Detailed Assessment Report for
2005 - 2006 Computational Sciences (Mathematics) (PhD) Rev. 1

MISSION
 
The program is designed to provide graduates with a knowledge base in computational science, with an emphasis in computational mathematics.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Outcome/Objective 1:
Mastery of computational science
 Full Description:
Students will have mastery of computation science beyond the advanced undergraduate level.
 A Student Learning Outcome? Yes
 Related Measures:
  • M. 1: Software use
  • M. 2: Paper
    •  Related Actions:
  • A. 1: Recruitment
  • A. 2: Assessment
    •  Outcome/Objective 2:
    Mastery of various computational disciplines
     Full Description:
    Students will have mastery of master’s level computer science, mathematics, or physics.
     A Student Learning Outcome? Yes
     Related Measures:
  • M. 3: Comprehensive Exam
  • M. 4: Comprehensive Exam
    •  Related Actions:
  • A. 1: Recruitment
  • A. 2: Assessment
    •  Outcome/Objective 3:
    Oral and written skills in a professional setting
     Full Description:
    Students will have effective oral and written communication skills before a professional audience.
     A Student Learning Outcome? Yes
     Related Measures:
  • M. 5: Public Forum Presentation
  • M. 6: Research Prospectus
  • M. 7: Public Forum Presentation
  • M. 8: Dissertation Defense
    •  Related Actions:
  • A. 1: Recruitment
  • A. 2: Assessment
    •  Outcome/Objective 4:
    Ability to teach effectively
     Full Description:
    Students will have the ability to teach effectively.
     A Student Learning Outcome? Yes
     Related Measures:
  • M. 9: Classroom teaching
  • M. 10: Skills Assessment
    •  Related Actions:
  • A. 1: Recruitment
  • A. 2: Assessment
    •  Outcome/Objective 5:
    Ability to conduct research in the field
     Full Description:
    Students will have the ability to conduct research in their field of emphasis.
     A Student Learning Outcome? Yes
     Related Measures:
  • M. 11: Presentation and oral exam
  • M. 12: Dissertation Defense
  • M. 13: Publication
    •  Related Actions:
  • A. 1: Recruitment
  • A. 2: Assessment
    • MEASURES
     Measure 1:
    Software use
     Measure Full Description:
    Faculty evaluation of student’s ability to use appropriate software using a rubric developed by the department. Target: 90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 1: Mastery of computational science
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 2:
    Paper
     Measure Full Description:
    Faculty evaluation of student papers in approximation and interpolation and in numerical linear algebra using a rubric developed by the department. Target: 90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 1: Mastery of computational science
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 3:
    Comprehensive Exam
     Measure Full Description:
    Students entering without a master’s degree in the field of emphasis must demonstrate mastery of the master’s program coursework by attaining a minimum score of 70% on the master’s comprehensive exam. Target: 90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 2: Mastery of various computational disciplines
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 4:
    Comprehensive Exam
     Measure Full Description:
    All students with a master’s degree with intent to qualify for the Ph.D. must attain a minimum score of 70% on a comprehensive exam that demonstrates knowledge of core material in mathematics. Target: 90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 2: Mastery of various computational disciplines
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 5:
    Public Forum Presentation
     Measure Full Description:
    Presentation of previous master’s research at a public seminar, which will be evaluated using a rubric developed by the department. Target: 50% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their presentation.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 3: Oral and written skills in a professional setting
    •  Target Level:
    50% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their presentation.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 6:
    Research Prospectus
     Measure Full Description:
    Presentation of prospectus for doctoral research, which will be evaluated using a rubric developed by the department. Target: 90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their presentation.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 3: Oral and written skills in a professional setting
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their presentation.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 7:
    Public Forum Presentation
     Measure Full Description:
    Presentation of doctoral research results at a conference, seminar or symposium. Target: 75% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their presentation.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 3: Oral and written skills in a professional setting
    •  Target Level:
    75% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their presentation.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 8:
    Dissertation Defense
     Measure Full Description:
    Oral defense of the dissertation. Target: 75% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their defense on the first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 3: Oral and written skills in a professional setting
    •  Target Level:
    75% of students achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or better for their defense on the first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 9:
    Classroom teaching
     Measure Full Description:
    Classroom teaching evaluations meet or surpass the department mean. Target: 90% of students are satisfactory.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 4: Ability to teach effectively
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students are satisfactory.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 10:
    Skills Assessment
     Measure Full Description:
    Review of course syllabus and professional assessment, using a rubric developed by the department. Target: 90% of students are satisfactory.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 4: Ability to teach effectively
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students are satisfactory.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 11:
    Presentation and oral exam
     Measure Full Description:
    Presentation of prospectus and oral qualifying exam, which will be evaluated using a rubric developed by the department. Target: 90% of students achieve a “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 5: Ability to conduct research in the field
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 12:
    Dissertation Defense
     Measure Full Description:
    Defense of doctoral dissertation. Target: 90% of students achieve a “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 5: Ability to conduct research in the field
    •  Target Level:
    90% of students achieve a “satisfactory” or better on their first try.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
     Measure 13:
    Publication
     Measure Full Description:
    Publication of dissertation results in a peer reviewed journal within two years after graduation. Target: 70% of students publish in a peer reviewed journal within two years after graduation.
