SENATE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE BIOINFORMATICS GRADUATE PROGRAMS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of FINAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

Transcription

1 SENATE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE BIOINFORMATICS GRADUATE PROGRAMS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of FINAL ASSESSMENT REPORT July 2014 Membership of Internal Review Subcommittee (IRS) External Reviewers: Professor Bruce German, University of California, Davis Professor Ejaz Ahmed, Brock University, Ontario Facilitator: Dr. Anthony Clarke, Office of the Provost The Internal Review Committee (IRC) received the Final Assessment Report for the Bioinformatics master s programs from the IRS on 16 July The IRC now presents an Executive Summary of the review, which includes the following: - Introduction - Summary of the review process - Review Committee s recommendations - Administrative responses to the report from the Chair, Dean, and Provost INTRODUCTION The Bioinformatics Master's programs were established to provide students with high quality and unique learning and training experiences in a modern, growing discipline that is rapidly becoming essential to many scientific fields. The OCGS reviewers visited in March 2008 for program approval; their comments were very positive, and they recommended only minor changes. The Bioinformatics Master s programs and a Graduate Diploma (G.Dip.) program were approved by Senate in time for students to enter in Fall There are two Bioinformatics Master s programs: the Master of Bioinformatics (M.Binf.) and the M.Sc. in Bioinformatics. The M.Binf. is a taught Master s program, where students take six courses and complete a major research project. The M.Sc. in Bioinformatics is a traditional thesis-based Master s program. The M.Binf. is aimed primarily at life science graduates and the M.Sc. is geared towards a diverse audience. The graduate faculty participating in the program cover four colleges: College of Biological Science (CBS), College of Physical and Engineering Sciences (CPES), Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), and Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The interdisciplinary nature of the Bioinformatics programs is one of the aspects that makes them unique. The Program Committee comprises three biologists (an integrative biologist, a nutritional scientist, and a molecular

2 biologist), a statistician, and a computer scientist. There is also an M.Binf. alumna on the Program Committee; she is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). Academic Programs included in Review: Master of Bioinformatics (M.Binf.) M.Sc. in Bioinformatics SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS Submission of Self-Study by Program: 17 March 2013 (due 1 November 2013) Site visit: May 2013 Final Assessment Report received: 16 July 2013 (expected: 01 June) Response of Director: requested, 20 July 2013: received, 11 April 2014 (expected: 10 Aug 2013) Response of Dean: requested, 15 April 2014; received, 29 May 2014 (expected: 01 May) Response of the Provost: requested, 30 May; received, 13 June (expected: 14 June) The IRS conducted their site-visit to review the Bioinformatics programs over two days on May 13 th and 14 th. Their agenda included meetings with (in chronological order): Anthony Clarke, Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies & Program Quality Assurance); Mike Emes, Dean, CBS; Paul McNicholas, Program Director & David Mutch, Assistant Director; Maureen Mancuso, Provost and Vice-President (Academic); graduate students & alumni; Glen van der Kraak, Associate Dean (Research & Graduate Studies), CBS; Faculty; Graduate Program Committee; Staff; and Library staff. They were given a tour of both the research facilities and the library, and an exit interview with the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies and Program Quality Assurance) was deemed unnecessary. REVIEWERS RECOMMENDATIONS Executive Summary The panel committee ended its deliberations highly impressed with the success of these young programs. This is an unusual initiative for a variety of reasons. Unlike traditional degree granting programs tied to departmental disciplines, the Bioinformatics degrees are the result of a combination of scholarship, technologies and courses across multiple disciplines, 11 departments and 4 colleges at Guelph. The effort appears to be well justified. It can be accurately stated that the Bioinformatics education programs are the result of significant push from multiple academic programs at the University and increasingly insistent pull from various Life Sciences and Biotechnology industries. Well executed, this is a University program with a bright future. Specific Recommendations: Administrative structure adoption of the support committed for the Bioinformatics program during the initial review (Spring 2008), including a half time support administrator and a one-course release for the program director.

