Goal 1: To achieve high quality academic pre-professional liberal arts undergraduate and graduate professional programs

1. The faculty will employ student-centered best-practice teaching methods that appropriately integrate the use of technology and focus on student outcomes.
   1. 80% of undergraduate faculty and 50% of graduate faculty will be rated as student-centered using a student-centered rubric.
   2. 80% of faculty will receive satisfactory student ratings on the IDEA student surveys.
   3. 100% of class syllabi will define appropriate student outcomes.
2. The faculty will foster among all students analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.
   1. 80% of students in all programs will achieve the national norms on critical thinking for comparable universities on the ETS-Proficiency Profile or CLA Assessment.
3. The faculty will produce scholarly, professional, or creative work in their discipline that contributes to knowledge, theory, learning, teaching, service, and/or professional practice.
   1. 75% of faculty will meet the merit level criteria for scholarship on the Annual Faculty Appraisal.
4. The faculty and academic staff will consist of individuals representing a diversity of backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultural groups.
   1. The percentage of diverse faculty will be equal to or exceed peer institutions as reported in the IR Annual Faculty Report and IPEDS.
5. The undergraduate liberal arts general education core curriculum, through written and oral communication, will foster analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.
   1. 80% of students will score at the national norm for comparable universities on critical thinking on the ETS-Proficiency Profile or CLA Assessment.
   2. 80% of students will score competent on all General Education Curriculum Competencies Rubrics.
6. All degree programs will foster analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and creative problem solving to prepare students for professional careers and practice.
   1. 80% of programs will be at or above the national norms on general critical thinking on the ETS-Proficiency Profile or CLA Assessment & Discipline Competencies Rubric.
   2. 80% of programs will be at or above the national norms on discipline critical thinking for comparable universities on the ETS-Proficiency Profile or CLA Assessment & Discipline Competencies Rubric.
7. All degree programs will prepare students for graduate studies and professional careers.
   1. Undergraduate programs: 90% of graduates will either be admitted to graduate professional studies or employed in a professional career track.
   2. Graduate programs: 90% of graduates will be employed in a professional career track in their field of study.
8. The University Honors Program and M.D. Anderson Pre-Professional Program will prepare students for graduate professional schools.
   1. 90% of graduates from both programs will be accepted into graduate/professional programs.
9. The University will offer classes and structure academic programs employing state-of-the-art technology using hybrid and online class delivery formats that are accessible to working adults and commuter students.
   1. 85% of all classes will be web assisted.
   2. The number of hybrid classes will increase by 35%.
   3. The number of classes taught online will increase by 50%.
10. The University will maintain class sizes that promote higher-order thinking, interaction, and engagement of students with faculty and other students inside and outside of the classroom.
    1. Undergraduate 3-4 credit hour classes will average 20 students as reported in the IR Comparative Enrollment Report.
    2. Graduate classes will have average sizes that are equal to comparable programs regionally and/or nationally as reported in the IR Comparative Enrollment Report and by IR departments at comparable institutions.
    3. IDEA student course ratings will be in the top quartile for student engagement and interaction with faculty and other students.
11. The University will provide library, academic support, and career services that ensure the success of students and faculty in meeting the goals of the academic programs.
    1. 90% of students will indicate that they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with library, career and academic support services on the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory.
    2. 90% of faculty members will express satisfaction with services as reported in a satisfaction survey.