Deliver A Curriculum With Appropriate Discipline Specific Knowledge
The program will address the discipline specific knowledge dictated by professional societies and/or professionals in the workforce.
Objective
Communicate Research Findings
Each student will demonstrate the ability to communicate research findings in oral and written form through seminar presentations, meeting presentations, thesis defense, and scientific publications.
Indicator
Student Seminar
During their tenure as graduate students, all students will present at least one departmental seminar.
Criterion
Seminar Enrollment
All graduate students in chemistry are required to take CHM 510 at least once during their tenure as graduate students. To pass CHM 510, students are required to receive an acceptable peer-rating on a required research presentation. Within the course, each student evaluates all other student presentations. The rubric is the last page of the syllabus.
Finding
Seminar Credit
Chemistry Seminar (CHM 510) was offered in the fall and spring semesters. Four of our five graduate students enrolled in the course at least once during these two semesters, and all passed the required research presentation and also passed the course. The fifth graduate student had already taken CHM 510 three times (the maximum number allowed).
Indicator
Student Presentations
The number of presentations by graduate students at professional meetings will indicate the success of the department in preparing the students for oral presentation of their research results.
Criterion
Student Presentations
The number of graduate student presentations at professional conferences and meetings should be greater than or equal to one half the number of graduate students in the program each year.
Finding
Graduate Student Presentations
For the 2009 calendar year, there were 3 presentations given with graduate students as co-authors. During this same period there were 9 graduate students in the program (with 4 finishing at the end of the spring 2009 term, and 2 more finishing during the summer). Consequently, if one considers the students present after the spring term, the criterion is met (3/5); however, if one considers all the students, there criterion is not met (3/9).
Indicator
Research Publications
The number of research publications with graduate student co-authors will indicate the success of the department in preparing students to report their research findings in written form.
Criterion
Research Publications
The number of research publications with graduate student co-authors should be greater than or equal to one half the number of graduate students in the program each year.
Finding
Graduate Research Publications
For the 2009 calendar year, there were 11 graduate co-authors on separate publications (a publication with two graduate co-authors is counted twice for this purpose). With a total of 9 graduate students enrolled during this same period, the criterion is met (11/9).
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate a mastery of chemical knowledge through an oral graduate comprehensive examination, administered by a faculty committee. The examination will consist of questions about the practical and theoretical basis for the student's research work.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is expected to pass the oral comprehensive exam as determined by a consensus of the student's examining committee.
Finding
Oral Exam Result
One graduate student took her oral comprehensive exam during the fall semester. She was evaluated by her examining committee and the consensus of the committee was that she passed.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester completed his comprehensive oral examination last summer (and passed).
Two students are expected to take their comprehensive oral examinations in the coming semester.
Indicator
Thesis Defense
Each student will orally present their master's thesis work to the public and will defend their work through questions from the public and additional questions about the research project from their thesis committee.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
Each student is expected to pass the thesis defense as determined by a consensus of the student's thesis committee.
Finding
Thesis Defense Result
Once graduate student successfully defended her master's thesis, as judged by her thesis committee, during the fall semester of 2009.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester successfully defended his thesis during the summer of 2009.
Two students are planning to defend their master's theses this coming semester.
All of the students who defended their thesis have had a problem meeting the deadlines and expectations of the format for the library thesis check.
Indicator
Thesis References/Bibliography
Each student is expected to complete a thesis describing the basis for the research, the experiments and results of those experiments, and a discussion of those results. The basis for the research and the discussion of the results must be supported by appropriate reference to the scientific literature.
Criterion
Thesis References/Bibliography
As part of the defense of the thesis, the thesis committee will evaluate the quality of scientific referencing in the manuscript.
Finding
Evaluation Of Thesis References/Bibliography
Only one student completed her master's thesis this academic year. Her committee found that her scientific references in her thesis were of acceptable quality.
Action
Continue Research Communication
We will continue to monitor (evaluate and direct) our graduate students' progress in communicating their research results. We will provide funding for our students to present and students will be encouraged by the graduate advisor to attend and present at the regional meeting.
Objective
Completion Of Master's Thesis
Each student will successfully prepare and defend a master's thesis on research performed under the direction of a chemistry faculty member.
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate a mastery of chemical knowledge through an oral graduate comprehensive examination, administered by a faculty committee. The examination will consist of questions about the practical and theoretical basis for the student's research work.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is expected to pass the oral comprehensive exam as determined by a consensus of the student's examining committee.
