Spacer

Assessment : 2006 - 2007 : Educational Programs :
Biology BS

3 Goals     9 Objectives     19 Indicators     18 Criteria     10 Findings     15 Actions

GOAL: Goal 1

Objective Objective 1-1
Provide rigorous instruction in both our lower- and upper-division courses, covering the breadth of biological subdisciplines while allowing our BS students sufficient electives to develop depth in their chosen areas of specialization.
Associated Goals: Goal 1
Indicator Indicator 1-1
All graduating seniors pursuing a BS in Biology will take the ETS MFAT Biology exit exam. Strengths and weaknesses of our undergraduate BS program will be identified by comparing the average performance of our graduating seniors with the national averages in each of the 4 subdisciplines of biology assessed with this exam.
Criteria Criterion 1-1-1
The average score for SHSU biology students taking the ETS MFAT Biology exit exam should meet or exceed the national average for comparable institutions.
Finding Finding 1-1
Scores for our first cohort of graduating seniors (n = 36) were returned in August 2007. 255 colleges and universities used the MFAT Biology exam last year. The composite average for SHSU Biology graduates was the 35th percentile; i.e., 65% of the 255 schools scored higher than us, while 34% scored lower. Our placements in the four subdisciplines were as follows: cell biology - 35th percentile; molecular biology and genetics - 50th percentile; organismal biology - 25th percentile; population biology, ecology, and evolution - 35th percentile.
Criteria Criterion 1-1-2
Develop a mechanism to officially recognize the area of study specialization of students while simultaneously maintaining the broadness of the degree, according to the liberal arts tradition.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 1-1-1
The performance of our first cohort of graduating seniors on the MFAT Biology exit exam is currently under review by the department.
Action Action 1-1-2
In progress.

GOAL: Goal 1

Objective Objective 1-2
Qualitative assessments of how well our undergraduate BS program has prepared our graduates for their professions will be solicited through questionnaires distributed in our annual departmental newsletter.
Associated Goals: Goal 1
Indicator Indicator 1-2  
This questionnaire will be included, for the first time, in the fall 2007 Department of Biological Sciences newsletter.
Criteria Criterion 1-2
Any deficiencies in our undergraduate BS curriculum noted by at least three or more respondents in a given year will be evaluated by the Department''s Curriculum Committee.
Finding Finding 1-2
No findings yet.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 1-2
Actions will be deferred pending responses to the first use of our questionnaire.

GOAL: Goal 1

Objective Objective 1-3
Increase the number of undergraduate Biology BS students accepted into professional post-baccalaureate programs (e.g., medical school, veterinary school, PA programs, etc.) and into graduate programs (MS and PhD).
Associated Goals: Goal 1
Indicator Indicator 1-3-1
Success at implementing Objective 1-3 requires that we do a better job of tracking what happens to our graduating seniors.
Criteria Criterion 1-3-1
Solicit contact information and post-baccalaureate plans from all graduating seniors.
Finding Finding 1-3-1
Develop "graduating seniors information" card; card should be distributed to graduating seniors at the MFAT exit exam, at our fall homecoming barbeque, and at our spring seniors'' awards banquet.
Indicator Indicator 1-3-2
Work with the University Administration and the Student Advising and Mentoring Center (SAM Center) to provide the resources required by our undergraduates for better success in applying to graduate programs and professional schools.
Criteria Criterion 1-3-2-1
Support the SAM Center in their efforts to recruit qualified and knowledgeable pre-professional advisors.
Criteria Criterion 1-3-2-2
Support the University and the SAM Center in their efforts to secure resources directed at helping our pre-professional students better prepare for their entrance exams (e.g., training courses for the MCAT, DAT, GRE, etc.) .
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 1-3-1
Actions will be deferred pending acquisition of baseline data showing the number of SHSU biology students accepted into post-baccalaureate programs.

