[Plsfaculty] Laboratoy courses/TA priorities

[Kenneth Feldmann]

I would like to use the constraints on the budget to drive some
conversations that should occur whether there are budget issues or not. In
brief, we looked at the dollars that we have available to fund 1st and 2nd
year PhD students and any students that have requested funding for TAships
for next year. We can meet these obligations by taking some money from one
or two other accounts that are under spent; these pots are not likely to be
available next year.
 
We then  looked at the courses that traditionally get TA funds and we have a
mismatch between the dollars and students that are available and the TAs
requested. Some of the decisions required to rectify this, while not easy,
are straightforward. 
 
1.       Starting this fall, we cannot afford to provide TAs for courses
that are provided primarily for other majors. These courses include PLP 305,
329A and PLP 427L. These are all excellent courses taught by dedicated
faculty who always receive high marks for their instruction. I have advised
the Microbiology Commission about this decision and I feel strongly that the
Microbiology curriculum committee should be involved in prioritizing which
courses need laboratories and TAs.
2.       To prepare for another budget reduction next year,  I have decided
to consolidate NATS 104 into one lecture instead of 5 sections next year.
This will save 3 TA slots but it increases our average number of students
per course and it takes away a wonderful opportunity for our students to
have responsibility for a course. 
3.       Along these same lines, you have all heard that tuition dollars
will begin to follow SCHs. 2010-11 will be a test run but it will be enacted
in 2001/12. I am skeptical that enough money will be returned to the School
to fund separate laboratory sections such as the model we have in plant
physiology 360/361. However, if we roll the plant phys lab into the lecture,
it is likely that the number of students registering for the lecture will
decrease then we have lost an advantage. For courses where the lab is
rolled into the lecture, we are likely to be closer to revenue neutral. 
4.       Along these lines, I need the curriculum committee to come
together, with any interested faculty, to discuss which of our
required/elective courses need laboratories and TAs. My thoughts to get the
debate started include:
a.       Plant anatomy (450) should be taught every year and cannot be
taught without a TA
b.      Plant physiology (360/361) certainly benefits from a lab. This could
be developed into a great lab course.
c.       Introductory plant biology (240) must need a lab component to
excite students about plant biology and to grow our undergraduate major
d.      Last, but certainly not least, Dennis has built a strong genetics
course (312) around a laboratory component. The problem is that this one
course requires as many TAs as the other three course. Animal Sciences funds
a 4th TA for this course. I suspect that a small percentage of the students
in this course are actually PLS majors. 
 
There is a huge benefit for the students to have laboratories for as many
courses as we can afford and I would encourage us to do as much as possible
within budgetary reason. Please contact Dennis if you are interested in
discussing this issue in more detail at a curriculum committee meeting. We
will follow up the curriculum committee meeting with a departmental meeting
before the end of the spring semester. Thanks, ken
 
 
 
Kenneth A. Feldmann
Director and Professor
School of Plant Sciences
The University of Arizona
P.O. Box 210036
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Telephone: 520.621.1945
Fax: 520.621.7186
Email:  <mailto:feldmann at cals.arizona.edu> feldmann at cals.arizona.edu
 
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