Welcome to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics on behalf of its faculty, staff, and students. The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is one of the four academic colleges at West Virginia State University. The College takes great pride in quality of its academic programs, faculty, and students.
About Our Academic Programs:
The College has four academic departments: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Physics (located in Hamblin and Wallace Halls). Its faculty and staff are committed to delivering quality up-to-date undergraduate programs in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics and a graduate program in Biotechnology as well as general education courses to all university undergraduate students in the areas of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. In addition, the College partners with WVU on 2+2 programs in Civil, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering. We are excited about helping our students in becoming competent professionals, excellent researchers, and responsible citizens.
About Our Faculty:
Our College is proud to have a very highly qualified and dedicated teaching and research faculty. The College has 39 faculty members (over 90% of whom hold doctoral degrees in their respective fields). They are passionate about teaching and are active in research. They publish research articles in various national and international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, they secure research grants from various federal sources (USDA, NSF, DoE, NASA SGC etc.). Our faculty members conduct research on cancer, coronary artery disease, evolution, horticulture, genomics, natural products synthesis, acid mine drainage, embedded electronics systems, bio-energy, structural designs, and classical mathematics (to name a few). Moreover, the College faculty is actively involved in programs designed for outreach to science and math teachers and students in the public schools of our service area. Even while conducting innovative research, our faculty continues to give students the attention normally found only at small colleges.
About Our Students:
The College has a very vibrant student body. In classrooms and research activities, our students engage in critical and creative thinking, and hone their oral and written communication skills. Our students have the opportunity to participate in a number of undergraduate research programs. These programs include: Research Rookies scholarships (research program for freshmen and sophomores), NASA Space Grant Consortium scholarships (research program, generally for juniors and seniors), and Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) scholarships (an eight week summer research programs). Additionally, many of our students are paid stipends to work on ongoing research projects in the College.
In addition, the College has very active faculty-sponsored student clubs including: ACS (American Chemical Society) Club, DNA (biology students) Club, SPACE (Student Partnership for the Advancement of Cosmic Exploration) Club, and Math & CS Club.
Our College hosts two research symposia every year where students make either oral or poster presentations of their research. Our Annual Research Symposium is held at the end of April of each year. Our SURE Symposium is held in summer at the end of SURE program.
Last but not the least, our College is appreciative to to have a very hard-working staff. Mr. Doug Bright (Biology) and Ms. Mel. Smith (Chemistry) serve as lab managers. Ms. Glenna Curry, Ms. Keisha Freeman, and Mrs. Jeannie Starr are always available to help and welcome faculty, students, and visitors.
Naveed Zaman, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Hamblin Hall 101
zamanna@wvstateu.edu
Phone: (304) 766-4248
Fax: (304) 766-4248
ACS (American Chemical Society) Club:
The student members is a diverse group of students who want to advance science and science education in the area. Any student who is interested in science can participate in community outreach and career development. Outreach activities include trips to local schools and civic groups and career development involves seminars, professional meetings, and industrial visits.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Michael Fultz (304) 766-3106
Club President: Claire Shanholtzer
DNA (Delta Nu Alpha) Club (Biology) This is a social organization for lovers of the outdoors (animals, plants, environment, and nature.) Members have opportunities to participate in varied activities, such as spelunking and canoeing. This group performs community service on and off campus. Membership is open to all students.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Tim Ruhnke (304) 766-3210
Club President:
Thanh Nguyen
MATH/CS Club
A work in collaboration between the computer science and mathematics majors on campus, the Mathematics & Computer Science Club is dedicated to advancing education and research in the fields of Robotics, Applied & Classical Mathematics, Computer Science, and Innovation in the sciences. With active members from all tiers of interests and experience, we invite anyone willing to participate in on-campus projects, community service, and advanced one-to-one research amongst peers and professors.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sonya Armstrong (304) 766-3390
Club President: Danford Smith
SPACE Club
The purposes of this organization are the exploration of space-related topics and the enrichment of members on academic and research areas. The primary purpose of this club is to give educational options to those students who wish to have experiences related to space exploration and/or the space sciences and other topics that support space exploration, allowing students to have a direct influence on their own educational experience that would be most beneficial to them. The club wishes to inspire an interest in space-related topics among the WVSU campus, therefore increasing the number of research opportunities within the university. The club’s expansion will provide support to students in hopes of obtaining research and professional practices.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Marek Krasnansky (304) 766-3257
Club Presidents: Jordan Thomas
The Mission of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
The West Virginia State University College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics exists, first to educate students so that they can understand, utilize, and improve upon scientific and mathematical principles and relate such principles to the rest of human knowledge; second, to promote scientific and mathematical literacy on the part of students of other colleges of the University; and third to utilize the expertise of its faculty in service to the state and to the people and institutions of the surrounding area.