Finding
Oral Exam Result
One graduate student took her oral comprehensive exam during the fall semester. She was evaluated by her examining committee and the consensus of the committee was that she passed.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester completed his comprehensive oral examination last summer (and passed).
Two students are expected to take their comprehensive oral examinations in the coming semester.
Indicator
Thesis Defense
Each student will orally present their master's thesis work to the public and will defend their work through questions from the public and additional questions about the research project from their thesis committee.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
Each student is expected to pass the thesis defense as determined by a consensus of the student's thesis committee.
Finding
Thesis Defense Result
Once graduate student successfully defended her master's thesis, as judged by her thesis committee, during the fall semester of 2009.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester successfully defended his thesis during the summer of 2009.
Two students are planning to defend their master's theses this coming semester.
All of the students who defended their thesis have had a problem meeting the deadlines and expectations of the format for the library thesis check.
Indicator
Thesis References/Bibliography
Each student is expected to complete a thesis describing the basis for the research, the experiments and results of those experiments, and a discussion of those results. The basis for the research and the discussion of the results must be supported by appropriate reference to the scientific literature.
Criterion
Thesis References/Bibliography
As part of the defense of the thesis, the thesis committee will evaluate the quality of scientific referencing in the manuscript.
Finding
Evaluation Of Thesis References/Bibliography
Only one student completed her master's thesis this academic year. Her committee found that her scientific references in her thesis were of acceptable quality.
Action
Continue Master's Thesis Work
We will continue to work with our graduate students to help them complete their Master's Thesis.
Objective
After Graduate School Placement
Upon completion of the program and the successful completion and defense of their master's thesis, we expect that nearly all of our students will either find a chemically-related job upon graduation (such as working in a research or analytical lab) or will go on for advanced graduate studies.
Indicator
Placement
The indicator for this objective will be the proportion of our graduating graduate students who either find a chemically-related job or go on for advanced graduate studies.
Criterion
Graduate Placement Rate
Ninety-five percent of our graduating graduate students are expected to have found a chemically-related job or to have entered a program for advanced graduate studies within one year of completion of our program.
Finding
Successful Graduate Placement
Since the Fall of 2008, six graduate students have completed their M.S. degrees, and all six are either employed in a chemically-related field, or are enrolled in Ph.D. programs. Three (Radhika Burra, Karl Kuklenz and Michael Towler) are employed (at the University of Louisville Center for Regulatory & Environmental Analytical Metabolomics, GE Water & Process Technologies, and the Sam Houston State University Regional Crime Laboratory, respectively), and three (Patricia Chapela, Jonathan Childress and Sajini Randeniya) are enrolled in Ph.D. programs (at Rice University, Iowa State University and the University of Georgia, respectively).
Action
Continue To Monitor Placement After Program Completion
We will continue to monitor what happens to our graduate students after they complete their M.S. degrees.
Goal
Deliver A Curriculum With Appropriate Discipline Specific Skill Sets
The program will provide students with opportunities to develop the skills typically required of professionals in the area of study.
Objective
Communicate Research Findings
Each student will demonstrate the ability to communicate research findings in oral and written form through seminar presentations, meeting presentations, thesis defense, and scientific publications.
Indicator
Student Seminar
During their tenure as graduate students, all students will present at least one departmental seminar.
Criterion
Seminar Enrollment
All graduate students in chemistry are required to take CHM 510 at least once during their tenure as graduate students. To pass CHM 510, students are required to receive an acceptable peer-rating on a required research presentation. Within the course, each student evaluates all other student presentations. The rubric is the last page of the syllabus.
Finding
Seminar Credit
Chemistry Seminar (CHM 510) was offered in the fall and spring semesters. Four of our five graduate students enrolled in the course at least once during these two semesters, and all passed the required research presentation and also passed the course. The fifth graduate student had already taken CHM 510 three times (the maximum number allowed).
Indicator
Student Presentations
The number of presentations by graduate students at professional meetings will indicate the success of the department in preparing the students for oral presentation of their research results.
Criterion
Student Presentations
The number of graduate student presentations at professional conferences and meetings should be greater than or equal to one half the number of graduate students in the program each year.
