Attachment B
Faculty Senate Agenda
September 19, 2002

Academic Program Review
Department of Geology
Summary of Commendations and Recommendations

Commendations to the Department:

1. The department is commended for the strong, positive relationship it has built and continues to maintain among students and alumni.
   
2. The department is commended for its very productive faculty, who are both dedicated and energetic in the fulfillment of their many diverse responsibilities.
   
3. The department is also commended for its collaborative efforts with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in the area of student employment.
   
4. The department is to be commended for the work it has done thus far in the development of an assessment plan.

Recommendations to the Department

I. Relationship With United States Geological Survey

1. The department should take steps to institute a more aggressive collaboration with USGS in the areas of teaching and research. (p 3)
   
2. The department should consider increasing participation by USGS personnel in teaching appropriate courses. (p 4)

II. Master of Science Degree in Geology

1. The department should broaden the pool of student applicants to attract those who are interested in full-time status as graduate students in geology. (p 4)
   
2. In concert with the above recommendation, the department should explore avenues for providing internal support for its graduate students. (p 5)
   
3. As consultant Harmsen pointed out, the provision of funding also permits a department to recruit international students more effectively, a potentially positive source of enrollment growth for the department. (p 5)
   
4. The department should explore ways to adjust workload so that as the graduate program grows, there will be sufficient staffing to allow for advising, mentoring, and supervising the research of graduate students. (p 5)

III. Recruitment

1. The department should begin an aggressive recruitment effort, aimed at both graduate and undergraduate students. (p 6)

IV. Undergraduate Curriculum

1. The department should reevaluate the number, duration, and timing of fieldtrips required in each course, and should evaluate the organization and sequencing of field trips in general. (p 6)
   
2. The department should advise students entering the BA program that this degree is not recommended for professional employment in the geosciences and will not qualify a student for entrance into a graduate geology program. (p 6)
   
3. The department should strongly consider the initiation of a mandatory advisement program for its undergraduate students. (p 6)
   
4. The department should take steps to assure that the Catalog accurately reflects the total number of units required of students pursuing the B.A. degree in Geology. (p 7)

V. Faculty Issues

1. While uncertain about what specific remedies to suggest, the Review Team is particularly concerned about the degree of interdepartmental conflict. (p 7)
   
2. The department should seriously consider searching for an outside chair when the current chair completes his term. (p 7)
   
3. The department should take steps to actively recognize the contributions of all members of its faculty, whether those commendations are for research, teaching, earth science education, web site development, or service. (p 7)

VI. Assessment Issues: Teaching Evaluations, and Student Learning

1. The department should take immediate steps to clarify the administration of teaching evaluations policy, put it in writing, distribute to all faculty, and develop a protocol for determining that these steps are followed. (p 7)
   
2. While the department is heartily commended for the work they have thus far accomplished on curricular assessment, it is recommended that the department begin the process of assuring and measuring that learning objectives are met by all courses in the curriculum. (p 8)

Recommendations to the College

I. Recruitment

The Review Team recommends that the Dean consider providing the department with modest funds to help offset the costs of recruiting expenses for both the undergraduate and master's degree programs. (p 8)

II. Faculty Issues

1. It is recommended that the Dean become more actively involved in working with the department to address and resolve the internal strife that continues to fester among the faculty. (p 8)
   
2. It is recommended that the Dean evaluate the balance of full-time vs. part-time faculty within the department. (p 9)
   
3. The department is encouraged to initiate proactive mechanisms with USGS to broaden and improve research collaboration with CSUS faculty. (p 9)

Recommendations to the Faculty Senate

1. That the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology be approved for six years, or until the next program review.
   
2. That the Bachelor of Science degree in Geology be approved for six years, or until the next program review.
   
3. That the Master of Science degree in Geology be reviewed in 2005.