OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2009 - 2010

Chemistry, Department Of

Goal

Deliver Current, Rigorous Curricula

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 department will consider the appropriateness of a track with no minor proposed.

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. Submitted proposal to the curriculum committee or a report showing the reasons why it is not feasible.

Finding

No Revision Submitted

With the current resources, especially those associated with upper division laboratories, we cannot offer more courses beyond those already offered.

Action

Reconsider

As our situation evolves, we will reconsider this in the future.

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?

Records kept on student progress in upper division courses.

Finding

Students Are Tracked

Students are tracked in upper division courses to enable appropriate scheduling (particularly room size) and advising of students.

Action

Continue

We will continue to track students through their upper-division courses.

Objective

Curriculum In Biochemistry

Begin investigating the possibility of developing a curriculum in this area

Indicator

Submission Of Proposed Curriculum

To offer a major in biochemistry requires sufficient lecture and teaching laboratory availability. The will decide whether a major in biochemistry is feasible.

Criterion

Sufficient Resources

A curriculum proposal for a major in biochemistry submitted to the curriculum committee or a report stating why it is not feasible will be provided to the chair.

Finding

No Proposal Submitted

No proposal to develop a major in biochemistry was submitted in this cycle. With our current loads and resources, especially the usage of the upper division laboratories, adding a major in biochemistry is unwise at this time.

Action

Reconsider Next Year

As our situtation evolves, we wil reconsider this in the future.

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 2009-2010 year.

Criterion

Number Of Press Releases

This number should be two or higher depending upon the meeting activity of the faculty and students.

Finding

Press Releases

Two press releases were submitted to Today@Sam. One was quite old and was not published. The other (regarding our Scholarship Awards Reception) was used and published.

Action

Continue To Submit Press Releases

We will continue to submit press release as our situation warrants them.

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. At least two mass advising sessions held.

Finding

Mass Advising Sessions Held

Several mass advising sessions were held. This helped a few students to re-register for more appropriate courses. Unfortunately, many of the needed math courses were already full.

Action

Continue To Hold Mass Advising Sessions

We will continue to hold mass advising sessions.

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

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. Thus, the criterion is 10 graduate assistantships for the department for fall and spring.

Finding

Number Of Graduate Assistants

In the fall 2009 semester, there were 4 graduate assistants (Radhika Burra, Shirangi Fernando, Naleen Jayaratna and Suchithra Senevirathne). There were also 4 graduate assistants (Shirangi Fernando, Naleen Jayaratna, Suchithra Senevirathne and Tsemre-Dengil Tessema) in the spring 2010 semester. The number of graduate assistants decreased.

Action

Make Offers

Make offers of admission and assistantships to qualified applicants in hopes that more students will arrive.

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

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

Finding

Number Of Graduate Assistants

Action

Make Offers

Make offers of admission and assistantships to qualified applicants in hopes that more students will arrive.

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.

Finding

Filled Empty Position

Dr. David Thompson was hired to fill the spot vacated by Dr. Jorn Yu. Thus the tenured and tenure-track faculty are: Arney, Chasteen, Haines, Loeffler, Norman, Petrikovics, Thompson, White and Williams (9). Drs. Perkins and Rose are still lecturers and Dr. DeShazo is on early retirement.

There has been no increase in the number of positions.

Action

Request Again

We will request another position through the PBR process again next year.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement Our programs are growing, and our classrooms are filling to capacity. In particular, our advanced laboratories (the third floor teaching labs) are essentially "maxed out". To grow further, we need to either have additional physical resources (access to additional class and laboratory space). or we need to change our pattern of course offerings. With regard to the advanced laboratory offerings this would mean either forcing students to attend morning labs (something which has failed in the past), offering night labs (which will mean that a faculty member must be present for emergency concerns), or offering labs on the weekends. The teaching assistants for these non-traditional times would have to be graduate students since undergraduates typically either have classes in conflict with these times (which is why the sections have been unpopular in the past), or simply do not want to do so. This year, our number of graduate assistants actually decreased (due, in part, to the relatively large number of graduations coupled to low stipends). On a positive note, the stipend was just increased, so more students may accept our assistantship offers than did this past year. However, the number of graduate assistantships has not increased.

We have requested one or more additional faculty lines every year, but we have not received any new lines. Our lectures for science majors are filled beyond optimally capacity. We need additional resources and will continue to seek them.