The Department of Biological Sciences offers general education, transfer and allied health courses that develop lifelong learning skills for comprehending the natural world and thinking critically regarding scientific information.
The Biology Department provides various offerings to meet the needs of a diverse student population. (a) General Education courses satisfy Butte College Associate degree requirements and/or GE criteria at transfer universities. Options include Introduction to Biology (BIOL 1), Introduction to Human Biology (BIOL 2), Ecology and Field Biology (BIOL 5), Survey of Human Systems (BIOL 10), Sustaining Life on Earth (BIOL 7), Current Issues in Biology (BIOL 9), and Honors Current Issues in Biology (BIOL 9H). (b) Biology Transfer Major courses; BIOL 41, 42, and 43, which parallel lower division core courses required for biology students at four-year institutions. Spring 2019 is the last time the currently numbered majors courses will be used (BIOL 11, 12, 13). They provide a foundation prior to specialization in upper division university work leading to a Bachelor's degree in biology or a related field. They also serve students who plan for advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy or research biology. (c) Allied Health courses in Human Anatomy (BIOL 20), Human Physiology (BIOL 21) , Introduction to Microbiology (BIOL 15), and Anatomical Preparations (BIOL 30) prepare students for vocational programs and careers in nursing, respiratory therapy, paramedic, kinesiology, physical therapy, dental technician, chiropractic and others. The emphasis is on applied biological knowledge as it relates to fields of human health. During the 2018-19 academic year, the Biology Department had maximum enrollments in ~70% of course sections at Census, with most fill rates near 100%. Demand for classes is very high with over 90% of class seats and wait lists filled to capacity before the first day of instruction. Additionally, students are still being placed on the BIOL 15 master wait list each year because they were not able to add the course. Even with relatively low section caps dictated by lab room constraints (24-26), department efficiency is very good with an FTES/FTEF ratio over 31 for 2018-19. In 2018-19 our department contributed ~4.5% of the district FTES. Also, despite the academic rigor required in Biology Major and Allied Health coursework, student retention and success rates hover around 85% and 68%, respectively. The Biology Department occupies a major portion of the Life Science building, utilizing a large lecture hall, one small classroom and four laboratory rooms (3 exclusively, 1 shared with Agriculture). We also operate a bustling central stockroom and lab preparation area as well as a very small study-computer-tutor room equipped with models and other resource materials. During the 2018-19 academic year the Department staff consisted of 12 full-time instructors, 4 associate faculty, two senior lab technicians and several student lab assistants. Currently (Spring 2019), the number of associate faculty has fallen to 4. Most full-time faculty have extended workloads as they design, manage and coordinate lab activities and materials in one or more courses. Often, this involves large courses with multiple lab sections and associate faculty instructors.
Anatomy Models for Glenn Center
We have added full-time instructors to Glenn Center, which has added stability to anatomy courses at this off-campus center. More models will allow students a closer experience compared to the robust amount of materials available at main campus.
4 Spotting Scopes and Tripods
These will enhance the field experience for our students in multiple classes.
Loop Incinerators
This will help train students on equipment routinely used in industry.
Acoustic Detectors
This tool will help enhance multiple labs and allow for students to utilize state of the art equipment.
Yeast Cell Counter
This piece of equipment is routinely used in industry. Training our students on equipment they will encounter professionally is important for their future success.
Loaner Microscopes
These will help courses off campus, and can also be used to loan to students for projects.
Cabinets for Anatomy Model Storage (LS 126 and GC 207)
These will house the models which were purchased via nursing block grants.
Human Anatomy Models
These models will be used to replace models, increase access to models at Glenn Center, and allow more models for students access to in our study room on main campus.
Replacement 100x objective lens for Microscopes (6)
These are replacing lenses which have failed on current set of microscopes.
3 Full Time Faculty
These faculty are helping to maintain staffing and maintenance of current schedule.
*A new science building has been funded via a bond
*Collaboration with these departments is ongoing
* Dr. Matiasek has updated our department website
*The college does not support a 5-day work week. Biology on the other hand has a 5-day work week, even though student services are drastically reduced throughout the campus.
*Our majors courses are in the middle of a restructuring which will be implemented in Fall of 2019
*This is being explored by faculty
*This is constantly an item at union meetings
*We are struggling in this area, but district support for more full time faculty is greatly appreciated and will make up for the lack of qualified associate faculty in the geographic region
*The department is in support with guided pathways.