3 identifying and upgrading shared office/interactive/conference space for the program s graduate students located so as to encourage interactions between students and faculty across the disciplines in bioinformatics. developing a strategic plan for the explicit recruitment and support of bioinformatics students both domestically and internationally. implementing an internship program for students to spend time and develop personnel networks with various commercial partners in the bioinformatics industry. The duration, logistics and requirements of the intern program will need to consider the diversity of students, industries and scientific disciplines who are stake holders. pursuing an endowed chair to support the program, increase the University s national and International visibility in bioinformatics and recruit or retain a high visibility faculty member. regularizing the positions in the program that carry out informatics support for teaching and advising. This would include providing a computer lab that would support these positions and the teaching mission. Bioinformatics Program - General establishing an advisory board of industrial executives and academic peers who can identify opportunities for the program to become more visibly and successfully linked to the various commercial users of bioinformatics and bioinformaticians. assembling a multi-investigator research plan that would include Federal funding as a center of research excellence. tasking the administrative support personnel with the routine maintenance of the program s website including faculty and student news, ongoing research and industrial collaborations. This field is likely to be disproportionately web-savvy and the program s website is its most important portal to the scientific community. Masters in Bioinformatics (M.Binf.) a broader recruitment activity to increase students from outside Guelph and outside Canada, a more intimate relationship with the biotechnology industry as internship sites and partnerships for student placements, a consideration of remedial coursework curriculum for those students that are moving to the program from unusual backgrounds, designation of student teaching assistantships dedicated specifically to the Bioinformatics program, a plan to establish the M.Binf. as a distance learning program that can be taken via on-line or other electronic based education platforms, recruiting an administrative assistant with specific responsibilities for the Bioinformatics program as a whole and providing a visible point of identity for students.

4 M.Sc. Research Thesis a formal internship program with identified partners in the industries using bioinformatics trained scientists, a recruiting strategy for students in the research area of Bioinformatics both within Guelph s undergraduate student body and perhaps more strategically, to campuses around the country, a formal committee of alumni of the program to serve as an ad hoc advisory group for the program as it evolves. These alumni will form a valuable asset in ensuring that the program continues to grow aligned with its appropriate industrial sectors.

5 $ruhwffiffqffiht.\' ffi-_'dtfrhjffiff*ff"*h$ BIOINFORMATICS GRADUATE PROGRAMS April L0, 2014 Director's response to the review of the Master's programs in Bioinformatics by Professors f.b. German and S.E. Ahmed Dear Professor Clarke, First of all, I would like to thank Professors German and Ahmed, on behalf of the Bioinformatics faculty and stafl for the significant investment of their time in putting together a comprehensive review of our Master's programs in Bioinforrnatics. I also wish to thank you and your staff for facilitating the review. It was a pleasure to have Professors German and Ahmed ('the reviewers' hereafter) visit Guelph as part of their review and I am delighted that two such high-profile scientists have rendered such a positive review of what are very young Master's programs. Within an overwhelmingly positive review of our Bioinformatics Master's programs, the reviewers make six specific program recommendations as well as a three other suggestions that are important to address. I will respond to the recommendations, as well as the other suggestions, in a point-by-point fashion herein. For clarity, text quoted directly from the reviewers'report is written in italics. Recommendations In summary, we recommend enthusiastically to the }CGS that the Bioinformatics program, the two Master's Degrees, related courses and research be continued and support broadened... As formal recommendations to the University of Guelph we suggest that the administrative structure that oversees the Bioinformatics program address immediately: L. Adoption of the support committed for the Bioinformatics program during the initial review (Spring 2008), including a half time support administrator and a one-course release for the program director. Having a member of staff for whom the Bioinformatics programs (M.Binf., M.Sc., and proposed Ph.D.) are a priority would be wonderful; however, this is not something that the program can control directly. The provision of a one-course teaching release for the Director was promised during the initial review of the programs [in Spring 2008); however, this has not been authorized or granted by the administration as of yet. It may well be the case that the amount of extra work involved in being Director, over and above being a Graduate Coordinator, is not understood by the administration, The Bioinformatics Program Committee is concerned about this apparent disconnect and discussed the matter in depth at a meeting in 2013,One particular concern is that it might not be possible to retain or suitably replace the Director if this matter is not resolved, The Assistant Director brought recommendations from the Page I of3

