WIXLIB

ACRONYMS3DThree-dimensionalADAAAssociate Dean for Academic AffairsAASLAmerican Association of School LibrariansACRLAssociation of College and Research LibrariesADAAmericans with Disabilities ActALAAmerican Library AssociationALISEAssociation for Library and Information Science EducationARLAssociation of Research LibrariesASIS&TAmerican Society for Information Science and TechnologyBLISTSBlack and Latino Information Studies SupportBOOSTBolstering Original Opportunity and Self through TechnologyBSBachelor of ScienceCAEPCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator PreparationCASCertificate of Advanced StudyCAS CHPCertificate of Advanced Study in Cultural Heritage PreservationCAS DLCertificate of Advanced Study in Digital LibrariesCAS DSCertificate of Advanced Study in Data ScienceCDCompact discCDLCenter for Digital LiteracyCCENTCenter for Convergent and Emerging Network TechnologiesCNLPCenter for Natural Language ProcessingCOACommittee on AccreditationCRMConstituent Relationship Management (CRM)DASADignity for All Students ActDCMIDublin Core Metadata InitiativeDVDDigital versatile discELEmerging Leaders (ALA program)ENABLEExpanding Nondiscriminatory Access by Librarians EverywhereERICEducation Resources Information CenterFCTLFaculty Center for Teaching and LearningFiTSFilling in the SpacesiSchool at Syracuse Universityxv

FTEFull-time equivalentFPAGFaculty Program Advisory GroupGDCGreen Data CenterGETGlobal Enterprise TechnologyGPAGrade point averageGREGraduate Record ExaminationsHDHigh-definitionHTMLHypertext markup languageICEInnovation, Collaboration and Entrepreneurship (ICE Box)IELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemIFLAInternational Federation of Library AssociationsiLMSiSchool Learning Management SystemIMInformation ManagementIM&TInformation Management & TechnologyIMLSInstitute of Museum and Library ServicesiSchoolSchool of Information Studies (at Syracuse University)ISTDepartment prefix for courses offered by SU’s School of Information StudiesiSGOiSchool Graduate Student OrganizationITInformation TechnologyITELLInformation Technology Experiential Learning LabITSInformation and Technology Services (of Syracuse University)JCLCJoint Conference for Librarians of ColorLCDLiquid crystal displayLEDLight-emitting diodeLEMPLearning Environments and Media ProductionsLGBTQLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and QueerLISLibrary and Information ScienceLIS:SMLibrary and Information Science: School MediaLISSALibrary and Information Science Student AssemblyLMSLearning Management SystemMARCMachine-readable catalogingMLAMedical Library AssociationiSchool at Syracuse Universityxvi

MLSMaster of Library ScienceMSLISMaster of Science in Library and Information ScienceMSLIS: SMMaster of Science in Library and Information Science: School MediaMOOCMassive Open Online CourseNASANational Aeronautics and Space AgencyNASKONorth American Symposium on Knowledge OrganizationNCATENational Council for Accreditation of Teacher EducationNCSUNorth Carolina State UniversityNELANew England Library AssociationNEXISNew Explorations in Information and ScienceNLPNatural language processingNSDLNational Science Digital LibraryNSFNational Science FoundationNYLANew York Library AssociationNYSEDNew York State Education DepartmentOCLCOnline Computer Library CenterOCPLOnondaga County Public LibraryOITPOffice for Information Technology Policy (of ALA)OPACOnline public access catalogPLUSPreparing Librarians for Urban SchoolsPLUS-NYPreparing Librarians for Urban Schools – New YorkR&DResearch and developmentRCMResponsibility Center ManagementSCALEStanford Center for Assessment, Learning and EquitySEOSearch engine optimizationSFDSenior faculty developmentSISSystems and Information ScienceSLASpecial Libraries AssociationSMSchool MediaSUSyracuse UniversitySUNY-ESFState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestryTNMTelecommunications and network managementiSchool at Syracuse Universityxvii

TOEFLTest of English as a Foreign LanguageUAACUniversity Assessment and Accreditation CommitteeVHEVirtual Hosting EnvironmentVPAVisual and Performing ArtsVPUVideo production unitWISEWeb-based Information Science EducationXMLExtensible markup languageiSchool at Syracuse Universityxviii

Syracuse University and the Master of Science in Library andInformation Science Program: An IntroductionNo Master Degree program in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) exists in a vacuum.Certainly, societal trends impact the priorities and practices of the information profession andtherefore, the curriculum, pedagogy, and student population of an MSLIS program.Likewise, every MSLIS program also is part of a larger academic institution, and therefore isinfluenced by that institution’s environment, leadership, and priorities. The Syracuse MSLISprogram is further impacted by the fact that it is part of the School of Information Studies(iSchool), one of 13 academic units at Syracuse University.Although the iSchool is the smallest school/college at Syracuse (SU), it is known for beingforward-thinking, innovative, and fast-moving, traits that quickly are becoming adopted by theentire University in its efforts to retool for a more pertinent and prosperous future. The cultureexhibited at the iSchool is one where opportunities and areas for improvement are recognizedand then are quickly addressed.In the last seven years, Syracuse University has witnessed many societal changes, including anumber that have put pressures on most universities and colleges. For example, the GreatRecession brought more students to higher education, who felt that a college education orgraduate school degree would help with their career aspirations.1With their enrollment, colleges and universities then had to manage the increased size of classesand additional pressures on other aspects of their infrastructures (e.g., the number of dormitoryrooms) over the last few years. Nearly simultaneously though, the demographic trend of fewernumbers of 18-year-olds in the United States has meant that colleges and universities are vyingover a shrinking pool2 of incoming students, even though a larger percentage of that pool isattending college.These societal issues have framed the academic environment of Syracuse University. Foundedin 1870 and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, Syracuse University is ananchor institution in the city of Syracuse and is respected across the region and the United States.Total University enrollment for Fall 2014 was 21,492, including 6,268 full- and part-timegraduate and law-school students.3 As of Fall 2014, the University had 1,678 faculty members,Katherine Mangan. “Colleges Saw a Flood of Students at Recession’s Peak—and Discouraging Results.”Chronicle of Higher Education. No 18, 2014. of/150111/2William J. Hussar and Tabitha M. Bailey. Projections of Education Statistics to ding to the Syracuse University Diagnostic Report, from 2008-2012, undergraduate and graduate enrollmenthas had a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.3 percent. Bain & Co. Syracuse University DiagnosticReport, April 2014. http://syr.edu/news/articles/Innovation and Opportunities Assessment Report.pdf1iSchool at Syracuse University1

