Biology Department

Purpose of Departments

Membership in the Biology Department

Responsibilities of the Department

The Department Chair

Assistant Department Chairs

Full-time Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Administrative Assistants

Assistant Deans

Lab Coordinators

Lab Technicians

Biology Committees (Standing)

Biology Committees (Ad hoc)

Department Meetings

BTF Listserv

Biology Department Websites

Biology Department Faculty Websites

ACC Biology Course Descriptions

Purpose of Departments

Departments are formed in each academic discipline which employs full-time faculty at more than one location or, in some cases, in a grouping of related disciplines. The department serves as a recommending body for college-wide coordination of the departmental curriculum, scheduling, budgeting, and other functions. It also serves to give full recognition to the professional status and role of the teaching faculty by encouraging and expecting their participation in departmental matters.

A major responsibility of departments is to insure that ACC has a single, consistent instructional program within a given discipline or group of disciplines as part of ACC’s one-college concept. This is different from many other large community colleges in which each campus is mostly or fully autonomous. In our experience, the one college concept improves collegiality since we are not competing among ourselves for students and resources, and allows better flow of ideas and support among the Biology faculty.

Membership in the Biology Department

The membership of the Biology Department consists of all full-time and adjunct faculty members. Any adjunct who wishes to attend any department meeting or serve on a subcommittee is welcome and has voting privileges. Meetings are usually held the first Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Highland Business Center.

Adjuncts who are officially appointed to the department are compensated for department meetings and service on subcommittees. Only officially appointed adjuncts can vote for the Department Chair. Please refer to the following Administrative Rule for more details about compensation for department participation: http://www.austincc.edu/admrule/4.06.003.pdf

Responsibilities of the Department

The responsibilities of the Department are fairly fluid. They include:

• Gather and share information about current developments in the field
• Review course material (which include clearly stated student goals, procedures and methods to help ensure student success) and recommend changes as needed
• Review instructional materials, including texts, to ensure that adequate materials are available to students; recommend changes as needed
• Recommend changes in the curriculum and/or new course offerings
• Assist in planning and evaluating the effectiveness of the program design
• Recommend needed physical facilities and support services (learning resources, student services, counseling, etc.) for the program
• Recommend standardized instruction in such college-wide areas as curriculum and safety
• Recommend audio-visual material production and acquisition and library use instruction plans

Biology Department Chair

The Biology Department Chair is elected by the Biology Department members and serves a term of 3 years. Motto: The dime stops here; the buck stops somewhere else.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provides leadership in curriculum development, implementation, and improvement
2. Deals with student issues such as late adds/drops and informal transfers, incompletes and grade changes
3. Deals with student problems related to the assessment tests, full classes, and faculty issues
4. Supervises, evaluates, and makes teaching assignments for all faculty
5. Guides the hiring process for all faculty and staff positions
6. Guides the budget making process for the department and the schedule building process (with help from the Assistant Chairs)
7. Serves as the budget authority for the department
8. Oversees textbook issues such as textbook review, adoption, and ordering
9. Represents the department on college councils and many committees and recommends other faculty members to college-wide committees
10. Chairs department meetings, usually 8 per year
11. Teaches classes and maintains office hours
12. 15 LEH per year and a summer stipend is given to the department chair
13. Other related duties may be assigned

Assistant Department Chairs

There are 5 assistant department chairs that support the Biology Department Chair in carrying out his or her duties. Each person is appointed by the Biology Department Chair.

Assistant Department Chairs must also teach classes and maintain office hours. They are given 6-9 LEH per year of release time, depending on the position.

Adjunct Faculty:

1. 1. Receive and organize adjunct faculty personnel folders and portfolio binders from previous Assistant Chair for Adjunct Faculty.

1. 1. Organize and hold a meeting at the beginning of the academic year with adjunct faculty to explain the evaluation process (this can be done during the Biology Faculty Training).

1. 1. Communicate with adjunct faculty regarding deadlines for student evaluations, portfolios, faculty input forms, and other evaluation documents.

