The Department will maintain and improve the quality of its curriculum and methods of instruction, both in our major/minor programs and in our service courses. The quality of our undergraduate programs and our graduate program are addressed in Goal 2; here, in Goal 1, the focus is on the service courses Biology provides to the University.
Objective
Objective 1-1
The Department will continually assess our contributions to the University's core curriculum and make adjustments as needed.
Indicator
Indicator 1-1
The Department will regularly review our offerings in the core curriculum to ensure that students taking biology as one or more of their two core science courses develop a basic working knowledge of biology and an understanding of, and appreciation for, the scientific method.
Criterion
Criterion 1-1
Resources will be directed at deficiencies where noted.
Finding
Finding 1-1-2
The faculty and the Freshmen Biology Committee recommended an infusion of equipment and supplies into our freshmen courses.
Finding
Finding 1-1-1
Informal discussions during faculty meetings suggested that our freshmen courses (BIO 134/114; 137/117; 161/111; & 162/112) would benefit from a new departmental committee devoted solely to assessing the effectiveness of these courses.
Finding
Finding 1-1-3
The faculty and the Freshmen Biology Committee recommended that we re-examine our lab exercises in all freshmen courses, beginning with BIO 114, to increase the number of exercises that focus on discovery rather than memorization.
Finding
Finding 1-1-4
The faculty and the Freshmen Biology Committee recommended that our freshmen biology coordinator (Ms. Lori Rose) not only be encouraged, but also supported from Departmental funds, to attend workshops and conferences dealing with effective science pedagogy for the non-science student.
Finding
Finding 1-1-5
The faculty and the Freshmen Biology Committee recommended that all of our freshmen labs be taught by graduate students; currently, approximately half of our 50 labs are taught by undergraduates. Instilling the mystery and excitement of science in our non-science students would be facilitated by having instructors who themselves have participated directly in the discovery process.
Action
Action 1-1-1
A Department of Biological Sciences Freshmen Biology Committee was established in the fall of 2006.
Action
Action 1-1-2
The Department spent over $80,000 to purchase new microscopes for our freshmen labs, outfitted our two non-majors labs with data projectors, and increased the expendables line item for freshmen courses by over $5000 annually.
Action
Action 1-1-3
Every lab exercise for BIO 114 was examined during the academic year 2006-07; many were modified and several entirely replaced with more open-ended, discovery based labs. A new publisher for the lab manual was secured, beginning with our fall '07 offerings, leading to a more professional and engaging presentation of the laboratory exercises for BIO 114.
Action
Action 1-1-4
In October 2006, Ms. Lori Rose attended the NSF-sponsored Annual Conference on Case Study Teaching in Science held at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The Department is committed to sending Ms. Rose to at least one national workshop or conference annually.
Action
Action 1-1-5-1
The Department currently receives 8 Teaching Assistantships from the College of Arts & Sciences, and historically supported one graduate TA from course fees, annually. Beginning in the fall of 2007, the Department committed sufficient funds (from course fees/local tuition) to support three rather than just a single graduate TA from Departmental resources, bringing the total number of graduate student Teaching Assistantships to eleven.
Action
Action 1-1-5-2
Continued to lobby the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Dean of Graduate Studies for additional graduate teaching assistantships.
Objective
Objective 1-2
Design and construct a new biosciences building with sufficient state-of-the-art research and teaching space to not only meet the needs of our current students, but also for the planned expansion required by the statewide initiative to accommodate 600,000 additional college-bound students in the next two decades.
Indicator
Indicator 1-2
Provide justification to the Administration that Biology's space in the Lee Drain Building is not only inadequate for Biology's current needs, but also is insufficient to accommodate any growth in our programs, in our student body, or in our faculty.
Criterion
Criterion 1-2
Success at convincing the Administration of our critical space needs will be evidenced by a "new building for Biology" appearing on the long-range building list and strategic plan for SHSU.
Action
Action 1-2-1
Pending.
Objective
Objective 1-3
Continue to enhance the quality of instruction in our core courses through the use of appropriate technology.
Indicator
Indicator 1-3
The Department will maintain, and where possible upgrade, the audio, visual, and computing capabilities associated with our core courses.
Criterion
Criterion 1-3
All lecture and laboratory classrooms for our core courses should be "smart" - i.e., should possess dedicated computers, data projectors, audio, Elmo's, and student personal response systems (i.e., "clickers").
