Strategic Plan for the Department of Kinesiology

GOAL 5. Foster an Atmosphere of Integrity, Respect and Collegiality

A positive working and learning environment energizes people to do their best work. We value a departmental atmosphere in which there is mutual respect, one that is enjoyable, and one in which integrity and honesty is the norm.

OBJECTIVE 1: Cultivate departmental norms of high ethics. Actions and decisions that reflect honesty and strong ethics prepare our students to positively impact society and maintain the integrity of our workplace.

Strategies:

Practice and promote honesty and excellence in classroom teaching practices

Practice and promote honesty and excellence in research with students and colleagues

Teach ethics of scientific and academic honesty implicitly and explicitly

Adhere to University policies for academic misconduct

Require completion of university ethics class for doctoral students

Require completion of IRB training and other appropriate training for all graduate students during first year at ISU

Engage in periodic discussion of academic integrity and conduct during graduate student orientation, doctoral seminars and faculty/staff meetings

OBJECTIVE 2: Create a culture of communication and mutual respect. Mutual respect fosters positive communication and an environment of trust and cooperation, creating an environment in which people are energized for work.

Strategies:

Increase interaction and cooperation across labs and areas through sharing of equipment and space

Increase interaction among sub-disciplines through small group discussions and activities such as journal club, doctoral seminars, and research collaborations

Encourage attendance at research presentations in the doctoral seminar by faculty members and Master's students

OBJECTIVE 3: Foster collegiality between graduate students, faculty, staff, retired faculty and alumni. People in the Department enjoy one another and we want to keep it that way.

Strategies:

Continue informal gatherings and/or social events that bring faculty and staff together within and outside the workplace that foster opportunities to get to know each other better

Use faculty fall meeting and the January retreat to foster connections and engagement

Enhance use of the Clipboard to communicate with retired faculty and with alumni

Build and maintain a more alumni-friendly web site

Periodic assessment of faculty, staff and graduate student satisfaction

LEADING INDICATORS for GOAL 5:

Percent of undergraduate and graduate students who take a class in which ethics is discussed

Morale of faculty, staff and graduate students based on a periodic survey