Academic Senate Self-Review - UCLA Academic Senate

The years subsequent to the 2003 review were dedicated to fulfilling the school’s and
department’s planning efforts. For the department, in particular, this meant paying close
attention to our academic programs, especially the MLIS curriculum, and expanding the
diversity of the department’s students and faculty, and to bring forth similar changes in
the curriculum. In many ways we were very successful: we recruited a diverse student
body (e.g., UCLA has received more ALA Spectrum Scholarships than any other
program) and we recruited and retained faculty of color as well. Within the MLIS
curriculum, we launched a new core course utilizing a service learning component
dedicated to ethics, diversity, and change, and we implemented a portfolio assessment
requirement for students in the MLIS program. These were the primary mechanisms to
not only achieve diversity, but also to impress upon our students their future professional
responsibilities for leadership, innovation, and change in the information professions.
1. Mission, Goals and Objectives
1.1. Mission of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
The Department of Information Studies (IS), together with its sister Department of
Education, is located within the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
(GSE&IS). The faculty, staff, and student constituents developed the following mission
statement for the entire school as part of a campus-mandated strategic planning process
undertaken in 2002, and was reaffirmed in the current strategic published in 2005. Since
this time, the department has used multiple mechanisms to review its missions, goals, and
objections, as well as develop a set of principles for the MLIS program, described below.
Mission. GSE&IS is dedicated to inquiry, the advancement of knowledge, the
improvement of professional practice, and service to the education and information
professions. We develop future generations of scholars, teachers, information
professionals, and institutional leaders. Our work is guided by the principles of
individual responsibility and social justice, an ethic of caring, and commitment to the
communities we serve.
Values.
Regarding scholarship, we value:
• The systematic pursuit of new knowledge and its application;
• High academic standards and integrity;
• An intellectually open, collaborative, and collegial environment;
• The freedom to pursue one’s intellectual passions; and
• The consideration of multiple points of view and rival hypotheses.
Regarding teaching, we value:
• The intellectual and professional development of students;
• The development of students who excel as scholars, teachers, and
professionals;
UCLA Department of Information Studies 3