Deparmtne of Wildife and Fisheries Self-Study 2017
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Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Academic Program Review May 21-24, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents External Review Team Charge ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary of the Self-Study Report .................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction to degree program ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Brief History of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences ............................................................................................ 4 Mission .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Strategic Plan ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Administrative Structure and Organizational Chart .................................................................................................................... 12 Department Resources................................................................................................................................................................. 14 External Program Accreditations .............................................................................................................................................. 255 Date of last APR external review .............................................................................................................................................. 277 Analysis ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 277 Academic Programs and Curricula ............................................................................................................................................... 299 Programs offered ....................................................................................................................................................................... 299 Program Curricula ..................................................................................................................................................................... 322 Admission Criteria .................................................................................................................................................................... 399 Number of Degrees Awarded .................................................................................................................................................... 411 Average Time to Degree ........................................................................................................................................................... 411 Academic Enhancements .......................................................................................................................................................... 422 Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 422 Analysis ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 622 Faculty Profile ............................................................................................................................................................................... 644 Core Faculty .............................................................................................................................................................................. 644 Faculty Other than Core ............................................................................................................................................................ 688 Analysis ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 70 Student Profile ............................................................................................................................................................................... 766 Doctoral, Masters, and Baccalaureate ....................................................................................................................................... 766 Concluding Observations .............................................................................................................................................................. 888 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 988 1 External Review Team Charge Please examine the department and its programs and make recommendations that will help in planning improvements. Your resources are a self-study report prepared by the department, copies of materials from the program’s last review, information you gain through personal interactions while visiting Texas A&M University, copies of strategic plans and goal-setting documents at the department, college, and/or university level, and any additional information requested by you or by the department. Within the broad charge of recommending ways the department can continue to improve are some specific questions that we would like you to address: Based on the data / information provided in the self-study report or gathered by the external review team, what are the department’s overall strengths and weaknesses? How well do the department’s strategic goals align with those of its college and with those of Texas A&M University? How would you compare this department with its peers? What improvements (including student learning and faculty development) has the department made since the previous program review? With only current resources or a modest infusion of new ones, what specific recommendations could improve the department’s performance, marginally or significantly? This letter provides you with background on the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University and explains the expectations for our upcoming external review. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences was recognized as a separate department in 1937 (originally named the Department of Wild Game). Below is a summary of the department and its programs providing the number of graduates per degree program from the previous five years. Degree Degrees Awarded Annually Offered 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 B.S. 102 97 117 105 102 M.S. 11 17 12 20 7 MWS 5 6 4 9 3 NRDV 5 0 4 2 1 Ph.D. 9 5 7 13 8 Totals 127 125 140 147 120 Please address the Department’s off-campus resources (i.e., Aquaculture Research and Teaching Facility and Biodiversity Research and Teaching Facility). How do they contribute to our mission? Are they being utilized effectively? What opportunities should be considered to improving their funding, utilization, and impact? Last, please address the department’s contributions to two guiding strategic initiatives developed by Texas A&M. The first of these is a document developed in 1999, entitled Vision 2020. Creating a Culture of Excellence and identifies twelve specific areas of focus for Texas A&M’s future. The other is the more recent Academic Master Plan intended to build on our gains made since the inception of Vision 2020. Both documents may be referenced at http://vision2020.tamu.edu/. Summaries of both documents will be provided upon your arrival at Texas A&M. 2 Executive Summary of the Self-Study Report Executive Summary The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (WFSC) welcomes you to Texas A&M University (TAMU) and expect that you will experience the unique culture of Aggieland. Texas A&M University is the designated 1862 Land Grant University of Texas and includes a unique history that is rich in tradition and steeped in core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service. Aggie core values and traditions have served TAMU well and are central to our rapid expansion over the last 5 decades from a small, all-male military college (i.e. enrollment of approximately 14,000 in 1971 was the first year to allow women to enroll) to largest university in Texas today with an enrollment of over 66,000. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences was established in 1937, and this year we celebrate our 80th academic anniversary. WFSC’s last academic review was in 2011, since then the department has undergone significant changes. Paramount among these is turnover in faculty and staff with the loss of nine tenured faculty, two extension faculty (and two semi-retired), and fourteen staff due to retirements or moving to other positions. At this point, WFSC has been able to replace three tenure/tenure track faculty (with another hire fall 2017), two extension faculty, and all staff. We have hired one additional staff Advisor. Enrollment in WFSC is relatively