1. 1. Organize portfolios, faculty input forms, and others evaluation documents received from adjunct faculty.

1. 1. Coordinate the gathering of the Adjunct Faculty Evaluation Committee (full-time and adjunct faculty) to complete the evaluations of all adjunct faculty.

1. 1. Review all adjunct faculty evaluations to ensure all forms were filled out correctly and signed before sending them to the Biology Department Chair for his or her signature.

1. 1. Make and then send copies of all evaluation materials to adjunct faculty.

1. 1. Meet with adjunct faculty that received a “Needs Improvement” rating on their evaluations to set up an action plan.

1. 1. Organize two Biology Faculty Training workshops (one before Fall semester and one before Spring semester) for both adjunct and full-time faculty.

1. 1. Complete classroom observations for all new adjunct faculty (or coordinate the assignment of other full-time faculty to complete the classroom observations if there is a schedule conflict).

1. 1. Update the Biology Department Faculty Handbook.

1. 1. Ensure all new adjunct faculty receive a lab orientation, keys, master syllabus, common course objectives, etc. before they start teaching.

1. 1. Meet with adjunct faculty member when student complaints are received.

1. Review adjunct faculty job applications, conduct interviews, and recommend new hires to the Biology Department Chair.

Budget:

1. 1. Assist the Biology Department Chair, lab technicians, administrative assistants, other staff, and faculty with all purchases made from the Biology Department budget by reviewing and approving all purchases for supplies and non-capital equipment needed for ACC’s Biology course offerings and for the administrative needs of the department.

1. 1. Review and approve all items purchased using funds from the Biology Department budget, including:
      • • Laboratory supplies and non-capital equipment ordered from VWR
      • • Office supplies and equipment for administrative assistants, lab technicians, and faculty ordered through Office Depot
      • Laboratory supplies and non-capital equipment, educational materials, and office supplies and equipment purchased from other vendors and ordered through Datatel

1. 1. Review, approve, and forward:
      • • Petty cash reimbursement requests from administrative assistants, lab technicians, and faculty
      • • Mileage reimbursement requests
      • General stores orders

1.  Other duties:
   • • Make sure that lab technicians and other staff understand and follow proper procedures for ordering and purchasing items from the Biology Department budget
   • • Make sure that lab technicians and other staff understand and follow proper procedures for ordering and purchasing items from the College-Wide Technology and Capital Equipment Committee budget
   • • Verify that all capital equipment items approved by the CWTCEC are ordered and received in a timely manner
   • • Monitor expenditures from the Biology Department budget and request transfers between accounts as needed
   • • Develop and maintain inventories and replacement schedules for capital equipment
   • Assist the Biology Department Chair with the preparation of the yearly budget

Health Sciences Liaison/Assessment Testing

Job Summary:

1. Communicate changes in the pertinent Biology courses with the different health sciences departments.
2. Communicate degree plan changes in health sciences departments to the Biology Department, including revising web and print information.
3. Supervise the preparation, distribution, grading and updating of the anatomy and physiology assessment tests.
4. Coordinate with the Assistant Chair of Scheduling to correct and scheduling issues of the anatomy, physiology, intro to A&P and microbiology courses.
5. Advise students on the assessment tests, prerequisites, registration and other issues associated with BIOL 2401-A&P I, BIOL 2402-A&P II, BIOL 2404-Introduction to A&P, and BIOL 2420 Microbiology for Health Sciences, as well as the preparatory options including BIOL 1308-Biology Fundamentals and continuing education courses.
6. Promote contact information to ACC advisors and counselors including those associated with the health sciences in order to act as point person.
7. Work with the department to assign fulltime faculty to participate on the Health Sciences Prerequisite Committee with the goal of 1 faculty member present on each campus where the prerequisite courses are taught.
8. Other duties as assigned by the Biology Department Chair.

