Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Assessment Report, 2015-2016

COST, Environmental Science

Assessment Identifiers

College / School
College of Sciences and Technology

Department
Marine and Environmental Sciences

Program / Major / Certificate
Environmental Science (BS)

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Sue C. Ebanks

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:
Sue C. Ebanks

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Environmental Science program is to provide a broad-based curriculum and specialization involving integration of information from different disciplines such as natural and social science leading to a degree in environmental sciences. The course work is designed to prepare students to pursue careers in the environmental science and policy as well as prepare them for advanced study.

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

PSLOs

1. Student should be able to effectively communicate concepts and current issues in environmental ecology, including, but not limited to physical, chemical, and geological aspects, as well as the known, anticipated, and projected anthropogenic impacts.

2. Student should be able to explore, research, and integrate new information to logically formulate opinions and conclusions for environmental issues.

3. Student will be able to discuss principles involved in environmental ethics and synthesize relevant new findings in the field to inform their decisions and conclusions.

4. Student will be able to effectively convert data units, utilize equations as needed in the field of Environmental Sciences.

5. Student should be able to identify the need to explore, locate, and research relevant data and non-numerical information as needed for environmental issues.

6. Student should be able to process and integrate new information to logically formulate conclusions related to environmental issues and extrapolate the relevance to broader society.