*The district/counseling does not support discipline specific counselors
Biology will focus during the upcoming year on:
1. Obtaining materials for student success in our courses, for both in lecture and lab.
2. Maintaining and obtaining Faculty/Staff/Classroom computers, document cameras, projectors, and any other electronic equipment needed to maintain and/or increase student success in our department.
3. Hiring an additional lab technician to help support an increase in laboratory sections over the past several years.
4. Providing input on the upcoming science building.
Strategy 1 - Maximize Resources to Support Student Learning
To support student learning the Biology Department needs to obtain new equipment as well as upgrade older equipment.
Obtaining and/or upgrading new or older resources will help instructors provide a safer and better learning environment, which will help students succeed in our classrooms. A large portion of the department is working with computers outside the district's computer replacement lifecycle. Hands-on learning is particularly integral to our labs, and having enough equipment/tools for students to access during lab makes for a richer learning experience. Our students should also have access to modern equipment so that they are familiar with what is being used in other Biology courses and research laboratories at major institutions as well as relevant equipment used in the field of Biology. This will undoubtedly help improve the academic success of our students.
Strategy 2 - Use Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
The Biology Department will continue assessing and analyzing learning success rates using Program Level and Course Level Student Learning Objectives. Input on the science building design will allow the department to effectively plan for future growth, and maintenance of our courses and programs
Closing the loop on course level and program level assessments are needed for maximum student success.
Strategy 3 - Supporting Student, Faculty, and Staff Success
The Biology Department will focus on supporting student, faculty, and staff success. Maintaining life-cycle computer replacement for faculty, as well as updated computers and associated software, appropriate number of lab computers, structurally sound and safe classrooms and labs, and teaching aides are required.
As we have increased the number of labor intensive labs (BIOL 15), created new labs (BIOL 10), and redesigned our Majors Sequence, the demand on Lab Technicians is immense, therefore an additional lab tech is needed to maintain the level of support and success our stockroom has provided in the past.
The Biology Department strives to focus on academic achievement in our courses. Having adequate equipment, as well as a comfortable learning environment, is imperative to achieve student success. Faculty in the sciences require computers with higher processing and graphics capabilities, both in their offices, as well as classrooms in order to meet disciplinary needs and run specialized software unique to the sciences. Most importantly, a new science building complete with sufficient classroom and laboratory space as well as space for student research projects is absolutely critical for the future health of this department, and ultimately maximizing academic achievements for our students.
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1. General Apportionment: $40,025 (includes supplies, travel, repairs)
A decrease in Student Assistant funding (~$6000 due to Federal Work Study funding decrease) occurred 3 years ago. This year a one-time augmentation increase filled this funding gap, but we need an on-going increase in our budget to offset the monies lost due to this funding stream drying up.
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Biological Sciences | Personnel | 11.000.620.1040100 | $0.00 | $22,500.00 | |
| Lab Tech I - 50% | Necessary to support previously added lab sections and to continue to support an additional microbiology lab which will increase FTES. Biology has increase FTES generation for the college by 1% in this academic year. This resulted in a large FTES increase for the district. We have created a completely new lab prep (BIOL 10), and will also be offering BIOL 41 each semester (compared to once a year) beginning Fall 2019. If we are to maintain this level, and have any possibility of any more increases in biology labs, another lab tech is needed. Also, support for evening labs is currently lacking. |
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| 2 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | 56411 | $21,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Lab laptops (14) | Necessary so simultaneous labs can utilize data collection software/hardware. |
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| 3 | Biological Sciences | Personnel | 11.000.620.1.40100 | 52468 | $0.00 | $6,000.00 |
| Student Assistant funds increase | In order to maintain the ability to prepare materials/media for labs, funding for student assistants to help stockroom staff is needed. To maintain or increase STES and student success in our lab courses we need student assistant funding. Due to reductions in Federal Work Study as well as minimum wage increases, we are underfunded. |
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| 4 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| 2nd Projector and Screen for Glenn 207 | Having the ability to project images on two screens simultaneously will cultivate a more interactive lecture delivery in this room. The upgrade to 2 projectors in LS 120 and LS118 has been very well received by faculty and students, and we would like to incorporate this lecture delivery option to Glenn 207. We would like our Glenn center classroom to be as equitable as possible compared to main campus. |