     Related Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
  • Obj. 5: Ability to conduct research in the field
    •  Target Level:
    70% of students publish in a peer reviewed journal within two years after graduation.
     Findings:
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Target Level Achievement: Not Met
     Further Action Planned? Yes
    ACTIONS
     Action 1:
    Recruitment
     Full Description
    There will be two students entering the program in the coming year. In order to create a critical mass of students in the program, the department must mount a recruitment effort. The focus should be worldwide as well as on the graduates from the department`s master`s program.
     Related Objectives:
  • Obj. 1: Mastery of computational science
  • Obj. 2: Mastery of various computational disciplines
  • Obj. 3: Oral and written skills in a professional setting
  • Obj. 4: Ability to teach effectively
  • Obj. 5: Ability to conduct research in the field
    •  Related Measures:
  • M. 1: Software use
  • M. 2: Paper
  • M. 3: Comprehensive Exam
  • M. 4: Comprehensive Exam
  • M. 5: Public Forum Presentation
  • M. 6: Research Prospectus
  • M. 7: Public Forum Presentation
  • M. 8: Dissertation Defense
  • M. 9: Classroom teaching
  • M. 10: Skills Assessment
  • M. 11: Presentation and oral exam
  • M. 12: Dissertation Defense
  • M. 13: Publication
    •  Person/group responsible for the action Jiu Ding and the mathematics graduate faculty
     Target date to implement the action May 2007
     Priority High
     Additional resources
    Funds for additional assistantships
     Action 2:
    Assessment
     Full Description
    The present assessment instrument needs to be reexamined in light of the fact that the program is now housed in the department.
     Related Objectives:
  • Obj. 1: Mastery of computational science
  • Obj. 2: Mastery of various computational disciplines
  • Obj. 3: Oral and written skills in a professional setting
  • Obj. 4: Ability to teach effectively
  • Obj. 5: Ability to conduct research in the field
    •  Related Measures:
  • M. 1: Software use
  • M. 2: Paper
  • M. 3: Comprehensive Exam
  • M. 4: Comprehensive Exam
  • M. 5: Public Forum Presentation
  • M. 6: Research Prospectus
  • M. 7: Public Forum Presentation
  • M. 8: Dissertation Defense
  • M. 9: Classroom teaching
  • M. 10: Skills Assessment
  • M. 11: Presentation and oral exam
  • M. 12: Dissertation Defense
  • M. 13: Publication
    •  Person/group responsible for the action Jiu Ding and the graduate mathematics faculty
     Target date to implement the action May 2007
     Priority High
     Additional resources
    None
    ANALYSIS
     Strength
    At present there are no students in the program.
     Attention Needed
    At present there are no students in the program.
    ANNUAL REPORT
     Executive Summary
    Academic year 2005-2006 was a year of transition for the Department of Mathematics. It had a new Department Chair, Dr. C.S. Chen, and it managed to make successful offers to two new assistant professors. With just eight tenured, one tenure-track, and six non-tenure track faculty members, it was a challenge to fulfill our obligation to teach on the order of 5000 students, to conduct research, and to render service.
     Contributions to the Institution
    • Online college algebra has been implemented. • Dr. Jiu Ding has published a research monograph entitled “Statistical Properties of Deterministic Systems.” • Regular faculty and adjuncts taught 173 sections of math courses, serving more than 5000 students. • Graduate faculty members published one book chapter, one research monograph, 12 papers in refereed journals, and made numerous professional presentations. • There was one grant proposal that was funded in the amount $91,690. Ten other grant proposals have been submitted.
     Highlights
    • Dr. Sungwood Lee received the College of Science and Technology Teaching Award. • Dr. Myron Henry received the College of Science and Technology Service Award.
     Teaching Activities
    • Student evaluations provided evidence that faculty members are teaching well. • During summer there were 28 sections with an enrollment of 538. • During fall there were 71 sections with an enrollment of 2757. • During spring there were 74 sections with an enrollment of 2114. • With the support of Dr. Rex Gandy, Dean of College of Science and Technology, the department is in the process of initiating the emporium method of teaching entry level mathematics courses. In this approach, students learn mathematics in a computer teaching lab. If the implementation is successful, it is expected that all courses below calculus will be taught in this way.
     Research and Scholarly Activities
    Research productivity in the department is improving, notably in the area of computational mathematics. Collaboration among faculty members has increased and a research group in computational mathematics has been assembled. There was a significant increase in grant proposals submitted. As a result it is hoped that external funding awards will increase in the coming years. Dr. Sungwook Lee has initiated a research collaboration between mathematics and physics. A new policy has made it a priority to invest resources in junior faculty members.
     Public/Community Service
    • Committees: 19 university-wide, 12 college-wide, 58 departmental committees. • Service to Discipline: 7 journal editorial board members, 2 regional professional officers, 2 national committee members, 2 regional committee members, 18 article reviews, 47 referee reports, 2 prepublication reviews, 5 workshop chairs, 1 panelists, and 2 grant reviews.
     Challenges
    • Increase scholarship. • Hire more staff. • Build the graduate program. • Strive to increase external funding. • Implement emporium approach to teaching introductory mathematics. • Improve salaries.