Assessment Report
July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012
PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED
Earth and Environmental Sciences
BA/BS Earth Sciences Options
ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR Dr. Songlin Cheng, Chair
Undergraduate Studies Committee
YEAR __2__of a __3__YEAR CYCLE
1. ASSESSMENT MEASURES EMPLOYED
Briefly describe the assessment measures employed during the
year.

What was done?
EES 434 (Field Geology) was proposed as the capstone field course to
assess students’ abilities to apply knowledge learned to solve
problems in Earth Sciences. This field course was replaced by four
field experience modules in the summer of 2007. Among the four field
modules, module 2 (EES-499 A02 Field Mapping) is closely related to
EES 434. In the summer of 2012, because of low enrollment, only
independent study was offered (EES 499 B04) and no assessment
was conducted.

Who participated in the process?
Dr. Songlin Cheng, Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee.

What challenges (if any) were encountered?
1) Part of the assessment was to be done in connection with EES 434
(Field Geology). This course is no longer offered by the program, and
instead, four field modules were offered during the summer of 2011.
The modules include basic field methods, field geology, hydrologic
methods, and geophysics methods. The assessment Plan for BA and
BS Earth Sciences was modified in May, 2009, to reflect this change.
These field courses span the division between assessment years, and
are to be considered as a part of 2011-2012 assessment year.
Because of low enrollment, the Field Mapping course was offered as
an Independent Study course and no former assessment was
conducted.
2. ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
List the objectives and outcomes assessed during the year, and
briefly describe the findings for each.
Program Objectives BA/BS Earth Sciences:
Graduates will obtain positions as practicing geoscience professionals, or
pursue a graduate degree in Earth Sciences or related fields.
Findings:
Eight students graduated in the academic year, two in BS and six in BA in
Earth and Environmental Sciences, Earth Science options. At least two
students are currently attending graduate schools at Wright State. An Exit
Questionnaires form was sent to the graduates but none of them returned
the form after three requests. The career goals of the other students are
not yet known.
Learning Outcomes BA/BS Earth Sciences Option:
Outcome 1: Students will acquire the knowledge to understand
fundamental concepts of earth sciences and be able to solve problems
applying that knowledge.
Outcome 2: Students will master fundamental field techniques necessary
to the solution of geological problems.
Outcome 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to write in a style
consistent with that found in a scientific journal.
Findings:
Outcome 1: Two graduates are currently enrolled in graduate programs in
Earth Sciences at Wright State University, which demonstrates that at
least some graduates have acquired knowledge needed for problem
solving in Earth Sciences.
Outcome 2: No information received due to non-offering of the regular
field mapping course.
Outcome 3: The coordinator was unable to find specific outcomes related
to #3. However, the EES Department’s undergraduate advisor noted that
program students have favorable pass rates for upper-level EES writingintensive courses. This suggests that program students are indeed
developing solid writing skills. For example, EES 417-Stratigraphy is
required of all students in both BS and BA Earth Sciences degree
programs. This course was offered during Fall quarter, 2011, and all
graduates from these degree programs during the assessment period
have taken this course. Seven laboratory reports are required for this
course and each one is required to be in the style of a scientific journal.
One laboratory report is marked with comments on the writing style and
students are given the opportunity to re-write the report. In addition, one
paper from a scientific journal is read and analyzed by the students.
3. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
List planned or actual changes (if any) to curriculum, teaching
methods, facilities, or services that are in response to the
assessment findings.
With the academic system successfully migrates from quarter to semester
system, the department has been undertaking major revisions in degree
programs and options to reflect changes in both faculty membership and
new direction in teaching and research. The current assessment findings
provide important information for the consideration in the revision of
assessment plan for the semester system.
4. ASSESSMENT PLAN COMPLIANCE
Explain deviations from the plan (if any).
EES434 (Field Geology) was proposed as a capstone course for the
BA/BS program in Earth Sciences. Because of the change from field
geology to multiple field modules, the assessment plan has been revised
to reflect this change.
5. NEW ASSESSMENT DEVELOPMENTS
Describe developments (if any) regarding assessment measures,
communication, faculty or staff involvement, benchmarking, or other
assessment variables.
During the Summer Quarter of 2006, the Geological Sciences Department
was combined with the Institute of Environmental Quality and renamed the
Earth and Environmental Sciences Department. In conjunction with the
quarter-to-semester conversion, we are making substantive changes to
our undergraduate curriculum especially in the number of programs
offered at the undergraduate level and in the field experience. This
impacts directly on our future assessment plans. We may be required to
modify the timing of application of the Knowledge Survey currently
associated with field camp. It may be necessary to link the survey to a
different capstone course or to additional field experience courses. The
assessment plan shall be developed after the new semester degree
programs are fully implemented.