Biology Department Faculty Needs & Challenges

The Biology Department seeks additional faculty due to faculty reassignments, sabbaticals, high advising load, and increasing student numbers. A Lake Fish Biologist will enhance student research mentoring, support departmental growth, and benefit the university ecosystem.

• Biology Department
• Faculty Needs
• Challenges
• Lake Fish Biologist
• Student Mentorship

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Presentation Transcript

1. Biology Department: Position Request Presentation to Educational Policy Committee Department of Biology December, 2013

2. Position Requests Biology Biology Faculty identified a Lake Fish Biologist as our highest priority for an additional faculty position. 1) Why does the Biology Department need more faculty? 2) How will a Lake Fish Biologist help students, the Department, and the University?

3. Position Requests Biology Why does the Biology Department need more faculty? One faculty member has switched to full-time administration Large growth in majors and credit hour production Reassigned time service and research reduces faculty available to teach courses Challenging to find replacements for faculty on sabbatical or with released time awards With 15 faculty who can each apply for a sabbatical every seven years, this is a continuing issue Advising load is high Additional faculty are needed to mentor students engaged in undergraduate and graduate research

4. Position Requests Biology Background: Faculty reassignments reduce capability to deliver needed classes. Rob Winn Full time administration, beginning Winter 2013; no replacement planned Brent Graves Load is 2/3 AAUP service Erich Ottem 1/2 reduction associated with NIH grant Jill Leonard 4 hours load reduction associated with NSF grant 50% reassigned time as Teaching and Learning Scholar beginning Winter 2014 Additional faculty have received sabbatical or reassigned time awards (RTAs) 2013-2014: 2 RTAs 2012-2013: 1 sabbatical, 2 RTAs 2011-2012: 1 sabbatical

5. Background: Biology majors Increased from 399 to 691 (F2006-F2013) 73% increase Related majors have also grown Student Credit Hours Increased from 5500 to 8055 (F2006-F2012) 46% increase Particularly large increase for 100 & 200 level classes Continuing challenges in: growth of class sizes offering classes in a timely fashion During the same period, NMU FTE enrollment dropped from 8317 to 8079 (3% decrease)

6. Biology Credit Hour Production by Level 9000 8000 7000 6000 Credit Hours 5000 2006 2012 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 100 level 200 level 300 level 400 level Total

7. Position Requests Biology Need for additional faculty: Enrollment growth has created high advising loads Average >40 advisees/faculty in Biology 47 & 51 advisees for faculty currently advising Fisheries & Wildlife Management majors Overall University average is 32 advisees In addition to high advising loads, faculty have high mentoring loads for undergraduate and graduate research.

8. Position Requests Biology Need for additional expertise in Lake Fish Biology Person hired will have a strong background in limnology, the study of inland waters. Teach classes and mentor students in: Fisheries & Wildlife Management (78 majors F2013) Biology/Ecology (43 majors F2013) Zoology (121 majors F2013) Enhance strengths in Biology Department related to ecology of Lake Superior. NMU s geographic location helps attract students

9. Growth in Biological Sciences at NMU 800 700 600 Number of Majors 500 400 300 200 100 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 All Biology Majors Fisheries & Wildlife Management

10. Position Requests Biology The Fisheries & Wildlife Management program has grown beyond the level at which we predicted more faculty would be needed when the program was established. A faculty member with expertise in Lake Fish Biology would teach courses supporting other programs, including: Advanced Ecology Ecology Fisheries Management Ichthyology Limnology Introductory Biology

11. Bioinformatics Position Request Benefits to Students, Department & University Advanced courses required for Fisheries & Wildlife Management, Ecology, and Zoology could be offered more frequently, making it easier for students to graduate in a timely fashion Introductory classes currently have more than 100 students. Reducing the class size would improve learning and could improve retention. A Lake Fish Biologist would promote collaborations with government and non-profit agencies interested in the ecology of Lake Superior.

12. Position Request - Biology Approximate Costs Faculty (1.0 position w/ benefits) $ 70, 843 Start up funds (one-time cost) Total $ 30,000 $ 100, 843