Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Assessment Report, 2013-2014

COST, Forensic Science

Assessment Identifiers

College / School
College of Sciences & Technology

Department
Chemistry & Forensic Science

Program / Major / Certificate
Forensic Science

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Karla-Sue Marriott

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:
Karla-Sue Marriott

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Forensic Science Degree Program is to provide forensic science majors with a solid scientific understanding of the applications of forensic science to the judicial system while promoting scientific integrity, critical thinking and communication skills. Develop within our students an understanding of ethical behavior at the highest level. This program will maintain cutting-edge awareness by exposing majors to current technological advances and laboratory instruments and equipment used in forensic science. The program will promote intellectual diversity, interactive and creativity centered learning experiences, resulting in a highly marketable interdisciplinary degree.

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

PSLOs

1. Students will develop in-depth understanding of scientific concepts, theoretical principles and their application within the field of forensic science

2. Students will demonstrate competency in the use of advance technology, analytical instruments, as well as, proper techniques involved in the recognition, processing, documentation, and analysis of forensic evidence.

3. Students will demonstrate competency in oral and written communications, with ability to relate to diverse populations.

4. Students will develop awareness and understanding of scientific integrity and ethical standards as related to the legal system governing the admissibility of evidence.

 PSLOs were changed to provide more measurable outcomes compatible with the mission of the forensic science program.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2013-2014 – 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 are encouraged to express their thoughts using multiple media, such as creative writing, digital technology, engineering and visual art. This will nurture a greater appreciation for the learning environment and improve communication across disciplines.	Fall 2013	Marriott	FSCI 4401 Crime Scene 1	Crime Scene Simulation -- Rubric: Integrative learning	At least 70% of students will a Capstone Level 4	TARGET NOT MET  On average, across rubric elements, 22% met Capstone Level 4; 56% met Milestone Level 3	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of projected use of results from the 2012-2013 academic year that is being addressed in the 2013-2014 academic year: We are a new program that just began an assessment plan this year, so there is no information from last year. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: It was realized that this PSLO is too broad and is actually better understood as a Program Outcome. We will review and develop new PSLOs that are more easily measured, beginning next academic year.
		Spring 2014	Marriott	FSCI 4402 Crime Scene 2	Presentation -- Rubric: Integrative learning	At least 70% of students will a Capstone Level 4	TARGET NOT MET On average, across rubric elements, 22% met Capstone Level 4; 67% met Milestone Level 3

