Because of his hard work, he leaves knowing a culture he helped shape will last beyond him. Lyons was an early architect of Truman s award-winning student outcomes assessment program. A Value Added Approach to Undergraduate Assessment, which was published by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in 1984. He also helped guide the Social Science Division during a period of significant growth and transformation. In 1979 there were 28 full-time faculty and 650 student majors.
Today there are nearly three times as many faculty and twice as many students.
Students and faculty from the Division are widely recognized for their accomplishments in teaching, learning, scholarship and service. Last year, more than a third of the Division's seniors scored among the top 20 percent of students nationally on tests over their knowledge of major subject matter. A number of social science faculty receive campus awards annually for their teaching and advising. Last year the faculty published 59 books and articles, and made several presentations at national conferences. During his years as division head, Lyons served on the Faculty Senate, the Undergraduate Council, the Graduate Council and the Council on Teacher Education.