The department will insure that all curricula meet current professional standards and will insure that the rigor of these curricula are monitored and modified appropriately
Objective
Curriculum Revision
Consider a track with no minor to accomodate more chemistry electives.
Indicator
Submission Of Proposed Curricula
The proposed curricula will either be submitted to the COAS curriculum committee or not.
Criterion
Sufficient Course Offerings
To offer a track with no minor requires sufficient course offerings (with appropriate frequency, course size and facility availability) to be feasible.
Finding
Insufficient Resources
At the moment, we have insufficient faculty to increase the number of elective courses offered. To do so would require decreasing the courses we already offer (such as offering fewer sections of our current courses). This would greatly inconvenience chemistry minors and students from other majors who take our 100 and 200 level courses.
Action
Reconsider
The track with no minor to accommodate more chemistry electives was not submitted and should be reconsidered.
Objective
Monitor Student Progress In Upper Division Courses
This process will allow the department to offer more appropriate courses in the upper division.
Indicator
Tracking Student Progress
Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry majors who enroll in CHM 239 are tracked to see if they are completing the prerequisites for CHM 448. Students completing CHM 448 are tracked for CHM 440, 467 and 480.
Criterion
Are Students Tracked?
Are records kept on student progress in upper division courses?
Finding
Students Are Tracked
Student progress through upper division courses is tracked and the scheduling of various upper division courses is modified based on these trends. For example, CHM 448 in the fall of 2005 had 15 students and was scheduled in a room of capacity 22. The number held for the fall of 2006, but grew to 29 for the fall of 2007 (and was moved to a room of capacity 30), and exceeded 30 for the fall of 2008 (necessitating a move to a larger classroom).
Action
Continue Tracking
It greatly aides course planning to monitor student progress through their prerequisite courses. It is also important to track them through face to face advising as well, but often students do not come into the department for advising.
This will be continued.
Objective
Curriculum In Biochemistry
Begin investigating the possibility of developing a curriculum in this area
Indicator
Submission Of Proposed Curriculum
The proposed curricula will either be submitted to the COAS curriculum committee or not.
Criterion
Sufficient Resources
To offer a major in biochemistry requires sufficient lecture and teaching laboratory availability.
Finding
Insufficient Building Resources
Currently the department has two teaching laboratories on the third floor in which to offer all of its upper division laboratory courses (CHM 241, 348, 426, 440, 448 and 449). These two rooms are currently in use from 1 to 5, M-F. Any new laboratory sections would have to be at non-traditional times, such as weekends, evenings or mornings. We have tried morning lab offerings previously (for organic labs) and the morning sections proved to be unpopular and under utilized.
Action
Reconsider At A Later Date
A biochemistry major was not submitted and should be reconsidered once more resources become available.
Goal
Provide Effective Communication With Internal And External Constituencies
The department will insure that appropriate communication channels are maintained with the College of Arts and Sciences Office, upper administration, current students, prospective students, and other external constituencies.
Objective
Press Releases
Continue to use press releases through the university media to announce scholarships, conference participation, etc.
Indicator
Press Releases Issued
The number of press releases that are written and submitted during the 2008-2009 year.
Criterion
Number Of Press Releases
This number should be two or higher depending upon the meeting activity of the faculty and students.
Finding
Not Enough
To date (July 31) no press releases have been issued by the department. The chair dealt with a physical issue (adhesive capsulitis) that interfered. One release is planned for the coming month.
Action
Continue To Issue Press Releases
Press releases should continue to be issued, and releases are planned after the American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting, after the Texas Academy of Sciences meeting and after determination of our scholarship recipients in the spring.
Objective
Advising Sessions
Hold "mass advising" sessions for unofficial majors to insure that the students are being advised into proper course selections.
Indicator
Sessions Held
Either "mass advising" sessions are held or not.
Criterion
Sessions Held
Times will be set aside pre-term or early in the term in order to collectively advise a large number of entering chemistry and forensic chemistry majors.
Finding
Sessions Held
Two sessions were held--one the week before the fall term began and one early in first week of the fall term.
Action
Limited Success
Because many of the students are moving to campus just before class begins, it is difficult for many of them to make these sessions. Perhaps they can be "bribed" by providing pizza.
