.

Initiative Begin Year: 2018

Expected Initiative Completion Year: 2023

Action to Date: We have completed this Strategic Plan in order to make a PBA request for funds.

Assessment Plan: We will track the dollar amounts we receive to support this work.

Quality Improvement Initiative Name: Improving Presence of UR and IBL in the Curriculum

Problem Statement: By formalizing UR and IBL in curricula across campus, it will increase student exposure to these high-impact practices.

Initiative Description:

1. Establish a SCULPT Summer Institute that will provide a faculty stipend to modify existing classes to incorporate UR or IBL.
2. Provide sample curriculum maps on the SCULPT website to assist departments in curriculum revisions regarding research/creative activities.

Rationale: Providing faculty with funds to support curricular changes will lead to increased UR and IBL courses at UVU. Further, we can support faculty and departments with including UR and IBL in the curriculum by providing assistance in curriculum mapping.

Goals:

1. Have 20 faculty members complete the SCULPT Summer Institute over the next 5 years.
2. Provide at least five sample curriculum maps on SCULPT website to assist departments in curriculum revisions regarding research/creative activities.

Resources: We will seek additional funds to support the SCULPT Summer Institute.

Initiative Begin Year: 2018

Expected Initiative Completion Year: 2023

Action to Date: We have completed this strategic plan in order to make a PBA request for funds.

Assessment Plan: We will track the dollar amounts we receive to support this work.

Affordability and Efficiency Component

WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THIS SECTION BECAUSE WE DO NOT YET HAVE A PERMANENT BUDGET. Previous operating funds were received through at Title III grant which is ending this year.

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Resource Reallocation

WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THIS SECTION BECAUSE WE DO NOT YET HAVE A PERMANENT BUDGET. Previous operating funds were received through at Title III grant which is ending this year.

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