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. Student should be able to effectively communicate concepts and current issues in environmental ecology, including, but not limited to physical, chemical, and geological aspects, as well as the known, anticipated, and projected anthropogenic impacts.	Fall 2015	Sajwan	Introductory: ENVS 2401+L Intro. To ENVS	Classrm. disc., pre-/post-test - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Introductory: 70% will score ≥ Level 2, 10% will score ≥ Level 3	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1,55% score ≥ Level 2, and 20% score ≥ Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: 2nd of 3 years planned to follow techniques and SLOs. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: No changes made to assessment approach except kept more student work. ENVS 3121 not assessed; only 1 ENVS-interdisciplinary major. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: Knowing the high number of non-ENVS students in most of the courses assessed, we expect to keep these PSLOs and targets for a minimum of 3 AYs to gain a clearer picture of the status, through AY2016-17.
		Spring 2016	Pride	Introductory: ENVS 1121 Phys. Geol.	Test essay question, term paper - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 2 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 69% score ≥ Level 2, and 31% Level 3
			Sajwan	Mid: ENVS 3201+L Limnology	Classrm. disc., pre-/post-test - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Mid: 60% will score ≥ Level 3, 10% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 3 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 15% score ≥ Level 3, and 10% score ≥ Level 4
				Capstone: ENVS 4901 Env. Synthesis Sem	Classrm. disc., pre-/post-test - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Mid: 60% will score ≥ Level 3, 10% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 4 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 50% score ≥ Level 3, and 30% score ≥ Level 4
		Fall 2015		Capstone: ENVS 4121 Env. Law	Term paper - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Capstone: 70% will score ≥ Level 3, 30% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 5 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 45% score ≥ Level 3, and 30% score ≥ Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Student should be able to explore, research, and integrate new information to logically formulate opinions and conclusions for environmental issues.	Fall 2015	Sajwan	Introductory: ENVS 2401+L Intro. To ENVS	Classrm. disc., pre-/post-test - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Introductory: 70% will score ≥ Level 2, 10% will score ≥ Level 3	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 50% score ≥ Level 2, and 30% score ≥ Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: 2nd of 3 years planned to follow techniques and SLOs. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: No changes made to assessment approach except kept more student work. ENVS 3121 not assessed; only 1 ENVS-interdisciplinary major. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: Knowing the high number of non-ENVS students in most of the courses assessed, we expect to keep these PSLOs and targets for a minimum of 3 AYs to gain a clearer picture of the status, through AY2016-17.
		Spring 2016	Pride	Introductory: ENVS 1121 Phys. Geol.	Final essay exam question - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 2 MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 75% score ≥ Level 2, and 50% score ≥ Level 3
			Sajwan	Mid: ENVS 3201+L Limnology	Classrm. disc., pre-/post-test - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Mid: 60% will score ≥ Level 3, 10% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 3 MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 60% score ≥ Level 3, and 45% score ≥ Level 4
				Capstone: ENVS 4901 Env. Synthesis Sem	Classrm. disc., pre-/post-test - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Mid: 60% will score ≥ Level 3, 10% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 4 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 50% score ≥ Level 3, and 35% score ≥ Level 4
		Fall 2015		Capstone: ENVS 4121 Env. Law	Grp. disc., PwrPt pres., Final proj. & pres. - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Capstone: 70% will score ≥ Level 3, 30% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 5 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 60% score ≥ Level 3, and 35% score ≥ Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Student is able to discuss principles involved in environmental ethics and synthesize relevant new findings in the field to inform their decisions and conclusions.	Fall 2015	Sajwan	Introductory: ENVS 2401+L Intro. To ENVS	Term paper, lab report - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Introductory: 70% will score ≥ Level 2, 10% will score ≥ Level 3	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 55% score ≥ Level 2, and 35% score ≥ Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: 2nd of 3 years planned to follow techniques and SLOs. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: No changes made to assessment approach except kept more student work. ENVS 3121 not assessed; only 1 ENVS-interdisciplinary major. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: Knowing the high number of non-ENVS students in most of the courses assessed, we expect to keep these PSLOs and targets for a minimum of 3 AYs to gain a clearer picture of the status, through AY2016-17.
		Spring 2016		Capstone: ENVS 4901 Env. Synthesis Sem	Classroom discussion, PowerPoint presentation - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Capstone: 70% will score ≥ Level 3, 30% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 2 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 50% score ≥ Level 3, and 35% score ≥ Level 4
		Fall 2015		Capstone: ENVS 4121 Env. Law	Group discussion, PowerPoint presentation, final project & presentation - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 3 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 60% score ≥ Level 3, and 35% score ≥ Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Student is able to effectively convert data units, utilize equations as needed in the field of Environmental Sciences.	Fall 2015	Sajwan	Introductory: ENVS 2401+L Intro. To ENVS	Lab assignment, PowerPoint presentation of lab report - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Introductory: 70% will score ≥ Level 2, 10% will score ≥ Level 3	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 45% score ≥ Level 2, and 40% score ≥ Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 4: 2nd of 3 years planned to follow techniques and SLOs. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 4: No changes made to assessment approach except kept more student work. ENVS 3121 not assessed; only 1 ENVS-interdisciplinary major. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 4: Knowing the high number of non-ENVS students in most of the courses assessed, we expect to keep these PSLOs and targets for a minimum of 3 AYs to gain a clearer picture of the status, through AY2016-17.
		Spring 2016	Pride	Introductory: ENVS 1121 Phys. Geol.	Test question (Ex1, Q27), rivers lab - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 2 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 55% score ≥ Level 2, 55% score ≥ Level 3, and 36% score ≥ Level 4
		Spring 2016	Sajwan	Capstone: ENVS 4901 Env. Synth. Sem.	Class assignment, PowerPoint presentation, discussion - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Capstone: 70% will score ≥ Level 3, 30% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 3 NOT MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 30% score ≥ Level 3, and 20% score ≥ Level 4
		Fall 2015	Sajwan	Capstone: ENVS 4121 Env. Law	PowerPoint presentation and written report - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 4 NOT MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 25% score ≥ Level 3, and 15% score ≥ Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	5. Student should be able to recognize when it is necessary to explore, locate, and research relevant data and non-numerical information as needed to address environmental issues.	Fall 2015	Sajwan	Introductory: ENVS 2401+L Intro. To ENVS	Classroom discussion, PowerPoint presentation - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Introductory: 70% will score ≥ Level 2, 10% will score ≥ Level 3	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 35% score ≥ Level 2, and 25% score ≥ Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: 2nd of 3 years planned to follow techniques and SLOs. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: No changes made to assessment approach except kept more student work. ENVS 3121 not assessed; only 1 ENVS-interdisciplinary major. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: Knowing the high number of non-ENVS students in most of the courses assessed, we expect to keep these PSLOs and targets for a minimum of 3 AYs to gain a clearer picture of the status, through AY2016-17.
		Spring 2016	Pride	Introductory: ENVS 1121 Phys. Geol.	Term paper - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 2 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 45% score ≥ Level 2, 18% score ≥ Level 3, and 9% score ≥ Level 4
			Sajwan	Mid: ENVS 3201+L Limnology	Classroom discussion, PowerPoint presentation - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Mid: 60% will score ≥ Level 3, 10% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 3 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 65% score ≥ Level 3, and 5% score ≥ Level 4
			Ebanks	Capstone: ENVS 4901 Env. Synth. Sem.		Capstone: 70% will score ≥ Level 3, 30% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 4 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 35% score ≥ Level 3, and 20% score ≥ Level 4
		Fall 2015	Sajwan	Capstone: ENVS 4121 Env. Law	Paper discussion, PowerPoint presentation - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 5 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 45% score ≥ Level 3, and 25% score ≥ Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	6. Student should be able to process and integrate new information to logically formulate conclusions related to environmental issues and extrapolate the relevance to broader society.	Fall 2015	Sajwan	Introductory: ENVS 2401+L Intro. To ENVS	Paper discussion, PowerPoint presentation - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Introductory: 70% will score ≥ Level 2, 10% will score ≥ Level 3	TARGET 1 MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 70% score ≥ Level 2, and 25% score ≥ Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: 2nd of 3 years planned to follow techniques and SLOs. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: No changes made to assessment approach except kept more student work. ENVS 3121 not assessed; only 1 ENVS-interdisciplinary major. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: Knowing the high number of non-ENVS students in most of the courses assessed, we expect to keep these PSLOs and targets for a minimum of 3 AYs to gain a clearer picture of the status, through AY2016-17.
		Spring 2016	Pride	Introductory: ENVS 1121 Phys. Geol.	Test question (Ex3B, Q19) - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 2 MET 100% score ≥ Level 1, 81% score ≥ Level 2, and 31% score ≥ Level 3
			Sajwan	Mid: ENVS 3201+L Limnology	Term paper, paper disc., PwrPt. pres. - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Mid: 60% will score ≥ Level 3, 10% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 3 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 35% score ≥ Level 3, and 25% score ≥ Level 4
				Capstone: ENVS 4901 Env. Synth. Sem.	Report presentation in PwrPt format - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric	Capstone: 70% will score ≥ Level 3, 30% will score ≥ Level 4	TARGET 4 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 40% score ≥ Level 3, and 30% score ≥ Level 4
		Fall 2015		Capstone: ENVS 4121 Env. Law	Term paper - 2015-16 Assessment Rubric		TARGET 5 PARTIALLY MET 100% score ≥ Level 2, 45% score ≥ Level 3, and 33% score ≥ Level 4

