The Department will attempt to maintain and improve the quality of its geology program in terms of curriculum offerings and methods of instruction.
Objective
G1 O1
The program will consistently strive to improve the quality of its program by making adjustments to its curriculum as needed.
Indicator
G1 O1 I1
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
G1 O1 I1 C1
Curriculum will be modified in response to input
Finding
G1 O1 I1 C1 F1
Our advisory councils made several recommendations for changes that have been implemented: a) Council suggested that we add a geophysics course b) Councils suggested that we strengthen the environmental focus of our geology curriculum in order to increase employment opportunities c) Council suggested that we add a geochemistry course and reduce the credit hours for mineralogy and petrology. d) Council suggested that we add a natural hazards course
Action
G1 O1 I1 C1 F1 A1
a) We added a course in geophysics. b) We added a course on energy and the environment c) We add a geochemistry course and reduced the credit hours for mineralogy and petrology. d) We have added a Natural hazards and resources course as well as a course on Energy and the Environment.
Objective
G1 O2
The Department will seek to ensure that the quality of our instruction is rated as satisfactory or better by our students.
Indicator
G1 O2 I1
The Department uses the IDEA evaluation system as well as peer-evaluation.
Criterion
G1 O2 I1 C1
The scores on the IDEA form (summary score) must be rated consistently as "average" or above, and the peer evaluations must be deemed acceptable by departmental peers.
Finding
G1 O2 I1 C1 F1
With very few exceptions, this criterion has been met.
Action
G1 O2 I1 C1 F1 A1
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
G1 O3
The department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of appropriate technology in the classroom and during lab activities.
Indicator
G1 O3 I1
In the past 5 years, the department has spent about $100,000 on audiovisual teaching equipment for our classrooms, and more than $170,000 on field equipment. The remote sensing lab contains about 12 computers with monitors worth about $30,000. The GIS lab just received (2007) an upgrade in computers and software worth $30,000.
Criterion
Instructional Technology
All labs, offices and teaching rooms fully equipped.
Finding
Instructional Technology
All labs, offices, and teaching rooms are fully equipped.
Action
G1 O3 I1 C1 F1 A1
We will continue to maintain the equipment and consider adding/purchasing new technologies and equipment as they become available and funds permit.
Objective
G1 O4
The department will strive to enhance the quality of instruction through the use of field trips.
Indicator
G1 O4 I1
The Department will seek to increase the number of field trips offered to our students
Criterion
Increased field trips
Count of in-course and extra-curricular field trip will increase.
Finding
Field Trips in 2006-2007
Number of field courses has increased but still needs major reconfiguration.
Action
G1 O4 I1 C1 F1 A1
We will continue to maintain the equipment and consider adding new technologies as they become available.
Objective
G1 O5
The department will increase the availability of its courses and its visibility by offering web courses.
Indicator
G1 O5 I1
The Department will add to and/or maintain the number of its web-based courses
Criterion
GEL Web courses
Add to the existing GEL 133 course offering.
Finding
GEL web courses
No new courses added.
Action
G1 O5 I1 C1 F1 A1
We will continue to offer this course and hope to add the web version of the lab that accompanies this course.
Goal
Goal 2 - Understanding of Discipline
Provide students in our department with a comprehensive understanding of the range and depth of geology.
Objective
G2 O1
Geology students will successfully complete courses that encompass the breadth of the discipline.
Indicator
G2 O1 I1
Successful completion of major requirements and major electives
Criterion
G2 O1 I1 C2
Almost all majors in the geology program will complete their field camp with a grade of B or better. * This is an external validation given that our students take field camp through other universities.
Finding
G2 O1 I1 C2 F2
Based on 10-year's worth of data, all of our geology majors are meeting the requirement of making either an A or B in field camp
Action
G2 O1 I1 C1 F1 A1
Students that do not maintain the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 must repeat the appropriate coursework.
Goal
Goal 3 - Professional and Technical Skills
The Department will seek to ensure that our geology students develop the professional and technical skills needed in order to be successful in their careers.
Objective
G3 O1
The Department will seek modify its curriculum as needed in order to meet this goal. Based on input from our advisory councils and other sources, the department determined that it needed to add the following courses to its curriculum: a) Added Remote Sensing - added 2005 b) Hired a new faculty line for purposes of teaching remote sensing c) Added course a Geochemistry course in 2006 d) Added course dealing with energy and the environment in 2006 e) Proposed a Forensic Geology course in 2007 f) Proposed a Basin Sea Level geology course in 2007 g) Proposed a Methods in Applied Geophysics course in 2007 h) Added new faculty line to teach geophysics
Indicator
G3 O1 I1
The success of our program, as defined in terms of the success of our graduates, is measured using an Alumni Survey that is given periodically.
Criterion
P& T Skills
New courses added in response to alumni, Student and faculty input.
Finding
P & T Skills
New courses added.
Action
G3 O1 I1 C1 F1 A1
We will continue to make changes as deemed necessary in order to meet the needs of our students.