Action
Action 1-3-1
Data projectors have been added to our two BIO 114 laboratory classrooms, and projectors in our main BIO 134 lecture rooms have been upgraded.
Action
Action 1-3-2
Several of our faculty have attended national workshops on the effective use of personal response devices in the classroom. Approximately 1/3 of our faculty are using these "clickers" in their lower-division courses.
Goal
Goal 3
To demonstrate, by example, the commitment of our faculty to scientific discovery and lifelong learning. Students benefit by having a faculty actively engaged in generating and acquiring new knowledge.
Objective
Objective 3-1
Encourage a more active research program and increase research excellence.
Indicator
Indicator 3-1-1
All faculty are expected to produce scholarly products.
Criterion
Criterion 3-1-1
All faculty will produce scholarly products.
Finding
Finding 3-1-1
All tenured and tenure-track faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences are actively engaged in producing scholarly products in their subdisciplines.
Indicator
Indicator 3-1-2
Maintain and increase the number of peer-reviewed publications produced annually by faculty in our department.
Criterion
Criterion 3-1-2
Meet or exceed the national average publication rate for Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUI's).
Finding
Finding 3-1-2
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 3-1-3
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.
Criterion
Criterion 3-1-3
Achieve parity regarding FTE credit for laboratories.
Finding
Finding 3-1-3
A particularly difficult constraint for science faculty at SHSU is that lab courses carry half the credit of lecture courses per contact hour. For science faculty at comparable institutions in other states, labs carry full credit. Such discrepancies put science faculty at SHSU at a competitive disadvantage.
Action
Action 3-1-1
No action needed.
Action
Action 3-1-3
Identify and implement creative mechanisms for reducing teaching loads without reducing teaching efficacy.
Action
Action 3-1-2
For 06-07, with 15 tenured or tenure-track faculty, the Dept produced 28 publications. This is 1.87 publications per faculty member, slightly above the Dept running average.
Objective
Objective 3-2
Build support for our research programs through increased external funding.
Indicator
Indicator 3-2
All faculty are expected to seek external funding.
Criterion
Criterion 3-2
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 3-2
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.
Action
Action 3-2
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.
Objective
Objective 3-3
Increase the visibility and national reputation of our research programs.
Indicator
Indicator 3-3-1
Encourage and support all faculty members to present their research results at local, regional, and national/international professional meetings.
Criterion
Criterion 3-3-1
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 3-3-1
Travel budgets are currently insufficient to meet this objective.
Indicator
Indicator 3-3-2
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.
Criterion
Criterion 3-3-2
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 3-3-2
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 their profesional journals. Such reassigned time must be institutionalized.
Action
Action 3-3-1
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 3-3-2
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 4
Contribute to the state, region, and nation by increasing the number of graduates in the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
Objective
Objective 4-1
Through effective recruiting and scholarships, increase the number of under-represented minorities and first-generation college students pursuing degrees in the biological sciences.
Indicator
Indicator 4-1-1
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 4-1-2
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.
Criterion
Criterion 4-1
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 4-1-3
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.
Action
Action 4-1-1
We are now actively soliciting donors in our annual newsletter and in other venues (e.g., at our annual homecoming/alumni barbeque).
Action
Action 4-1-2
Letters are sent to all current donors expressing our thanks and appreciation for their efforts to help deserving students obtain science degrees.
Action
Action 4-1-1
We are now actively soliciting donors in our annual newsletter and in other venues (e.g., at our annual homecoming/alumni barbeque).
Objective
Objective 4-2
Help students recognize the importance of the biological sciences in preparation for future career opportunities.
Indicator
Indicator 4-2-1
Increase student attendance in our Department of Biological Sciences weekly seminar series, and enhance the quality of the series.
Criterion
Criterion 4-2-1
Develop a source of funding for the seminar series in order to bring in more high profile scientists. Currently, funding comes partially from Department operating budget, with the bulk personally coming from individual faculty members.
Indicator
Indicator 4-2-2
Increase the number of undergraduates participating, formally or informally, in STEM-related internships.
Indicator
Indicator 4-2-3
Increase the number and proficiency of undergraduate advisors in the Department. More closely coordinate advising efforts between Biology faculty and the SAM Center.