with 68 percent being full-time tenure-track or non-tenure track faculty, and 89 percent havingearned a Ph.D. or professional degree.Syracuse University has responded to the societal pressures on the academe, and concurrentlyhas taken into account the changing demographic and economic realities of the times. At thesame time, the university has experienced the departure of one Chancellor and the arrival ofanother. The differing perspectives of the two leaders—one externally focused in the communityand globally; the other keen on planning, assessment, and robust internal operations—has led toa period of transition that has impacted the entire university. While change is expected during aleadership transition, all corners of the campus have undergone a period of swift, concurrent, andfar-seeing change since the new Chancellor took the reins in 2014.2004-2013: Chancellor Nancy CantorDr. Nancy Cantor led Syracuse University as Chancellor from 2004-2013. During that time, shehad three primary areas of focus, all of which influenced the campus and community, includingthe iSchool. Her main theme for the University was “Scholarship in Action,” an initiative “inwhich students and faculty engaged in collaborative public and interdisciplinary scholarship thatsimultaneously addressed real-world needs while advancing knowledge.”She demonstrated that idea through physical and educational outreach to areas of the City ofSyracuse known as the Southside and the Near Westside, with projects aimed at improving ourrust-belt city. They included:- Syracuse Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (SEED), which developedtechnologies to support a prototype of an urban farm and the technologies and businessesthat go along with urban farming- Smart Kids: Visual Stories, in which students at local schools made videos about theirschools as part of the conversation on the needs of urban school districts- Say Yes to Education, in which local colleges and universities provided scholarships tocollege for all qualifying students in the Syracuse City School District—making collegeattainable and accessible to the community, no matter individuals’ socio-economic status.These projects also reflected her second area of focus, the idea of universities as anchorinstitutions in their communities, and she invested time, energy and funding in the universitybecoming a full and generous partner to the region.Cantor also strived to make a university education more accessible to everyone. She changedadmission policies to further this goal and increased the diversity of SU students in terms ofculture, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. During her tenure, the number of students at SUgrew, both due to the efforts of the university and the increased number of adults seeking acollege education. During that time, the university also financed several new buildings oncampus, created new scholarships for disadvantaged populations, and made other investments toexpand its academic reach.iSchool at Syracuse University2

2014-Present: Chancellor Kent SyverudSyracuse University came under new leadership in 2014, when Dr. Kent Syverud wasinaugurated as Chancellor.The transition to Chancellor Syverud has been represented by many new areas of focus. Theyinclude new planning and administrative rigor, several physical-space and infrastructureinitiatives, and a counterbalancing of views towards operations and resource use. ChancellorSyverud signaled some new directions for SU in his inaugural address, and since then has takensteps to make sure the university can be its best self.In his initial statement to the University community, Chancellor Syverud discussed the issue of adiverse student body, stating, “We want those who are hungry for knowledge,” and clarified theconcept of the “unentitled ” those who let merit, not birth state, define who they are. He alsoacknowledged the need to pay attention to rankings and to improve the University bystrengthening its focus on scholarly research. The Chancellor has consistently asked theUniversity community to “Aim High and Aim Carefully.”After his inauguration, Syverud established the Fast Forward Syracuse initiative to focus on arange of changes and improvements that already have begun to take place under his tenure. FastForward Syracuse has three focus areas: Academic Strategic Plan, which is the most important area of focus, and sets out the visionand goals of the University as well as creates a path forward. The working group for theAcademic Strategic Plan has sought input from faculty, staff and students on new missionand vision statements for the University. Additionally, the working group is proposing sixpriority areas, which are outlined in a draft of the plan:4o The student experienceo Discoveryo Internationalizationo Veterans Affairso Innovationo One University Operational Excellence, which seeks to determine how we can improve the logistics ofrunning a university. Operational Excellence acknowledges the need to face challenges ineffectively allocating resources, controlling rising costs, and modernizing systems andprocesses. Campus Master Plan, which seeks to improve the campus’ physical infrastructure based oncurrent and projected needs. While the campus has indeed grown and changed since 1870when SU was founded, no one has recently taken a holistic look at the physical infrastructureand determined what improvements are truly needed. Once adopted, the Campus MasterAcademic Strategic Plan Draft, April 2015. /04/

iSchool at Syracuse University iii Brief Description of the Program Seeking Accreditation The Syracuse University School of Information Studies offers the M.S. in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) program, which is a 36-credit program. The program is generally completed in two to four years by students who are seeking to be prepared for