Program Mission
The mission of the MLIS program is to prepare socially responsible graduates for fulfilling careers characterized by ethical practice, professional values, analytical skills, leadership and lifelong learning.
Program Vision
The vision of the MLIS program is to contribute knowledge and advance theory by working from cognitive, social, behavioral, cultural and technological perspectives; fostering interdisciplinary collaborations; cultivating an appreciation for the role of information in society; and modeling a climate of intellectual engagement, openness, integrity and with respect toward the communities they serve.
Strategic Goals & Objectives
The following goals and objectives were adopted by the MLIS Program in August 2019. They have been aligned with the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies Strategic Goals & Objectives.
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Strategic Goal 1: Support and facilitate research that creates new knowledge, addresses problems of practice, and supports communities.
Objectives for Goal 1:
- Encourage and recognize excellence in faculty research.
- Identify and compete for external funding that supports and extends the program vision and mission.
- Identify and develop infrastructure for supporting research, teaching, and community partnerships.
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Strategic Goal 2: Provide highly rigorous and effective programs based on empirically supported best practices for teaching and learning.
Objectives for Goal 2:
- Refine and expand program content and curriculum design by partnering with key stakeholders to ensure students have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve as leaders in LIS professions.
- Implement state-of-the-art technologies to attract, recruit, and retain students to the program who reflect the diversity of our communities.
- Engage in continuous and systematic assessment of student learning outcomes to ensure students have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve as future leaders in their chosen fields.
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Strategic Goal 3: Promote service as an exchange of social, intellectual, and cultural resources with our communities to address challenges and support positive growth.
Objectives for Goal 3:
- Engage key stakeholders in systematic planning focused on assessing our mutual needs, participating in continuous evaluation and improvement, and collaboratively determining future directions.
- Identify and sustain partnerships with key constituents for research, reflective practice, and professional renewal.
- Engage faculty, students, and community in value-added learning opportunities.
MLIS Student Learning Outcomes
The Strategic Goals and Objectives for the program are taught and assessed through the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Students will be able to:
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Create innovative responses to the needs and interests of diverse and global communities.
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Demonstrate leadership attributes for a variety of information environments.
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Interpret and apply basic and applied research to improve their professional practice.
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Access, synthesize, and evaluate information to assist information seekers.
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Integrate evolving technologies and theories that underpin their design, application, and use with library and information services.
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Analyze current and historical trends to forecast future directions of the library and information field.
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Create a plan for continuous professional development and lifelong learning.
Program Assessment - Our Students
Old Dominion University admitted students to the Master of Library and Information Studies degree beginning in Fall 2019 and earned initial accreditation from ALA in 2022. The retention rate for students who were enrolled in the MLIS in Fall 2022 was 94.5% who continued or graduated from the program. The time to degree for 2022-2023 MLIS graduates averaged 2.2 years. Employment for 2022 MLIS graduates after one year was 88%.
Accreditation
The Master of Library and Information Studies Program at Old Dominion University is accredited by the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of Initial accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit is scheduled for Fall 2028.