BUSAC BUSAC Presentation to the Presentation to the

Biology DivisionBiology Division

2005-20062005-2006

Introductory Introductory QuestionsQuestions

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?

Structure and Structure and Content of the Content of the Biology CurriculumBiology Curriculum

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

Suboption ChoicesSuboption Choices

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Inappropriate/Outdated Inappropriate/Outdated RequirementsRequirements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

Mechanics of the Mechanics of the CurriculumCurriculum

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)

Teaching and Teaching and Course SpecificsCourse Specifics

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 das@caltech.eduNeha at das@caltech.edu