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Faculty of Science Annual Report

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Faculty of Science Annual Report Faculty of Science Annual Report January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009 Faculty of Science University of Regina Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2 www.uregina.ca/science/ Dean’s Comments raditionally our Annual Report begins with the Faculty’s Strategic Plan, Creating Our Future: 2005-2010. This year, Thowever, we begin with Dr. Katherine Bergman’s Summary Report, Toward Achieving Our Objectives. As Dean of Science during the creation and implementation of the Faculty’s current strategic plan, Dr. Bergman is eminently qualified to provide this assessment. As 2010 comes to a close, the Faculty will finalize its new strategic plan in keeping with mâmawohkamâtowin: Our Work, Our People, Our Communities, the University’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2014. 2009 was an exciting year at the University. There were budget and enrolment issues of great concern, but also visions of the coming years as we identified the priorities and actions needed in the first year of mâmawohkamâtowin. Science had an excellent year for student enrolment with credit hours up substantially. And, the long anticipated move began, with the opening of lab and office space for Science in the Research and Innovation Centre. “It remains for the Faculty to continue formulating goals and objectives and searching out means to further our reputation for excellence in both teaching and research…Our Faculty faces problems associated with static or declining enrolment, and the lack of resources to undertake some of the many projects we would like to deal with. Nevertheless, progress is being made in many respects.” These comments are a very accurate assessment of our current state. Perhaps they reflect the state in which Science always lives. The comments were made by Dr. W. (Wally) B. McConnell, Dean of the Faculty of Science in the Faculty’s Annual Report 1974-75. This was the Faculty’s first annual report after becoming a faculty. Prior to that, what is now the Faculty of Science was the Division of Natural Science and Mathematics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus. Those were tumultuous times with the formation of new faculties and a new university. However, you can see the similarities to today’s challenges and opportunities. As Dean McConnell mentioned about progress in many respects, in 2009 we saw many achievements in Science. Of special note was Dr. Peter Leavitt’s successful Canadian Foundation for Innovation grant, $2.8 million from CFI and a matching amount from the Province of Saskatchewan, which will result in a major collaborative research lab being developed on the fifth floor of the Research and Innovation Centre. Dr. Christopher Yost received an NSERC Strategic Grant of $439,650 towards fecal pollution research. The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department set a departmental record high in graduate student enrolment. Dr. Sandra Zilles joined Computer Science as a candidate for a Canada Research Tier II Chair. Dr. Stephen Bend from Geology is a co-investigator on a Petroleum Technology Research Centre project valued at over $1 million. Members of the Mathematics & Statistics Department applied for 8 NSERC Grants with a 100% success rate and with large increases in grant sizes. The Physics Department’s involvement with the Jefferson Accelerator Laboratories led to an invitation for the University of Regina to become the first international member of the Southeastern Universities Research Association. These and many other accomplishments are described throughout this report. Dr. Brien Maguire Dean of Science i Creating Our Future: 2005-2010 A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FaCULTY OF SCIENCE Summary Report Toward Achieving Our Objectives INTRODUCTION he following report provides a summary of the progress made toward achieving the objectives set out in the current Tstrategic plan “Creating our Future: 2005-2010; A Strategic Plan for the Faculty of Science,” as it draws to conclusion. PEOPLE Objective 1: That all policies and procedures in the Faculty of Science reflect the Principles of Natural Justice to ensure fairness and equity for all members. Response: The Dean’s Office in collaboration with the Department Offices ensures these policies and procedures are followed. • Policies and procedures of Science have been reviewed and updated. • Policies and procedures are consistent with University policy and procedure documents. • Policies and procedures are consistent with the collective agreements. • Science Policies and Procedures Manual is posted on the Science website. • Science Policies and Procedures Manual is updated as required. • Performance Review Committees are invited annually to bring forward issues related to the review process and/ or the criteria documents. Objective 2: To attract and retain high quality faculty in areas of identified strength in the Faculty. Response: The recruitment and retention strategy focused on building critical mass in areas of strength supported by sustainable infrastructure and by establishing complementary expertise in areas of research strengths identified by the departments, allowing us to establish and grow research excellence in discipline-based and integrated collaborative research programs consistent with the University of Regina Strategic Research Plan. The Faculty of Science is relatively young and it has been challenging to fill the leadership positions in the Faculty. Many of the newly recruited faculty members assumed leadership responsibilities early in their careers. Department Heads have provided opportunities for all members to serve in leadership roles and have encouraged leadership development within the departments in research, teaching and administration. • Science has hired more than half the faculty complement since 2000. • These colleagues have been awarded Tenure or are applying for Tenure. • In the first two years, to assist new faculty with establishing their research programs at the University of Regina - Science provides start-up funding. - Science offers reduced teaching and administrative assignments. - Science provides travel support to attend conferences. - Additional funding is provided from the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International. • Science internally reviews all grant applications [Associate Dean (Research)] before submitting to external agencies. ii Creating Our Future: 2005-2010 • Science faculty members attract external funding from Tri-Council (NSERC, SHERC, CIHR), Government (CFI, WED, CRC), and industry. - Science boasts 87% of faculty members funded by NSERC at or above the national average. - Science has had grant increases of 64% for second time applicants. - Researchers successful in attracting NSERC RTI grants, strategic grants as well as NSERC Accelerator Grants. • Many faculty members have never taught prior to coming to the University. - All new faculty members attend the courses offered through the Teaching Development Centre. - All courses in the Faculty of Science are evaluated by students and this input is shared with the faculty members. - All untenured faculty members also have their teaching evaluated by the Department Head or designate. - If there are problems with the teaching a mentor may be assigned. - All faculty members in Science keep a teaching dossier. • Faculty Administrator works closely with the Department Heads and the faculty members to ensure that - their laboratories and offices are appropriately equipped. - their research accounts are setup in a timely manner. - support is provided in the on-going administration of faculty research accounts. • Faculty members are responsible and accountable for the execution of their Research, Teaching and Administrative duties. • Science through the individual departments provides resources financial, human and physical resources to support the faculty members in the execution of these duties. • Science provides funding to researchers to help leverage funding from the granting agencies (eg., NSERC RTI, CFI and WED). • Science provides bridge funding to provide researchers with the opportunity to re-establish their research programs and secure external funding. Objective 3: To attract and support high quality sessional lecturers to contribute effectively to the teaching goals of the Faculty. Response: In accordance with the University of Regina/Faculty Association Collective Agreement Sessional Instructor positions are posted on the Human Resources Website, and hiring procedures for Sessional Instructors have been formalized. • Teaching evaluations are done on all courses as are assessments by the Department Head • All Sessional Instructors in Science are required to keep a Teaching Dossier • Sessional Instructors are provided with - financial resources to purchase supporting materials for the course. - office space in the Faculty to meet with students. - an email account. - computer and phone access. • New sessionals are encouraged to make use of the available resources to support teaching (eg., Teaching Development Centre). • Science is continuing to explore ways to recognize the teaching accomplishments of our Sessional Instructors. iii Creating Our Future: 2005-2010 • Science sees the involvement of graduate students in undergraduate instruction as a valuable opportunity for preparing our students to undertake successful academic careers. • Science sees the involvement of our qualified APT staff and Laboratory Instructors in undergraduate course instruction as a way to enhance their employment opportunities. Objective 4: To recruit and retain high quality staff
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