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	Grow number of students in program	Faculty & student attendance at recruitment events	Number enrollment in the major	5% increase per annum (ca. 1-2 students per year)	TARGET NOT MET We were still unsure how to track enrollment this year; cannot report	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program needs to receive training for use of Blackboard Analytics.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Improve efficiency of matriculation through the program	a. Complete program grid review to determine feasibility of degree completion in 4 years. b. Offer the courses in a frequency and variety that allows for students to complete the program in 4-5 years.	Student completion of the program in 4-5 years	i. Grid review and approved adjustments (if necessary) ii. ≥70% of students progress through program in 4-6 years.	TARGET NOT MET Grid changes completed and submitted. Still awaiting approval. We were still unsure how to track graduation this year; cannot report	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program needs to receive training for use of Blackboard Analytics.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase program visibility	a. Partner with community organizations to host/attend environmentally relevant activities/events b. Update programmatic promotional materials c. Digitize programmatic promotional materials d. Increase offerings of ENVS 1140	i. Number of activities/ attendees for Program Student Organization (Environmental Science Club) ii. Complete update of programmatic promotional materials for adding to the SSU and COST materials (web & paper) & events iii. Produce digital programmatic promotional materials iv. # ENVS 1140 sections offered	i. Hold 7 monthly events during the academic year (Sep-April, excl. Dec) ii. Offer 4 sections of service course (ENVS 1140), broadly covering weekday schedule iii. Rough mapping of digital material (Target full completion by AY16-17)	TARGET MET 1-2 events per month during AY, exc. Dec & May; on- and off-campus Continued work to establish a student-led recycling program, partnering with the City of Savannah & SSU Facilities Plans solidifying for campus-wide tree planting event in Fall 2015 (CSX award Restoration project, with Savannah Tree Foundation)	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: Participants repeatedly express appreciation for an anticipation of ENVS-hosted events. The program plans to maintain or increase event frequency & diversity.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase student active learning/ service learning/ co-curricular opportunities	a. Obtain/maintain external funding b. Add informal learning element opportunities to Student Organization (Environmental Science Club) activities/event	i. Number of non-ENVS majors receiving Earth Science related information through formal or informal pathways ii. Number of student research projects/ presentations/ publications iii. Number of community partnerships involving engaging students iv. Administer survey to distribute to 1^st and 2^nd year students to determine their interests (graduate school, research, policy, etc.)	Expose 500 non-majors to environmental concepts/issues per annum (ca. 10% of SSU student population)	TARGET NOT MET Viewing ENVS club sign-in lists and headcounts on rosters but only retained roll for a few of the events, not all of them.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: The program is still not capturing all of the participants and needs some post-event feedback to help assess impact. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program needs to formulate a post event-survey and determine if there is a digital sign-in that can also be used to more completely track number of participants.