Before Registration each semester

1. Check to make sure the most recent versions of the assessment tests are complete and error-free, and that the key is accurate with assistance from the Faculty Prerequisite Committee.
2. Supervise the copying, assembly and distribution of the assessment tests to the ACC testing centers.
3. Supervise the entry into Datatel of students still eligible to enroll in anatomy and physiology courses.
4. Supervise the training of any new Math and Sciences Administration Assistants on ACC campuses or centers where the assessment tests are offered.
5. Delegate the training of any new personnel in the Assessment and Testing Centers.
6. Arrange in conjunction with the Biology Department Chair, to reserve ~1-2 seats in each prerequisite course for students who have been denied registration because of college error.

During Registration each semester

1. Answer student questions regarding the prerequisite courses and the assessment tests, and train the faculty prerequisite committee members to assist.
2. Advise the Biology Department Chair whether prerequisite courses taken at other colleges or universities may replace the ACC courses. (The Biology Department Chair makes the final decision.)
3. Supervise the assessment tests, including any problems that may arise.
4. Delegate responsibility for ensuring that the assessment centers have a continual supply of testing packets.
5. Work with the Math and Science Administrative Assistants and Prerequisite Committee faculty on each campus to resolve any problems or issues with the assessment tests.

Annually

1. Review the assessment tests and revise as necessary, employing the help of the Prerequisite Committee.
2. Incorporate any changes in the health sciences degree plans into departmental electronic and hard copy information.
3. With the assistance of the Biology Department Chair, recruit new members to the Prerequisite Committee to replace those who have left for other positions or have retired.
4. In collaboration with the Assistant Chair of Scheduling and the Biology Department Chair, ensure the annual schedule of prerequisite courses are equally distributed among campuses, days, and times.

Safety:

1. 1. Oversee and coordinate EHS programs for disciplines within their task force. This includes, but is not limited to, serving as hazardous material communication coordinator (Unit and Area HazCom Coordinator) for their task force.

1. 1. Maintain EHS training records for employees assigned to disciplines within their task force for a minimum of five (5) years after training.

1. 1. Provide the EHS & Insurance Office, their Department Chair, and for classified staff, their Science Laboratory Coordinators, with an annual notice of EHS training completion for faculty and staff in disciplines within their task force.

1. 1. Provide the EHS & Insurance Office with current names and telephone numbers of emergency contacts for chemical/ hazardous waste incidents and emergencies in laboratories and preparation rooms supervised by employees of their task force.

1. 1. Ensure that science disciplines within their Task Force comply with:
      • • Policies and directives of the EHS & Insurance Office and the Science Safety Committee
      • • The ACC Hazardous Communications (HazCom) Plan
      • • The ACC Hazardous Waste (HazWaste) Plan
      • • Laboratory safety and hygiene standards, procedures and protocols
      • • Protocols for science field activities
      • EHS training requirements for ACC science personnel

1. Evaluate reports of EHS hazards and problems in science courses and facilities, and consult with affected individuals.

1. 1. SSCs, with the assistance of science laboratory assistants and faculty, will:
      • Conduct regular hazard assessments of class demonstrations, laboratory exercises, field activities, science laboratory classrooms, and science preparation rooms. Based on these assessments the SSC will coordinate the:
        • • Preparation of safety briefings and checklists for each exercise or activity
        • • Development of discipline protocols/procedures for laboratory exercises and field activities (3) Identification and acquisition of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
        • Inform employees of the location of Work Area Chemical Inventories (WACIs), procedures for accessing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), and procedures for obtaining workplace chemical inventory lists.

1. 1. SSCs will ensure that the:
      • •  Employees and students in their task force receive appropriate training before:
          • • Working with hazardous materials or equipment
          • • Working in areas containing hazardous materials or equipment
          • Participating in a field activity
      • Science laboratory assistants:
        • • Conduct and maintain WACIs in their assigned areas
        • • Post and maintain current MSDSs and required EHS notices and signs
        • • Purchase and maintain required PPE
        • Notify the EHS & Insurance Office prior to purchasing chemicals not currently on their WACI or when purchasing a quantity of a chemical above normal restocking amounts

1. 1. EHS & Insurance Office is immediately informed of EHS incidents in their task force laboratories, classrooms, preparation rooms, and field activities that require outside medical assistance.EHS reports for their task force are submitted to the EHS & Insurance Office by November 1 of each year.

