26 January 2012

Dear Appointments, Promotion and Tenure Committee:

I am pleased to write this letter for Dr. Rachel Polandos third-year review.

Rachel clearly spends a lot of time on her teaching. Her (extremely detailed!) annual reports, and
conversations that we have had, show that she has thought about each of her courses to identify aspects that
improve student learning. Her approach to these courses has been quite adaptive. She has made numerous
changes in all of her courses in response to student performance. These changes have paid off, as her
student evaluation ratings are consistently high. This is true even for Human Biology, a 100-level Core
course for non-majors. Rachel has also made a number of modifications in upper-level courses aimed at
majors. Some of the more significant ones have been adding a skills test and lab procedure summaries in
the Intro. to Molecular Biology course and journal clubs in several courses. These are great ways to make
students responsible for understanding lab procedures and going beyond the textbook.

Rachel has recently developed some new courses. Parasitology was taught for the first time this January,
and immunology (a thorough revision of the existing medical microbiology course) will start next year.
These courses will be of value to students in the health sciences and cell-molecular biology. The
immunology course will bring our curriculum in line with the requirements of our medical technology
affiliate schools. She is also working up a January travel course that will go to Australia, a new continent
for natural science courses.

Rachel has also worked with students on research projects. Although topically some projects are a bit of
stretch beyond her grad school research, this expands the range of research topics available to our students.
This experience will improve their ability to compete for jobs and graduate school. On a personal level, it is
clear that many students enjoy working with her, both on matters related to courses and research as well as
in less formal ways.

She has also contributed to the departmental program in numerous ways, such as taking on a large number
of advisees, developing an on-line course, assisting in recruiting efforts, working with Pharmacy faculty
and administration, organizing a (honorary society) chapter and promoting and updating the med tech
major. She has also served on College committees.

Outside the College she has spent a good deal of time in training for the CASA (Court Appointed Special
Advocate) program, in order to work with abused children whose families have become involved with the
legal system.

I have talked with Rachel about possible grant proposals. I know that it is difficult for faculty at smaller
institutions to compete at the national level for grants, especially in areas related to health sciences. I hope
that she will continue to pursue funding opportunities, and may wish to consider smaller programs such as
the Indiana Academy of Science as well as NSF or NIH. Collaboration with her connections at Notre
Dame is also a way to expand the research opportunities available to our students.

In conclusion, I believe that Rachel has a fine job in our traditional areas of teaching, service and
scholarship.

Sincerely,
David J. Hicks
Associate Professor of Biology