The proposed symposium entitled Innovation & Accountability in Foreign Language Program Evaluation is related to a volume of the same title that will appear in January 2015. John Norris (Georgetown University) and Nicole Mills (Harvard University) are co-editing the volume, and Stacey Katz Bourns is the series editor (Issues in Language Program Direction, published in Cengage's Professional Series).
Description of AAUSC 2014 Volume: Innovation & Accountability in Foreign Language Program Evaluation
Despite rapid globalization within contemporary society and the seemingly obvious need for the study of foreign languages (FL) and cultures, recruitment to undergraduate FL degrees has dwindled, graduate programs have disappeared, and institutions have restructured independent language departments into mega-departments of languages, literatures, and cultures. At the same time, the FL and humanities disciplines have engaged in ‘soul-searching’ exercises in an effort to understand and express a renewed sense of value for the study of foreign language and culture. As a result of these kinds of societal and disciplinary movements, FL programs, along with other educational sectors, are facing the increased need to engage with heretofore peripheral forces like accountability and accreditation, to express and ensure their value through outcomes assessment, and to begin to think, innovate, and behave programmatically. Key to enacting these changes systematically and effectively is heightened awareness of the importance of program evaluation, not only as a means to demonstrate how and why FL study is a valuable pursuit in today’s world, but also as a process through which sound improvements can be made, participants can learn, and educational relevance can be sought. The volume provides language program directors with an overview of innovative methodologies, guidelines, and frameworks in language program evaluation and includes topics such as the integration of professional standards, university benchmarks, departmental goals, and outcomes assessment in language program evaluation. Ideas and examples emanating from the volume should equip language program directors with tools and knowledge to help innovate and otherwise transform their language programs in response to the pressing needs to do so.
The volume will be available here in January 2015.
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