M.S. DEGREE ENTOMOLOGY DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT PLANS GOALS 1. Graduates have advanced undergraduate competency in general biology and entomology, insect taxonomy, applied entomology, insect ecology, and insect physiology. 2. Graduates have graduate level competency in one area of specialization (e.g., insect behavior, medical entomology). 3. Graduates exhibit communicative and interpersonal skills appropriate for the profession of entomology, including fulfillment of the teaching requirement. 4. Graduates present and defend independent thesis research. 5. Graduates are active participants in professional societies and activities. Learning Outcomes Measurement & Assessment Activity Results, Context & Conclusions Competency in core curriculum Course papers, exams, and grades Masters comprehensive oral exam Mastery of one area of specialization Masters comprehensive oral exam Communicative competency Presentation of thesis research to professional society; completion of teaching requirement; Masters comprehensive oral exam Ability to conduct and defend independent Masters thesis defense research Activity in professional society Presentation of research at society meeting; service to the society; organization of meeting symposium Examples of program revision based on assessment results and conclusions
Ph.D. DEGREE GOALS 1. Graduates have advanced undergraduate competency in general biology; familiarity with the history of entomology and biology and current issues in entomology/biological sciences; and doctoral-level comprehension in core areas of the discipline (insect behavior, ecology, physiology, systematics and taxonomy, morphology, and applied entomology) 2. Graduates have a high level of proficiency in three areas of specialization including at least two of the following: insect physiology, biochemistry, behavior, ecology, systematics, morphology, toxicology, agricultural entomology, medical entomology, and forest entomology. 3. Graduates complete dissertation research that yields a cohesive, significant piece of work that advances the discipline. 4. Graduates exhibit communicative and interpersonal skills appropriate for the profession of entomology, including fulfillment of the teaching requirement. 5. Graduates are active participants in professional societies and activities. Learning Outcomes Measurement & Assessment Activity Results, Context & Conclusions Competency in general biology, history of entomology/biology, and core curriculum Mastery of three areas of specialization Ability to conduct and defend independent research Communicative competency Course papers, exams, and grades; doctoral comprehensive written and oral exams Doctoral comprehensive written and oral exams Research Proposal (written and oral presentation and defense); dissertation defense Presentation of dissertation research to professional society; completion of teaching requirement; doctoral comprehensive written and oral exams Activity in professional society Presentation of research at society meeting; service to the society; organization of meeting symposium Examples of program revision based on assessment results and conclusions
NON-THESIS M.S. DEGREE GOALS 1. Graduates have advanced undergraduate competency in general biology and entomology, insect taxonomy, applied entomology, insect ecology, and insect physiology. 2. Graduates have graduate level competency in one area of specialization (e.g., insect behavior, medical entomology). 3. Graduates exhibit communicative and interpersonal skills appropriate for the profession of entomology. 4. Graduates prepare a scholarly review paper in journal style that is reviewed by the thesis committee. Learning Outcomes Measurement & Assessment Activity Results, Context & Conclusions Competency in core curriculum, including 5 additional hours of graded course work Course papers, exams, and grades Masters comprehensive oral exam Mastery of one area of specialization Masters comprehensive oral exam Communicative competency Masters comprehensive oral exam Ability to research and write a scholarly review paper in journal style Review of scholarly paper by thesis committee Examples of program revision based on assessment results and conclusions
Examples of Program Revisions based on Prior Assessments Instituted continuous independent research requirement beginning in 2 nd semester of first year for doctoral students. Instituted oral defense of specialty research paper for preliminary exam in lieu of written comprehensive exam. Increased number of qualified faculty to supervise research. Encouraged use of alternative dissertation format. Increased number and rigor of required masters research papers. General revisions based on current assessment activities (which are ongoing) 1. The Department has instituted a Graduate Studies Committee. Two subcommittees have been established. One subcommittee will examine the WSU Entomology graduate program including the curriculum, graduate student performance, and graduate student needs. The Committee will survey current faculty, students, alumni and other departments of entomology and allied disciplines. The Committee will make recommendations to the full department faculty for consideration. Recommendations and discussion will take place at our annual entomology retreat. A second subcommittee will examine interactions between WSU and the entomology unit at the University of Idaho. The two universities have conducted joint instructional activities for over 30 years but the association has rarely been examined as to its true benefits and potential. The subcommittee will consist of members from the WSU Graduate Studies Subcommittee and an equivalent number of members from the University of Idaho. The Chairs of the two units will also serve on the subcommittee. 2. The Department will institute a survey to be sent to alumni of the Department. The survey will ask them to comment on their experiences at WSU and the training provided as to its appropriateness to their employment and professional development. As we want the survey to be quantifiable, we will work in conjunction with a professional unit that understands how to develop questions and evaluate responses so that a meaningful data set will be generated. The results of these efforts will be presented to the full faculty at our annual entomology retreat. 3. The Department is investigating methods available to provide graduate training (e.g., courses) to students housed as the Research and Extension Centers. The Department has purchased a second WECN system to be primarily used for course delivery and off-campus
examination participation. Additionally, the ARS/USDA Lab in Wapato, WA has purchased a WECN system so that courses can be delivered to the Wapato lab. We have numerous adjunct faculty at the Lab and they are very involved in our graduate training programs.
