'
ATMCC
Truckee Me•dowe Community College
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013-14
Program/Unit Reviewed: Biology
Self-Study Chair: Melissa Deadmond
Division: Sciences
Dean: Ted Plaggemeyer
Year of Last PUR: 2011-2012
Year of next PUR: 2018-19
Program/Unit Mission Statement: The mission of the Biology Department is to provide students the
basic principles and concepts of modern biology in order to establish a foundation for those pursuing
careers in the natural sciences as well as allied health professions. As such, the Biology Department
offers college transfer courses for biology majors, provides prerequisite classes for allied health and
other programs, and supports the College general education requirements in the natural sciences.
The Description of the Degree(s)/Emphasis(s)/Certificate(s) for your PUR area are listed below. Please review for
accuracy.
Description of Degree/Emphasis/Certificates: This is a two-year transferable program leading to an
Associate of Science with an Emphasis in Biology. The curriculum includes a core of courses in the
biological and physical sciences and mathematics. All courses recommended will partially satisfy the
Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno.
SECTION I
The Outcomes and Measures listed below were retrieved from Degree/Emphasis or Certificate submissions
provided by your area to CAP and approved. Please review the outcomes to ensure accuracy. This will be the first
year that we officially collect data through the PUR process concerning these degree /eve/learning outcomes. If
your area is scheduled foro PUR in the nearfuture, please plan on reporting assessment efforts around these
learning outcomes when you participate in your PUR. (NO ACTION REQUIRED- PLEASE REVIEW)
Biology Degree Goals/Outcome:
•
Apply principles of mathematics and physical sciences to laboratory practices and biological
processes.
•
Explain concepts and theories in molecular structure and function, cellular processes, and genetics.
•
Demonstrate knowledge of the structural and physiological functions of organisms, their ecological
context, and the evolutionary relationships and hierarchical organization of biological diversity.
•
Demonstrate proficient use of standard laboratory equipment and follow safe laboratory practices;
apply the method of scientific inquiry by designing a controlled experiment, and collecting, analyzing
and interpreting data; and present findings in written and oral formats.
SECTION II
The following Strategies were identified in your most recent Program/Unit Review. Please respond to the
strategies by including the status, actions taken to respond to the strategy, projected timeline, and if
resource issues are anticipated to fulfill the strategy.
... -
..ATMCC
Truok•• Me•dow• Community College
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013-14
Unit Strategies
Degree assessment
needs to be in
place. A beginning
plan can be
adjusted as the
situation evolves.
Continue to work
with advising
regarding reverse
transfer to increase
the number of
graduates with a
Biology emphasis.
Status - i.e.
ongoing,
complete
Ongoing.
Action
Recap of accomplishments
Work to do
Will assess the degree via a meta-analysis
of course assessment since degree
outcomes reflect the culmination of
course outcomes.
Time line
Ongoing.
Met with Academic Advising in January
2014, presented new courses and
directions within the Biology
Department, and asked advisors to
encourage students to consider the AS
Biology emphasis.
Ongoing.
Will have in
place by
Spring 2015.
Anticipated
Resource
Issues
None.
We will be receiving a list of declared AS
Biology Emphasis from Andy Hughes in
Admissions and will attempt to contact
those students to offer department
support. Mr. Hughes also receives a list of
students who have already transferred to
UNR and accumulated enough credits to
earn an AS. We will ask for names and
emails of those students so that we may
contact them and encourage them to
apply for an AS Biology degree.
Monitor the impact
ofthe creation of
the Associate of
Science in
Community Health
Sciences on the
graduation rate of
the Associate of
Science/Biology
Emphasis.
No longer
applicable.
Coordinate a life Science Summit with
appropriate UNR counterparts.
Fall2015.
The number of AS Biology Emphasis
graduates, two, in the past five years is
too small to be significantly impacted by
the AS Community Health Science (CHS)
Emphasis. A better strategy is to focus
efforts on increasing graduates.
Furthermore, UNR is planning changes to
its Bachelor's Degree in CHS that will
force TMCC to modify the AS CHS
Emphasis in order to reestablish seamless
transfer to UNR's new B.S. in Public
Health.
Complete.
