Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report for Exam | BIOL 3302, Exams of Biology

Download Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report for Exam | BIOL 3302 and more Exams Biology in PDF only on Docsity! The University of Texas-Pan American Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report AY 2005-2006 Fall College: _____College of Science and Engineering______________ Degree Program/Major: _______Biology_____ Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose Mission Statement: The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) serves the higher education needs of a rapidly growing, international, multicultural population in the South Texas Region. The University preserves, transmits and creates knowledge to serve the cultural, civic, and economic advancement of the region and the state. The University provides students advanced instruction in academic programs offered through innovative delivery systems that lead to professional certification, and baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. Through teaching, research, creative activity and public service, UTPA prepares students for lifelong learning and leadership roles in the state, nation and world community. A total of 30 students graduated from UTPA in December 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Seven were transfer students. For the 23 students who did their undergraduate degrees at UTPA, average time between matriculation and graduation was 4.8 years. The department has begun the development of an assessment tool, and three areas have been completed. The assessment test was administered in only a single section of Biology 4100 (seminar) Fall 2005. As a result, only four December graduates participated in this portion of the assessment process. The biological writing course (Biol 3302) is part of the assessment tool, but was not required as part of the degree plan prior to the 2002-2004 catalog. Therefore, only 11 of the 30 graduates completed the course and provided data for this portion of the assessment. Student Learning Outcomes Means of Assessment Criteria for Success *Assessment Results* (Use actual data to describe annual performance.) **Use of Results** (What change was made?) The biology graduate knows the role of the cell in life and living systems, and understands the interrelationships among subcellular structures that contribute to its functioning as a unit. Cell/molecular course Assessment Exam administered in seminar course All Biology graduates must pass a cell/molecular course with a grade of “D” or higher. 80% of students will answer 70% or more of the cell/molecular questions correctly on the assessment exam. All Biology graduates passed one of the following cell/molecular courses with a D or higher. Four of the 30 December 2005 graduates completed the assessment test. Average score was 55% correct. Students scored below expectations in the area of cell/molecular biology. Criterion for success not met. Most biology graduates follow a traditional four-year track. The December graduates are not necessarily representative of the department as a whole. Further, the percentage of graduates who completed the assessment test is not sufficient to be considered representative, and therefore, no strategies have been developed at this time. The Biology graduate understands the role of DNA in inheritance and can explain how environmental conditions influence natural selection processes and contribute to adaptation. Genetics/Evoluation Course Assessment Exam administered in seminar course All biology graduates must pass a genetics/evollution course with a grade of “D” or higher 85% of students will answer 70% or more of the genetics/evolution questions answered correctly on the assessment exam. All biology graduates have passed one of three courses with a strong genetics component (genetics, evolution, or bacterial genetics). Four of the 30 December graduates completed the assessment test. Average score was 52.5%. Students score below expectations in the area of genetics evolution. Criterion for success not met. Most biology graduates follow a traditional four-year track. The December graduates are not necessarily representative of the department as a whole. Further, the percentage of graduates who completed the assessment test is not sufficient to be considered representative, and therefore, no strategies have been developed at this time. The Biology graduate is aware of the diversity of life, and understands interrelationships among organs and organ systems within an organism, and interrelationships between an organism and its environment. Assessment Exam administered in seminar course 85% of the students will answer 70% or more of the morphology questions answered correctly on the assessment exam. All biology graduates have completed and passed a course designed to address the diversity of life. Because the assessment tool to measure knowledge relevant to this outcome has not yet been developed, it is impossible to ascertain whether this criteria has been met. No data available. Strategies to develop an assessment tool to measure knowledge in the area of cell/molecular biology have been discussed and agreed upon. The Biology graduate is familiar with the tremendous diversity in structure (organellar, cellular, organismal) and how that relates to the Assessment Exam administered in seminar course 85% of the students will answer 70% or more of the ecology/environmental science questions answered correctly on All graduates have passed a course dealing with morphology. Because the department has not completely developed an assessment tool to measure knowledge in this area, it is not Strategies to develop an assessment tool to measure knowledge in the area of cell/molecular biology have been discussed and agreed upon.