Finding
Graduate Student Presentations
For the 2009 calendar year, there were 3 presentations given with graduate students as co-authors. During this same period there were 9 graduate students in the program (with 4 finishing at the end of the spring 2009 term, and 2 more finishing during the summer). Consequently, if one considers the students present after the spring term, the criterion is met (3/5); however, if one considers all the students, there criterion is not met (3/9).
Indicator
Research Publications
The number of research publications with graduate student co-authors will indicate the success of the department in preparing students to report their research findings in written form.
Criterion
Research Publications
The number of research publications with graduate student co-authors should be greater than or equal to one half the number of graduate students in the program each year.
Finding
Graduate Research Publications
For the 2009 calendar year, there were 11 graduate co-authors on separate publications (a publication with two graduate co-authors is counted twice for this purpose). With a total of 9 graduate students enrolled during this same period, the criterion is met (11/9).
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate a mastery of chemical knowledge through an oral graduate comprehensive examination, administered by a faculty committee. The examination will consist of questions about the practical and theoretical basis for the student's research work.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is expected to pass the oral comprehensive exam as determined by a consensus of the student's examining committee.
Finding
Oral Exam Result
One graduate student took her oral comprehensive exam during the fall semester. She was evaluated by her examining committee and the consensus of the committee was that she passed.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester completed his comprehensive oral examination last summer (and passed).
Two students are expected to take their comprehensive oral examinations in the coming semester.
Indicator
Thesis Defense
Each student will orally present their master's thesis work to the public and will defend their work through questions from the public and additional questions about the research project from their thesis committee.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
Each student is expected to pass the thesis defense as determined by a consensus of the student's thesis committee.
Finding
Thesis Defense Result
Once graduate student successfully defended her master's thesis, as judged by her thesis committee, during the fall semester of 2009.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester successfully defended his thesis during the summer of 2009.
Two students are planning to defend their master's theses this coming semester.
All of the students who defended their thesis have had a problem meeting the deadlines and expectations of the format for the library thesis check.
Indicator
Thesis References/Bibliography
Each student is expected to complete a thesis describing the basis for the research, the experiments and results of those experiments, and a discussion of those results. The basis for the research and the discussion of the results must be supported by appropriate reference to the scientific literature.
Criterion
Thesis References/Bibliography
As part of the defense of the thesis, the thesis committee will evaluate the quality of scientific referencing in the manuscript.
Finding
Evaluation Of Thesis References/Bibliography
Only one student completed her master's thesis this academic year. Her committee found that her scientific references in her thesis were of acceptable quality.
Action
Continue Research Communication
We will continue to monitor (evaluate and direct) our graduate students' progress in communicating their research results. We will provide funding for our students to present and students will be encouraged by the graduate advisor to attend and present at the regional meeting.
Objective
Completion Of Master's Thesis
Each student will successfully prepare and defend a master's thesis on research performed under the direction of a chemistry faculty member.
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate a mastery of chemical knowledge through an oral graduate comprehensive examination, administered by a faculty committee. The examination will consist of questions about the practical and theoretical basis for the student's research work.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is expected to pass the oral comprehensive exam as determined by a consensus of the student's examining committee.
Finding
Oral Exam Result
One graduate student took her oral comprehensive exam during the fall semester. She was evaluated by her examining committee and the consensus of the committee was that she passed.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester completed his comprehensive oral examination last summer (and passed).
Two students are expected to take their comprehensive oral examinations in the coming semester.
Indicator
Thesis Defense
Each student will orally present their master's thesis work to the public and will defend their work through questions from the public and additional questions about the research project from their thesis committee.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
Each student is expected to pass the thesis defense as determined by a consensus of the student's thesis committee.
Finding
Thesis Defense Result
Once graduate student successfully defended her master's thesis, as judged by her thesis committee, during the fall semester of 2009.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester successfully defended his thesis during the summer of 2009.
Two students are planning to defend their master's theses this coming semester.
All of the students who defended their thesis have had a problem meeting the deadlines and expectations of the format for the library thesis check.
Indicator
Thesis References/Bibliography
Each student is expected to complete a thesis describing the basis for the research, the experiments and results of those experiments, and a discussion of those results. The basis for the research and the discussion of the results must be supported by appropriate reference to the scientific literature.
Criterion
Thesis References/Bibliography
As part of the defense of the thesis, the thesis committee will evaluate the quality of scientific referencing in the manuscript.
Finding
Evaluation Of Thesis References/Bibliography
Only one student completed her master's thesis this academic year. Her committee found that her scientific references in her thesis were of acceptable quality.