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 & Achievement	Increase number of new students majoring in forensic science	Community presentations and outreach workshops a) Conduct 1 student workshop per semester (open to all students). b) Promote awareness at local high School, middle schools and career fairs. c) Documentation will be gathered from Admissions to obtain the necessary enrollment data and to track new student progress. d)  Host a Forensic Science evidence processing demonstration for high school students.	Blackboard Analytics data	For AY 2013-2014 increase the number of forensic science majors by 20 newly enrolled students.	TARGET MET For the AY 2013-2014 we have 31 newly enrolled students majoring in forensic science. a) The Forensic Science program with student volunteers attended SSU Open Campus where information was passed out about the Forensic Science program to interested high school students. b) Gabrielle Powell (FSCI major and FSCI club President) organized a FSCI club community service event to support "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" on April 16^th, 2014. c) Director (Dr. Marriott) presented program information to Savannah State University’s Upward Bound Program Math/Science Career Day activity on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The majority of this class consists of female students. This activity allowed young scholars to hear firsthand the advantages of Math/Science careers from a female professional. d) Shakema Bowman (FSCI major and FSCI club Vice President) presented program information to elementary school students’ career event at the Thunderbolt Library in June, 2014. e) Mock crime scene demonstration facilitated by FSCI faculty held on January 27^th(Law and Government Explorers, high school students) and February 7^th, 2014 (Oglethorpe Charter- middle school students). At the event, students learnt how to process and document a crime scene, collect and preserve physical evidences, and protect investigators at crime scenes that contain health hazards.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The invasive strategies employed were successful and should be continued for the next academic year.
Academic Engagement & Achievement	Increase number of forensic science students involved in research and/or interdisciplinary creative projects	Acquire instruments/ equipment. Notify students of research opportunities on-campus and off-campus a)  Host a Genetic Finger Printing demonstration workshop for students interested in genetic finger printing research. b)  Host a Drug Enforcement Administration workshop for research students. c)  Host a Mock Crime Scene demonstration workshop for students interested in crime scene research.	Project tallies	For AY 2013-2014 at least 6 new forensic science students will be involved in research and/or creative projects.	TARGET MET Facilitated undergraduate training workshops and research experience. To date, Drs. Marriott and Shen have six (6) forensic science students conducting research in pharmaceutical drugs synthesis and characterization as well as pathology related genetic and protein analysis. Workshops: All Workshops planned were offered: DNA, Drug analysis and Crime scene processing. Research presentations: a) Forensic science students Gabrielle Powell and Shakema Bowman (Research Mentor: Dr. Marriott) presented their results at SSU’s 4^th Annual Research Conference on April 8^th, 2014. b) Forensic Student Diamond Rogers (Research Mentor: Dr. Shen) presented results at the 9^th Annual Texas Conference on Health Disparities, Fort Worth, TX, May 29-30, 2014.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue invasive advising and informing students about scholarship opportunities assists in getting students involved in research early. Also, all forensic science faculty will continue to be involved in rigorous scientific research.
SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
					Summer research: a) Shakema Bowman (NASA-UR1) and Chantrell Frazier (MBRS-RISE scholar) are working in Marriott’s Lab during Summer 2014. b) Gabrielle Powell (FSCI club President, MAGEC-STEM PLUS scholar) has been accepted by Iowa State University for the 2014 summer MoSAIc research internship. c) Diamond Rogers (FSCI major) has been accepted by the University of North Texas Health Science Center for the 2014 summer SMART research internship.
Academic Engagement & Achievement	Encourage and promote faculty development opportunities	Support for faculty attendance at conferences and workshops	Faculty attend/ participate in educational, professional development and/or scientific research workshops/ conferences.	Faculty will attend at least 2 conferences and workshops, and be informed on current developments in the field, certifications, collaborations and network.	TARGET MET 3 professional development activities a) FSCI faculty attended a NSF sponsored Chemistry Collaborations, Workshops and Community of Scholars (cCWCS) Forensic Science Workshop held at Williams College, MA (June 22-27, 2014). During the workshop, the participant learned the latest progress in various aspects of forensic science, including DNA analysis, trace evidence analysis, forensic ballistics, forensic serology, fingerprint analysis, and crime scene processing. These techniques will be incorporated into several current forensic science courses (FSCI 3301, FSCI 4101, FSCI 4101L). b) FSCI faculty attended the Affordable Learning Georgia workshop on June 27^th, 2014 in the SSU library, to gain information on how to access and use credible and affordable online resources to create open/low cost textbooks for implementation in the classroom. Dr. Marriott is now a part of this committee. c) FSCI faculty also worked with the Office of Sponsored Research Administration to seek extramural grant opportunities.  FSCI faculty also attended Grant writing workshops held by the Title III activity, “Sponsored Research and Scholarly Activity.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Institutional support through Title III assists faculty development; this will continue next year.
Academic Engagement & Achievement	Acquire advance teaching and research technology	Acquire instruments/ equipment	Number of new instruments/ equipment acquired	At least 5 new instrument acquired, installed and used for teaching/research.	TARGET MET New Equipment purchases being used in our Mock Crime Scene Facility as well as the FSCI laboratory such as: SpeckFINDER HD Digital Video Microscope, next generation crime scene Forensic Alternate Light Sources (ALS) Mini-CrimeScope, Evidence Drying cabinet, Safe Fume Cyanoacrylate fuming chamber, metal detector, digital preliminary drug/explosive/unknown chemicals detector and three Apple desktop computers to ensure our students are exposed to the latest technology.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Target met. No further action needed next AY.