Characteristics of a Successful Department

Characteristics of a Successful Department

 1. MISSION AND STRATEGIES

The department has both a clear and defined mission aligned with that of the college and cohesive, demonstrable strategies to achieve that mission.

2. INTERNAL RECOGNITION

The department has achieved recognized success within Hope College by such means as:

• Excellence of teaching
• The development and implementation of the curriculum
• Active discussion of the effectiveness of current pedagogy and incorporation of new pedagogies appropriate to the discipline
• An appropriate balance between general education and the major
• A commitment to multicultural diversity
• The appropriate incorporation of technology into teaching and learning
• The integration of learning with faith and faith with learning
• Evident leadership within and beyond the department
• A positive spirit and vitality that create community, and support and enhance the work of faculty, students and the broader college community
• Involvement with interdisciplinary programs/initiative
• A demonstrated ability to attract, retain and graduate excellent students

3. EXTERNAL RECOGNITION

The department has achieved and sustains recognized success beyond Hope College by such means as:

• Accreditation
• Grants
• Awards (for innovative curricula, for effective capstone courses, for internship programs, etc.)
• Scholarship, creative work and professional activity (organization of conferences, editing, leadership of regional and national professional organizations, etc.)
• Success of alumni and current students
• A commitment to multicultural diversity
• A demonstrated positive connection to the local and regional communities

4. STUDENT LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Students contribute to the intellectual vitality of the Hope community by such means as:

• Collaborative student/faculty research
• Independent studies, internships, service learning and other off-campus experiences
• Performances
• Student leadership of departmental and disciplinary endeavors