To educate and train the Department's students in preparation for successful careers in Geography and Geology.
Objective
Successful Geography And Geology Students
Geography and Geology students will successfully complete courses that encompass the breadth of their discipline. For Geography majors, this ranges from cultural geography, to physical and environmental geography, as well at technical courses. For Geology majors, this ranges from historical and physical geology, to economic, environmental and technical aspects of the field.
Indicator
Internship Performance
Those students that opt to do an internship will be evaluated by their supervisor using a departmental evaluation from to be completed by the supervisor.
Criterion
Majority evaluated as Satisfactory
A significant majority of our students will be evaluated as "satisfactory" or better by their internship supervisors.
Finding
Internship Findings
This new approach has yielded limited data, but the data to date indicates that our students are completing their internships successfully.
Indicator
GPA Check
The Departmental Advisor will check to determine if the student is maintaining a satisfactory GPA for their Major classes.
Criterion
Maintain 2.0 or higher GPA
All Geography and Geology majors will maintaina 2.0 or higher GPA.
Action
Continued Student Success
The Department will continue to monitor internship performance. 5 years ago, we found our students were not doing well because they lacked certain technical skills and an appropriate work ethic. Since then, we have modified our curriculum to deal with this issue, and it appears to be working. In addition, the Department requires any students who do not maintain the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 must repeat the appropriate coursework.
Objective
Quality Instruction
The Department will seek to ensure that the quality of our instruction is rated as satisfactory or better by our students.
Indicator
IDEA Faculty Evaluation System
The Department uses the IDEA evaluation system as well as peer-evaluation.
Criterion
Satisfactory Faculty Rating
All Geography and Geology professors will rate as satisfactory or better.
Finding
IDEA evaluation
All faculty have at least one class in or above the acceptable gray band of the IDEA system form.
Action
Faculty Review Meetings
The department Chair meets with each faculty member to review his or her teaching performance and provides suggestions and recommendations in those few instances in which the faculty member receives less than satisfactory ratings. Failure to improve teaching can lead to dismissal for tenure-track faculty or adversely impact merit for tenured faculty.
Objective
Provide Appropriate Technology
The Department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of appropriate technology in the classroom and during lab activities.
Indicator
Annual Equipment Audit
The Department will review the equipment it has annually to determine if it satisfies the needs of its classes and labs.
Criterion
Class and Lab Equipment Needs Met
All equipment will meet the needs and standards of the department.
Finding
Equipment Needs Met for 2006-2007
All of the department??????s equipment needs were met in 2006-2007.
Action
Continue to Provide Needed Equipment
The Department will add and/or maintain teaching equipment, such as dedicated computers, overhead LCD projectors, DVD players, and audio equipment. The Department has purchased drilling equipment, a flume for lab work and research, a ground-penetrating radar, a device for measuring the chemical composition of samples, digital cameras, and GPS equipment. We added a new remote sensing lab to compliment the GIS lab that was built 5 years ago.
Objective
Field Trips
The department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of field trips offered to our students.
Indicator
Annual Count Of Field Trips Offered
At the end of each academic year the Department will count the number of field trips offered and compare it to the total from the previous semester.
Criterion
Increased Number of Field Trips
The number of field trips offered by the Department will increase year to year.
Finding
Field Trips in 2006-2007
Four years ago, the department purchased a 15 passenger van and has since made an effort to increase the number of field trips, especially local field trips, for lab students in geology and geography. In 2006, the Department offered its first International trip (GEO 475-Special Topics) to China and Thailand. This trip constituted 3-hours of advanced credit. A second trip to Thailand is panned for 2008. environments.
Action
Continue to Increse the Field Trips Offered
We will continue to increase the number of field trips offered annually, and maintain the equipment and consider adding new technologies as they become available. In addition, we will continue to offer the GEO 475 course.
Objective
Web Course Offerings
The department will increase the availability of its courses, and its visibility, by offering web courses.
Indicator
Number Of Web-Based Course Offerings
The Department will compare the number of web courses offerd to the previous year's total.
Criterion
maintain or Increase Number of Web Courses
The Department will add to and/or maintain the number of its web-based courses
Finding
Web-based courses
Number of web-based courses increased.
Action
Continue Web Course Offerings
The Department will continue to offer these web-based courses.
Objective
Quality Degree Programs
The Department will consistently strive to improve the quality of its programs by making adjustments to its curriculum as needed.