GOAL: Goal 1

Objective Objective 1-4
Build scientific literacy, enhance critical thinking skills, and develop better communication skills by involving more Biology BS undergraduates in research.
Associated Goals: Goal 1
Indicator Indicator 1-4-1
Identify undergraduate students early in their academic career who are interested in research.
Criteria Criterion 1-4-1
Encourage undergraduates to attend the Department''s seminar series.
Indicator Indicator 1-4-2
Increase the number of undergraduates participating formally (i.e., through Independent Studies) or informally in faculty-mentored research projects.
Criteria Criterion 1-4-2-1
Stress the importance of undergraduate research experiences for successful application to graduate programs and professional schools.
Criteria Criterion 1-4-2-2
Highlight the number of scientific careers open to students whose experiences push them beyond the restrictive vocational boxes of "physician" or "crime scene investigator." Employment in the biological sciences is growing, and students who participate in meaningful research experiences as undergraduates not only are more attractive to employers, but are more aware of these career options.
Criteria Criterion 1-4-2-3
Inform students that the research interests of all Biology faculty (who might serve as mentors for undergraduate research projects) can be found on our web page.
Indicator Indicator 1-4-3
Support undergraduates presenting their research results at scientific venues (e.g., SHSU's Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, the annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Sciences, Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Southwestern Association of Parasitologists, etc.).
Criteria Criterion 1-4-3
One half of our active graduate students and 5-10 undergraduates should annually present their research results at state, regional, or national/international conferences.
Finding Finding 1-4-3
The SHSU Department of Biological Sciences is, by all accounts, extrememly successful in meeting Objectives 1-4-1 through 1-4-3. The number of undergraduate SHSU biology students presenting their research results at regional conferences (e.g., Texas Academy of Sciences, the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiologists, etc.) typically overshadows the numbers sent by our sister institutions, and our students often take home the top awards from these conferences. Many of our students are now presenting at national and international conferences as well (e.g., Sigma-Xi, the World Congress of Ornithology, American Society of Parasitologists, etc.). Our ability to involve our undergraduates in research is the envy of many, but we cannot expand these efforts given our current space limitations.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 1-4
Continue with our successes involving undergraduates in research; continue lobbying for additional research space.

GOAL: Goal 2

Objective Objective 2-1
Encourage a more active research program and increase research excellence.
Associated Goals: Goal 2
Indicator Indicator 2-1-1
All faculty are expected to produce scholarly products.
Criteria Criterion 2-1-1
All faculty will produce scholarly products.
Finding Finding 2-1-1
All tenured and tenure-track faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences are actively engaged in producing scholarly products in their subdisciplines.
Indicator Indicator 2-1-2
Maintain and increase the number of peer-reviewed publications produced annually by faculty in our department.
Criteria Criterion 2-1-2
Meet or exceed the national average publication rate for Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUI''s).
Finding Finding 2-1-2
Publication rates at PUI''s are approximately 0.5 - 0.6 peer-reviewed publications per faculty member per year. The publication rate in the Department of Biological Sciences is over one publication per faculty member per year.
Indicator Indicator 2-1-3
Enhance strategies/mechanisms that provide additional time for research. Time is the one resource in shortest supply among the faculty; a reduction in teaching loads would contribute significantly to increased publication rates and successful applications to external funding agencies.
Criteria Criterion 2-1-3
Achieve parity regarding FTE credit for laboratories.
Finding Finding 2-1-3
A particularly difficult constraint for science faculty at SHSU is that lab courses carry half the credit, per contact hour, of lecture courses. For science faculty at comparable institutions in other states, labs carry full credit. Such discrepancies put science faculty at SHSU at a competitive disadvantage.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 2-1-1
No action needed.
Action Action 2-1-2
No action needed.
Action Action 2-1-2
Identify and implement creative mechanisms for reducing teaching loads without reducing teaching efficacy.

