Assessment Report
Biology
2007-2008 Academic Year
Mission
The fundamental mission of the Biology Department is to provide students an environment that encourages learning, critical thinking
and scholarship in Biology. The Department aspires to foster teaching and learning in accordance with the most current knowledge
and the science literacy standards of the National Science Foundation, and strives to provide service and research to assist and benefit
western North Carolina and society in general. We also support the NSF goals of training well-qualified science teachers for all levels
of instruction, preparing students for immediate careers in the sciences, and integrating research into our teaching as a means of
preparing our majors for graduate and professional programs and future careers in the Biological Sciences.
Intended Learning Outcomes, Experiences, and Methods of Assessment
It is intended that all students will attain a general foundation of knowledge and be able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the
various aspects of modern Biology listed below. Students will acquire these skills and knowledge in a four course core curriculum
that combines lecture and discussion as well as both field and laboratory experiences. These courses are: Principles of Biology I
(BIOL 140) Principles of Biology II (BIOL 141) Genetics (BIOL 240) and Ecology and Evolution (BIOL 241). The method of
assessment involves an analysis of student proficiency in each of the areas listed below based on their answers to exam questions that
specifically address each facet. Students who correctly answer 70% of the questions in a specific area are deemed to be proficient in
that area. Results are reported as the percentage of students successfully reaching that benchmark.
Results for 2007-2008
BIOL 140
Macromolecules
Cell structure and function
The cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis
Energy and energy harvesting pathways
Genetics
Molecular biology
80%
64%
70%
71%
75%
74%
BIOL 141
Characteristics and classification of single celled organisms
Characteristics and classification of the major phyla of non-vascular plants
Characteristics and classification of the major phyla of vascular plants
Characteristics and classification of the major phyla of invertebrates
Characteristics and classification of the major phyla of vertebrates
BIOL 240
Classical genetics and heredity
Mendelian genetics
Principles of population genetics
Molecular genetics
74%
79%
71%
72%
BIOL 241
Population genetic processes
Natural selection, speciation, autecology
Population dynamics
Community and ecosystem processes
89%
85%
74%
72%
81%
77%
86%
74%
79%