This should be continued.
Goal
Procure Appropriate Resources To Facilitate The Academic Mission Of The Department
The department will monitor the classroom, laboratory, research, and out-reach (service) needs of the unit. Budget requests will reflect these needs.
Objective
Welch Grant
The department's Welch Grant for departmental research is due for renewal. A revised proposal will be written and submitted.
Indicator
Grant Submission
A grant proposal to the Robert A. Welch Foundation to support chemical research in the department will be submitted.
Criterion
Submission
A three-year, $135,000 grant proposal will be submitted to the Robert A. Welch Foundation.
Finding
Grant Funded
The proposal was submitted on September 10, and funding for 3 years ($45,000 per year, $135,000 total) was obtained (we were notified by letter dated November 4, 2008).
Action
Write Annual Reports.
The Welch Foundation requires annual reporting of the research activities and expenditures each July 31. The grant year runs from June 1 through May 31. The 2008-2009 report was just completed.
Objective
Graduate TA's
The department will actively pursue more graduate TA's in an effort to reduce the number of undergraduates who are teaching laboratory sections.
Indicator
Number Of Graduate Assistants
The number of graduate assistants will increase from past years.
Criterion
Graduate Assistant Count
In the fall 2008 semester, we had 5 graduate assistants. In the spring 2009 semester, we had 6 graduate assistants. In the fall 2008 semester, the department had 353 hours of teaching assignment, and 341 hours of teaching assignment in the spring 2009 semester. The load of a graduate assistant is 20 hours, so the fall term would require 18 graduate assistants and the spring term would require 17 graduate assistants.
Finding
No New Assistantships
We have not received any additional funding for graduate assistantships.
Action
Pursue Additional Assistantships
At the moment (July 31, 2009), it appears that we will have 386 hours of teaching assignment which equates to 19+ graduate assistantships (19.3). An increase in the number of graduate assistantships is sorely needed.
Goal
Provide Appropriate Personnel Resources For The Unit
The department will assess the personnel (staff and faculty) needs of the unit on an annual basis. Annual funding requests will reflect these needs and hiring decisions will be based on these needs. The department office will provide appropriate resources and encourage faculty and staff to participate in development opportunities.
Objective
Request Additional Faculty Lines
The department is still in need of additional faculty lines to meet the demands for upper level and core courses. A request will be submitted through the PBR process for new lines.
Indicator
New Faculty Line(s)
For the 2008-2009 academic year, Drs. Arney, Chasteen, Haines, Loeffler, Norman, Petrikovics, White and Williams (8 individuals) were the tenured/tenure-track faculty and one position was vacant due to Dr. Yu's resignation, for a total of 9 lines. Additionally, Dr. DeShazo is on early retirement and Drs. Perkins and Rose are lecturers.
Criterion
Number Of Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Lines.
The number of tenured/tenure-track faculty should increase beyond 9 with at least 3 lecturers as well.
Action
Continue To Pursue Facutly Lines
This year Dr. Thompson was hired to replace Dr. Yu, but the faculty are still overloaded and we still have one faculty member who requested to move to the 3-3 load several years ago, but he is still on the 4-4 load. We continue to need new tenure-track lines.
Objective
Graduate TA's
The department will actively pursue more graduate TA's in an effort to reduce the number of undergraduates who are teaching laboratory sections.
Indicator
Number Of Graduate Assistants
The number of graduate assistants will increase from past years.
Criterion
Graduate Assistant Count
In the fall 2008 semester, we had 5 graduate assistants. In the spring 2009 semester, we had 6 graduate assistants. In the fall 2008 semester, the department had 353 hours of teaching assignment, and 341 hours of teaching assignment in the spring 2009 semester. The load of a graduate assistant is 20 hours, so the fall term would require 18 graduate assistants and the spring term would require 17 graduate assistants.
Finding
No New Assistantships
We have not received any additional funding for graduate assistantships.
Action
Pursue Additional Assistantships
At the moment (July 31, 2009), it appears that we will have 386 hours of teaching assignment which equates to 19+ graduate assistantships (19.3). An increase in the number of graduate assistantships is sorely needed.