Indicator
Advisory Council Feedback
The department will, as needed, seek input from a variety of sources, including Professional Advisory Councils and Student Advisory Councils, and will use that input as the basis for modifying the curriculum
Criterion
Curriculum Changes
Curriculum will be modified, as necessary, in response to input from the Advisory Councils.
Finding
Advisory Council Recommendations
Our advisory councils made several recommendations for changes that have been implemented: a) Councils suggested that we incorporate more student projects into courses that require group interaction and presentations b) Councils suggested that we use Census Bureau data in our GIS courses c) Councils suggested that we enhance the applied focus of our curriculum d) Councils suggested that we strengthen the environmental focus of our curriculum in order to increase employment opportunities.
Indicator
Alumni Phone Survey
A telephone survey of selected Geography and Geology Alumni who would be in a position to provide feedback and advice to the Department will be used to gather information on ways to improve the Department.
Criterion
Positive Alumni Response
The Alumni response recieved will be positive.
Action
Curriculum Changes
The Department has taken a number of steps to address the recommendations made by the Advisory Councils. First, our geomorphology class, GIS classes, and other now require student presentation and/or posters. Second, Census Bureau data has been acquired. Third, our economic geography course was substantially modified to give it an applied focus and we have proposed the addition of a course in geophysics. Fourth, we have added and natural hazards and resources course as well as a course on energy and the environment.
Objective
Development Of A Geoscape
The Department will develop a Geoscape that will be on campus in the new mall. The Geoscape will serve both as an aid to instruction for our geology lab students and as a site that will draw attention to the program and the university.
Indicator
Student Response Survey
Student response to the Geoscape will be assessed with a survey designed to gather their perceptions of the Geoscape and its effectiveness.
Criterion
Positive Student Response
Student response to the Geoscape will be positive.
Finding
GEOSCAPE
General agreement - including student feedback - on the educational and outreach value of Geoscape. Needs site and funding.
Finding
GEOSCAPE
Student and faculty support for Geoscape concept
Action
Future use of the Geoscape
Will use the geoscape to develop new learning activities and as a recruiting tool.
Objective
New Courses And Programs
The Department will strive to offer its students the highest quality of education by adding new courses and programs to its curriculum.
Indicator
Program Proposal Approval
All new program proposals will be accepted and approved by both the University and the THECB.
Criterion
All New Programs Approved
All new program proposals will be accepted and approved by both the University and the THECB.
Finding
New Graduate Degree in Applied GIS
The proposal for a new 36 Hour Graduate degree in Applied GIS has been submitted to the University and to the THECB, but official approval has not yet been received.
Indicator
New Classes Approved
New classes for the Geography and Geology department will be approved by the university.
Criterion
All New Classes Approved
All new classes proposed to the University will be approved for inclusion in the catalog.
Finding
Approved Courses
Courses have been approved and added in the areas of Remote Sensing, Geochemistry, Energy and the Environment, and Computer Cartography. Proposals have been submitted for courses in the areas of Tourism Geography, Population Geography, Urban Geography, Geospatial Technology, Forensic Geology, Basin and Sea Level Geology, Methods in Applied Geophysics; however, official approval has not yet been received. In addition, two new minors have been added in the technical areas of Geography.
Action
Seek Approval for New Courses and Programs
The Department will continue to seek approval of those courses still under consideration by the University, and will work to get the new graduate program in Applied GIS approved by the University and the THECB.
Objective
New Faculty Hires
The Geography and Geology Department will hire new faculty members as required, especially in new areas where the department is expanding its curriculum.
Indicator
University Approval Of New Faculty Teaching Lines
Official approval of new faculty teaching lines from the University.
Criterion
All Proposed Faculty Teaching Lines Approved
All new faculty teaching lines proposed to the University will be approved.
Finding
Proposed Faculty Lines Approved
New faculty teaching lines have ben approved to teach remote sensing and computer cartography, and geophysics.
Action
Continue to Hire New Faculty as Necessary
The department will continue to seek new faculty teaching lines as necessary.
Goal
Provide Necessary Resources
To provide the Department, and its programs with the necessary resources to succeed in their mission.
Objective
Provide Appropriate Technology
The Department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of appropriate technology in the classroom and during lab activities.
Indicator
Annual Equipment Audit
The Department will review the equipment it has annually to determine if it satisfies the needs of its classes and labs.
Criterion
Class and Lab Equipment Needs Met
All equipment will meet the needs and standards of the department.
Finding
Equipment Needs Met for 2006-2007
All of the department??????s equipment needs were met in 2006-2007.
