Learning Goals
Molecular Plant Sciences Goals and Outcome Assessment
Objectives and Outcomes
The objectives of the program are:
1. To enable students to develop as successful professionals in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment as preparation for highly competitive positions in industry, government, and academia
2. To prepare students to be effective and innovative researchers in the field of molecular plant sciences
3. To enhance visibility of the doctoral program in molecular plant sciences nationally and internationally
The outcomes for each of the stated program objectives are:
1. To enable students to develop as successful professionals in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment as preparation for highly competitive positions in industry, government, and academia, the program aims to provide a variety of experiences that help students to:
a. Achieve mastery of knowledge in the general field of molecular plant sciences and the highest level of expertise in a specific, defined area of this field
b. Develop the expertise to use molecular technology to solve novel and emerging problems related to plant and agricultural sciences
c. Present research to local, regional, national, and international audiences through publications in professional journals and conference papers given in a range of venues and to a diverse type of audience
d. Participate in professional organizations, becoming members, attending meetings, and taking leadership roles where appropriate
e. Broaden their professional foundations through activities such as teaching, internships, fellowships, and grant applications
2. To prepare students to be effective and innovative researchers in the field of molecular plant sciences, the program aims to provide a variety of experiences that help students to:
a. Become independent, self-motivated researchers with the ability to recognize problems in their field of expertise and formulate solutions to the problems
b. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of previous and current research in their field of expertise and be able to demonstrate that knowledge capably in a review of the literature
c. Generate viable questions within their field of expertise and pose problems or hypotheses related to those questions
d. Apply sound research methods to problems in molecular plant sciences and describe the methods effectively
e. Perform statistical analyses of research data and present the results in a way that makes clear sense of the data
f. Discuss the solution to the research problem or the support or lack of support for the hypothesis in a way that effectively documents the contribution of the research to the area of study
3. To enhance visibility of the doctoral program in molecular plant sciences nationally and internationally, the program aims to:
a. Attract and retain high-quality students
b. Provide effective mentoring that encourages students to graduate in a timely manner
c. Place graduates in positions in academia, industry, and government
d. To attract, retain, and support nationally-recognized research-active faculty actively involved in the molecular plant sciences graduate program
| Outcome | Data | Source | Collected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1a. To achieve mastery of knowledge in the general field of molecular plant sciences and the highest level of expertise in a specific, defined area of this field 1b. To develop the expertise to use molecular technology to solve novel and emerging problems related to plant and agricultural sciences | Rubric to be filled out at student’s oral preliminary exam (see attached); course grades on required MPS courses; responses to student course evaluations; responses to question on student exit interview with program director | Faculty members on student’s committee; University Information Technology; MPS graduate program director | At each oral preliminary defense; annually |
| 1c. To present research to local, regional, national, and international audiences through publications in professional journals and conference papers given in a range of venues and to a diverse type of audience 1d. Participate in professional organizations, becoming members, attending meetings, and taking leadership roles where appropriate 1e. Broaden their professional foundations through activities such as teaching, internships, fellowships, and grant applications | Student curriculum vitae to be updated annually by student (details in summary below) | Students | Annually |
| 2. To prepare students to effective and innovative researchers in the field of molecular plant sciences | Rubric to be filled out at student’s final defense | Faculty members on student’s committee | At each final defense |
| 3a. To attract and retain high-quality students | Application statistics (details in summary below); GRE scores and GPAs of admitted students; percentage of accepted candidates graduating | The Graduate School | Annually |
| 3b. To provide effective mentoring that encourages students to graduate in a timely manner | Time-to-degree statistics | The Graduate School | Annually |
| 3c. To place graduates in positions in academia, industry, and government | Job placement statistics; curriculum vitae forms brought by students to final oral defense giving job plans | The Graduate School; student information given to faculty mentor at final oral defense | Annually; at each defense |
| 3d. To attract, retain, and support nationally-recognized research-active faculty actively involved in the molecular plant sciences graduate program | Faculty Activity Reports (research dollars, publications) | Director of MPS graduate program | Annually |
Summary: Data to be collected
• Rubric to be filled out at student’s oral preliminary defense
• Course grades on required MPS courses for all graduate students
• Responses on student evaluations concerning students’ satisfaction with courses in terms of providing experience in applying their knowledge to real-world issues in molecular plant sciences
• Responses to question on student exit interview with MPS graduate program director
• Student curriculum vitae to be updated annually by student (including items related to professional development such as publications, presentations, conferences, attended, proposals written, fellowships, and teaching assistantships)
• Rubric to be filled out at student’s final defense
• Application statistics (number of applicants, percentage of applicants accepted, percentage of accepted candidates matriculating)
• GRE scores and GPAs of admitted students
• Time-to-degree statistics
• Job placement statistics
• Faculty Activity Reports
Summary: When data are to be collected
Data to be collected individually when available for each student:
• Responses on curriculum vitae forms brought by students to oral defense listing publications, presentations, memberships in professional organizations, meetings attended, leadership roles, proposals written, fellowships, and teaching assistantships and giving job plans
• Rubric to be filled out by each committee member at student’s oral preliminary exam
• Rubric to be filled out by each committee member at a student’s oral defense
• Responses to question on student exit interview with MPS graduate program director
Data to be collected each semester:
• Course grades on required MPS courses for all graduate students
• Responses on student evaluations concerning students’ satisfaction with courses in terms of providing experience in applying their knowledge to real-world issues in molecular plant sciences
Data to be collected annually:
• Student curriculum vitae to be updated each semester by student listing publications, presentations, memberships in professional organizations, conferences attended, leadership roles, proposals written, fellowships, and teaching assistantships
• Applications statistics (number of applicants, percentage of applicants accepted, percentage of accepted candidates matriculating)
• GRE scores and GPAs of admitted students
• Time-to-degree statistics
• Dollar amount of support for students (funding for student support, such as research assistantships, teaching assistantships, research expenditures, and travel)
• Job placement statistics
• Progress Toward Degree Reports (an annual report in which students track their professional development, including certain kinds of courses taken, workshops and professional meetings attended, papers presented, research published, and a written reflection on their professional development)
• Faculty research grant dollars in support of students in MPS
| Year | Objective | Data Analyzed | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 2009/2010 | Development of outcomes, measures, and assessment plan | ||
| 2 2010/11 | 1 | • Rubric from oral preliminary exams • Course grades on required MPS courses • Responses to student course evaluations • Responses to student exit interview questions • Student curriculum vitaes | Biennial report to the Graduate School |
| 3 2011/12 | 2 | • Rubric from student final defenses | |
| 4 2012/13 | 3 | • Application statistics • GRE scores and GPAs • Percentage matriculating • Time-to-degree statistics • Job placement statistics • Final student curriculum vitas • Faculty activity reports detailing research dollars and publications | Biennial report to the Graduate School |
| 5 2013/14 | 1 | • Rubric from oral preliminary exams • Course grades on required MPS courses • Responses to student course evaluations • Responses to student exit interview questions • Student curriculum vitaes | |
| 6 2014/15 | 2 | • Rubric from student final defenses | Biennial report to the Graduate School |
| 7 2015/16 | 3 | • Application statistics • GRE scores and GPAs • Percentage matriculating • Time-to-degree statistics • Job placement statistics • Final student curriculum vitas • Faculty activity reports detailing research dollars and publications | |
| 8 2016/17 | 1 | • Rubric from oral preliminary exams • Course grades on required MPS courses • Responses to student course evaluations • Responses to student exit interview questions • Student curriculum vitaes | Biennial report to the Graduate School |