1. Other duties not mentioned above:
   • Represent Biology Department on Science Safety Committee and EHS Task Force

Scheduling:

I. Annually in the Fall:

1. 1. Solicit members of the Scheduling Committee from each campus and large center. Preferably, members should be fulltime faculty who teach on that campus.

1. 1. Have members speak with other faculty and lab techs on that campus to gather suggested changes to the schedule for the upcoming year. Send a copy of the suggested changes to the Biology Department Chair for approval at least 1 week before the meeting.

1. 1. Meet with the Scheduling Committee at least once in late fall.
      • • Review college-wide distribution of courses for upcoming fiscal year with respect to days, times and locations of sections.
      • • Incorporate agreed-upon suggestions from the individual campuses.
      • • Incorporate requests for new sections from the Biology Department Chair.
      • • Review suggested courses for new campus, if applicable
      • • Review sections for all three semesters for accuracy. (This is particularly important since rollovers and updates introduce errors frequently.)
      • Review sections to ensure contact hours are correct and sufficient.

1. 1. After the meeting the Asst Chair should enter all the information onto the spreadsheet sent out by Office of Instructional Support Services (ISS). The draft should be sent to each of the committee members and the Biology Department Chair for review.

1. The final draft of the fiscal year schedule should be submitted to ISS by the deadline listed on the eschedule (usually October-November).

II. Each Semester

1. 1. The committee members, faculty and staff should check regularly the web schedule of the upcoming semester for errors that occur during backups and updating and inform the Asst Chair and the Biology Department Chair.

1. 1. The Asst Chair works with the Campus Manager or designate on that campus to correct errors that have crept in.

1. 1. The Asst Chair arranges to add, delete or close sections for upcoming semesters upon the written request of the Biology Department Chair.

1. 1. At the Biology Department Chair’s request, the Asst Chair may go to HBC to proofread and correct the upcoming semester’s print schedule.

1. Other duties regarding the Biology Department schedule as assigned.

To add a new section:

1. 1. Go to the room use charts and determine campus, rooms and times for the new section.

1. 1. Send an email to the Dean, the Campus Manager and the Biology Department Chair requesting this course and asking the Dean for permission to add it.

1. When the Campus Manager receives permission from the Dean, he/she will double check on room and time availability and submit the request to ISS who will then put in the course.

To delete or close a section:

1. 1. Forward the request from the Biology Department Chair to the Dean, asking to delete a section along with the reason for the request. If approved, the Dean will then forward the request to ISS.

1. Note that once a section is deleted, it will not show up in future schedules. An easier option is to close a section so that students cannot enroll. That section will rollover to the following year’s schedule. The procedure for closing a section is the same as for deleting it.

Special Projects (3 LEH per year)

Note that this is a new title and therefore vague. This job description should be reviewed and revised within the next two years.

1. 1. The Asst Chair or Biology Department Chair may recommend new special projects. These include collaborating with other departments or institutions, helping with grants, serving on special committees or assisting within the department.

1. 1. The Asst Chair and Biology Department Chair meet to determine the efficacy of the special project as well as the details of time involvement, expected products, benefit to the department and so forth.

1. 1. The Asst Chair may ask for volunteers to assist in the special project if needed.

1. The Asst Chair will make regular reports to the Biology Department Chair during the course of the project and will provide a written report along with any products upon completion.