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| 5 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| 2nd Projector and Screen for LS 107 | Having the ability to project images on two screens simultaneously will cultivate a more interactive lecture delivery in this room. The upgrade to 2 projectors in LS 120 has been very well received by faculty and students, and we would like to incorporate this lecture delivery option to LS107. |
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| 6 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| 2nd Projector and Screen for LS 106 | Having the ability to project images on two screens simultaneously will cultivate a more interactive lecture delivery in this room. The upgrade to 2 projectors in LS 120 has been very well received by faculty and students, and we would like to incorporate this lecture delivery option to LS106. |
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| 7 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $2,500.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Document Camera LS 118 | The current Document Camera is failing. |
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| 8 | Biological Sciences | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $0.00 | $8,000.00 | ||
| Travel Money for Conferences | Travel funds for faculty to attend conferences and workshops are needed to promote faculty professional development |
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| 9 | Biological Sciences | $4,000.00 | $0.00 | |||
| 100x Replacement Objective Lens for Microbiology | We need replacement 100x oil immersion objective lens (6) for Microbiology. |
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| 10 | Biological Sciences | $1,400.00 | $0.00 | |||
| Flow Cytometry Cassettes | This purchase will help us to train students on current state-of-the-art cell counting techniques. These will be used for multiple BIOL 15 lab sections. |
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| 11 | Biological Sciences | $1,500.00 | $0.00 | |||
| ETS Peak Add-on Human Exercise Physiology Teaching Set | This piece of equipment would help to increase student success in the current BIOL 21 exercise lab. |
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| 12 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $18,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Dissecting Scopes (17) | A complete set of dissecting scopes will allow all students in BIOL 42 to use a scope during lab. |
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| 13 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $60,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| CO2 Incubator | This piece of equipment can be utilized in both Microbiology and Cell and Molecular biology. With this students will be able to get hands on experience and knowledge of microorganisms which prosper in a CO2 rich environment. |
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| 14 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $67,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| CO2 Plant Growth Chamber | A CO2 plant growth chamber will allow students to examine the impact of CO2 and other variables on seed germination and plant growth. This equipment will be useful for BIOL 41, 42, 43, 5 and BIOL 1. |
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| 15 | Biology | Equipment | 11.000.620.1.040100 | $44,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| Equipment needed to outfit additonal Microbiology Lab in New Science Building | These materials are needed to outfit another Microbiology teaching lab. agar plate racks Anaerobic jars biohazard waste bins BOD bottles (case 24) bunsen burner Candle jars Commerical slides of specimens depression slides (12 pack) electrophoresis power supply gel electrophoresis box glass pipettes (1 mL pack of 50) glass pipette canisters glass pipette soaking container hemocytometers hot plates inoculation loop/needle microcentrifuge tube racks (5 pack) micropipettes (1000, 200, 20, 2 uL) mini centrifuge PCR tube rack (12 pack) pipette racks rotating stages spreaders Stage micrometers dropper (Stain) bottles (case 48) amber dropper bottles (12 pack) stain trays and racks Test tube racks Test tubes (72 pack) UV light Vernier DO probe Vernier Labquest Vortex 500 mL wash bottles (pack of 6) water bath incubators (20L) |
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| 16 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $2,100.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Office Computer | Shahroukh Mistry's computer is 10 years old and needs to be replaced |
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| 17 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $2,100.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Office Computer | Mike Matiasek's computer is ~8 years old and needs to be replaced |
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| 18 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $2,100.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Office Computer | Gary Lechner's iMac computer is over 6 years old. |
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| 19 | Biological Sciences | Personnel | $0.00 | $114,000.00 | ||
| 1 Full Time Faculty Member | In order to maximize FTES generation, and address continued demand for Human Biology/Human Anatomy courses, we need to hire another faculty member |
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| 20 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $2,100.00 | $0.00 | ||
| 1 Computer for Full Time Faculty Hire (Spring 2019) | New Faculty to be hired in Spring 2019 will need a new computer in their office. |
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| 21 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $15,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| 1 Set of Office Furniture for New Faculty | 1 Set of Office Furniture for Faculty to be hired in Spring 2019 |
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| 22 | Biological Sciences | Equipment | $2,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Large Center Screen for LS 120 | Our screen is in need of being replaced. |
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