SSU Strategic Plan Goal

PO Goal

Enabling Strategies

Measures

Targets

Results and Analysis of Results

Actions in Response to Results

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Grow number of students in program

Faculty & student attendance at recruitment events

Number enrollment in the major

5% increase per annum (ca. 1-2 students per year)

TARGET NOT MET
We were still unsure how to track enrollment this year; cannot report

OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program needs to receive training for use of Blackboard Analytics.

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Improve efficiency of matriculation through the program

a. Complete program grid review to determine feasibility of degree completion in 4 years.

b. Offer the courses in a frequency and variety that allows for students to complete the program in 4-5 years.

Student completion of the program in 4-5 years

i. Grid review and approved adjustments (if necessary)

ii. ≥70% of students progress through program in 4-6 years.

TARGET NOT MET

Grid changes completed and submitted. Still awaiting approval.

We were still unsure how to track graduation this year; cannot report

OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program needs to receive training for use of Blackboard Analytics.

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Increase program visibility

a. Partner with community organizations to host/attend environmentally relevant activities/events

b. Update programmatic promotional materials

c. Digitize programmatic promotional materials

d. Increase offerings of ENVS 1140

i. Number of activities/ attendees for Program Student Organization (Environmental Science Club)

ii. Complete update of programmatic promotional materials for adding to the SSU and COST materials (web & paper) & events

iii. Produce digital programmatic promotional materials

iv. # ENVS 1140 sections offered

i. Hold 7 monthly events during the academic year (Sep-April, excl. Dec)

ii. Offer 4 sections of service course (ENVS 1140), broadly covering weekday schedule

iii. Rough mapping of digital material (Target full completion by AY16-17)

TARGET MET

1-2 events per month during AY, exc. Dec & May; on- and off-campus

Continued work to establish a student-led recycling program, partnering with the City of Savannah & SSU Facilities

Plans solidifying for campus-wide tree planting event in Fall 2015 (CSX award Restoration project, with Savannah Tree Foundation)

OVERALL: TARGET MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: Participants repeatedly express appreciation for an anticipation of ENVS-hosted events. The program plans to maintain or increase event frequency & diversity.

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Increase student active learning/ service learning/ co-curricular opportunities

a. Obtain/maintain external funding

b. Add informal learning element opportunities to Student Organization (Environmental Science Club) activities/event

i. Number of non-ENVS majors receiving Earth Science related information through formal or informal pathways

ii. Number of student research projects/ presentations/ publications

iii. Number of community partnerships involving engaging students

iv. Administer survey to distribute to 1^st and 2^nd year students to determine their interests (graduate school, research, policy, etc.)

Expose 500 non-majors to environmental concepts/issues per annum (ca. 10% of SSU student population)

TARGET NOT MET

Viewing ENVS club sign-in lists and headcounts on rosters but only retained roll for a few of the events, not all of them.

OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET

Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2015-2016 academic year: The program is still not capturing all of the participants and needs some post-event feedback to help assess impact.

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program needs to formulate a post event-survey and determine if there is a digital sign-in that can also be used to more completely track number of participants.