Criterion
Criterion 4-2-3
Have all faculty trained for undergraduate advising. Have as part of the Departmental Assistant Chair duties to coordinate advising between all faculty and to corrdinate between the Department and the SAM Center.
Action
Action 4-2-1
In progress.
Action
Action 4-2-3
Held an advising orientation session focusing on Sam Menu advising programs for all BIO faculty.
Goal
Goal 2
Graduates from Biology's graduate and undergraduate programs should be scientifically literate, academically competent, and intellectually competitive.
Objective
Objective 2-1
Provide rigorous instruction in both our lower- and upper-division courses, covering the breadth of biological subdisciplines while allowing the students sufficient electives to develop depth in their chosen areas of specialization.
Indicator
Indicator 2-1
All graduating seniors will take the ETS MFAT Biology exit exam. Strengths and weaknesses of our undergraduate 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.
Criterion
Criterion 2-1
The average score for SHSU biology students taking the ETS MFAT Biology exit exam should meet or exceed the national average for results from comparable institutions.
Finding
Finding 2-1
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.
Action
Action 2-1
The performance of our first cohort of graduating seniors on the MFAT Biology exit exam is currently under review by the department.
Objective
Objective 2-2
Qualitative assessments of how well our undergraduate programs have prepared our graduates for their professions will be solicited through questionnaires distributed in our annual departmental newsletter.
Indicator
Indicator 2-2
This questionnaire will be included, for the first time, in the fall 2007 Department of Biological Sciences newsletter.
Criterion
Criterion 2-2
Any deficiencies in our curriculum noted by at least three or more respondents in a given year will be evaluated by the Department's Curriculum Committee.
Finding
Finding 2-2
No findings yet.
Action
Action 2-2
Actions will be deferred pending responses to the first use of our questionnaire.
Objective
Objective 2-3
Increase the number of students accepted into professional post-baccalaureate programs (e.g., medical school, veterinary school, PA programs, etc.) and into graduate programs (MS and PhD).
Indicator
Indicator 2-3-1
Success at implementing Objective 2-3 requires that we do a better job of tracking what happens to our graduating seniors.
Criterion
Criterion 2-3-1
Solicit contact information and post-baccalaureate plans from all graduating seniors.
Finding
Finding 2-3-1
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 2-3-2
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.
Criterion
Criterion 2-3-2-1
Support the SAM Center in their efforts to recruit qualified and knowledgeable pre-professional advisors.
Criterion
Criterion 2-3-2-2
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.).
Action
Action 2-3-1
Actions will be deferred pending acquisition of baseline data showing the number of SHSU biology students accepted into post-baccalaureate programs.
Objective
Objective 2-4
Build scientific literacy, enhance critical thinking skills, and develop better communication skills by involving more undergraduates in research.
Indicator
Indicator 2-4-1
Identify undergraduate students early in their academic career who are interested in research.
Criterion
Criterion 2-4-1
Encourage undergraduates to attend the Department's seminar series.
Indicator
Indicator 2-4-2
Increase the number of undergraduates participating formally (i.e., through Independent Studies) or informally in faculty-mentored research projects.
Criterion
Criterion 2-4-2-3
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.
Criterion
Criterion 2-4-2-1
Stress the importance of undergraduate research experiences for successful application to graduate programs and professional schools.
Criterion
Criterion 2-4-2-2
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.
Indicator
Indicator 2-4-3
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.).
Criterion
Criterion 2-4-3
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 2-4-3
The SHSU Department of Biological Sciences is, by all accounts, extrememly successful in meeting Objectives 2-4-1 through 2-4-3. 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.
Action
Action 2-4-1
Continue with our successes involving undergraduates in research; continue lobbying for additional research space.
Action
2-4-2
Department members gave a combined 62 research presentations at regional and national conferences. Thirty-four students were involved in these presentations.
Objective
Objective 2-5
Develop and implement, through the planned SHSU Academic Center for Excellence, a training program for all incoming undergraduate and graduate student Teaching Assistants (TAs).
Indicator
Indicator 2-5
Survey TAs at the end of the training session and again at the end of their first semester of teaching to identify strengths and weaknesses in the training program.
Action
2-5-1
Pending, the Academic Center is planned to open the end of the Fall 2008 semester, after Academic Building 5 construction is completed.