IEP Strategic Plan (2019-2023)
The Interpreter Education Program’s strategic plan (2019-2023) is modeled after, and is aligned with, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Strategic Plan (2017). The IEP Strategic Plan encompasses the following areas: 1) Student Success 2) Educational Program Quality, 3) Student Research and Creative Endeavors, 4) Community Partnerships and Collaborations. The plan will be reviewed annually for updates and to guide program and faculty goals for each academic year.
Goal #1: UA Little Rock IEP will prepare its students for success.
Section 1: Student Recruitment:
The IEP seeks to target UA Little Rock students, both hearing and deaf, for recruitment. The Program will maintain different avenues of communication, and will increase local visibility through program activities, and student involvement in community activities. The IEP will increase minority outreach.
Section 2: Student Success and Retention
The IEP will support students at risk to provides supports to maintain retention and student success. The IEP will encourage inclusion of transfer students and peer tutoring. The IEP will explore university credit for prior learning assessment for qualified individuals.
Goal #2: UA Little Rock IEP will strengthen and support the educational program quality necessary to fulfill its mission and vision.
Section 1: Improvement of Educational Program Quality
The IEP will strengthen and support the educational program quality through a) feedback from Stakeholders including current students, b) Alumni surveys at 1-, 3-, and 5-year post graduation, c) yearly assessment of Student Learning Outcomes in accordance with our Assessment Plan, d) and maintain CCIE national accreditation, evaluate program benchmark standards
Section 2: Technology
The IEP will work with UA Little Rock to loan computers to students who have needs. The IEP will work with the College to maintain current computers and software in the Language Lab as well as the smart classrooms and faculty offices. The IEP will update all video materials to digital and upload to Google Drive. Faculty will continue to acquire skills for online teaching and learning, use of online teaching platforms and assist students with learning as necessary.
Goal #3: UA Little Rock IEP will encourage and support research and creative endeavors
Section 1: Research
The IEP will strengthen the Research class to include a stronger focus on reading and analysis of current research in the field. Faculty will support student research and will include students, when possible, in research activities. Faculty will continue to conduct research and submit for publication. All students will participate in Human Subjects training and receive certificates of completion.
Section 2: Creative Endeavors
The IEP faculty will maintain competence in the field of interpreting and interpreter education through targeted professional development activities both online and in person. New Faculty will complete curricular training in teaching ASL.
Goal #4: UA Little Rock IEP will serve as an active partner in the community
Section 1: Community Partnerships and Collaboration
The IEP will serve as active partners in the community by a) continued participation in the SLPI reciprocity agreement with ASD, work with the major Deaf organizations and agencies for student service-learning activities (ex: Deaf-Blind Camp, See-A-Song, Storytelling at ASD, etc.), c) coordinate student volunteer service in the community when appropriate, d) invite Deaf leaders to be guest presenters in our classes, and d) place interpreting Interns in schools and agencies, as appropriate, for supervised service provision to the Deaf and Hearing communities.
In 2007, UA Little Rock’s Interpreter Education Program formalized its agreement with Tulsa Community College to offer the Interpretation BA in the Tulsa vicinity. This is the first interstate collaboration for UA Little Rock with a community college and is an innovative approach to improving interpreter education opportunities in areas that do not otherwise have access to an advanced interpreting degree.
The IEP will continue to explore collaboration with other programs either through partnerships such as with TCC, or through 2+2 agreements.