Current Assistant Department Chairs

Title	Name
Adjunct Faculty	Rebel Sanders
Advising	Felix Villarreal
Budget	Bernice Speer
Health Sciences/Assessment	Suzy Mathis
Safety	Ana Maria Valle Rivera
Scheduling	Janice Lai
Discipline Assessment Cycle	Jessica Armenta

Full-Time Faculty

Full-time faculty are responsible for instructing students in accordance with College policy and procedures, advising students, maintaining office hours, assisting with registrations, serving on College committees, maintaining professional competence, and participating in professional development activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teaches assigned number of classes, at location and time assigned, using the prescribed courses of study with established texts and/or the prescribed instructional materials including the common course objectives available at https://sites.austincc.edu/biology/common-course-objectives/
• Prepares for all classes
• Provides students with clearly stated course objectives and syllabi
• Meets punctually all assigned classes
• Advises students
• Posts and maintains required office hours of 5 hours per week
• Coordinates clinical and field experience, where applicable
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues and supervisors
• Other related duties may be assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Ability to communicate in a concise and effective manner
• Appropriate experience
• Must demonstrate:
  • creativity and innovation in the field
  • service in the profession and/or the community
  • sensitivity to, and knowledge of, a diverse student body
  • understanding of the comprehensive mission and philosophy of community colleges
• Effective planning, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Qualification Standards:

Education as needed to meet the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities (the infamous SACS)

For a more comprehensive listing of faculty duties and responsibilities, see  https://eapps.austincc.edu/ehire/jobdesc/public_jobdesc.php?titleid=250513

Adjunct Faculty:

Adjunct faculty are responsible for instructing students in accordance with College policy and procedures, with texts and/or other materials as approved by the appropriate Task Force, maintains professional competence, holds office hour(s) as required, complies with all College time-lines and requests for information; and be familiar with guidelines and regulations noted in the College Catalog and the Part-time Faculty Handbook.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• • Adequately prepares for all classes

• • Provides students with written, clearly-stated course objectives, requirements, and assignments as well as with grading criteria

• • Teaches assigned class(es) at location and time assigned, with the established text and other supplementary materials including the common course objectives available at www.austincc.edu/biology/ccobjectives

• • Meets classes at the prescribed time, and for the duration of scheduled time; exceptions must be approved by supervisor

• • Post and maintain 1 hour of required office hours per each section taught

• • Participate in required College orientation/instructional development meeting(s) as notified, and in official process of the evaluation of instruction

• • Assists in maintaining effective laboratories and equipment and/or in the coordination of clinical and field experiences

• • Maintain adequate student performance records

• • Meets all College time-lines for submitting student records, as well as personnel/employment records, as notified

• Other related duties may be assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Experience:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodation, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Communicate in a concise and effective manner
• Possess appropriate experience
• Demonstrate
  • creativity and innovation in the field
  • service in the profession and/or the community
  • sensitivity to, and knowledge of, a diverse student body
  • understanding of the comprehensive mission and philosophy of community colleges
  • Possess effective planning, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Qualification Standards:

Education as needed to meet the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities.

For a more comprehensive listing of adjunct faculty duties and responsibilities, see https://eapps.austincc.edu/ehire/jobdesc/public_jobdesc.php?titleid=240641

Administrative Assistants

Each Campus (except RRC) has an Administrative Assistant who works for the Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Division. The Admins are a resource for all Science, Engineering and Mathematics faculty on that campus.

The Admins can also help you unsnarl any paperwork problems that arise or at least tell you who to talk to about them. In general, go to the admins for any non-academic problems you encounter.

Each admin is also assigned to support a specific department.  Biology’s Administrative Assistant is Anahi Morales, at RGC 1233.04 (phone: 512-223-3322).  She carries out all of the above Admin duties plus:

• assists the Biology Department Chair
• provides logistical and administrative support for the Biology Department across the campuses
• monitors the BTF listserv
• sends out reminders of deadlines, announcements and things of interest

Feel free to contact Anahi with any problems you might have.

