Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Assessment Report, 2015-2016

COST, Chemistry

Assessment Identifiers

College / School
College of Science and Technology

Department
Chemistry and Forensic Science

Program / Major / Certificate
Chemistry (BS)

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Dr. Binda

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan?
No

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Dr. Binda

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Chemistry program at Savannah State University is to graduate students prepared to perform at high levels of excellence and productivity in their chosen fields of endeavors in a changing technological society and the global community. The academic course offerings provide strong and innovative instruction on the theory and practice of the chemical sciences. This program will prepare graduates to be proficient in the methods of scientific inquiry. This program is designed to accommodate a range of career goals such as research scientists in varied research laboratories and industrial settings, and associate professions such as health sciences and public policy.

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan?
No

PSLOs

1. Students will be able to develop in-depth knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical principles and experimental methods in chemistry.

2. Students will be able to use modern instrumentations and classical techniques to design experiments and to interpret the results of the experiments

3. Students will be able to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills necessary to transmit complex technical information clearly and in a concise manner.

4. Students will be able to demonstrate awareness and understanding of academic integrity and the ethical standards of the chemistry profession.

5. Students will be able to develop in-depth knowledge of procedures and regulations for the safe handling and use of chemicals.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2015-2016 – Supporting Documents

Assessment Results (PSLOs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PSLO	Semester	Professor	Courses	Assessment Artifacts and Instruments	Target Levels	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	1. Students will be able to develop in-depth knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical principles and experimental methods in chemistry.	Fall 2015	Jones, Odetokun	CHEM 1211	Quiz – critical thinking Rubric/ exam key	60% Level 2	TARGET 1 MET 70% Level 2	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1-3: This target continues not to be met. We will prioritize success with this PSLO for the next two academic years. We may develop new assignments and practices, re-evaluate the measure/instrument, and/or adjust our targets.
			Song, Adeyemo	CHEM 1212	Quiz – critical thinking Rubric/ exam key	60% Level 2, 40% Level 3	TARGET 2 NOT MET 39% Level 2, 16% Level 3
			Olubajo	CHEM 3522L	Exam – critical thinking Rubric	70% Level 3, 20% Level 4	TARGET 3 NOT MET 45% Level 3, 13% Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students will be able to use modern instrumentations and classical techniques to design experiments and to interpret the results of the experiments	Spring 2016	Song, Jenkins	CHEM 1211	Test – Quantitative Literacy Rubric	40% Level 3	TARGET 1 NOT MET 14% Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1-3: Although this is an improvement from last year, this target continues not to be fully met. We will prioritize success with this PSLO for the next two academic years. We may develop new assignments and practices, re-evaluate the measure/instrument, and/or adjust our targets.
			Binda	CHEM 1212	Test – Quantitative Literacy Rubric	40% Level 3	TARGET 2 NOT MET 26% Level 3
			Zhao	CHEM 2501	Exam – Quantitative Literacy Rubric/ exam key	60% Level 3, 10% Level 4	TARGET 3 NOT MET 23% Level 3, 2% Level 4
			Olubajo	CHEM 2511	Exam – Quantitative Literacy Rubric/ key	60% Level 3, 10% Level 4	TARGET 4 PARTIALLY MET 27% Level 3, 11% Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Students will be able to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills necessary to transmit complex technical information clearly and in a concise manner.	Fall 2015	Song, Adeyemo	CHEM 1212	Writing assignment – writing Rubric	60% Level 2	TARGET 1 MET 78% Level 2	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: Successful strategies will be employed again to meet all targets.
		Fall 2015	Olubajo	CHEM 4901	Term paper - QEP Rubric	70% Level 3	TARGET 2 NOT MET 63% Level 3
		Spring 2016	Binda	CHEM 4601	Research paper - QEP writing Rubric	70% Level 3	TARGET 3 MET 89% Level 3
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Students will be able to demonstrate awareness and understanding of academic integrity and the ethical standards of the chemistry profession.	Fall 2015	Binda	CHEM 1211	Safety Quiz	60% Level 3, 10% Level 4	TARGET NOT MET 58% Level 3, 0 at Level 4	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: More opportunities to practice and learn chemistry safety standards will be introduced. Additional assessment measures will be discussed for next academic year.

Assessment Results (POs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Maintain or increase enrollment	a. Participate at SSU open campus day to meet interested freshmen b. Redesign departmental brochure to include faculty research and chemistry instrumentation c. Starting a departmental newsletter with one publication per semester d. Visitation to local high schools by senior students and faculty e. Starting a departmental seminar series where successful researchers are invited to campus f. Involvement of High School Students in summer research projects with chemistry faculty g. Re-organization of Student Chapter of American Chemical Society (ACS) with the institution of annual ACS week.	Banner enrollment data	80 majors each year	TARGET NOT MET 74—Enrolled Majors Target shortfall by 6 majors	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Our enabling strategies will be continued to attempt to further increase enrollment next AY. The program may consider change to enabling strategies.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase course completion rates	Additional tutorial sessions and active instructional approaches	Banner course completion data	70% minimum pass rate for all courses	TARGET NOT MET Courses highlighted still require a lot of work to meet the target of 70%.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Instructional delivery methods such as flipped classroom model will be tested. Enabling strategies need reconsidering.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Help students prepare for graduate school and career placement upon graduation.	a. Encourage Chemistry students (sophomores upward) to participate in NSF funded summer Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs at different sites across the US. b. Encourage students to participate in different research training programs including ethical conduct in research, professional writing, work ethic, literature review, literature search, library usage, preparations for successful graduate studies, career preparation and oral presentation. c. Encourage students to present at professional conferences such as Southeastern Regional Conference of American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference, and Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).	Student summer research participation data	5 students participate in summer research	TARGET MET 10 participants Target exceeded by 5 students.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will continue to encourage students to participate in summer research.