Photo Gallery  |  Site Map  |  Contact Us           

 

 
 

Departmental Statement of Goals,

Process to Assess These Goals, and Assessment Results

 

Departmental Goals

 

      In pursuit of its mission, the department’s goals are:

 

1.  To create and maintain enthusiasm for chemistry among students, in particular, in introductory courses offered for students majoring in all sciences;

 

2.   To provide instruction of a high quality in all courses, reflecting modern chemical practices;

 

3.   To provide students opportunities for undergraduate research by implementing a vigorous, externally funded program;

 

4.   To provide every undergraduate research student the opportunity to present their results at a local, regional, and/or national science meeting;

 

5.   To improve students’ college experience through extra-curricular activities;

 

6.   To advise students effectively so as to help them achieve their career goals;

 

7.   To serve the community via active interaction with teachers and students in high schools in the region;

 

8.   To attract students of a high caliber to West Georgia via outreach to high schools;

 

9.   To create an atmosphere that fosters professional growth for faculty members as individuals as well as cooperation as a group such that the department can achieve goals 1-8 above; and

 

10. To maintain American Chemical Society accredited program status which provides an external standard. 

 

Assessment of Goals

 

Goal

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Statement of the Goal

How will we evaluate if a goal has been met?

Appropriate Data

1.  To create and maintain enthusiasm for chemistry among students, in particular, in introductory courses offered for students majoring in all sciences

Experiential surveys in CHEM 1211K and 1212K

Experiential surveys indicate a high level of satisfaction and enthusiasm in the introductory sequence, CHEM 1211K and 1212K. 

 

 

 

2.  To provide instruction of a high quality in all courses, reflecting modern chemical practices

 

Criteria set forth by the American Chemical Society (ACS)

 

 

 

Standardized Examinations prepared by ACS

 

The curriculum for the B.S. degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry is accredited by the ACS.

 

 

Students score within one standard deviation of the national average on Standardized ACS examinations, administered for each sub-discipline

 

3.  To provide students opportunities for undergraduate research by implementing a vigorous, externally funded program

 

Availability of instrumentation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant writing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentations, publications and senior theses. 

 

 

The available instrumentation is unprecedented for an undergraduate department.  Please see the list of available instrumentation. 

 

 

 

Grant writing is a criterion for promotion and tenure decisions; the faculty aggressively pursue external resources.  Please see the list of externally funded grants. 

 

 

Please refer to the list of publications. 

 

4.  To provide every undergraduate research student the opportunity to present their results at a local, regional, and/or national science meeting

  

Adequate representation of students participating at the various levels

 

In 2005/2006, there were 15 chemical presentations

 

5.  To improve students’ college experience through extra-curricular activities

 

The department runs an active ACS Club. 

 

Exit interviews reveal satisfaction with available extra-curricular activities. 

 

6.  To advise students effectively so as to help them achieve their career goals

 

Students’ success in obtaining admission into graduate and professional programs

 

Of the 22 graduates in 2005-2006, 9 obtained admission to graduate and professional schools; all are pursuing careers in Chemistry or allied fields. 

 

7.  To serve the community via active interaction with teachers and students in high schools in the region

 

Visits to high schools; trips by students and teachers to UWG

 

A number of visits were made by faculty to high schools in the region.  In addition, several trips were made by high school teachers and their students. 

 

8.  To attract students of a high caliber to West Georgia via outreach to high schools

 

Students’ performance at UWG, and their success thereafter

 

Historically, our graduates have routinely obtained admission in the best graduate programs in the nation, and include 1 Marshall as well as 3 Goldwater scholars.  In addition, our pre-professional students have obtained admission into medical, pharmacy and engineering programs (2 with full scholarships).  Several graduates are part of the work force in chemistry or allied fields. 

 

9.  To create an atmosphere that fosters professional growth for faculty members as individuals as well as cooperation as a group such that the department can achieve goals 1-7 above

 

Successful promotion and tenure. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant writing and publications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint endeavors

 

 

In 2005, Lucy Garmon was conferred Emeritus status.  Since 1990 seven faculty members have successfully achieved tenure and promotion to associate professor.  Three of these have since been promoted to full professorship, pointing to the strength of the candidates and an atmosphere that fosters professional growth.  

 

 

An impressive array of instrumentation is available, funded by external grants and matching monies.  Many of the grants and publications are written as a collaborative effort, indicating a strong spirit of cooperation in the department. 

 

The department is currently in collaboration to upgrade chemical programs in order to accommodate growing numbers of students.

 

10.  To maintain American Chemical Society accredited program status which provides an external standard.

  

ACS accreditation status

  

Yearly reports submitted to the American Chemical Society as well as detailed 5 year reports provide the proper checks and balances within our departmental programs