Current Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Administrative Assistants

Campus	Name	Department
CYP	Mark Jones	Chemistry
EVC	Steven Spurlock	Biotechnology
HLC	Marie Fofi	Senior Admin Assistant, Science, Engineering, and Math
HLC	Oralia (Lala) Guerra	Physics
HYS
NRG
RGC	Linda Dehning	Biology
RRC	Nicola Huggins	Mathematics
RVS	Ciera Johns	Mathematics
SAC

Assistant Deans

Although not technically part of the Biology Department, Assistant Deans can be helpful resources for both students and faculty. The Assistant Deans are there to deal with student issues, problems and concerns. They are also someone whom a faculty member can ask for information or assistance when the faculty member cannot contact the Department Chair.

Current Assistant Deans are listed on the Instructional Departments and Divisions contact page.

Biology Lab Coordinators

The biology lab coordinators are full-time faculty members who:

• supervise lab technicians
• act as liaisons between lab technicians and faculty
• participate in hiring new lab technicians
• advise the department about lab equipment and supply needs
• oversee lab safety on individual campuses
• oversee lab expenditures for supplies and equipment
• sign the time sheets for the lab techs and hourly help

Current Biology Lab Coordinators

Campus	Name
CYP	Janice Lai
EGN	Meg Flemming
EVC	Meg Flemming
HLC	Stephanie Carlson
HYS	Jeff Allison (all departments)
NRG	Dave Froehlich
RGC	closed for renovations
RRC	Ana Maria Valle Rivera
RVS	John Norris
SAC	John Senter (all departments)
SGC	Kimberly Murphy

Biology Lab Techs

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

1. Maintains area facilities, prepares and organizes lab materials including supplies, equipment, and media

2. Performs clerical duties in support of the department

3. Assists instructors and/or students in a lab/classroom setting

4. Ensures the lab/classroom is clean and safe

5. Complies with all applicable health and safety regulations, policies, and established work practices

Lab techs at higher levels may also handle orders including the bidding process, troubleshoot problems with existing labs, repair or coordinate repair of lab equipment, supervise the work of lab personnel. They may also research, evaluate, and recommend new lab experiments, materials and equipment.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: see the complete job description.

Biology Department Committees (Standing)

The memberships of these committee varies from year to year. Representatives from each of the campuses are encouraged to be members.

Adjunct Faculty Evaluation Committee:

This committee:

• sets guidelines for placing adjunct faculty on the Biology eligibility list
• determines “highest priority to hire designations” for each course
• reviews requests by instructors to be placed on additional eligibility lists
• reviews any complaints against adjuncts made by students, staff or faculty and makes recommendations about eligibility status based upon on the nature and severity of the complaints
• helps the Biology Department Chair evaluate adjuncts based on portfolios and other evaluation materials
• meets with adjunct faculty members who score ”needs improvement” or ”unacceptable” on their evaluations to discuss evaluation materials and to assist with the development of action plans
• advises and assists with any other instructional problems that involve adjuncts
• performs classroom observations for new adjuncts

Budget Committee:

This committee advises the Department Chair on budgetary issues. Lab Coordinators are encouraged to be on the committee.

Health Science/Assessment :

This committee:

• Communicates changes in the pertinent Biology courses with the different health sciences departments.
• Communicates degree plan changes in health sciences departments to the Biology Department, including revising web and print information.
• Supervises the preparation, distribution, grading and updating of the anatomy and physiology assessment tests.
• Coordinates with the Assistant Chair of Scheduling to correct and scheduling issues of the anatomy, physiology, intro to A&P and microbiology courses.
• Advise students on the assessment tests, prerequisites, registration and other issues associated with BIOL 2401 – A&P I, BIOL 2305/2102 Human Physiology, BIOL 2404 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology and BIOL 2420 Microbiology for Health Sciences as well as the preparatory options including BIOL 1308 Biology Fundamentals and continuing education courses.

