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Department
of Biology

Strategic Plan
Revision 2.0, June 16, 2005

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Mission Statement


The Department’s mission is to create, preserve and communicate knowledge of biological frontcollage2.gifand natural resource sciences through research, education and community outreach.

Vision Statement

(The Department sees itself as more aptly described by “Life Sciences and Natural Resources.”  This title better reflects the wide ranging interests, course work offered, and research which ranges from the molecular to the global.)

To attain national and international recognition in fundamental and applied interdisciplinary research and education, and seek to address the current and future  of regional, national, and global communities.  Through leadership in education, scholarship and outreach, the department will enhance the image of Texas State University by integrating the life sciences and study of natural resources with current and future needs of society.




Goals - next 3 to 5 years



I.  Undergraduate Education - Enhancing learning by engaging students early. The Department will promote undergraduate education by:

  1.   Reducing teaching loads to allow faculty time for course development while maintaining scholarship.

  1.   Reducing student:faculty ratio by expansion of teaching staff (lecturers).

  1.   Providing incentives to faculty for training in modern pedagogy.

  1.   Teaching undergraduate that include a research component.

  1.   Promoting participation of undergraduate students in independent research projects.

  1.   Recruiting and retaining first generation and minority students.

II.  Graduate Education - Nationally Competitive Research Programs require strong graduate education, which is inseparable from diverse, high-quality research in a culturally inclusive community of scientists.  Our goals:

  1.   To continue to promote and enhance existing master’s and doctoral programs.

  1.   To recruit faculty members with outstanding academic and scholarship credentials.

  1.   To increase grant activity among graduate students.

  1.   Work to increase the salaries of Graduate Instructional Assistants to a nationally competitive level, and to maintain this level through periodic adjustments.

  1.   To Develop a flexible curriculum tailored to the individual research and educational needs of graduate students.  

  1.   To Develop team-taught graduate courses that reflect the gamut of faculty expertise and promote interdisciplinary research.

  1.   To Increase participation of female and minority students.

  1.   To Provide infrastructural support for post-doctoral fellows (both teaching and research) in the Department.  

III.  New Graduate Programs - as individual faculty scholarship grows, additional areas of graduate education can be formalized as degree programs.  Biology anticipates being able to support additional advanced degrees in the following areas within the next 3 - 5 years.

  1.   MS in Eco-hydrology

  1.   MS in Integrative Biosciences

  1.   MS in Microbiology

  1.   Ph.D. in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology (includes Pop/Cons. Bio, Cell and Molecular, Developmental, Microbiology, Phylogenetics, others)



IV. Outreach - realizing the potential of community participation - The department values its relationship with the community of Central Texas to increase the relevancy of the department’s mission in education and research.  This includes:

  1.   Continuing to work with the State of Texas in Science Education Curricula and Standards

  1.   Collaborating in Biotechnology Consortia, including internship opportunities for undergraduates and graduates.

  1.   Working with local schools to participate in K-12 education.

  1.   Informing the public about aquatic resources and their conservation through the Aquarena Center and other venues.

  1.   Continuing to develop outreach activities at Departmental field facilities, including the Freeman Ranch and the Pollard property.

V.  Departmental Administrative Structure.  The size and complexity of the Department necessitates the following administrative structure to support its teaching, research and outreach functions.

  1.   Associate chairs (3) appointed by Dean, compensated by 1 summer session salary.

  1.   Director (1 of the 3 associate chairs) for Biology faculty housed in Freeman - 12 month appointment.

  1.   Graduate advisors get work load credit equivalent to one course.

V. New Initiatives (including but not restricted to)

  1. The Rivers of Texas Project

  1.   Integrative Bioscience (the B3I)

  1.   Management of Biology Properties

  1.   Development of Field Stations - A field station at Freeman would also allow access to Pollard and the Blanco River.

  1.   Arboretum and Greenhouse

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Posted and last updated June 18, 2005.  All rights reserved, Department of Biology, Texas State University-San Marcos
© 2004-2008 Texas State University Biology Department