Genetics survey

Potential issues to explore

• Not having enough teaching staff
  • Also quantity vs quality?
  • Could also ask the LAs what their experience is and if we should advocate for them too
• Too many people in one room
• Should target current genetics class since genetics changed a lot between this year and previous years?

Survey questions for students Will collect email address to verify undergraduate LA responses, but will maintain anonymity otherwise

1. Have you taken genetics? – yes, no, no but planned
   1. If yes:
      1. If you have taken genetics, which semester did you take it?
         1. SP22, SP23, SP24, SP25
      2. Were you on the waitlist before enrolling?
         1. Yes
         2. No
   2. If no:
      1. Were you on the waitlist for Genetics?
         1. Yes
         2. No
      2. What prevented you from enrolling in genetics?
         1. Did not get off the waitlist
         2. Switched to different class
         3. Other – Free response
      3. Will skip the rest of the survey!
2. Is Genetics a required course for you?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. If yes:
      1. For what requirement is Genetics required for you?
         1. Mol/Cell
         2. Pre-med
         3. Other:
   4. If no:
      1. Why did you decide to take genetics?
         1. Elective credit
         2. Just for fun
         3. Other:
3. How difficult was it to enroll in the class?
   1. 5 – Very difficult, 1 – Very easy
4. How high was Genetics a priority during enrollment?
   1. 5 – Very important, ranked first in cart, 3 – Ranked without special consideration among other classes, 1 – Not a priority
   2. – yes, no, did not try to enroll (only ask if no or no but planned to previous)
5. Would you like to see additional class sessions scheduled at different times of day?
   1. Yes – would like to see more timing options
   2. No – class timing is sufficient
6. How often do you seek academic support for Genetics?
   1. Never
   2. Once/a couple times during the semester
   3. At least once a week
7. Do you receive sufficient/satisfactory academic support from professors, TAs, and LAs?
   1. 5 – Satisfactory, 1 – Unsatisfactory
8. Is academic support from professors, TAs, and LAs accessible time-wise?
   1. 5 – Very accessible, no issues seeing professors, TAs, LAs
   2. 1 – Not accessible, incompatible with schedule
9. Are the genetics PILOT sessions helpful for the class/exams?
   1. 5 – Very helpful, 1 – Not helpful at all
   2. N/A – Did not take or attend Genetics PILOT
10. Are you a Learning Assistant (LA) for the class?
    1. Yes/No
    2. If yes: Do you feel adequately supported by the professor and graduate TAs?
    3. How manageable is the workload as a Genetics LA with your courseload and extracurriculars?
       1. 5 – Manageable, 1 – Unmanageable
    4. Are there changes to the position or support specific to being a LA you would like to see? – Free response
11. If there were any changes to be made to the staffing, structure, or logistics of the class, what would you like to see? – Free response
12. Any additional comments or explanation of the questions above? – Free response

Notes:

• Not enough LAs/1-on-1 support
• Even PILOT Leaders are struggling, not super connected to professors, LAs too
• Assigned LAs, small groups
• Maybe being pushed too hard for people outside of MolCell, stop advertising as “easy” elective
• Frame as collaboration, suggest some solutions to Fisher
• Make more OH time like LADE
• Fisher doesn’t respond to emails → maybe better delegate communication needs, utilize or incentivize Piazza response
• Genetics is much more broad than genetics at other schools, maybe split class based on need
• Teaching structure maybe needs to be more solidified? A little disorganized → what/how can we organize genetics as SGA?
• Anthony Mberekpe <amberek1@jh.edu> (he has department of bio email list)
• Similar issue in classes like PH Biostat, they have restricted open
• EOY assignment