Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Academic Year 2014-15 Assessment Report
MISSION STATEMENT
The Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Montana-Missoula sees its mission as having four complementary but distinct parts. First,
we provide a sound, complete, and modern education for our undergraduate majors with sufficient preparation for either a career in a technical field or
admission to graduate school. Second, we provide quality instruction in physics and in astronomy to undergraduate and graduate non-majors. Third, we
provide technical expertise in physics, astronomy, and in computational methods to the University, the community, and the state. Fourth, we contribute to
the scientific community at the national and international levels by generating new knowledge through research in physics and astronomy. To achieve
each of these missions we rely on a faculty and staff who are dedicated to quality teaching, committed to research and scholarly activity, and engaged in
service to the University and the community.
DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES and ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC ISSUES
1. Provide a sound, complete, and modern education for our undergraduate majors. (1,2)
2. Provide quality instruction in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate non-majors. (1,2,4)
3. Provide opportunities for our undergraduate majors to be involved in research, teaching and outreach. (3,4)
4. Generate new knowledge through research in physics and astronomy. (3)
5. Contribute to the community and state through outreach in physics and astronomy. (2,3)
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS AND MEASUREMENT TOOLS
1
Course specific
testing
Laboratory
courses
Theory
courses
1. Learn the basic principles of physics or astronomy
x
x
x
2. Develop proficiency in critical thinking and problem
solving
x
x
x
3. Become familiar with various scientific instruments,
measurement equipment, diagnostic tools, electronic
circuits, and computer hardware and software
x
4. Develop the necessary mathematical knowledge and
skills to pursue the study of physics and astronomy
x
x
x
2
Senior Seminar
x
x
5. Be able to carry out independent research and
communicate the results of that research to their peers
Undergraduate
research
positions
x
RESULTS AND MODIFICATIONS
A challenge with, Goal 1, “Learn the basic
principles of physics or astronomy”, was that
We will be offering an experimental “Preparation for Intro. Physics” course for the third time in Summer
2015 and are in preparation for submitting this to become a permanent course.
students with no prior physics experience
struggled in our algebra-based physics
class.
A challenge with Goal 3, is that students
reached PHSX 444 Advanced Lab with
insufficient physics laboratory skills.
Students struggled to meet the demands
of this rigorous course.
An intermediate lab course, PHSX 323 Intermediate Physics Lab, was developed and is being offered for
the first time, Spring 2015. This is designed to provide a better bridge from lower-division physics laboratory
courses to the Advanced Lab course.
To help attain Goal 5, “Be able to carry out
independent research and communicate the
results of that research to their peers,” we
continue to emphasize undergraduate
involvement in research.
Last academic year the Department of Physics & Astronomy reconfigured salary lines to create a new
position: an Academic Advisor/Recruitment & Retention Coordinator. This position has multiple
responsibilities and one of them is contributing to student retention through coordination of internship
opportunities and student activities. These efforts are designed to increase the number of students with
research and internship experiences.
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APPENDICES
No appendices are included.
FUTURE PLANS FOR CONTINUED ASSESSMENT
The Department of Physics and Astronomy will continue to use pre-tests in introductory physics courses to ensure students have the necessary math
skills to succeed in the courses.
In Autumn 2010, we offered the Freshman Physics Experience for the first time. This course combined with our Senior Seminar course will allow us to
engage our majors at the freshman and senior level. We will use these courses to give the students a self-assessment of their physics and astronomy
knowledge, problem solving skills and ability to conduct independent research.
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