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College of Social Sciences
The Purpose of the COSS Faculty Learning Community (FLC) program is to enhance the collaboration of COSS faculty through project-based learning to investigate and respond to questions, problems, and challenges identified in the College of Social Sciences. During AY 2020–21, five COSS FLC fellows worked on three projects supported by analysts from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE). Through these projects, the COSS FLC fellows built capacity to perform institutional-applied research and develop a relationship with the OIE analysts.
These research presentations were planned during the Spring of 2021.
For more information about COSS FLC, please contact:
Yoshiko Takahashi, Ph.D.Interim Associate Dean, College of Social Sciencesytakahashi@csufresno.edu
Title: The Impact of Ethnic Studies Courses for All Students at Fresno StateDrs. Takkara Brunson and Davorn Sisavath, and Alex Nottbohm, Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE)
Abstract:
In the face of polarizing debates mandating Ethnic Studies (ES) within the CSU, though, evidence of the positive impact of ES curricula for students of color has shown to graduate at a higher rate. Drs. Brunson and Sisavath explored the impact of ES courses for students who have taken or are currently enrolled in a course(s) in the following programs: Africana Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, and Chicano and Latin American Studies. The study is threefold: first to explore students’ success through ES, second to build common outcomes across introductory ES courses, and third to develop and explore factors to improve ES visibility within COSS and the university.
Title: A Study of Key Needs and Concerns of Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty in the College of Social SciencesDrs. Maritere Lopez and Kat Fobear,and Chris Hernandez, Senior Survey Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE)
Drs. Kat Fobear and Maritere Lopez undertook a study of the key needs and concerns of tenure/tenure-track faculty in the College of Social Sciences. The goal was to document and better understand faculty satisfaction within the college. Focusing on resource adequacy, workload expectations, collaborative opportunities, quality of communication, shared governance, and equity and fairness, this research will be the basis for a set of recommendations for the improvement of faculty experiences within the college.
FLC Fellow Bio:
Title: A Multilevel Analysis on Students’ Grades Amid COVID-19
Dr. Yu Zhang and Hongtao Yue, Senior Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
In March 2020, the course teaching on campus was changed to a virtual format due to COVID-19, and this transition brought tremendous challenges to both students’ learning and faculty teaching. Average students’ grades in Spring 2020 increased 40% compared with Spring 2019. The project investigates how students’ grades correlate and explore the potential cause behind the grade increase by using OIE datasets. The project examines different level factors, including students, courses, and faculty members.