CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATION REPORT
Planning and Review Committee
Consultant Recommendation
I.
Degree: BS in Science Education
Date of Review: 2014-2015
Program Director: Kevin Mason
PRC Consultant(s): Kyle Kleist and John Klem
Purpose of the Review: This review was conducted to assess the quality of the BS in
Science Education program as part of the ongoing seven-year review cycle of UW-Stout
programs.
Committee Findings: The PRC recommends continuation of this program
through the next scheduled review in 2021 and that the recommendations made by the
committee be implemented.
Abstract: The BS in Science Education program at UW-Stout was implemented in 2009.
The program provides students with the knowledge and skills required to be science teachers
in the K-12 education system. The program boasts a 100% job placement rate since the
program began in 2009 and is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction (DPI) and accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher
Education (NCATE). The program has seen a decline in enrollment even though Science
teachers are in high demand in Wisconsin and nationally. The program director has provided
good leadership and is ensuring that the program is up-to-date and continues to work with
program faculty and the marketing department to increase student enrollment.
II.
Process Followed for Current Review:
The PRC consultants met with the program director to review the procedures and offer
assistance. Data regarding several aspects of the program were collected from juniors and
seniors currently enrolled in the program, key faculty and alumni. The data was analyzed
and returned to the program director and PRC members. The program director then
completed the self-study report and presented the report to the PRC. The consultants then
wrote the recommendation report. This report was forwarded to the Director of the
School of Education and the Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human
Sciences for their response. The PRC reviewed the dean’s response, approved the
recommendation report and forwarded the report to the Faculty Senate.
III.
Previous Review Year: The BS in Science Education program was implemented in
2009 and is being reviewed by the PRC committee for the first time.
Previous Recommendations for Program Director: N/A
Previous Recommendations for Department Chair: N/A
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Response from Department Chair: N/A
Previous Recommendations for Dean: N/A
Response from Dean: N/A
IV.
Current Year Program Review:
Program Strengths-Indicate Source:
 The program boasts a 100% job placement rate, since the program began in 2009
(PD-Self Study, Alumni Survey).
 The program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
and accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
(NCATE) (PD Self-Study).
 To improve retention and graduation rates, the program director has emphasized
personalized advisement (PD-Self Study). This includes
o Meeting with prospective students prior to acceptance into the program
o Attending Campus Preview days
o Individualized meetings with prospective change of majors and transfer
students.
 The program has engaged in multiple recruiting efforts to increase enrollments during
the past several years (PD-Self Study, Student Survey).
 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) student organization was created in
2009 to give students opportunities to engage with other students and professionals
(PD-Self Study, Student Survey).
 The School of Education provides support and resources for students to successfully
complete the assessments required for teacher licensure in the state of Wisconsin,
including (PD-Self Study, Student Survey)
o PRAXIS I Core Exam
o PRAXIS II Content Exam
o Portfolios
o Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
 According to the 2014 program specific survey, alumni rated the program the highest
in the following areas (Alumni Survey, PD-Self Study):
o Utilization of technology (mean score of 4.33 on a 5.00 point scale)
o Appreciating the natural or physical sciences (mean score of 4.33 on a 5.00
point scale)
o Academic advising (mean score of 4.33 on a 5.00 point scale)
o Understand the central concepts of the discipline they teach (mean score of
4.67 on a 5.00 point scale)
o Creating meaningful learning experiences (mean score of 4.67 on a 5.00 point
scale).
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Most of the graduates of the program are teaching in the state of Wisconsin, meeting
a local need for science teachers in middle and high schools (PD-Self Study, Alumni
Survey, Student Survey).
There are four field experiences required in the program which help the students to
connect theory and practice (PD-Self Study).
The unique design of the Science Education program at UW-Stout allows students to
choose from a variety of different science certifications, including majors in
broadfield science, biology, chemistry, and physics as well as minors in biology,
chemistry, physics, earth and space science, and environmental science (PD-Self
Study, Key Instructor Survey).
Issues of Concern:
1. The program has a low enrollment (PD-Self Study, Alumni Survey).
o The supply shortage of future science teachers in the state of Wisconsin and
the nation is well known. The recruitment of new science teachers is a local,
state, and national priority.
2. The Science Education program is in need of a new Microteaching Lab for the
STMED 460 - Teaching Methods course (PD-Self Study).
3. According to the 2014 program specific survey, alumni rated the program the
lowest in the followings, writing effectively, appreciating the value of literature and
the arts, and making decisions ethically (PD-Self Study, Alumni Survey).
o Alumni Survey had an N of 3, which makes it difficult to draw any
conclusions from the data. The program can explore these finding in more
detail to ascertain if there is a need to address them.
Recommendations for the Program Director:
1. Continue working with Chair and department faculty to implement a marketing plan
to address low enrollment in the program.
2. Work with Chair and Dean to seek funding for new Microteaching Lab.
3. Explore student needs in the writing, appreciation of literature and the arts and ethical
decision making.
Recommendations for the Chair of Department:
1. Work with Dean, program director and department faculty to implement
marketing/recruitment plan
2. Work with Dean, Director of School of Education and program director to seek
funding for new Microteaching Lab
Recommendations for the Director of the School of Education and Dean:
1. Work with Chair and program director to implement marketing/recruitment plan
2. Work with Chair and program director to seek funding for new Microteaching Lab
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