The Department of Business intends to assess four types of outcomes: (a) Learning; (b) Placement; (c) Curriculum Fit; and (d) Stakeholder Satisfaction.
Learning
The department will continuously administer the Business Field Exam from ETS in each of our Management 4950, Strategic Management, capstone course each term. The department will track the results from that exam, by assessment indicator as well as the overall score, to watch for trends that deviate downward from our long-run. Sustained improvements are also welcome, although the department will not teach to the test. In this spirit, no faculty will be allowed to view the test, other than the faculty member administering the exam.
Placement
The department surveys all graduating seniors annually on the day of graduation as to their placement in jobs or graduate schools. Data regarding starting incomes, company name, permanent contact addresses, graduate schools and programs admitted to are collected. These data are then tabulated and reported by major. In support of this, the department requires that all graduating seniors hand in a resume, and provide evidence that they have interviewed with at least one employer at the time the student completes the application for graduation.
Curriculum Fit
Curriculum fit is defined as the ability of our curriculum to meet the needs of our stakeholders, including employers, students and downstream graduate programs. The quality of our curriculum is assessed through focus groups with students, surveys of alumni, and surveys of potential employers. Each of these stakeholder groups is given the opportunity for feedback every three years, on a rotating basis.
The assessment of fit with employers is achieved by a survey of employers every third year wherein each program area of the department contacts a minimum of 10 potential employers of students to create an ideal profile of an entry-level employee with respect to the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in that area of employment. Curriculum issues are also reviewed by the advisory board for the department. The faculty in each program area then tabulate the data, and compare the results with the curriculum to check the validity of our efforts.
Curriculum fit is also evaluated with student opinions which are gathered through several formal focus group interviews. The focus group discussion includes several issues, including curriculum design and structuring issues. The alumni surveys include several curriculum design and program structuring issues for them to provide feedback on.
When these inputs are received, the department balances that input with the needs of external accrediting bodies, and the needs of all stakeholders, to create the best possible curriculum, both in structure and content.
Stakeholder Satisfaction
Stakeholder satisfaction is primarily measured among alumni, employers, and current students. Feedback from each of these stakeholder groups is solicited every three years on a rotating basis in the form of either surveys or focus groups. Alumni are surveyed at least five years after graduation. Feedback from downstream graduate programs is also solicited by the Dean of the college, who sits on the Utah Business Deans Council. When input is received, the department balances that input with the needs of external accrediting bodies, and the needs of all stakeholders, to create a caring environment that is supportive of excellent academic programs.
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Last Update: Friday, June 06, 2003 |  |