Examples of Program Revisions based on Current Assessment 1. Competency in Core Curriculum a. Institute a Graduate studies Committee that is evaluating the current graduate program as to its core requirements. The Committee will make recommendations to the full faculty. b. Conduct a survey of former graduate students to obtain their views on the adequacy of our core curriculum as a vehicle to train them for technical and professional positions. c. Assignment of specific core areas to examiners during the student s final examination. d. Identify and develop courses needed in order to produce graduates that are well-prepared to enter a changing professional marketplace. e. Evaluate all courses, but especially core courses, as to their content appropriateness and timeliness f. Develop a course in statistical methods. g. Develop a course in molecular methods. h. Provide courses, especially core courses, via distance methods, when students need to be at off campus locations especially Research and Extension Centers. 2. Mastery of Areas of Specialization a. Establish a student s program of study to include the core areas of entomology (and biology) as designated by the Department. Course work will fit the student s program of study. b. Encourage faculty and students to make full use of resources, including adjuncts, non-departmental faculty, and non-wsu faculty persons to develop the most appropriate mentoring committee to meet the student s needs. c. For MS students, the student will work with the major advisor to select an area of expertise for which the major advisor will serve as the primary examiner. Other committee members will be assigned to test in other subject areas, but to a lesser degree. d. For PhD students, establish a preliminary (written) examination committee when the student enrolls in the graduate program. The examination committee will consist of the major advisor and three other faculty selected on a rotating basis. Adjunct faculty will be included on examination committees. Each student will be examined in the areas of ecology, systematics and taxonomy, physiology, and applied entomology. The early assignment of the examination committee will allow the student to develop a rapport with the members of the examining committee. e. For PhD students, encourage full departmental participation in candidacy (oral) examinations through the use of distance transmission of the examination, which will allow for off-campus (adjunct and R&E Center) faculty participation.
3. Communicative Competency a. Ensure that students present the results of their studies at a professional or other appropriate meeting(s). Provide funding for students to attend meetings. b. Provide students with more opportunities to present the results of their studies to departmental faculty and other students. Develop opportunities for students to make presentations to faculty and students at the University of Idaho. c. Develop a comprehensive teaching requirement for graduate students. Provide students adequate opportunities to fulfill the teaching requirement at an appropriate time during their tenure in the Department. Discuss and incorporate the teaching requirement into the student s program of study when the program of study is developed. d. Develop a special topics or independent study course that will allow for optional teaching experience based on the needs of a student. Include methodology expertise. e. Allow students to attend the preliminary and final oral examinations of graduating students in order to give them an understanding of the process and relieve some apprehension. 4. Ability to Conduct and Defend Independent Research a. Ensure that the student develops a mentoring (graduate) committee within the first year of enrollment in the PhD program and the first semester for MS students. Committee members will be selected in conjunction with the major advisor. b. Ensure that the mentoring committee meets on a regular basis at least on an annual basis. c. Ensure that the student s program of study conforms to the requirements of the Graduate School and the Department. d. Develop a seminar series in which students read, evaluate, and discuss published research papers. e. Develop a course in statistical methods that is applicable to research being conducted by entomology, agricultural, and biological science students. f. Develop a course in molecular methods that can be geared to specific student needs. 5. Activity in Professional Societies a. Provide departmental support (funding) to join a professional society society to be chosen by the student and the major advisor. b. Encourage students to attend and make presentations at various, appropriate scientific meetings by providing partial or full support to attend the meeting. Students must be making a presentation in order to receive funding. c. Encourage students to provide service activities (e.g., committee membership and volunteer efforts at meetings) to professional societies. Recognize students that perform such activities through funding support. d. Award an outstanding student award on an annual basis to recognize student contributions including service to the Department and profession. e. Encourage students to become involved in ancillary studies that broaden their appreciation of the science. Make presentations concerning such studies at professional meetings.