GOAL: Goal 2

Objective Objective 2-2
Build support for our research programs through increased external funding.
Associated Goals: Goal 2
Indicator Indicator 2-2
All faculty are expected to seek external funding.
Criteria Criterion 2-2
Each faculty member should, in any given year, have one or more projects supported by external funding or should submit a grant to seek such support.
Finding Finding 2-2
Approximately 75% of Biology faculty currently have research projects funded through external sources. A consensus among our faculty is that increased levels of external funding would be facilitated by continued growth in, and professional development of, the staff in the Office of Research and Special Programs (ORSP) and in the Office of Contract and Grants.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 2-2
Support the efforts of ORSP and the Office of Contracts and Grants to hire additional staff and enhance their professional development. Continue to encourage all faculty to seek external funding.

GOAL: Goal 2

Objective Objective 2-3
Increase the visibility and national reputation of our research programs.
Associated Goals: Goal 2
Indicator Indicator 2-3-1
Encourage and support all faculty members to present their research results at local, regional, and national/international professional meetings.
Criteria Criteria 2-3-1
Provide sufficient funds to support every faculty member to present their research at a minimum of one regional and one national/international conference per year.
Finding Finding 2-3-1
Travel budgets are currently insufficient to meet this objective.
Indicator Indicator 2-3-2
Enhance support mechanisms for faculty who have been asked to provide external scholarly service, including but not limited to serving as editors and associate editors for peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Criteria Criterion 2-3-2
Establish policies and incentives for such service; e.g., providing a one course reduction per semester for serving as editor for a national peer-reviewed journal.
Finding Finding 2-3-2
Without meaningful reductions in load, faculty have declined invitations to serve as editors or as officers in their professional societies. While understandable, mechanisms must be sought to permit these individuals to serve their organizations; SHSU students benefit by the experiences brought back into the lab and into the classroom by these faculty, and the university benefits by increased exposure of our programs. To their credit, the Chair of Biology and the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences have been able, this year, to provide a one course reduction for each of two Biology faculty who are serving as editors for thier profesional journals. Such "release" must be institutionalized.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 2-3-1
Continue to lobby the College and the University for larger allocations to professional travel. Seek creative sources of funding to permit such travel.
Action Action 2-3-2
Continue to lobby the College and the University for meaningful incentives for faculty to serve as editors, officers, and in other professional capacities that enhance the University but require significant investment by said faculty member.

GOAL: Goal 3

Objective Objective 3-1
Through effective recruiting and scholarships, increase the number of under-represented minorities and first-generation college students pursuing degrees in the biological sciences.
Associated Goals: Goal 3
Indicator Indicator 3-1-1
Support the University's high school and junior college recruitment efforts by providing necessary and up-to-date program information detailing both educational and research opportunities in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Indicator Indicator 3-1-2
As fiscally prudent, increase the number and individual amount of undergraduate scholarships awarded annually in the Department by increasing the Department of Biological Sciences Scholarship endowments.
Criteria Criterion 3-1
Double, by 2015, the total value of scholarships awarded by the Department of Biological Sciences from interest earned on our endowed scholarship accounts.
Indicator Indicator 3-1-3
Coordinate our fundraising efforts (to improve the Department's scholarship endowments) with the University's Advancement Office and with University President Gaertner's recently announced Capital Campaign.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 3-1-1
We are now actively soliciting donors in our annual newsletter and in other venues (e.g., at our annual homecoming/alumni barbeque).
Action Action 3-1-2
Letters are sent to all current donors expressing our thanks and appreciation for their efforts to help deserving students obtain science degrees.

GOAL: Goal 3

Objective Objective 3-2
Help students recognize the importance of the biological sciences in preparation for future career opportunities.
Associated Goals: Goal 3
Indicator Indicator 3-2-1
Increase student interaction with external speakers of our Department of Biological Sciences weekly seminar series.
Indicator Indicator 3-2-2
Increase the number of undergraduates participating, formally or informally, in STEM-related internships.
Indicator Indicator 3-2-3
Increase the number and proficiency of undergraduate advisors in the Department. More closely coordinate advising efforts between Biology faculty and the SAM Center.
Actions for Objective:

Action Action 3-2-1
Held three luncheons open to students to speak with the visiting speakers about career and scientific issues.
Action Action 3-2-3
Held an advising orientation session for all BIO faculty.

Sub Content Box

Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341
(936) 294-1111
1-866-BEARKAT