Home >> Assessment >> 2008 Department Assessment Reports >> Chemistry Underraduate
2007-2008 Assessment Report for: Department: Chemistry Major/Program: Chemistry
X Undergraduate
Department Mission: The chemistry department’s fundamental mission is to provide students with: (1) skills necessary for critical and analytical thinking; (2) an understanding of the basic concepts of chemistry; (3) an appreciation of chemistry and its central place among the sciences; (4) a feeling for the joys and frustrations of original research; (5) the ability to communicate observations and discoveries.
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment Procedures |
Assessment Results |
(Please do not list more than 8 objectives.) At the completion of the program, students will have: |
Which assessment activities were used for each objective (dates)? Note whether they are direct (D) or indirect (I) measures. List any others you plan to implement. |
What were your findings? |
1. comprehensive knowledge of chemistry |
a. Chemistry Pentathlon (fall semester)
b. Senior thesis external review (spring semester)
c. ACS test results |
a. This assessment method will be implemented for the first time in the fall of 2008. We are currently working on the development of this exam.
b. Our second senior thesis external review took place in April 2007. Six external reviewers, scientists and faculty from Sandia Lab, UNM, and NMSU, attended the senior thesis presentations. They filled out evaluation sheets and had an informal discussion with NMT chemistry faculty. Most of the reviewers commented that our seniors had thorough understanding of their projects and in Chemistry overall.
c. Data are provided in the table below. Overall, our results indicate that students in our chemistry courses score consistently above national average, as expected for students from a “Tech School.” |
2. good laboratory skills |
a. senior thesis external review
b. capstone experiment evaluation in 333 L |
a. The external reviewers were all impressed with the amount and complexity of experimental work accomplished by our seniors.
b. The capstone experiment will be implemented for the first time in the Fall of 2008. |
3. good oral and written communication skills |
a. senior thesis external review
b. Chemistry Poster Session (at Fall Symposium)
c. CHEM 411 mini-seminar |
a. The reviewers commented that with the oral communication skills of our seniors were excellent and that are students were well prepared for graduate school. Presentation at this conference mimics the format one would find at a large meeting.
b. 5 undergrad posters were submitted at the Fall Chemistry Symposium. External judges ranked the posters and three awards were presented by the Central New Mexico American Chemical Society. Our goal is to maintain or increases the number of participants. Presentation of the students research in a less formal setting gives experience and motivation to present at a regional or national meeting.
c. CHEM 411is “Advanced Instrumental Analysis,” a required course for our majors. A mini-seminar consisting of oral presentations on independent research projects was given by CHEM 411 students was held on the last day of class during Fall 2006. This activity will resume during the Fall 2008 semester |
4. the ability to conceptualize, formulate, and solve qualitative and quantitative problems in chemistry |
senior thesis external review |
The assessment of the external reviewers was that our seniors are able to perform these tasks beyond their expectations for undergraduate-level chemists. |
5. good preparation for graduate school and professional careers |
a. alumni surveys |
a. The alumni survey went online during 2006. However, we’ve only received four response since then. As a result we will send out a newsletter promoting this survey. |
Table 1. ACS Standardized Exam Scores The numbers are the percentile ranking of our students versus the national average.
For CHEM 104, the exam for CHEM 121 is used.
class |
S 01 |
F 01 |
S 02 |
F 02 |
S 03 |
F 03 |
S 04 |
F 04 |
S 05 |
F 05 |
S 06 |
F 06 |
S07 |
F07 |
104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
NG |
|
26 |
|
121 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63 |
45 |
66 |
48 |
69 |
33 |
60 |
122 |
54 |
|
49 |
|
66 |
|
64 |
|
72 |
48 |
60 |
55 |
63 |
42 |
311 |
62 |
45 |
22 |
46 |
35 |
61 |
57 |
64 |
52 |
57 |
47 |
NG |
30 |
59 |
331 |
|
56 |
|
75 |
|
60 |
|
57 |
|
48 |
|
50 |
|
52 |
332 |
75 |
|
88 |
|
58 |
|
74 |
|
74 |
|
61 |
|
|
|
334 |
51 |
|
50 |
|
40 |
|
58 |
|
63 |
|
26 |
|
42 |
|
411 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
|
77 |
|
60 |
|
63 |
443 |
48 |
|
37 |
|
58 |
|
77 |
|
44 |
|
31 |
|
45 |
|
Use of Results: What departmental, curricular, or instructional changes will be made based on these assessment results?
The development of a number of new assessment tools by the chemistry faculty are being brought online starting in 2006. One of these, the external review of our senior thesis presentations (all chemistry majors must complete a senior thesis. In retrospect, the large number of new assessment activities planned for 2006 was simply too ambitious for us to implement in one year. However, we are committed to this assessment plan and these activities will be phased into our program during the next few years.
Senior thesis external review – The results of the senior thesis external review were overwhelmingly positive. Based on these results, no changes to the senior thesis program or to our undergraduate courses will be made.
ACS test results – The ACS scores for this past year for a number of upper-level courses (CHEM 311, 334, and 443) are back up again after a short dip. Fluctuations in test scores are to be expected consider the small number of students taking the exams each year. Because CHEM 443 is a small class and its ACS exam scores are highly variable from year to year, fluctuations in this class are less alarming. |
Submitted by: Oliver Wingenter Date: 2-22-2008
Department Chair: Oliver Wingenter
|
