BUSAC Presentation to the Biology Division 2005-2006.
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Transcript of BUSAC Presentation to the Biology Division 2005-2006.
BUSAC BUSAC Presentation to the Presentation to the
Biology DivisionBiology Division
2005-20062005-2006
Field of InterestField of Interest8%
11%
26%
32%
5%
18%
Biochem
Neuro
Undecided
Premed
Developmental Biology
Other
Are you happy at Are you happy at Caltech?Caltech?
60
69 69
38 40
0
20
40
60
80
100
Overall Freshman Sophmore Juniors Seniors
Groups
Pe
rce
nt
of
Ha
pp
y P
eo
ple
Are you happy as a Are you happy as a biology major?biology major?
7880
92
75
40
0
20
40
60
80
100
Overall Freshman Sophmore Junior Senior
Groups
Pe
rce
nt
of
Ha
pp
y P
eo
ple
Interesting Trends…Interesting Trends…
More people happy as a biology major More people happy as a biology major than as a Techer (78% vs. 60%)than as a Techer (78% vs. 60%) People are happier with their major than with People are happier with their major than with
the school as a wholethe school as a whole
Significant decrease in happiness during Significant decrease in happiness during junior and senior yearsjunior and senior years What causes this downward trend?What causes this downward trend?
Average Satisfaction Average Satisfaction RatingRating
1 = dissatisfied, 10 = satisfied
5.6
3.9
6.0
0
2
4
6
8
10
Ra
tin
g
.
Biology Curriculum Intro Courses Advanced Courses
Under-represented Under-represented FieldsFields
Over-represented Over-represented FieldsFields
Inappropriate/Outdated Inappropriate/Outdated RequirementsRequirements
AnatomyAnatomy
AnthropologyAnthropology
BioengineeringBioengineering
BioinformaticsBioinformatics
BiophysicsBiophysics
BiotechnologyBiotechnology
BotanyBotany
Developmental BiologyDevelopmental Biology
EcologyEcology
Evolutionary BiologyEvolutionary Biology
ImmunologyImmunology
PhysiologyPhysiology
Systems BiologySystems Biology
ZoologyZoology
BiochemistryBiochemistry
MicrobiologyMicrobiology
NeurobiologyNeurobiology
(Although these (Although these were noted as over-were noted as over-represented, represented, students did not students did not want courses taken want courses taken away)away)
Bi 8/Bi 9 -> Bi 8/Bi 9 -> inappropriate only inappropriate only because they do not because they do not adequately prepare adequately prepare students for the students for the advanced coursesadvanced courses
Student Student Comment/SuggestionsComment/Suggestions
The suboptions would be helpful in giving The suboptions would be helpful in giving students a focus.students a focus.
More classes would need to be offered in More classes would need to be offered in different fields for suboptions to work.different fields for suboptions to work.
There is student interest for the following There is student interest for the following suboptions: biochemistry, computational suboptions: biochemistry, computational biology, molecular/cell biology, macro-biology, molecular/cell biology, macro-biology, neurobiologybiology, neurobiology
SchedulingScheduling
Satisfaction Rating: Satisfaction Rating: 5.035.03 Are Classes Appropriately Distributed Are Classes Appropriately Distributed
Among the Three Terms?Among the Three Terms?
45%
55%
Yes
No
Scheduling (cont.)Scheduling (cont.)
Comments:Comments: Introductory courses can conflict with coreIntroductory courses can conflict with core Not enough to do third term sophomore yearNot enough to do third term sophomore year Biology classes conflict with each otherBiology classes conflict with each other
Recommendations:Recommendations: Move some first and second term classes to Move some first and second term classes to
third termthird term Try to minimize time overlaps for biology Try to minimize time overlaps for biology
classesclasses
Student SatisfactionStudent Satisfaction
6.38
5
6.30
0
2
4
6
8
10
Sequence Overlap How classes Build
Class UnitsClass Units
OverunitedOverunited Bi 8 (took the course prior to this year)Bi 8 (took the course prior to this year)
UnderunitedUnderunited Bi 117Bi 117 Bi 122Bi 122 Bi 123Bi 123 Bi 145Bi 145
CurriculumCurriculum
CommentsComments Professors do not seem enthusiastic about Professors do not seem enthusiastic about
teaching low level coursesteaching low level courses Outlined “tracks” for studentsOutlined “tracks” for students More macrobiologyMore macrobiology
Suggestions:Suggestions: Create a system of suboptions with Create a system of suboptions with
guidelinesguidelines Update information in the course catalogue Update information in the course catalogue
(Bi 8 & 9 listed as sophomore year classes)(Bi 8 & 9 listed as sophomore year classes)
Student SatisfactionStudent Satisfaction
5.45
4.68
5.64
0
2
4
6
8
10
Professors TA system Advisor System
Do advisors & professors Do advisors & professors respect your opinion?respect your opinion?
Response:Response:
Comments:Comments: Sometimes appear annoyed or impatientSometimes appear annoyed or impatient Seem more concerned about their researchSeem more concerned about their research Difficult to get in touch with themDifficult to get in touch with them
YesSometimesNo
Suggestions for Suggestions for ImprovementImprovement
Increase communication between Increase communication between professors and the TAsprofessors and the TAs Review homework sets before they are Review homework sets before they are
distributeddistributed
Increase communication between Increase communication between professors and studentsprofessors and students More office hours from the professorsMore office hours from the professors Publicize an ombudsperson at the beginning Publicize an ombudsperson at the beginning
of the classof the class www.its.caltech.edu/~busacwww.its.caltech.edu/~busac
The worst part about The worst part about being a biology majorbeing a biology major
68%68% of the people that responded said of the people that responded said that the introductory courses were the that the introductory courses were the worst ones they had takenworst ones they had taken
Comments:Comments: The intro courses do not prepare you wellThe intro courses do not prepare you well Too little macrobiologyToo little macrobiology Professors are not passionate about Professors are not passionate about
teachingteaching
The worst part about The worst part about being a biology majorbeing a biology major
Suggestions:Suggestions: Reorganize Bi 8 and 9 so that Bi 9 can build Reorganize Bi 8 and 9 so that Bi 9 can build
off of Bi 8 or act as a continuationoff of Bi 8 or act as a continuation Introduce more macrobiology coursesIntroduce more macrobiology courses Encourage participation from the studentsEncourage participation from the students Have publicized office hoursHave publicized office hours
The best part about The best part about being a biology majorbeing a biology major
Bi 10, Ch 41, Bi 113, and Bi 117 are Bi 10, Ch 41, Bi 113, and Bi 117 are common favoritescommon favorites
Comments:Comments: The research is amazingThe research is amazing You learn about the latest research in classYou learn about the latest research in class There are many optionsThere are many options The professors are better than in other The professors are better than in other
departmentsdepartments
Thank you for your Thank you for your time!time!If you have any questions or If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail comments, please feel free to e-mail Neha at [email protected] at [email protected]