Action
Continue to Provide Needed Equipment
The Department will add and/or maintain teaching equipment, such as dedicated computers, overhead LCD projectors, DVD players, and audio equipment. The Department has purchased drilling equipment, a flume for lab work and research, a ground-penetrating radar, a device for measuring the chemical composition of samples, digital cameras, and GPS equipment. We added a new remote sensing lab to compliment the GIS lab that was built 5 years ago.
Objective
Field Trips
The department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of field trips offered to our students.
Indicator
Annual Count Of Field Trips Offered
At the end of each academic year the Department will count the number of field trips offered and compare it to the total from the previous semester.
Criterion
Increased Number of Field Trips
The number of field trips offered by the Department will increase year to year.
Finding
Field Trips in 2006-2007
Four years ago, the department purchased a 15 passenger van and has since made an effort to increase the number of field trips, especially local field trips, for lab students in geology and geography. In 2006, the Department offered its first International trip (GEO 475-Special Topics) to China and Thailand. This trip constituted 3-hours of advanced credit. A second trip to Thailand is panned for 2008. environments.
Action
Continue to Increse the Field Trips Offered
We will continue to increase the number of field trips offered annually, and maintain the equipment and consider adding new technologies as they become available. In addition, we will continue to offer the GEO 475 course.
Objective
Department Visibility And Relations
The Department will take steps to increase its visibility and relations within the University and the community as a whole. To this end the Department has employed a number of strategies, including a semi-annual newsletter, website improvements, and New Student Get-togethers
Indicator
Number Of Alumni Contacts
The Department will measure the number of alumni contacts made throughout the year.
Criterion
Substantial increase in contacts
The Department will see a substantial increase in the number of alumni contacts made throughout the year.
Finding
Assessment of Alumni Contacts
The responses to the newsletter and get-together have been positive, and the number of alumni contacting the department has increased significantly.
Action
Continue Alumni Contact Success
Given the current success of these programs, the Department will continue them, making any minor improvements or changes as necessary.
Objective
Development Of A Geoscape
The Department will develop a Geoscape that will be on campus in the new mall. The Geoscape will serve both as an aid to instruction for our geology lab students and as a site that will draw attention to the program and the university.
Indicator
Student Response Survey
Student response to the Geoscape will be assessed with a survey designed to gather their perceptions of the Geoscape and its effectiveness.
Criterion
Positive Student Response
Student response to the Geoscape will be positive.
Finding
GEOSCAPE
General agreement - including student feedback - on the educational and outreach value of Geoscape. Needs site and funding.
Finding
GEOSCAPE
Student and faculty support for Geoscape concept
Action
Future use of the Geoscape
Will use the geoscape to develop new learning activities and as a recruiting tool.
Objective
New Courses And Programs
The Department will strive to offer its students the highest quality of education by adding new courses and programs to its curriculum.
Indicator
Program Proposal Approval
All new program proposals will be accepted and approved by both the University and the THECB.
Criterion
All New Programs Approved
All new program proposals will be accepted and approved by both the University and the THECB.
Finding
New Graduate Degree in Applied GIS
The proposal for a new 36 Hour Graduate degree in Applied GIS has been submitted to the University and to the THECB, but official approval has not yet been received.
Indicator
New Classes Approved
New classes for the Geography and Geology department will be approved by the university.
Criterion
All New Classes Approved
All new classes proposed to the University will be approved for inclusion in the catalog.
Finding
Approved Courses
Courses have been approved and added in the areas of Remote Sensing, Geochemistry, Energy and the Environment, and Computer Cartography. Proposals have been submitted for courses in the areas of Tourism Geography, Population Geography, Urban Geography, Geospatial Technology, Forensic Geology, Basin and Sea Level Geology, Methods in Applied Geophysics; however, official approval has not yet been received. In addition, two new minors have been added in the technical areas of Geography.
Action
Seek Approval for New Courses and Programs
The Department will continue to seek approval of those courses still under consideration by the University, and will work to get the new graduate program in Applied GIS approved by the University and the THECB.
Objective
New Faculty Hires
The Geography and Geology Department will hire new faculty members as required, especially in new areas where the department is expanding its curriculum.
Indicator
University Approval Of New Faculty Teaching Lines
Official approval of new faculty teaching lines from the University.
Criterion
All Proposed Faculty Teaching Lines Approved
All new faculty teaching lines proposed to the University will be approved.
Finding
Proposed Faculty Lines Approved
New faculty teaching lines have ben approved to teach remote sensing and computer cartography, and geophysics.
Action
Continue to Hire New Faculty as Necessary
The department will continue to seek new faculty teaching lines as necessary.