Resources for
hosting the
life Science
Summit will
be needed.
Promotional
materials for
marketing
the AS
Biology
Emphasis.
Faculty with
Public Health
expertise to
teach
following
changes to
the CHS
degree.
.. .
...
ATMCC
Truckee Me•dow• Community College
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013~14
Unit Strategies
Status - i.e.
ongoing,
complete
Action
Recap of accomplishments
Work to do
Timeline
Provide further
clarification on the
proposed Biology
faculty advising
position, and
would this position
still be necessary if
an Associate of
Science in Applied
Science is available
for students?
Clarification
complete.
The proposed advising position was
designed for the transferable AS Biology
Emphasis. The proposed AS in Applied
Science was implemented as the AS
Community Health Science Emphasis.
Clarification
complete.
The Department is currently considering
implementation of multiple faculty
advisors, who might be compensated
with funds returned to the department
from Dr. Ellsworth's INBRE grant.
Advisor trial
to begin
2014-2015
academic
year.
An additional
Biology teaching
faculty is a valid
request and the
data supports this
(i.e. increasing FullTime Equivalence
(FTE)).
Currently
searching.
The Biology Department is presently
conducting a search for 2 tenure track
faculty positions in to start Fall2014.
Search to be
completed in
Spring 2014
with faculty
to start in
Fall2014.
The committee
validates the
Department's
justification for an
additional full-time
faculty member
who teaches full
time and also
recognizes the
need for a faculty
member who can
serve as an advisor;
perhaps the
Department could
seek an additional
assignment under
CompleteNot
applicable.
The Biology Department is presently
conducting a search for 2 tenure track
faculty positions in to start Fall2014.
Search to be
completed in
Spring 2014
with faculty
to start In
Fall2014.
"" 30% of Biology faculty are advising
students through the Success First
program.
The Department is currently considering
implementation of multiple faculty
advisors, who might be compensated
with funds returned to the department
from Dr. Ellsworth's INBRE grant. This
may serve as a pilot towards the halftime position discussed in the PUR.
Advisor trial
to begin
2014-2015
academic
year.
Anticipated
Resource
Issues
Possible a
full-time CHS
faculty
member if
the program
grows
significantly.
Salary and
fringe for
two (2) new
faculty at
levels
following
recommenda
tions of the
Salary Equity
Study.
...ATMCC
Truck•• M••dowe Community College
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013-14
Unit Strategies
Time line
Anticipated
Resource
Issues
The prep lab currently needs to replace
the chemical fume hood.
Have
requested
that HVAC
staff first
take a look at
it, but have
not yet heard
back.
Funds will be
needed to
replace the
fume hood.
Have not yet
received an
estimate.
We have been asked to expand General
Microbiology (BIOL 251) offerings at the
Redfield Campus, but the laboratories are
not equipped to handle the safe
maintenance and disposal of live
microbes.
Have started
acquiring
necessary
equipment
piece by
piece but will
need ongoing
funds
towards an
autoclave
maintenance
contract that
the
department
cannot
support with
Considerable
funds will be
required . See
attached
budget,
which will
need to be
updated.
Status - i.e.
ongoing,
complete
Action
Recap of accomplishments
Work to do
Upgrades
ongoing.
$54,000 worth of upgrades towards a
the Nevada Faculty
Alliance (NFA)
contract that
would preserve
core teaching
functions and not
further impact the
negative effect of
release time on
teaching
availability.
The committee
validates the need
for facilities
upgrades,
particularly when
student and faculty
safety issues are of
concern.
new ventilation system in the Anatomy &
Physiology cadaver room were
completed last year, which vastly
improved the temperature and reduced
the inhalation of preservative fumes.
...ATMCC
Truckee Me•daw• Dammunlty Calleg•
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013-14
Unit Strategies
Status - i.e.
ongoing,
complete
Action
Recap of accomplishments
Work to do
Timeline
Anticipated
Resource
Issues
labor
operating
budgets.
There should be a
way to fast-track
areas that impact
student and faculty
safety and put the
College at risk for
liability issues;
Biology needs
should be a
priority.
