Environmental Science Student Research Laboratory

Environmental Science Student Research Laboratory Print All

Initiative Title	Environmental Science Student Research Laboratory
Submitted in Previous Year(s)	No
Critical Information, Notes, Justification, Rationale	The new Science and Engineering Building to be operational in 2014 includes dedicated laboratory space to allow students in a variety of departmental courses to work on course integrated projects and research under faculty guidance. An important focus of such research would naturally be directed to the area of terrestrial and acquatic environmental science. Such projects could be intergrated into existing courses in General Biology, Ecology, Environmental Biology and Botany and would strengthen the student's understanding of the scientific method while building technical skills and fostering a hands-on appreciation of environmental science as practiced in the field. Dr. Damon Ely and Dr. Joe Zurovchak envision much potential for such a facility especially in the area of acquatic ecology focusing on local streams, lakes and rivers. This initiative is intended to outfit the lab with basic instrumentation needed for such studies: Water Quality Probe, Muffle Furnace, Calorimeter, Acquatic Kick Net, Stream Bottom Sampler, Dissolved Oxygen Meter , and Drying Oven.
Consequences of this initiative not being funded	Restricted opportunity for students to engage in research relater projects. Opportunities would be fewer and more limited in scope. Joe Zurovchak has been conducting water quality studies on the campus pond/stream and data obtained by his students is intergrated into regional watershed data banks. The above equiptment would allow more detailed/sensitive studies to be performed.
Department Goals
Programs	AS Math Science, Degree Related Course Offerings, General Education
Locations
Estimated Completion Date	01/15/2014
Will this initiative span multiple budget years?	No
Importance	Low
Funding Source	Request for Prioritization
Created	06/17/2013 5:04 pm
Updated	06/17/2013 5:04 pm

Institutional Goals

Goal	How will the initiative support this institutional goal?
AMP A: Curriculum Development	This would enhance our curricular offerings in Ecology, Environmental Science, etc. by integration of student research projects in such coursework.
AMP B: Students	Provide expanded educational opportunities for students as noted above.

Action Steps

Action Step	Responsible Party	Order
Research/Purchase Instrumentation	Biology Chair & Technical Assistants, involved faculty	1

Expected Outcomes

Outcome	Order
Set-up of Environmental Science Student Research Lab	1

Assessment Methods

Method	Description	Other Method	Responsible Party
Other	Enter other assessment method	Review of student research projects, Student Feedback	Course Faculty

Resources

INITIAL YEAR COST:	$15,000.00
RECURRING COST:	$0.00

Equipment

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
Equiptment as specified above	$15000.00	Grants Honors Program Educational Partnerships
TOTAL:	$15,000.00 / $0.00

Facility

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
TOTAL:	$0.00 / $0.00

Supply

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
TOTAL:	$0.00 / $0.00

Staffing

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
No Additional Staff Needed	$0.00	Honors Program Biology
TOTAL:	$0.00 / $0.00

Training

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
none	$0.00	Honors Program Biology
TOTAL:	$0.00 / $0.00

Marketing

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
none	$0.00	Honors Program Biology
TOTAL:	$0.00 / $0.00

Other

Need	Cost (Initial/Recurring)	Supporting Departments
none	$0.00	Biology
TOTAL:	$0.00 / $0.00

Prioritization

Level 5 Level 5 Cabinet Middle States	Level 4 Level 4 PBIE Committee	Level 3 Level 3 Academic Affairs and Student Services, Provost, VP Office Administration and Finance, VP Office Board of Trustees Chief Diversity Officer Institutional Advancement, VP Office President, Office of Student Services, VP Office SUNY Orange Foundation Sustainability Workforce Development, Strategy & Innovation, VP Office	Level 2 Level 2 Alumni Relations and Special Events Athletics Business Math Science and Technology, AVP Office Business Office CAPE Career and Internship Services Communications Office Enrollment Mgt and Student Financial Services, AVP Office Facilities Food Tech Grants Health Professions, AVP Office Hudson Valley Educational Consortium Human Resources, AVP Office Information Technology, CIO Office Institutional Planning Assessment and Research Lab School Learning & Student Success, AVP Office Liberal Arts, AVP Office Marketing Newburgh Campus Phi Theta Kappa Security Student Engagement and Completion, AVP Office	Level 1 Level 1 Academic Advising Academic Support Middletown Academic Support Newburgh Academic Technology Accessibility Services Admissions and Recruitment Arts and Communication Behavioral Sciences Biology Bursar Business Capital Projects Center for Student Involvement Center for Teaching and Learning Clinical Laboratory Science Computer Science and Technology Criminal Justice Cultural Affairs Custodial and Grounds Dental Hygiene Deployment & Operations Diagnostic Imaging Education Educational Opportunities Program Educational Partnerships English Enrollment Support Services Environmental Health and Safety ESL CAPE Financial Aid Global Studies Governance Honors Program HVAC Information Services & Network Infrastructure Interdisciplinary Studies Liberty Partnership Program Library Mail and Copy Services Maintenance Mathematics Movement Science Nursing Occupational Therapy Payroll Physical Therapy Records and Registration Science Engineering and Architecture Student Services - Data Management Student Services Central Student Services Newburgh Campus Student Support Initiatives Testing Center TRiO Student Support Services Unused Wellness Center Work Force Development CAPE	Initiative Title	Department
5	5 Notes View	9	4 Notes View	2	Environmental Science Student Research Laboratory $15,000.00 / $0.00	Biology AS Math Science Degree Related Course Offerings General Education

Level 2 (Business Math Science and Technology, AVP Office)

Currently preparing an NSF grant proposal to address incorporating a research project into General Biology 2. If grant is successfully obtained, needs outlined in this initiative will be addressed.

Level 4 (PBIE Committee)

This initiative, presented by the Biology Department, requests funding for a research laboratory in the area of environmental science to be located in the new Science and Engineering building. This funding will provide biology students with a dedicated lab where research would focus on aquatic and terrestrial environmental science. Research conducted in the lab would be incorporated into existing courses in General Biology 2, Ecology, Environmental Biology and Botany. The Committee’s high ranking of this initiative was due to its importance to the College’s Academic Master Plan in the areas of Curriculum, Professional Faculty Development and Collaboration with the Community. Students in the sciences here at SUNY Orange should be provided with the resources to design and implement experiments early in their studies so that they can compete with those students who have had access to these resources at four-year institutions. This initiative also allows faculty to conduct research thus expanding their knowledge of the field.

Assessment

Date	Department Name	Status	Cost to Date	Funding Source
No results found.