Consistent with the University vision of excellence in a personal environment and the University's
visionary goal of creating experiential learning activities, supporting the Honors College and
innovating in the area of professional preparation, the Department of Foreign Languages and
Literatures is committed to creating an interactive learning environment both on and off-campus,
in domestic and overseas environments.

Our discipline further supports the College of Arts and Sciences goals for the humanities in providing
students with "a perspective for life" and understanding of "the humanistic ends of knowledge." Through
the study of literature and civilization we teach students to read critically and to analyze a range of
cultural texts, artifacts and practices in order to gain, "knowledge of and respect for differing points
of view."

In order further to realize our Department mission of educating students to become better global
citizens we will achieve the following goals:

Goals/Outcomes:
    1 .  Ensure that students have significant encounters with the foreign language and culture.
    2.   Create foreign language/culture competencies consistent with national standards including
    the four-skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.
    3.   Produce students able to make cultural comparisons and understand cultural differences.
    4.   Maintain quality major programs in French and Spanish, develop a major in German.
    5.   Provide faculty/student participation in a range of interdisciplinary major, minor and
    certificate programs.
    6.   Maintain faculty participation in the Learning Communities and Honor's programs.
    7.   Maintain quality B.A. with teacher certification programs in French and Spanish.

Process to achieve the goals:
    1 .  Maintain professional achievement standards for faculty as described in the following
    documents: Department workload, third-year review and promotion and tenure policies.
    2.   Maintain class sizes consistent with national standards for foreign languages and
    literatures instruction.
    3.   Maintain a staff of foreign language tutors for out-of-class interaction.
    4.   Provide a range of speakers, films, excursions and clubs to provide out-of-class
    involvement in the learning process.
    5.   Maintain a high level of participation in study abroad opportunities and internships.
    6.   Provide instruction in the target language and assessment designed to test the four
    skills and cultural competencies.
    7.   Provide interactive computer laboratory experience in appropriate courses,
    including use of the CAN-8 system for language-learning and integration of Internet
    and interactive CD-ROM.

Assessments:
    1.  Annual evaluation of faculty productivity.
    2.  Performance by students on the Praxis exams for teacher certification.
    3.  Junior-level review of student achievement.
    4.  Senior capstone course performance: including assessment of language, technology
    skills and culture competencies.
    5.  Classroom assessment to include oral, written, reading and writing evaluation
    in the language classes.
    6.  Classroom assignments to include reading, writing and discussion of appropriate
    texts in the literature and culture classes.