Action
Continue Master's Thesis Work
We will continue to work with our graduate students to help them complete their Master's Thesis.
Objective
After Graduate School Placement
Upon completion of the program and the successful completion and defense of their master's thesis, we expect that nearly all of our students will either find a chemically-related job upon graduation (such as working in a research or analytical lab) or will go on for advanced graduate studies.
Indicator
Placement
The indicator for this objective will be the proportion of our graduating graduate students who either find a chemically-related job or go on for advanced graduate studies.
Criterion
Graduate Placement Rate
Ninety-five percent of our graduating graduate students are expected to have found a chemically-related job or to have entered a program for advanced graduate studies within one year of completion of our program.
Finding
Successful Graduate Placement
Since the Fall of 2008, six graduate students have completed their M.S. degrees, and all six are either employed in a chemically-related field, or are enrolled in Ph.D. programs. Three (Radhika Burra, Karl Kuklenz and Michael Towler) are employed (at the University of Louisville Center for Regulatory & Environmental Analytical Metabolomics, GE Water & Process Technologies, and the Sam Houston State University Regional Crime Laboratory, respectively), and three (Patricia Chapela, Jonathan Childress and Sajini Randeniya) are enrolled in Ph.D. programs (at Rice University, Iowa State University and the University of Georgia, respectively).
Action
Continue To Monitor Placement After Program Completion
We will continue to monitor what happens to our graduate students after they complete their M.S. degrees.
Goal
Deliver A Curriculum That Emphasizes Communication Skills
The program will provide students with opportunities to develop the appropriate speaking and writing skills to function as a professional in the area.
Objective
Communicate Research Findings
Each student will demonstrate the ability to communicate research findings in oral and written form through seminar presentations, meeting presentations, thesis defense, and scientific publications.
Indicator
Student Seminar
During their tenure as graduate students, all students will present at least one departmental seminar.
Criterion
Seminar Enrollment
All graduate students in chemistry are required to take CHM 510 at least once during their tenure as graduate students. To pass CHM 510, students are required to receive an acceptable peer-rating on a required research presentation. Within the course, each student evaluates all other student presentations. The rubric is the last page of the syllabus.
Finding
Seminar Credit
Chemistry Seminar (CHM 510) was offered in the fall and spring semesters. Four of our five graduate students enrolled in the course at least once during these two semesters, and all passed the required research presentation and also passed the course. The fifth graduate student had already taken CHM 510 three times (the maximum number allowed).
Indicator
Student Presentations
The number of presentations by graduate students at professional meetings will indicate the success of the department in preparing the students for oral presentation of their research results.
Criterion
Student Presentations
The number of graduate student presentations at professional conferences and meetings should be greater than or equal to one half the number of graduate students in the program each year.
Finding
Graduate Student Presentations
For the 2009 calendar year, there were 3 presentations given with graduate students as co-authors. During this same period there were 9 graduate students in the program (with 4 finishing at the end of the spring 2009 term, and 2 more finishing during the summer). Consequently, if one considers the students present after the spring term, the criterion is met (3/5); however, if one considers all the students, there criterion is not met (3/9).
Indicator
Research Publications
The number of research publications with graduate student co-authors will indicate the success of the department in preparing students to report their research findings in written form.
Criterion
Research Publications
The number of research publications with graduate student co-authors should be greater than or equal to one half the number of graduate students in the program each year.
Finding
Graduate Research Publications
For the 2009 calendar year, there were 11 graduate co-authors on separate publications (a publication with two graduate co-authors is counted twice for this purpose). With a total of 9 graduate students enrolled during this same period, the criterion is met (11/9).
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate a mastery of chemical knowledge through an oral graduate comprehensive examination, administered by a faculty committee. The examination will consist of questions about the practical and theoretical basis for the student's research work.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is expected to pass the oral comprehensive exam as determined by a consensus of the student's examining committee.
Finding
Oral Exam Result
One graduate student took her oral comprehensive exam during the fall semester. She was evaluated by her examining committee and the consensus of the committee was that she passed.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester completed his comprehensive oral examination last summer (and passed).
Two students are expected to take their comprehensive oral examinations in the coming semester.
Indicator
Thesis Defense
Each student will orally present their master's thesis work to the public and will defend their work through questions from the public and additional questions about the research project from their thesis committee.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
Each student is expected to pass the thesis defense as determined by a consensus of the student's thesis committee.
