Download Follow-Up Report to the May 2009 Graduate Program Review

Materials linked from the May 23, 2012 Graduate Council agenda.
Action Plan and Follow-up (2009–2012)
May 23, 2012
How Recommendations from the May 2009 Graduate Program Review have been addressed
Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering
GRADUATE PROGRAM
Panel Recommendation
1. Develop greater
investment in the
departmental
instructional programs
by the College of
Engineering
2. Build a unifying
framework around the
discipline of Biological
Engineering
Panel Assessment
Additional
funding needed in
Water Resource
Engineering
BEE Response
We agree, but this has
been a challenging area.
Detailed Actions
1. Work with COE Dean
to identify additional
funding and investment
opportunities to support
BEE programs.
Lead role
Department
Head
Current program
organized around
application areas
1. Arrange meeting with
COE Dean, CBEE Head
to discuss additional
linkages between CBEE,
BEE
Department
Head
3. Meet with CBEE
group to develop joint
vision/mission/goals
Current structure
considered suboptimal
1. Arrange meeting with
COE Dean, CBEE Head
to discuss additional
linkages between CBEE,
BEE.
2. Explore additional
opportunities for linkages
with FE, WSE
Department
Head
4. Develop recruitment
plan for high-quality
graduate students,
including diversity plan
Identify additional
needs for research
in areas of
Department
strength
We view Ecological
Engineering as distinct
from Biological
Engineering, based on
the science of Ecological
Systems rather than
Biology.
We currently coordinate
curriculum; have
engaged in additional
conversations in the past
without significant
results. Future
conversations should
include Forest
Engineering and
possibly Wood Science
and Engineering
Agreed.
Department
Graduate
Committee
Diversity is noted to be good. It is “near
the top” for COE and higher than
national averages. This might also
develop this fall as the School of
Natural Resources progresses. Donors
could provide targeted fellowships.
5. Provide greater
Need to explore
1. Develop recruitment
plan addressing diversity,
quality
2. Explore additional
funding opportunities for
bringing in exceptional
graduate students
1.Identify issues relate to
Departmental
TAs still do not exist in BEE; however,
Agreed. We have no
Follow-up
Remains challenging due to decreased
investment by the state. Differential
tuition (ca. $100K now kept by COE)
may be a source of funds; however,
would require changes in COE; a new
COE dean may consider this
Clearly related to Item 3. There is now
a BEE curriculum coordinator at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.
Has led to streamlining curriculum
discussions (mostly at undergraduate
level); grad level distinction is already
strong.
Note linkage with Item 2. Still limited
success in working with CBEE.
However, there has been progress in
working with FE and WSE towards the
development of a School of Natural
Resources Engineering (see note at end
of table for details). Anticipate support
from the new dean of COA.
opportunities for
graduate students to
obtain teaching
experience
strategies for
including,
assessing teaching
experiences
teaching assistantships,
so other mechanisms
need to be identified
6. Add Graduate Student
to our Graduate
Committee
improved
communication
between students,
faculty would be
helpful
Agreed.
7. Encourage graduate
students to apply for
university and external
awards to enhance
program visibility
8. Consider development
of NSF REU program
Agreed. This is part of
our existing efforts
May enhance
recruiting success
of undergraduate
and
underrepresented
groups
Agreed. We are
expanding our efforts in
this area
9.Reactivate External
Advisory Group
Agreed.
10. Develop mechanism
to track student
performance
This is generally
handled by the major
professor
11. Develop a
Departmental Seminar
Series
This would be
helpful for student
to gain
understanding of
current
Agreed, but available
resources limit our
capacity to be
responsive.
non-TA grad student
teaching experiences
2. Develop plan for
providing additional
teaching opportunities
3. Develop funding plan
to support grad student
teaching experiences
4. Development
assessment methods
1. Add graduate student
to BEE Graduate
Committee.
Graduate
committee
this has been an area of active
improvement. Graduate students are or
will be engaged in:
1) teaching in area of expertise,
2) undergraduate mentoring,
3) e-campus coursework.
The build-up to e-campus classes is
notable and is well-supported at this
stage of development
Department
Head
Done.
1.Continue existing
efforts in this area
2. Identify new
opportunities related to
grad student awards
1. Continue to identify
REU opportunities
Departmental
Graduate
Committee
This has started. Examples are recent
awards of EPA Star and NSF Graduate
Student Fellowship grants.
Graduate
Faculty
1. Schedule annual
advisory board meetings
starting early 2010
1. Explore whether
additional mechanisms
are needed to track
student performance
Department
Head
An application for an REU is pending.
BEE is participating with Inst. for
Water and Watersheds Willamette
Water 2100 (WW2100), a large multidepartmental grant. Both Tullos and
Selker have programs (see note at end
of table for details).
Done. Two meetings in the last year.
1. Explore funding
mechanism, possible
collaborations with other
units/programs to deliver
relevant seminar series
Department
Head
Departmental
Graduate
Committee
BEE is using the new OSU electronic
tracking system. Audits for graduate
students are in place. Exit interviews
now conducted. No post-graduate
tracking is occurring at this time
although addresses/contact information
is maintained.
This is underway using a traditional
model (current topic is Climate
Change). Also, professional
development seminar is conducted for
undergraduate students.
understanding of
Biological &
Ecological
Engineering
research
Functions of the School of Natural Resources Engineering:
Recruiting
Program marketing, web site maintenance
Awarding "school based" scholarships (as opposed to departmental ones)
Curriculum changes (interdepartmental committees)
Class scheduling
ABET accreditation
Outreach
Seminars / continuing education
Functions of the Departments
Faculty mentoring, P&T
Staffing
Research functions
Student advising
Outreach related to departmental research
Internship opportunities. More info at: http://eco-informatics.engr.oregonstate.edu/ for the ecoinformatics program run by Desiree Tullos. John Selker also has
been teaching a Soil Physics field course in Chile providing an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to get field experiences in an international
setting.