The committee
recommends that
the Department
seek the additional
lab fee through the
established
process: that a
request is made,
approved by the
President, and then
presented to the
Board of Regents
with justification.
Not
applicable.
Fast-tracking and granting funding
priority to the Biology Department is a
decision made above the Department
level, either through the RAP process, or
at the discretion of the VPFAS to move
funds.
Complete.
Complete.
The primary course where additional fees
are needed, BIOL 251, General
Microbiology, is already at maximum; we
cannot request more. Current fees in
other lab courses are adequate.
Complete.
Alternatively,
TMCC has been
paying for
increased lab fees
for the past two
years; the
Department could
seek funding
through this
process.
The committee
recommends that
the Biology
program track and
analyze its needs
(Institutional
Complete.
The College paid for BIOL 202 (General
Botany) lab fees in Spring 2012. A $40 lab
fee has now been transferred to
students.
Complete.
Complete.
There was some confusion initially
caused by a single lab account where it
was difficult to discern expenditures for
Biology, Physical Sciences and Nutrition,
but that has been resolved. Biology and
the other sciences now have their own
2013-2015
(lA account).
The
Department
will have to
seek
additional
funding to
ATMCC
Truak•• Meeclowe Camm~~nlty College
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013-14
Unit Strategies
Advancement
account, operating,
and student fees)
independently of
the combined
programs.
Status- i.e.
ongoing,
complete
Action
Recap of accomplishments
Work to do
lab accounts, where expenditures are
tracked.
We believe the "Instructional
Advancement" account that the PUR
committee referred to was a
misinterpretation of our use of "lA"Instructional Aide-in the PUR. This
account is monitored as part of routine
business by the Lab Coordinator, who
hires lAs for various Biology and other
science lab sections.
The Biology Department monitors its
operating funds as part of routine
business, and there is nothing
extraordinary that warrants further
monitoring of this account.
Timeline
Anticipated
Resource
Issues
compensate
for the"' 30%
shortfall to
this account,
or risk
reducing
prep lab
assistance or
lab sections.
,L '
ATMCC
Truck•• Meectow• Dammunltr Cotl•a •
TMCC PROGRAM UNIT REVIEW- ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2013-14
SECTION Ill
(OPTIONAL- Fill out only if adding new Unit Strategies)
Please include any newly identified Strategies for the Program/Unit. Please respond to the strategies by
including the status, actions taken to respond to the strategy, projected timeline, and if resource issues
are anticipated to fulfill the strategy. If there are no new strategies, please leave this blank and no
signatures are required.
Unit Strategies
Status -i.e.
ongoing,
complete
Action
Recap of accomplishments
Work to do
Timeline
Investigate the need
for a Biomedical
(Clinical Lab
Technician) and/or
Biotechnology degree
or certificate.
Develop curriculum
towards a Biomedical
(Clinical Lab
Technician) or
Biotechnology degree
or certificate pending
results of the needs
assessment .
Currently
engaged.
Complete a needsassessment.
2014-2015.
Not yet
engaged.
Develop curriculum if the
needs assessment comes
back positive.
2015.
Anticipated
Resource Issues
What are they and
what are the
approximate costs.
Covered by Perkins
grant to Dr. Laura
Briggs.
Approvals
Chair/Director: Melissa A. Deadmond
Date: 3/ 31/14
Dean: Ted Plaaaemever
Date: 04/ 2/1 4
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Microbiology is a labor intensive, high cost course.
Budgetfor BloloM_ 251 Lab (Class of 24)
Start up costs
Con sumables, nonconsumables, equipment
Ongoing costs not covered by student lab fees
Auto clave Service (yearly cost)
Micr oscope service
Instructional Assistants
Total uncovered costs
Semester Bud_g_et for Biology 251 Lab (Class of 241
Micro Media
Micro Reagent s
Micro Consumables
Micro Non-<:onsumables
Micro Bugs
Total l ab Expenses
Student Lab Fees
Profit/Loss
Total
$ 33,269.00
$
7,50 0.00
$
500.00
$ 3,500.00
$ 11,500.00
Lab Fee
$50.00
Students
24
Total
$805.64
$123.22
$68].]1
$22.47
$1,639.05
$1,200.00
-$4 39.05