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Presentation to Educational Policy Committee Department of Biology December, 2013

Biology Department: Position Request. Presentation to Educational Policy Committee Department of Biology December, 2013. Position Requests Biology. Biology Faculty identified a Lake Fish Biologist as our highest priority for an additional faculty position.

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Presentation to Educational Policy Committee Department of Biology December, 2013

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  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. • Why does the Biology Department need more faculty? • 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

  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

  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) $ 30,000 • Total $ 100, 843

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