Program Development Plan
DRAFT
Program:
Environmental Science (ES)
DRAFT
Department: Chemistry and Physics
Date: TBD
Strengths: The ES program …
• has a strong program director in Dr. Laura DeWald
• curriculum and participating faculty’s quality and breadth of academic training
• environmental health and natural resources/conservation components are relatively unique
• capstone course does a very good job of integrating skills learned during the program in a real world problem-solving setting
• sustainability theme for the program is relevant, popular, and meaningful
• two-year plans force students to focus on career objectives at an appropriate time, and can provide a tool for assessment
activities
Recommendations
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Date of
Review
Mission and strategic vision of WCU
1. Consider building current ties with
ENVH and strengthening the role of
ENVH in the curriculum to focus on
issues of environmental justice,
environmental degradation, and
human and ecosystem health
(VI.a, ¶2, p. 8)
Curriculum
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs
DRAFT
Recommendations
2. Create two new ES courses for the
major – includes recasting ES101 as a
200-level course (on seminal and
current works in environmental
science and sustainability) and
creation of a 300-level course
(designed to better prepare students
for sustainability projects they will
encounter in the capstone course and,
eventually, in the workplace)
Program Development Plan
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
Drop ES 101 and
replace with ES 250
and ES 350.
DRAFT
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Date of
Review
ESEC
Spring
2012
ESEC
Spring
2012
Consider keeping ES
101 to review
usefulness.
(VI.b.i, ¶1, pp. 8-9)
3. Reexamine several existing courses or
categories for possible changes,
including Laboratory Competency,
Social Science Competencies, and
ES495
(VI.b.ii, ¶1, pp. 9-10)
Revised curriculum to
add and remove
courses (add CHEM
139)
Added PAR to ES
4. Enhance assessment of program
(through pre-/post- measurements
using ES150 and ES495, QEP
eBriefcase, and improved metrics such
as post-graduation employment and
graduate school entrance statistics)
(VI.b.iii, ¶1, p. 10)
Faculty Resources
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs
DRAFT
Recommendations
5. Faculty on the ESEC should receive a
letter of formal appointment from the
administration in recognition of their
service.
(VI.c.i, ¶1, p. 10)
6. Formalized process for evaluating
faculty contributing to the program
(by PD alone or in consultation with
ESEC)
Program Development Plan
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
DRAFT
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Began this process
with last two
appointees.
Deans of AS and
HH
Assign formal
designation for ESEC.
Provost
Date of
Review
Same as #5
(VI.c.i, ¶2, pp. 10-11)
7. Recruit professors from nonparticipating departments to assist in
teaching the new ES courses (such as
from ENGL, PAR, ET, etc.)
(VI.c.i, ¶3, p. 11)
8. Add another part-time, or ideally, fulltime professor in ES, or consider
short-term solutions, such as a postdoctoral fellow, a shared hire, or a
faculty ‘buy-out’ from another
department
Consider rotating
assignment with
course responsibility
and buying out
Deans of AS and
HH, Provost
(VI.c.ii, ¶1, p. 11)
Student Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs
DRAFT
Recommendations
Program Development Plan
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
DRAFT
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Date of
Review
9. Better advertising and advising, with
special attention to women and
underrepresented groups through
improved website, pamphlets and/or
newsletters
(VI.d.i, ¶1, p. 11)
10. Create a greater sense of community
by holding informal monthly
lunchbags or by hosting an occasional
high profile speaker
(VI.d.ii, ¶1, p. 12)
11. Develop several virtual tracks through
the major and post these on the
website
(VI.d.iii, ¶1, p. 12)
12. Periodic reexamination of student
performances is needed to identify
upper-level courses that truly demand
certain prerequisites
(VI.d.iv, ¶1, p. 12)
Creation of ES
250/350 will help with
community
ESEC will continue to
discuss options
ESEC
Spring
2012
Spring
2013
Considering student
plans as example of
how to complete plans
(provided on website)
(need all programs to
have 2 years available)
Completed as part of
self-study and
curriculum revision,
some courses
eliminated
Spring
2012
13. A separate entrance to the director’s
office would be desirable
(VI.d.v, ¶1, p. 12)
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs
DRAFT
Recommendations
Program Development Plan
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
DRAFT
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Date of
Review
14. A visible location to display ES
posters and other ES materials would
help to foster a sense of identity for
the program and its majors
(VI.d.v, ¶1, p. 12)
15. Make research opportunities more
visible and available for ES majors
(VI.d.vi, ¶1, p. 12)
Administrative Structure
16. The administration should examine
the feasibility of moving the program
director into a full-time position in a
single department
Establish rationale and
policy for
interdisciplinary
programs
Deans of AS and
HH, Provost
(VI.e, ¶1, p. 12)
17. Re-examine the size and composition
of ESEC as the major grows and as
current members assume greater
administrative responsibilities in their
home departments/programs and
consider adding 1-3 at-large members
(VI.e, ¶2, pp. 12-13)
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs
DRAFT
Recommendations
Program Development Plan
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
DRAFT
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Date of
Review
18. The new AFE-TPR model should be
employed in the event new faculty are
added to the ES program (Deans of
AS and HH may wish to examine
these recommendations)
(VI.e, ¶3, p. 13)
Resources
19. Dedicated administrative support is
needed if the ES major is to grow, as a
0.5 FTE Program Director cannot be
expected to handle additional
recommended initiatives
Define needs of
administrative support
Program
Director, ESEC
Look at along with
other faculty issues
Provost
Define needs
ESEC
(VI.f.i, ¶1, p. 13)
20. The current budget may need to be
increased to support increased
advertising and outreach and new ESspecific courses
Look at summer
revenue sharing
(VI.f.ii, ¶1, p. 13)
21. Dedicated workspace/lab is needed
that is equipped with computers, large
tables (e.g., to spread maps), and
laboratory and field equipment and
supplies
Consider preassigned
space for classrooms
(VI.f.iii, ¶1, p. 13)
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs
DRAFT
Recommendations
Program Development Plan
Resources needed
C = current
R = reallocation
N = new
Strategic Action
DRAFT
Costs
Person(s)
Responsible
Date of
Review
22. Look for more internship and study
away opportunities for ES majors,
including more local internships that
could facilitate on-campus
sustainability efforts and sending more
than two students to Highlands
Biological Station
(VI.f.iv, ¶1, p. 13)
Outreach
23. Make ES presence and activities
known to WCU students and alumni
and the local community through
website, newsletters, and press
releases
(VI.g, ¶1, pp. 13)
24. Consider joining the National Council
for Science and the Environment
and/or other organizations such as the
recently formed Association for
Environmental Studies and Sciences
Will be reviewed by
Dean/Provost
Consider ESEC
joining AESS
(VI.g, ¶2, pp. 14)
Environmental Science
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Academic Affairs