Preface for 2019-20 APR Request
While the main elements of the Annual Planning Report (APR) guidelines remain the same as last year, many areas have been streamlined. In an era of limited growth, the Deans request that you be strategic in your resource requests, seriously consider alternatives to the status quo, and ensure that you can account for resources provided to document the successful development of your department and program.
Guidelines
The APR is required of all Arts & Science departments, programs, institutes, and centers each year unless an exception is made by the Dean's Office. It serves as both a progress report and an opportunity to provide strategic input in planning for the development of units over the next 3-5 year horizon by the Deans.
Preparation of the APR is a collaboration between the unit administrator and the chair or director of the unit.
For your reference, a report known as your Department Profile is available within OASIS. Data are compiled from a variety of sources including University census snapshots, Albert, Workday, UDW+, student surveys, (O)ASIS, and information provided by the department. Please contact the Director of Institutional Research, Dan Thilman, if you have any questions regarding this report.
The deadline for APR submission is Tuesday, April 30, 2019. An electronic copy (Word document) should be sent as an email attachment to Randall Say in the Deans' Office. Please use the following naming convention: 20APR[unitname].doc.
Additionally, we ask that you adhere to the following formatting guidelines:
- Title APR at the top left corner of the first page as such: Department Name Annual Planning Report 2019-2020
- Follow the numbering system provided in the guidelines
- Use Times New Roman, 12 point, black only
- Set 1" margins (left and right) and justify paragraphs
The timing of responses to the APR depends in part on when the FAS budget is finalized with the University Administration, but our intention is to have responses released by June 30, 2019.
1.0 Executive Summary
Provide a brief synopsis (no more than 500 words or one to two pages) highlighting the strategic plans for the department or program in achieving its academic goals [e.g. snapshot of where the department stands (research profile), areas of strength/weakness and recent relevant rankings (primary peer competitors), description of efforts to increase diversity in the department (at all levels), directions of where the department wants to go, etc.].
1.1 Report on 18-19 Activities and Accomplishments
Identify five (5) major accomplishments of the department in the past year. Examples might include the publication of an important book or article, new curricular innovation, notable doctoral placement, etc.
Provide a brief summary of how the resources approved in the APR response last year helped to meet the goals of the department. If appropriate, cite relevant data from the Department Profiles and other measures demonstrating their impact.
1.2 Rank and Priority of APR Requests
Provide a short bulleted summary of the department’s highest priority requests (including relevant cost information). Please rank your requests in order of the highest importance first. Note how they meet strategic goals identified above and if internal resources can be redeployed to fund (all or in part) these needs. Given the limited funding available, departments should refrain from proposing permanent on-going items (except for faculty recruitment proposals). Requests will only be considered if they are prioritized in this section.
2.0 Faculty Staffing
2.1 Provide a brief commentary on the results of any faculty searches conducted in the previous year indicating reasons for success or failure and any changes in recruitment strategies that may be suggested by the prior year experience.
2.2 Request faculty lines for the next recruitment cycle (including pre-approved lines) indicating rank and sub-field for each line and whether positions are replacements/conversions or incremental. Provide a brief justification for each position as well as an explanation on how it contributes to the distinct excellence of a department, potential to address diversity needs, how it is synergistic with other schools and units throughout the GNU and how it contributes to the University achieving world class status. Please include any proposals for joint hires involving the Abu Dhabi and Shanghai portal campuses or the Global study away sites. If necessary as part of a particular recruitment, provide an estimate of startup funds and identify contributions of departmental funding sources that can be made.
2.3 Provide information on potential departures and describe any significant impacts on the department's curriculum, administration, and research profile. As with all faculty hiring, replacements for faculty departures are not automatic and must be proposed and approved as part of the APR process.
2.4 In order to assist the Deans with longer-term strategic planning, if your department is inclined to do so, please prepare a three-year faculty staffing and development proposal and a brief justification of the proposal within the context of the department’s overall academic development plan. Again, this section is voluntary; should you wish to complete the section but require more time to do so, please consult with your divisional dean.
Your proposal should address the following specific issues:
- Does the proposal represent a shift in research emphasis in an attempt to build distinction in an important field or subfield?
- Does the proposal represent an unauthorized increase in faculty size? Is it in anticipation of future retirements/departures?
- Is it is possible to accommodate the space needs of the new faculty member within existing departmental space?
- Does the proposal anticipate new curricular initiatives (undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral programs)? Note that the development of new master’s or doctoral programs must be authorized by the Dean of GSAS.