Scheduling Committee:

This committee:

• reviews pending biology course schedules for the upcoming year
• checks for errors and overlaps on individual campuses
• proposes course schedule changes to the Department Chair

Discipline Assessment Cycle & Special Projects Committee:

This committee:

• revises and updates the program level Student Learming Outcomes (SLOs) for the A.S. Biology degree and the A.S. Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Veterinary degree in consultation with the department chair
• revises and updates the curriculum maps for the A.S. degrees offered by the department and posts them on CurricuNet
• develops and implements the SLO Assessment Plan and Cycle Timeline for Biol 1406 and 1407 and posts them on CurricuNet
• uses the assessment results to develop action strategies for improvement, if necessary and posts them on CurricuNet

Mentoring Committee:

(This committee has been inactive for the past several years)

This committee:

• maintains a database of potential mentors by course and by campus
• prepares packets of mentoring materials for the Adjunct Faculty Orientation meetings
• presents information and materials during Adjunct Faculty Orientation meetings.
• assigns mentors to all new full-time and adjunct faculty
• prepares packets of mentoring materials for mentors
• conducts informational/instructional sessions for mentors and provides information packets tailored to courses taught

Biology Department Committees (Ad Hoc)

Common Course Objective Committees:

The Common Course Objective Committees:

• develop common course objectives for individual courses
• bring draft common course objectives before the department for adoption
• revise the objectives if necessary

The common course objectives for all courses are posted on the biology internal web site at: https://sites.austincc.edu/biology/common-course-objectives

Hiring Committees:

A hiring committee is formed only when we have a specific job posting, such as Full-Time Faculty or Science Lab Assistant. The composition of the committees differs depending on the specific job posting. Composition of the committee is partly set by Human Resources with regard to gender, ethnicity and other criteria. More information about hiring committees is available at Employment and Outreach Services.

Hiring committees:

• screen applications
• interview applicants
• make recommendations for hiring

Department Meetings

The Biology Department meets regularly on the first Friday of each month at 9:30 am from August through May, except June and July.  All department meetings are held at RGC (Rio Grande Campus). Notice of upcoming Biology Department meetings are sent through the btf listserv along with the room location at RGC and a call for agenda items.

All adjuncts are welcome to attend the Biology Department meetings. Any biology adjunct attending a department meeting has a vote on any topic that comes up at that meeting.

Minutes of the Biology Department meetings are available here. (You will need to be logged into your ACC Gmail account in order to access this team drive.)

BTF (Biology Dept.) Listserv

Because the Biology Department includes biology faculty teaching at all the geographically widespread locations where biology classes are offered, the Biology Department communicates through a Google group listserv called the BTF listserv. (The BTF stands for “Biology Task Force,” the late unlamented name for the department.)

When you are hired by the Biology Department, Anahi Morales will send you an e-mail invitation to join the Google group. If for some reason you do not receive an invitation a day or two after being hired, send Anahi a reminder e-mail asking her to send you the invitation.

It is MANDATORY that all biology faculty and staff join the BTF listserv group and check their e-mail on a regular basis in order to receive vital information about issues affecting the department.

It is STRONGLY suggested that you forward ALL of your austincc.edu e-mail to whichever e-mail account you check on a regular basis. Again, YOU are responsible for checking your e-mail on a regular basis. If you need help figuring out how to forward your e-mail call 223-TECH (8324).

Please note: If you intend everyone on the BTF listserv to read your response to a BTF message, hit reply all. If you want to respond only to one person, hit reply.

Biology Department Websites

The Biology Department maintains several websites:

• The Biology Department Website (https://sites.austincc.edu/biology ) This site is meant for public access. It contains course descriptions, common course objectives, biology safety rules, the lab safety video, degree plan information, contact info for faculty, information about the anatomy and physiology assessment exams, course schedules, and a link to the Biology Student Connection website (see below).
• Microbugz (http://www.austincc.edu/microbugz ) – Assists microbiology students in learning in lab content.
• Histology Help (http://www.austincc.edu/histologyhelp ) – Assists Anatomy students in learning histology

Biology Department Faculty Websites

Many adjunct and full-time faculty members maintain personal websites through ACC. If their name is underlined in the online schedule, that indicates they have a personal website. If you are interested in creating your own website, ACC recommends using Google sites.

ACC Biology Course Descriptions

For the latest course descriptions refer to the ACC Course Catalog website.

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