2014 School of Criminology and Criminal Justice OPERATIONAL PLAN Strategic goals, key planning challenges and opportunities

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1 2014 School of Criminology and Criminal Justice OPERATIONAL PLAN Strategic goals, key planning challenges and opportunities In 2013 the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice continued its expansion of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice program at the Gold Coast campus. In 2012 the School had two newly appointed academic staff and 1 part-time general staff member based at the Gold Coast campus to run the first year courses. In 2013 this increased to five academic staff and one full-time general staff member. In 2014 these staffing numbers will continue to grow with the appointment of an additional academic staff member and an additional full-time general staff member. Having new staff located at a distance to the established School office continues to presents additional challenges for both the operation of the school and the integration of the new staff in the school. In 2014 the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice will be fully rolled out at the Gold Coast campus and the first year of the double degree with Psychological Science will begin. Extending the Criminology and Criminal Justice program to the Gold Coast campus has proven to be a successful strategic initiative with student demand remaining strong and growing. Further Gold Coast based double degrees will be explored, including rolling out the double degree with Forensic Science, and a potential new double degree with Digital Media. Having a presence on the Gold Coast has also helped to identify new research projects and industry partnerships. In 2013 the School undertook a review of its Postgraduate program offerings and developed a framework for ensuring the programs meet the AQF requirements. This work will continue in 2014 with major revisions being undertaken of the postgraduate programs. In addition, the School is committed to reviewing and revitalising its online offerings to update and refresh their delivery. An additional priority for the School in 2014 is the 5 Year School Review. This is scheduled to take place in May-June and will require significant planning to ensure the School makes the most of this important strategic opportunity. A further priority is further improving the relationships and working arrangements between the School and the two research centres, CEPS and KCELJAG. This is dependent on the outcome of both the CEPS funding re-bid (outcome expected in December) and the proposed creation of a new Griffith Criminology Institute. These uncertainties need to be resolved to enable research strategies to be finalised.

2 Students Student - Key Scale: Griffith will be a university of a size sufficient to support a comprehensive range of programs across a network of differentiated campuses Roll out of the Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the Gold Coast campus in 2014 and the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice in Investigate developing a new double degree with Digital Media to be based at the GC campus in 2015, and the rollout of the double degree with Forensic Science in Participation: To attract able students from diverse backgrounds to study at Griffith Develop new promotional material that better explains criminology and the wide variety of career options that are available to students on graduation. Continue outreach program to high schools, including more targeting of leading independent schools, as well as Griffith Connect schools. Develop interactive material/modules for use in these engagements. Retention: To improve student retention Continue to implement PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) for core courses that contain complex concepts and are difficult for students to pass. Work closely with the Student Success Advisors to identify first year students who are in need of assistance, and develop a stronger local SSRT team including all first year course convenors to improve focus on retention. Enhance the School orientation activities to tailor information to selected cohorts as well as increasing the opportunity for them to form connections with both fellow students and staff. Continue to engage and support the Criminology Student Society members to assist with student activities both at MG and GC.

3 Increase opportunities for senior staff to teach and interact with first year students, so that students can learn from leaders in the field. Student satisfaction: To improve satisfaction with their university experience Pilot two new teaching strategies such as flipping the classroom to determine their effect on engagement and retention. Continue to develop the School s orientation activities to assist students to make social connections with fellow students and staff. Students Student - Key Teaching quality: To improve teaching quality Continue to monitor indicators of teaching quality such as SEC and SET to help staff reflect on their practice and identify development needs where appropriate. Encourage staff participation in peer assessment of teaching programs as another tool for reflection and development. Progress L&T grants focused on improving indicators. Teaching modality: To increase Griffith s online delivery

4 Continue to deliver the entire suite of CCJ programs online at Griffith and through OUA. To provide support for staff to refresh and revitalise the online versions of their courses, and to enable them to incorporate cutting edge tools and materials. Work-ready graduates: To prepare work-ready graduates with the capacity to play an influential role in the world Careers evening and Meet the Professionals events to encourage students to interact with professionals in their fields. Continue to develop industry links for the WIL based courses including Criminology Skills, Developing Professionally and Professional Practice. Research - Key Graduate Success: To improve graduate success Promote to current students the success of graduates through the School newsletter, website and guest speakers. Provide opportunities for students to interact with past graduates and other career professionals to learn about career opportunities and getting started. Provide more opportunities for WIL both through specifically WIL courses, but also by embedding practice elements in other courses. Research and Research Training Research income: To increase research income In partnership with the research centres, host a grant writing workshop specific to ECRs and staff new to the School. Encourage new staff and ECRs to participate in grant writing workshops offered by the Office for Research. In partnership with the research centres, establish a process for the peer review of grant applications and a collection

5 of previously successful grant applications for reference. Develop relationships with new industry partners at the Gold Coast to research local issues. Research publications: To increase the number and quality of research publications Continue to host writing retreats and workshops throughout the year for staff and PhD students. Encourage the formation of formal mentoring relationships for all early and mid-career staff, with a focus on publication strategies. Provide assistance to staff, particularly new staff, to ensure all publications are entered into My Publications and Griffith Research Online. Research training: To increase the number of higher degree research (HDR) commencements and completions Closely monitor student candidature progression through annual reports and candidature milestones to ensure issues are identified and addressed early. Funding support for up to 2 completion scholarships for students requiring a further 6 months to complete their thesis. Continue to support Honours students to publish from their thesis. Early identification of high achieving undergraduate students including letters of congratulation and support, book prizes and other initiatives, with the aim of increasing enrolments in honours, as a funnel to HDR enrolments. Continue international presence by hosting functions, staging panels at various conferences, to attract potential HDR students. Research intensity: To increase the proportion of staff who are research active

6 Encourage staff to participate in grant and publication writing workshops. Provide short-term RA support to assist with grant submissions. Research benefit: to support uptake of research outcomes through technology transfer and enterprise activities Encourage all staff to consider opportunities for contract research and other commercialisation opportunities by building awareness of such activities and relevant Griffith support mechanisms. Staff Staff - Key Provide opportunities to integrate staff across both MG and GC. Provide opportunities for new staff and ECRs to engage in the research culture of the School. Use the ASRP process to help staff identify developmental needs, including formal mentoring arrangements. Sustainability Sustainability - Key Establish strong industry connections and seek feedback on the relevance of our teaching program. Recruit industry partners to present guest lectures on topical issues in criminology and criminal justice. Continue efforts to grow interest in criminology among cohorts of high achieving school students.

7 Engagement with the Asia-Pacific Region Asia-Pacific Region - Key Performance Indicators Investigate possible linkages with Criminology and Criminal Justice schools in the Asia-Pacific region to help facilitate staff and student exchangement. Support, with the research centres, staff research projects that engage with Asia.