Liberal Arts: Natural Science (Biology) Option

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Liberal Arts Natural Science (Biology) Option

• Ruth Young

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Program Review Team Members

• Ruth YoungProfessor, Biology Program Coordinator
  and Program ReviewTeam Leader, Department of
  Natural Sciences, NECC
• Marcy VozzellaAssistant Professor, Chair of
  Natural Sciences, NECC
• Mariana VilhenaInstructor, Department of Natural
  Sciences, NECC
• Stephen MathisProfessor, English Department,
  NECC
• Gary HeisermannAssistant Professor, Biology
  Department, Salem State College
• Peter GainesAssistant Professor, Department of
  Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts
  Lowell

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Program Mission Statement

• The Liberal Arts/Biology Program is designed to
  prepare students for further study towards the
  bachelors degree in biology by providing
  coursework and laboratory experiences in biology
  and other natural sciences, as well as a
  background in mathematics and the liberal arts.

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Consistent with Colleges Values

• Engage our students
• Collaborative learning
• Diverse environment
• Serve other programs
• High standard of excellence
• Resource for the community

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Hidden Prerequisites

• (College Reading)
• Introductory Chemistry
• Math sequence up to and including Advanced
  Algebra and Trigonometry

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Areas of Strength

• Dynamic and diverse faculty
• Student interest in the program
• Minority interest in the program
• Academic support for students
• Expanding and exciting course offerings

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Areas for Improvement

• Laboratory safety procedures
• Low number of graduates
• Many students drop out
• Inadequate plan for dealing with underprepared
  students

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Areas for Improvement

• Number of full-time chemistry or physics faculty
  members
• Availability of full-time faculty to teach in
  LA/Biology option
• Outdated technology in the classrooms and
  laboratories
• Inadequate financial resources

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Resources Requested

• New desktop computers for the laboratories
• Electrophoresis equipment
• Additional wall outlets in laboratories
• White boards for laboratories
• A venting system for the microbiology laboratory
• Product Contracts for faculty to work over the
  summer cleaning out labs