Departmental Assessment Update - Natural Sciences Report

Department: Biology
Program: BA, BS Biology; BS Marine Biology
Level: Undergraduate

1. Has your program developed learning outcomes? If yes, please list.

Yes. They are the same as the ones submitted last year.

2. If your program has learning outcomes, where are they published (e.g., department web page)?

Biology Program and Marine Biology Program web pages.

3. Do your faculty list course learning outcomes on their syllabi?

Most do on a voluntary basis.

4. Does your program have a curriculum map that links course outcomes to program outcomes? If so, please include.

Not yet. We are in transition, merging with the Department of Zoology into a new Department of Biology. Course outcomes and program outcomes will be under evaluation. In the meantime consult last year's statement.

5. Does your program benchmark or have goals for student performance? (e.g. 70% students will graduate within 5 years)

This is forthcoming. See #4.

6. Other than GPA, what data/evidence is used to determine that graduates have achieved stated outcomes for the degree? (i.e. capstone project, class assignment)

All faculty teaching BIOL courses are evaluated by enrolled students using the CAFE system. Teaching Assistants and Teaching Interns in these courses are evaluated by students using an in-house online system. Lab Coordinators provide feedback to their TAs and TIs. At the end of each semester, each TA completes a written survey instrument to evaluate his/her Lab Coordinator. These results are reviewed by the Director with the Lab Coordinators, in addition to their annual APT performance review. The Biology Advisor conducts an Exit Interview for each graduate. Each B.S. candidate is required to complete at least one directed research project. Each project is monitored by either the Biology Director or the Marine Biology Director. Two graduate Teaching Assistants were hired this past summer to independently evaluate ca. 60 final reports to determine if learning outcomes were being met. We have begun asking majors to submit results of their GRE and MCAT exams. The Biology Advisor is establishing protocols to more systematically track alumni. The Biology Program was evaluated as part of the CNS Review earlier this year.

7. Who interprets the evidence of student learning?

The Director of the Biology Program and the Director of the Marine Biology Program in concert with the Biology Program Steering Committee and the Marine Biology Program Steering Committee.

8. How are the assessment data/results used to inform decisions concerning the curriculum and administration of the program?

Individual instructors use student feedback to improve their teaching and courses. The program directors meet with individual faculty to develop mitigative steps to remedy problems as appropriate. The directors encourage and support faculty to participate in workshops which develop content and pedagogy, such as the HHMI summer institutes. Each program's steering committee develops and monitors policies implemented by the respective directors to assure high standards. The Biology Program Director has encouraged and guided faculty to include SLOs in their syllabi to improve communication of expectations.