6 Bioinformatics Program Committee regarding the Director's conditions of appointment to the administration last year. However, none of these recommendations were accepted by the administration. As of the time of writing, the Director has still not received a letter of appointment - and he has been Director since March 201,2! Identifying and upgrading shared office/interactive/conference space for the program's graduate students located so as to encourage interactions between students and faculty across the disciplines in bioinformatics. Since Fall 2 012, our Master's students have enjoyed a dedicated meeting / study / seminar room ISCIE 3310). Developing a strategic plan for the explicit recruitment and support of bioinformatics students both domestically and internqtionally. This is something that will be looked at going forward. However, our immediate priority has been to get the Ph.D. program up and running. Implementing an internship program for students to spend time and develop personnel networks with various commercial partners in the bioinformatics industry, The duration, Iogistics and requirements of the internship program will need to consider the diversity of students, industries and scientific disciplines who are stake holders, The M.Binf. is a one-year taught Master's and so an internship program is not viable. The suitability of internships as part of the M.Sc. program will be investigated. 5. Pursuing an endowed chair to support the program, increase the University's national and International visibility in bioinformatics and recruit or retain a high v i s ib ili ty fa culty m emb er, This is an excellent idea and is something that we would like the administration to consider after the proposed Ph.D. program is up and running. 6. Regularizing the pos[tions in the program that carry out informatics support for teaching and advising. This would include providing a computer lab that would support these positions and the teaching mission. At the time of the reviewers' visit, one of the statisticians to whom they are referring [Dr. Ryan Browne) was on a one-year contract as a CL Assistant Professor and the other (Dr. Sanjeena DangJ was a post-doctoral fellow with Associated Graduate Faculty status. I am pleased to write that Dr, Dang is now a S-year CL Assistant Professor who will work in support of the Bioinformatics programs. Dr. Browne remains on a one-year contract that ends on August 31, 201,4. I am told that his contract will not be renewed. A computer lab could be tied to the endowed chair mentioned in point 5 above. Other suggestions For the Bioinformatics program itself, the panel was impressed with the ongoing progress of this fledgling academic program and its potential for future success, The panel suggests that the progrqm consider: Page 2 of 3

7 L. Establishing an advisory board of industrial executives and academic peers who can identify opportunities for the program to become more visibly and successfully Iinked to the various commercial users of bioinformatics and bioinformaticians. This is something that will be looked at going forward. However, we prefer to get the Ph.D. program up and running first. 2. Assembling a multi-investigator research plan that would include Federal funding as a center of research excellence. All funding opportunities will be explored to help the programs grow. After opportunities have been identified by the Program Committee, co-investigators will be approached by the Director. 3. Tasking the administrative support personnel with the routine maintenance of the progrem's website including faculty and student news, ongoing research and industrial collaborations, This field is likely to be disproportionately web-savvy and the program's website is ifs most important portal to the scientific community. This ties in with my response to Recommendation 1 on the first page of this letter, While having a member of staff for whom the Bioinformatics programs are a priority would be wonderful, and this person could look after the website and help us pursue all sorts of useful advertising, and other, initiatives. However, the program does not control staffing directly and so this matter is not within our control. Yours sincerely, Paul McNicholas, Ph.D. Director & Graduate Coordinator Cc. Dr, David Mutch, Assistant Director Page 3 of3

8 Dean Emes Response to Review Report on Bioinformatics Graduate Programs I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the Director s response relating to the IQAP review of the current Masters programme in Bioinformatics. It is important to explain that I am writing as the designated Dean since administrative responsibility and oversight for the programme was effectively transferred to CBS from CPES at the beginning of This is a truly interdisciplinary graduate degree programme drawing on 11 departments from 4 colleges. I also want to pay compliment to the current Programme Director, Dr. Paul McNicholas, whose commitment has placed the coursework and research Masters degrees on a sound footing and helped position the newly approved PhD programme for success. As noted by the Director, the reviewers are highly enthusiastic and positive about the existing programme. In doing so they raised a number of points for consideration which I will address in turn, taking account also of Dr. McNicholas s response. One of the recommendations which Dr. McNicholas cites is: adoption of the support committed for the Bioinformatics program during the initial review (Spring 2008), including a half time support administrator and a one course release for the program director. This was addressed in the previous response of October 2013 following receipt of the reviewer s report in which the significant administrative support which CBS has dedicated to ensuring the success of the programme was described. All applicants for the programme are handled by a single office overseen by the Associate Dean Research. Once in the programme, student progress is monitored by a single departmental graduate secretary (who also handles other programmes in the College) and interacts with the Programme Director over examination, committee meetings, etc. Likewise an Administrative Assistant addresses all matters for the program related to academic reporting through to the scheduling of classrooms. Whilst the Director indicates that having dedicated administrative support for each separate programme would be wonderful, this does not represent the most efficient use of resources nor, at the present time of significant financial constraint, is it something for which resources could be easily found. The commitment referred to in the Reviewers report and the Director s response relates to a period when the programme was administered through CPES. Administration of graduate programmes in that college is organised along somewhat different lines to CBS, but there is no prima facie case for arguing that administrative support is lacking, as much as it might be the view of the programme committee that they would like to have a dedicated individual. Resources simply do not permit and indeed are not the most efficient way to deliver support. 1

