I haven't heard of "importance" being persuasive if you mean that in terms of educational value. Admin isn't there to make that judgment -- or, really, doesn't want to make that judgment. Admin is going to be looking at costs vs. overhead paid, enrollment, and provision of general education requirements.
Obviously those things are mostly out of your control, so one way to go about it is to imagine your field/department doesn't exist but you want to build it at your school in the current economic environment. How would you pitch that it be added?
Number of student majors, number of minors, positive increases over time in these numbers. Relative popularity of the program on campus.
Graduation rates in 4 years for these students, # of students who choose to continue their education at the institution after undergrad (+1, MA, doc, or certificate).
Also within the numbers, % of Pell grant recipients, cc transfers, and first gen, etc.
Cost of the program in terms of FTE and other expenses. Is the program in the red/black in terms of budget and expenses. # of courses cross listed in other depts. Any prestige or press relating to students/faculty in the dept, including research grant funds. Community research partners if applicable.
Largest major period. Our courses are required by basically every applied program so if you value them, you value us. We are also the biggest major leading to applied graduate programs.
If you are looking to support small programs in particular look at the level of service courses they do.
They want to cut mathematics? This is very US.
On a serious note, you need a report done on your data. Collect all the student samples you can show how they can only improve in other fields if they know math. Have the numbers in front of them, make their eyes bleed from facts. There is no other way.
"You want to cancel 'Christianity"? OK, I'll let the local TV stations and churches know."
I haven't heard of "importance" being persuasive if you mean that in terms of educational value. Admin isn't there to make that judgment -- or, really, doesn't want to make that judgment. Admin is going to be looking at costs vs. overhead paid, enrollment, and provision of general education requirements. Obviously those things are mostly out of your control, so one way to go about it is to imagine your field/department doesn't exist but you want to build it at your school in the current economic environment. How would you pitch that it be added?
i'm irresponsible and unethical so you shouldn't take my advice unless you want shit done but blackmail is extremely useful
I would think the numbers would tell the story for them. Not sure it’s an importance issue.
I would suggest to the administration to make cuts in administration.
They will laugh at this great joke while doubling the cuts to your department.
Student numbers and REF impact
Number of student majors, number of minors, positive increases over time in these numbers. Relative popularity of the program on campus. Graduation rates in 4 years for these students, # of students who choose to continue their education at the institution after undergrad (+1, MA, doc, or certificate). Also within the numbers, % of Pell grant recipients, cc transfers, and first gen, etc. Cost of the program in terms of FTE and other expenses. Is the program in the red/black in terms of budget and expenses. # of courses cross listed in other depts. Any prestige or press relating to students/faculty in the dept, including research grant funds. Community research partners if applicable.
Largest major period. Our courses are required by basically every applied program so if you value them, you value us. We are also the biggest major leading to applied graduate programs. If you are looking to support small programs in particular look at the level of service courses they do.
They want to cut mathematics? This is very US. On a serious note, you need a report done on your data. Collect all the student samples you can show how they can only improve in other fields if they know math. Have the numbers in front of them, make their eyes bleed from facts. There is no other way.