Finding
Thesis Defense Result
Once graduate student successfully defended her master's thesis, as judged by her thesis committee, during the fall semester of 2009.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester successfully defended his thesis during the summer of 2009.
Two students are planning to defend their master's theses this coming semester.
All of the students who defended their thesis have had a problem meeting the deadlines and expectations of the format for the library thesis check.
Indicator
Thesis References/Bibliography
Each student is expected to complete a thesis describing the basis for the research, the experiments and results of those experiments, and a discussion of those results. The basis for the research and the discussion of the results must be supported by appropriate reference to the scientific literature.
Criterion
Thesis References/Bibliography
As part of the defense of the thesis, the thesis committee will evaluate the quality of scientific referencing in the manuscript.
Finding
Evaluation Of Thesis References/Bibliography
Only one student completed her master's thesis this academic year. Her committee found that her scientific references in her thesis were of acceptable quality.
Action
Continue Research Communication
We will continue to monitor (evaluate and direct) our graduate students' progress in communicating their research results. We will provide funding for our students to present and students will be encouraged by the graduate advisor to attend and present at the regional meeting.
Objective
Completion Of Master's Thesis
Each student will successfully prepare and defend a master's thesis on research performed under the direction of a chemistry faculty member.
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate a mastery of chemical knowledge through an oral graduate comprehensive examination, administered by a faculty committee. The examination will consist of questions about the practical and theoretical basis for the student's research work.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is expected to pass the oral comprehensive exam as determined by a consensus of the student's examining committee.
Finding
Oral Exam Result
One graduate student took her oral comprehensive exam during the fall semester. She was evaluated by her examining committee and the consensus of the committee was that she passed.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester completed his comprehensive oral examination last summer (and passed).
Two students are expected to take their comprehensive oral examinations in the coming semester.
Indicator
Thesis Defense
Each student will orally present their master's thesis work to the public and will defend their work through questions from the public and additional questions about the research project from their thesis committee.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
Each student is expected to pass the thesis defense as determined by a consensus of the student's thesis committee.
Finding
Thesis Defense Result
Once graduate student successfully defended her master's thesis, as judged by her thesis committee, during the fall semester of 2009.
A second student who also officially graduated at the end of the fall semester successfully defended his thesis during the summer of 2009.
Two students are planning to defend their master's theses this coming semester.
All of the students who defended their thesis have had a problem meeting the deadlines and expectations of the format for the library thesis check.
Indicator
Thesis References/Bibliography
Each student is expected to complete a thesis describing the basis for the research, the experiments and results of those experiments, and a discussion of those results. The basis for the research and the discussion of the results must be supported by appropriate reference to the scientific literature.
Criterion
Thesis References/Bibliography
As part of the defense of the thesis, the thesis committee will evaluate the quality of scientific referencing in the manuscript.
Finding
Evaluation Of Thesis References/Bibliography
Only one student completed her master's thesis this academic year. Her committee found that her scientific references in her thesis were of acceptable quality.
Action
Continue Master's Thesis Work
We will continue to work with our graduate students to help them complete their Master's Thesis.
Objective
After Graduate School Placement
Upon completion of the program and the successful completion and defense of their master's thesis, we expect that nearly all of our students will either find a chemically-related job upon graduation (such as working in a research or analytical lab) or will go on for advanced graduate studies.
Indicator
Placement
The indicator for this objective will be the proportion of our graduating graduate students who either find a chemically-related job or go on for advanced graduate studies.
Criterion
Graduate Placement Rate
Ninety-five percent of our graduating graduate students are expected to have found a chemically-related job or to have entered a program for advanced graduate studies within one year of completion of our program.
Finding
Successful Graduate Placement
Since the Fall of 2008, six graduate students have completed their M.S. degrees, and all six are either employed in a chemically-related field, or are enrolled in Ph.D. programs. Three (Radhika Burra, Karl Kuklenz and Michael Towler) are employed (at the University of Louisville Center for Regulatory & Environmental Analytical Metabolomics, GE Water & Process Technologies, and the Sam Houston State University Regional Crime Laboratory, respectively), and three (Patricia Chapela, Jonathan Childress and Sajini Randeniya) are enrolled in Ph.D. programs (at Rice University, Iowa State University and the University of Georgia, respectively).
Action
Continue To Monitor Placement After Program Completion
We will continue to monitor what happens to our graduate students after they complete their M.S. degrees.