9 I also want to emphasize that CBS has committed itself to funding a 5 year CL faculty position, (Dr. Dang), dedicated to this program, by ring fencing funds received under the Resource Allocation Guidelines for graduate growth. The first point to make in relation to this is that the individual appointed has a 25% DoE in Service support to the Bioinformatics programme. The second is that this represents an unprecedented commitment of financial support in which CBS is assuming significant risk in supporting a faculty position in another college, when maintenance of total RAG funding to CBS varies year to year. Thus I feel that CBS is clearly demonstrating its administrative commitment to the programme. The issue of course release is a matter for consideration by the Dean of CPES, but it is not normal practice to provide course release in CBS for other similar positions. The service load is properly reflected in the DoE of faculty members as a balance between Teaching, Research and Service. I do accept that the Director had not received an appointment letter and that the Dean of CPES had previously indicated his intent to provide this. This is now a moot point since the Director has indicated his resignation from the university and move to McMaster, where we wish him every future success. Recommendation 2: identifying and upgrading shared office / interactive / conference space. As indicated by the Director, CBS has already committed dedicated space to the Bioinformatics students in Room 3310 of the Science Complex which was in place at the time of the review so it is not clear to what additional resources the reviewers were referring. Recommendation 3: developing a strategic plan for recruitment... is something which the Director has established as a priority and will benefit from the support of Dr. Dang. Recommendation 4: implementing an internship programme...with partners in the bioinformatics industry is one that I will continue to encourage the future Director and programme committee to consider. The term internship now has distinct connotations under recent labour relations law and partners will need to be fully cognizant of the implications for compensation when participating in such a programme. As the Director has indicated, this will be investigated further. Recommendation 5: Pursuing an endowed Chair. Again, this aspiration is consistent with the University s broader goals and will require some coordinated effort and strategy if it is to move forward. Recommendation 6: Regularising the positions in the program that carry out informatics teaching and support. As acknowledged by the Director, CBS has committed support to cover the entire costs of a CL faculty position in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for a five year period. It is hoped that eventually this position will become established as a tenure stream position but such commitment will be dependent on maintaining a sustainable enrolment pattern for the foreseeable future. I am confident that this is a viable programme which has the strong commitment of the programme committee. 2

10 The other general recommendations are excellent points for further consideration (e.g. establishing an external advisory board, a multi investigator research plan, and web development) and I am confident of the programme committee s continued, pro active engagement. There will be a need to identify both the requirement and resources necessary for web maintenance and development. This is a particular challenge as CBS does not have such a person for the College, and we will need to investigate what other support might be available elsewhere. Overall, I am satisfied that the foundations for the future success of the Masters degrees in Bioinformatics have been laid and I would like to record my appreciation to Dr. McNicholas for his exemplary leadership 3

11 MEMORANDUM FROM THE PROVOST AND VICE-PRESIDENT (ACADEMIC) To: From: Anthony Clarke, Assistant VP (Graduate Studies & Program Quality Assurance) Maureen Mancuso, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Date: June 13, 2014 Subject: Provost s Response to the Final Report of the Internal Review of the Graduate Programs in Bioinformatics I have had an opportunity to review the Final Report of the Internal Review of the graduate programs in Bioinformatics and I am pleased to accept the report. In their report, the reviewers noted how impressed they were with the success of these new programs and considered this success to be the result of a combination of scholarship, technologies and courses across multiple disciplines, 11 departments and 4 colleges at Guelph. In their words, this is a University program with a bright future. The reviewers made nine primary recommendations to enhance the sustainability of these two Masters programs and to achieve the eventual goal of developing a PhD program in Bioinformatics. In my review of the Chair s and Dean s comments I was pleased to note that several of these recommendations have either been addressed (e.g., funding a 5-year CL faculty position dedicated to these programs; a dedicated meeting/seminar room; dedicated administrative support within CBS to support these students) or are currently under consideration (e.g., developing a strategic plan for the programs; pursuing an endowed chair). I am especially encouraged to see support of the Dean of CBS of a faculty position in another college. This collaborative approach is essential to ensure the success of all interdisciplinary programs and it reflects the Dean Emes s commitment to the success of the graduate programs in Bioinformatics. Consistent with our new Quality Assurance process, and recognizing the need for longer term consultation and planning to address all of the reviewers comments, I recommend that the Director of the program provide a one-year status report due at the end of the winter semester of 2015 and that this report be submitted to the Senate Committee on Quality Assurance. I would like to thank all the faculty and staff engaged in the development and delivery of the interdisciplinary graduate program in Bioinformatics as well as all other faculty and students who have taken part in this internal review process, along with the Deans of College of Biological Science and College of Physical and Engineering Science, the internal and external consultants, and the members of the SCQA subcommittee.

12 I am supportive of the self-study, the consultants report, the Chair s response, and the Dean s response moving forward to SCQA. Maureen Mancuso Provost and Vice-President Academic cc: M. Emes, Dean, College of Biological Science A. Vannelli, Dean, College of Physical & Engineering Science P. McNicholas, Director & Graduate Coordinator