3.0 Curriculum & Enrollment Planning (All Terms)
Course Enrollments
[Data entry in OASIS is required as the basis in supporting the adjunct budget request of a unit. FAS Fiscal Affairs will be in contact later in the Spring term with the deadlines to establish adjunct budgets. Information should be kept up to date as enrollment projections and course offerings change throughout the spring and summer terms. As a best practice, please be careful to compare course staffing budgets and expenses from prior years to ensure OASIS represents the full course staffing need for the next academic year (adjuncts, graders, class assistants, etc.) and for all terms (Fall, Spring, January, Summer). Also, please add to OASIS any appointments for ‘other-duties’ such as thesis advising and tutoring so budgets may be established for these expenses.]
3.1 The adjunct budget provided to departments and programs for the coming year will be based on historical three year average spending. Please provide relevant information and justification for exceptions if you do not believe the department can operate within these funding parameters.
3.2 If your department wishes to propose a new undergraduate regular term curriculum, please contact CAS Academic Affairs (Armanda Lewis) to discuss requirements for a program proposal (see CAS Curricular Planning Document) that must be submitted along with the APR.
3.3 Summer offerings are comprised of individual courses at Washington Square, programs both in New York and away, and the special pre-college sections for the NYU Precollege program (NYC). Please keep in mind summer is the only term where graduate students are given the opportunity to teach stand-alone courses.
Please provide relevant information related to proposed changes to the historically funded activities for these programs.
3.4 If your department is planning to offer any new summer or special sessions courses or programs at Washington Square, please provide the following information:
- Existing or proposed Course Number (new course proposals must be vetted by the UCC/GCC) and course description
- Justification for why you think this course will generate interest and minimum enrollments
- Anticipated costs involved in running the course (include instructor's salary and information on faculty staffing for the course)
- For new program proposals, suggested list of co-curricular activities and anticipated costs
Proposals for new courses on campus for 2019-2020 must be included in the APR in order to be considered.
Study away programs require more extensive planning and additional administrative responsibility on the part of the program or department. In addition, the viability of any proposals for new study abroad summer programs (which must first demonstrate a high potential for success) will be evaluated in the context of University plans for the global study away sites. If your department wishes to propose a new undergraduate study away program, please contact Noelle Marchetta to discuss requirements for a program proposal that must be submitted along with the APR.
3.5 Provide information on the use of technology and innovation in the curriculum.
- Provide a current assessment of the curriculum and technology use
- Provide information on the future direction the faculty envisions for technology use
- Submit proposals for courses (changes in modality for groups of courses, etc.) in this section
4.0 Graduate Programs
4.1 Please provide links from professional associations that provide data or reports on diversity, placement and time to degree for doctoral degree programs.
4.2 Please provide links from professional associations that provide data or reports on diversity, placement and time to degree for master’s degree programs.
5.0 Operating Budget
5.1 Identify the two or three most critical operating needs of the department. Provide relevant quotes and/or cost information. Explain how funding will meet strategic goals and priorities and how success will be measured.
We are aware and appreciate that departments and programs are often creative in maximizing the use of scarce operating funds. We ask that you share some of these ideas so that they can be communicated and used to benefit those in our community.
5.2 Departments and programs that have accumulated large balances (in excess of $250,000) in NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai funds are requested to provide a detailed 3-year plan on use of these funds in this section of the APR. A minimum spend rate of 20% per year must be proposed. Describe how these spending plans can contribute to the needs identified in Section 1.0 and/or how they can complement them to advance the mission and goals of the department.
6.0 Global Network University
Please provide a brief commentary on the department or program's current participation as part of the Global Network University (GNU).
In order to ensure a coordinated effort and communication among offices, please provide information on:
- Faculty circulation in the GNU. List all teaching assignments in Abu Dhabi, Shanghai or any of the Global study away sites. Include all planned assignments for 2019-20 and all proposals for 2020-21 and beyond. Describe any budgetary impact and possible funding sources.
- Curricular initiatives/offerings that your department may be involved with in the integration with the GNU
- Graduate student circulation in the GNU
Be advised that all staffing and curricular changes must first be approved by the FAS Deans, including circulation to portal campuses in Abu Dhabi, Shanghai or any of the Global study away sites.
7.0 Diversity
The engagement of departments, faculty, staff and students in efforts to broaden diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the FAS is very much appreciated. We look forward to learning about the ways in which your department has enhanced the student experience and ensured that our faculty have the tools needed to foster inclusive classrooms and curricula. Please provide in this section (i) a brief update of the department's ongoing efforts to foster and increase diversity at the faculty, graduate, and undergraduate levels, and (ii) plans for programs, academic initiatives, or other ideas from the department that will address those same areas.