Engineering Science Program

1
Engineering Science Program
Restructuring Proposal
2
Goals of Restructuring

• Stability in instruction
• Effective course coordination
• Ownership by instructors
• Alignment of expertise with need
• Long-term teaching assignments
• Greater accountability of instructors

3
Goals of Restructuring

• Consistency in outcomes
• Greater uniformity of student background
• Uniform rigor and standards
• Appropriate expectations in upper-division courses

4
Whats the Mission of ES?
Core curriculum taken by all
Package of common service courses
Program-specific prep courses
5
Whats Our Delivery Model
ES Department with dedicated faculty
Responsible department coordination
Courses are owned by specific departments
6
Elements of the Proposal

• Assign courses to departments
• Select course coordinators
• Coordinators and heads assign instructors
• Instructors participate in assessment
• Evaluate ES instruction at departmental level
• Associate dean facilitation and input

7
Sample Course Assignments
8
Coordinator Duties

• Develop syllabus with a service-course
  perspective
• Develop course learning outcomes
• Develop assessment instruments (more later)
• Receive assessment data
• Assess and report results
• Develop and enforce grading standards

9
Instructor Assignments

• Coordinators and heads jointly assign instructors
• Instructors have specific interest and expertise
  in
• the course
• down-stream applications

10
Instructor Duties

• Follow the syllabus and outcomes
• 12 weeks fixed
• 3 weeks floating
• Participate in assessment
• Apply the grading standards

11
Evaluation of Instruction

• Follow the departmental process
• Include feedback from
• Course coordinator
• Associate dean

12
Associate Dean Duties

• Facilitate cooperation among course coordinators
• Supervise the assessment process
• Assemble program-level annual assessment report
• Serve as advocate for client departments
• Facilitate cooperation among heads on instructor
  assignments

13
Timetable

• Spring 2006
• Identify course coordinators
• Summer 2006
• Develop program assessment plan
• Fall 2006
• Develop syllabi, outcomes, assessment instruments
• Spring 2007
• Implement new structure

14
Assessment Instruments

• Student notebooks
• Homework assignments
• Lab reports
• Common exams
• Readiness exams in downstream courses
• Knowledge and skills surveys
• Instructor self-assessment

15
Initial Feedback on the Proposal

• 3 weeks float is too much
• Associate dean should have more responsibility
• Develop an exam archive to calibrate
  instructional standards
• Are their articulation issues?
• Whats the role of the ES committee?
• Small classes are essential
• Can we have partially common exams?