Forensic-Related Careers Or Advanced Graduate Studies
This performance indicator is a measure of post-graduate success with respect to employment in the area of forensic science or the pursuit of research or an advanced graduate degree.
Objective
Postgraduate Success
Upon completion of the MS program, graduates will be employed in the area of forensic science or will pursue advanced graduate studies or research.
KPI
Job Or Advanced Program Placement
The number of MSFS graduates that are successfully employed in forensic careers or pursue advanced degrees or full time research within 12 months of graduation.
Result
Postgraduate Success
The employment status of forensic science graduates is surveyed within twelve months of graduation. In 2015, 94% of graduates were successfully employed or pursuing advanced degrees. Of theses, 73% pursued work in public or private sector laboratories, 20% pursued research and 7% pursued careers in teaching.
Action
Postgraduate Success
MSFS graduates enjoy high rates of postgraduate success in terms of employment and the pursuit of advanced degrees. The extensive hands-on laboratory experience and FEPAC-accredited curriculum have been critical in terms of sustaining this high level of performance. The Department of Forensic Science must maintain current levels of laboratory instruction despite the high operational costs. Additionally, it must continue to invest in capital equipment to support instructional methods that are relevant to accredited forensic laboratories.
In the future we hope to retain graduates pursuing advanced degrees elsewhere to apply for the new PhD in Forensic Science (effective AY 2015-2016).
Goal
Increase Enrollment
To increase enrollment via recruitment and retention of qualified and motivated students.
Objective
Increase Enrollment
To increase enrollment via recruitment and retention of qualified and motivated students.
KPI
Graduate Research Assistantships
Financial resources available to support graduate assistantships and scholarships.
Result
Assistantship Support
During this academic year, the department received assistantship support to fully-fund ten of the twenty-eight graduate students in forensic science at a rate of $12,000/student (inclusive of scholarship).
KPI
Enrollment And Retention
Enrollment numbers and retention rates of students accepted into the Master of Science in Forensic Science annually.
Result
Enrollment And Retention
During this academic year, the number of students enrolled in the Master of Science in Forensic Science remained steady at twenty-eight. A total of twelve students graduated during the spring semester and sixteen new students were accepted into the program.
Action
Enrollment And Retention
Due to the growing number of FEPAC-accredited programs throughout the United States, the department must continue to offer student assistantships and scholarships in order to remain competitive. It must also increase marketing efforts. It has become evident that in order to maintain enrollment at current levels, participation in student receptions at national meetings, such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, are now imperative.
Goal
Excellence In Teaching, Research And Service
Sustained excellence in teaching, research and service at the department level.
Objective
FES
All faculty will engage in research, teaching, and service.
KPI
Faculty Evaluation System
Faculty are evaluated per University guidelines on research, teaching, and service. Faculty must be actively engaged in sustained efforts that demonstrate effective research (evidenced by publications and supervision of student-directed research), teaching (evidenced by student evaluation scores on IDEA that meet department expectations), and service (evidenced by documented service activities to the department, college, university, and academic community at large). 100% of faculty in the department will meet or exceed the minimum expectations in all three areas.
Result
Faculty Performance
The standardized Faculty Evaluation System (FES) matrix utilized by the College of Criminal Justice showed that all faculty performed at or above the minimum expectations in terms of research, teaching and service.
During this academic year, two additional faculty members within the Department of Forensic Science received external funding from the National Institute of Justice, bringing the total number of faculty to four (six total).
Action
Faculty Evaluation
The department must continue its efforts to distribute graduate student researchers more evenly among faculty and more importantly, encourage participation in underrepresented disciplines. We will continue to encourage interaction between students and new faculty and in particular, faculty members located outside of the main campus location who interact with the student cohort on a limited basis. The addition of a new faculty member next year should help alleviate the burden associated with the large number of students supervised by some faculty members.
Objective
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
Maintain sufficient resources in terms of physical facility, laboratory space and scientific equipment, to support teaching and research.
KPI
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
Resources in terms of physical facility and scientific (capital) equipment should be sufficient to meet current department needs and sustain future growth.
Result
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
The department continues to struggle with inadequate physical space, particularly with respect to teaching and research laboratories. None of the tenure track faculty have research laboratories and this places significant pressure on faculty directing MS and doctoral-level research. The department received $350,000 in capital equipment in support of the new doctoral program this year. However, there were delays receiving start-up funds for new faculty ($20,000) and funds were not available for a second new faculty member due to budget shortfalls within the college. Additionally, the department continues to struggle with costs associated with the repair/replacement of scientific equipment (which totalled $79,000 in FY 15).
Action
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
At present there are no plans to allocate the department additional space. It should be noted that the Chemistry Department, with whom we currently share a building, are also in need of additional space. The Department of Forensic Science is in need of a new building to support its current and future needs. The department relies heavily on Higher Education Assistance Funds (HEAF) to support its mission with respect to scientific (capital) equipment needs. More recently the department has been establishing partnerships with industry in an effort to offset some of those costs.
Goal
Enhance And Develop Academic Program Quality
Enhance and develop academic program quality and scope by implementing a new doctoral degree in forensic science.
Objective
Doctoral Program Implementation
Implement the interdisciplinary doctoral program in forensic science.
KPI
Doctoral Program Implementation
Effective implementation the doctoral degree in forensic science.
Result
PhD In Forensic Science
The PhD in Forensic Science was approved in July 2014 by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and five students advanced to doctoral candidacy during the Spring of 2015. Implementation of the program in such a short time frame was challenging, however, and was hampered by delays acquiring the necessary staff (administrative) support.
Action
PhD In Forensic Science
Although the PhD in Forensic Science was implemented, the additional administrative staff member (anticipated Sept 1, 2014) was delayed until mid-January 2015 due to budgetary constraints. The THECB report already acknowledged the heavy administrative burden of existing personnel within the department, so although implementation was achieved, it was extremely challenging to do so.
Objective
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
Maintain sufficient resources in terms of physical facility, laboratory space and scientific equipment, to support teaching and research.
KPI
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
Resources in terms of physical facility and scientific (capital) equipment should be sufficient to meet current department needs and sustain future growth.
Result
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
The department continues to struggle with inadequate physical space, particularly with respect to teaching and research laboratories. None of the tenure track faculty have research laboratories and this places significant pressure on faculty directing MS and doctoral-level research. The department received $350,000 in capital equipment in support of the new doctoral program this year. However, there were delays receiving start-up funds for new faculty ($20,000) and funds were not available for a second new faculty member due to budget shortfalls within the college. Additionally, the department continues to struggle with costs associated with the repair/replacement of scientific equipment (which totalled $79,000 in FY 15).
Action
Physical Facility And Scientific Resources
At present there are no plans to allocate the department additional space. It should be noted that the Chemistry Department, with whom we currently share a building, are also in need of additional space. The Department of Forensic Science is in need of a new building to support its current and future needs. The department relies heavily on Higher Education Assistance Funds (HEAF) to support its mission with respect to scientific (capital) equipment needs. More recently the department has been establishing partnerships with industry in an effort to offset some of those costs.