By instruction and mentoring, the College will promote students’ motivation as well as knowledge and skills, and through research, the faculty will set an example to the students making it clear that knowledge is not just to be learned, but also to be created and advanced, by humankind’s efforts.
Its graduates are expected to have broad familiarity with the many fields of knowledge that have been promoted by humankind’s intellectual and creative skills, as well as a deep understanding of at least one of the areas of natural sciences or mathematics, along with a set of skills for probing such areas as to develop new knowledge, solve problems, and enjoy the satisfaction of the intellectual adventure.
NSM Student Council
Membership: The NSM Student Council consists two appointed (student) members and one liaison each from the existing College Student Clubs (currently, ACS club, the DNA club, the Math club, SPACE CLUB), and one graduate student representative. The membership is not very exclusive; any student who would like to get involved can become a member.
The NSM Student Council exists to:
- assist and work with the dean in enhancing the academic and social experiences of College's students
- communicate students’ concerns and ideas to the dean
- promote student involvement in College activities and organizations
- coordinate (and lead) students' activities within the College.
The Council will meet at least once a month during the academic year.
- Research Rookies Program
- NASA Space Grant Consortium Scholaships (applications are accepted early in Fall semester; deadline is usually around Sept. 20 but varies. Contact Dr. Zaman for details)
- Summer Undergarduate Research Experience (SURE) (This is 8-week research scholarship. Contact Dr. Fultz for details)
In addition, there are opportunities to work in labs with resaearchers on stipend.
For details on these and other possible opportunities, contact the college dean.
The purpose of STEP to Success at West Virginia State University is to increase the number of graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) over a five-year period using grant funding provided by the National Science Foundation. According to Pew Research Center, over 60% of tomorrow’s high-wage, high-demand jobs will be in the STEM areas. The STEP to Success program will support this increase in graduates through focused recruiting, early academic support, and ongoing mentoring and student engagement.
STEP to Success has 10 concurrent initiatives to increase STEM enrollment at WVSU. These include a five-week, credit-bearing residential summer bridge program to address common deficiencies in mathematics, longitudinal learning communities to establish a system of major-oriented peer support, and peer-led supplemental instruction to improve student performance in freshman- and sophomore-level courses in the STEM programs. Ongoing mentoring and student engagement will build on the University’s prior success in placing students in undergraduate research positions and internships with university faculty and regional STEM-related employers.
The STEP to Success Program is expected to increase enrollment of first-time freshmen in STEM majors by 20% and increase year-to-year retention by 10 percentage points, producing 16 additional STEM graduates per year by the end of the five-year award period, including at least 10 per year from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.
Dr. Michael Fultz
STEP to Success Project Director
217 Hamblin Hall
(304) 766-3106
mfultz@wvstateu.edu
Dr. Xiaohong Zhang
Supplemental Instruction Program Coordinator
717 Wallace Hall
(304) 766-3398
zhangxi@wvstateu.edu
Supplemental InstructionAnother key component of the STEP to Success grant is Supplemental Instruction. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly review sessions offered by SI leaders to students taking courses with high levels of difficulty. SI is available to any student who wants to improve their understanding of course material in an effort to improve their grades.
Attendance at SI sessions is voluntary, but for students it is a chance to interact with others in your class that allows you to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying, and quiz each other before your professor does.
SI leaders guide students through these activities at each SI session. SI leaders are current students and they share the knowledge that they learned over the years about how to study. SI leaders know the course content and are anxious to assist others. SI leaders attend class each day hearing what you hear and reading what you read; however, SI leaders do not lecture you. The SI leaders help you think about the lectures you heard and the books you read, and then put it all together during an SI review sessions so you can learn it more efficiently.
Each SI leader establishes 2-3 review sessions per week at times that are best for the majority of the students who wish to attend. You can attend as many sessions as you want, but each one is different because you always have new material to discuss. SI review sessions are informal so bring your notes, textbook, and your questions.
Make plans now to attend the SI sessions to develop a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways to study which will also help you in other classes.