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
Assist COAS In Development Of The Nursing Program
Faculty and staff from Biology will participate in the development of a new SHSU Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree program. The proposed nursing program will be housed in the COAS.
Indicator
BSN Planning
In the Fall 2010 semester, faculty and chair will establish a permanent and formal mode of communication with the SHSU Nursing Program Director. The communication will be designed to give faculty and chair feedback regarding how well the biology courses fit the professional needs of the nursing students.
Criterion
Faculty/staff Participation In BSN Development
The communication plan will be in place by June 1, 2011.
Finding
Progress
We do have a communication plan in use with Nursing. The BSN is now active, and a Department of Nursing has been established. We will be cooperating with them. We have a pre-nursing committee in Biology to coordinate BIO courses that nursing students take.
Action
Support
Now that we have shepherded the nursing program into its own department and degree, the Biology Department is committed to providing whatever support is necessary to see that the program succeeds.
Goal
Improve External Recruitment Efforts
The department will improve the student advising process.
Objective
Enhance Institutional Collaborations
The department will enhance its efforts to recruit highly qualified students from community colleges into the biology undergraduate programs.
Indicator
Recruitment From Community Colleges
Effectiveness of recruitment visits can be increased by providing faculty with an assistant for all 2010 - 2011 recruitment visits. The assistant will have the following duties: (1) provide prospective students with information about the application process and financial aid and (2) develop a list of the names and email addresses of prospective students and send a follow up email to the prospective students. The department chair will ask the SHSU Director of Community College Relations to provide the assistant.
Criterion
Community College Visits
The assistant will be appointed and will have performed the following duties: (1) provide prospective students with information about the application process and financial aid; and (2) develop a list of the names and email addresses of prospective students and send a follow up email to the prospective students.
Finding
Recruiting Visitations
Dr. Anne Gaillard visited Lone Star Community College last year and provided a seminar. Dr. Todd Primm provided a seminar for Victoria College. At this time we do not know how many students from those colleges will transfer as Biology majors.
Action
More Community College Visits Needed
We certainly need to visit more community colleges to recruit students who will be transferring to a four-year college. We need to brainstorm other avenues as well such as contacting science teachers at the community colleges and high schools to identify and target potential Biology majors.
Goal
Improve Student Advising Process
Improve the student advising process
Objective
Develop Clear Advising Guidelines
The advising for Bio and ESC majors and minors will be improved.
Indicator
Guideline Development
During the academic year of 2010 - 2011 the chair will develop a more detailed set of advising guidelines to be used by the Sam Center staff.
Criterion
Advising Guideline Development
A more detailed set of advising guidelines to be used by the Sam Center staff will be in place by June 1, 2011.
Finding
Focus On Advising
Since much of our lower level students (freshmen and sophomores) are centrally advised, we have developed a draft of guidelines for the Student Advising and Mentoring Center (SAM Center). With all the training for the new technology programs being implemented, this has been delayed a bit. In the meantime, the department has developed guidelines for Biology faculty advising, and we now have advising as an agenda item in evey faculty meeting.
Action
Assessing Guidelines
For AY 2012, we will be implementing the guidelines both in the SAM Center and in the department. We will be assessing feedback to improve the guidelines when necessary.
Goal
Developing An Alumni Base
Department will expand its alumni base.
Objective
Initiate Spring Graduation Recognition Event
Faculty will increase its alumni base.
Indicator
Pre-Commencement Ceremony Survey
In an effort to increase the effectiveness of the event members of the Department Events Committee will design a short survey to be distributed at next year's event. The survey will ask graduating students to provide future contact information as well as feedback about the pre-commencement ceremony. The survey data will be used to maintain future contact with graduates as well as improve the pre-commencement ceremony.
Criterion
Pre-Commencement Ceremony
The survey results will be available by June 1, 2011.
Finding
Alumni Base
An alumni survey was developed and placed on the departmental website. Hard copies were distributed at the annual department homecoming picnic. Information from completed forms is being inputted into a spreadsheet by office staff. The Department Assessment Committee will perform analyses.
Action
Community Building
The annual department homecoming picnic provides an opportunity to connect with alumni, who are our greatest advertisement. We will seek ways to make other opportunities for alumni community building.
Goal
Improve Department Webpage
The content of the department webpage will be revised and updated.
Objective
Improve Departmental Webpage
Improve the content of the department's webpage.
Indicator
Webpage Management
Tracking the number of prospective students who visit the webpage and their opinion of the webpage's content will document improvement of the webpage.
Criterion
Webpage Management
Documented use of the webpage and any opinions gathered will be provided by June 1, 2011.
Finding
Webpage Successes
Since the website is sometimes the first opportunity to tell potential students about our programs, it is important to research the use of our website and respond to any feedback provided. Counters were installed on a number of the department pages. From October 2010 to March 2011, the main department page had 1485 hits per month, 434 on the main faculty page, and 85 his/month on the student profiles page.
The webpage was redesigned with a department history section added. A student profiles section, in which selected recent graduates tell, in their own words, what SHSU did for them. We also now maintain a Facebook page for Biology department alumni.
Action
What's Next?
We have worked so diligently to improve this part of recruitment efforts and believe it is as necessary as visits to schools. We need to make sure that we are prompt in replying to any requests for more information and make faculty and students available to speak with potential students via phone, e-mail, Facebook, and walk-ins.
Goal
Graduate Students Develop Professional Skills
Students will develop the professional skills necessary to complete projects relevant to the field of biology and communicate the results.
Objective
Graduate Students Communicate Research Findings
Graduate students will demonstrate the ability to communicate research findings in oral and written form through presentations at professional conferences.
Indicator
Student Presentations
The number presentations by graduate students at professional meetings will indicate the success of the department in preparing students for oral communication.
Criterion
Student Conference Presentations
We expect that at least 50% of the graduate students will submit conferences papers for peer review and all papers will be accepted for presentation.
Finding
Graduate Student Success
We were delighted that 80% of graduate students attended at least one conference, and 70%, presented their research to at least conference. We also held a department retreat, in which all graduate students gave either an oral or poster presentation, and all received feedback from faculty. Awards for best poster and best oral presentation were given as well. A number of research-active undergraduates also presented at the retreat.
Action
Graduate Student Mentoring
The Department Seminar Committee organized the retreat. This will become an annual event. We will also brainstorm how we might mentor and honor our graduate students even further.