ACADEMIC FACULTY INFORMATION FORM

For the period September 1, 2019 thru August 31, 2020

Name Sarah KG Sirsat Title Assistant Professor Department Biology
I. Teaching Effectiveness

A. Courses taught
BIOL 152-General Biology II
BIOL 483-Current Topics
BIOL 431-Developmental Biology
BIOL 440-Comparative Animal Physiology
B. Procedures used to evaluate teaching
I utilized the student evaluations available through Moodle for the fall semester classes. I
utilized final exam questions to get feedback on classes

C. Other observations regarding teaching

I was challenged but benefited from teaching Developmental Biology, a complex and
challenging subject. I also enjoyed teaching freshman biology as it gave me a chance to
interact with new faces in the department. I served as the organizer for the Biology department
seminar series for Fall 2019 and through Spring 2020 until we transitioned to virtual learning.
D. Academic Advising (including procedures used to evaluate advising)
Spring 2020 was horrible due to transition to virtual. I do not find virtual or remote teaching to be
Ian effective
advised means13-16
between of interacting
students, with
thestudents:
majority ofthey were
which are"checked out" andinterested
biology majors had no interest in
in careers
my course any longer. I look forward to the day when we can return to normal pedagogical
in the health professional field. I meet with each student the week before he or she is scheduled
practice.
to sign up for the upcoming semester’s classes and we discuss their future plans and which
courses are required to meet fulfill their degree requirements. Advising was done virtually with
II. individual meetings
Mastery of Subject during
Matter the spring
and Scholarly 2020 semester.
Ability

A. Research and other scholarly/artistic activities (Indicate juried/refereed activities).

Include grants proposed/awarded, articles and books submitted/accepted, presentations at
professional meetings, performances, shows or productions directed.)
I was awarded a 2020 Lougheed Applied Learning Grant for my proposal "Anatomical Models
for Biology Courses". The money provided by the grant will be used to purchase highly
accurate, long-term models to be used by a number of faculty for various courses in the
department.
B. Awards and Honors
N/A

C. Professional meetings attended

N/A
III. University Service

A. Administrative/committee assignments

Health Professional Advisory Committee: 2018-continuing

Biology Department Faculty Search Committee: 2019-continuing
SUNY Potsdam PRODiG Planning Committee: 2019-continuing
Connecting Clearly in the Major Liaison to the PPCC: 2020-continuing
B. College-related public service (Include continuing education teaching by course, number enrolled,
place, credit hours, consultancies, presentations at meetings)
Biology Club Sponsor: 2016-continuing

C. Community service (membership, time volunteered)

Northern New York Poultry Fanciers Secretary: 2019-continuing

IV. Continuing Professional Growth

A. Professional memberships (Indicate leadership roles and term of office)

N/A

B. Professional meetings attended

N/A

C. Courses, seminars, workshops or degrees completed

N/A

D. Describe future goals and plans

I look forward to continuing my research in physiological effects of plumage variation with a
potential collaboration with Clarkson University professors. I also hope to publish mine and my
recently graduated student’s results in a peer-reviewed article.
I am currently developing a WAYS 102 seminar course for the Biology department which will be
V. Other Information (Include other activities not covered but which you wish to note)
designed to fit into the new general education framework, Potsdam Pathways.
I frequently represent the Department of Biology at events such as Open House and Major
Affair and hope to resume this role when the campus returns to normal.

9/11/2020
Signature Faculty Member Date