Campus Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

What are the student learning outcomes in your unit?

The outcomes identified are specific to the program within the unit. The School of Public and Environmental Affairs consists of undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, public affairs, and health services management. The Master of Public Affairs is the graduate program offered through SPEA. As such, learning outcomes are specific to the programs and are given below based on this structure:

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

At completion of degree requirements students will be able to:

1. Identify the components and functions of the criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections)
2. Apply knowledge of the operations of the criminal justice system to real life case scenarios and current events
3. Demonstrate the ability to research and analyze crime data and the impact on crime policy
4. Identify the links between theoretical foundations of crime and delinquency and the development of crime policy
5. Apply communication, computer, and statistical skills to content specific information in criminal justice

Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs

At completion of degree requirements students will be able to:

1. Identify the elements of public management and describe the interrelationships between them and the complexities of managing in the public sector
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the universe of public policy
3. Demonstrate the ability to do micro and macro reflection that apply content material to individual interpretations and self-awareness and organizational behavior

Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management

At completion of the degree requirements students will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast the U.S. health-care system, including how insurance is provided, with other systems around the work
2. Understand the ethical, legal, financial and political factors which influence the provision of health services in the U.S.
3. Understand the complex barriers to the access and provision of health services in the                   U.S.
4. Understand the relationship between access of health services, quality of health services, and costs of health services in the U.S.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science:

1. Understanding the structures and processes of American government, commensurate with citizenship duties and an effective civil society
2. A high degree of familiarity with a broad range of political systems
3. Effective writing and communication skills
4. Ability to conceptualize problems and apply analytical tools in solving them

Masters of Public Affairs:

1. Understand the economic, political, social, and ecological dimensions of globalization, including their implications for governance e, institutional and organizational management, and sustainable development
2. Understand the shifting of national responsibilities in the direction of international bodies and systems, state, local, and community-based institutions, as well as in the direction of the private sector
3. Understand the different forms of governance and how they are utilized in partnerships across sectors
4. Understand the American legal system and alternative legal systems
5. Understand how the legal system affects public policy within our constitutional framework as well as the legal constraints affecting the public and nonprofit sectors
6. Understand the structure, functions, and differences between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors with particular emphasis on how issues and problems in the public domain are related to the private and nonprofit sectors
7. Understand the financial, political, and economic environments in the mixed market economy
8. Understand the key forces that drive change and the flexibility and adaptability that are essential attributes for implementing change
9. Have a basic understanding of statistics and data analysis as well as research design and be able to apply and use these skills and tools in policy formulation evaluation and decision making
10. Understand the role of technology and how this relates to public policy and management
11. Understand how organizations operate and work together to gain an understanding of the broader organizational environment
12. Understand alternative perspectives, values and world views and recognize their significance for effective work relationships and service to client groups
13. Understand how to manage diversity
14. Understand collaborative leadership, leadership styles, and their impact on organizations and employees
15. Understand how to work in a team, to deal effectively with conflict, and to negotiate and communicate effectively across constituencies
16. Develop self-awareness about one’s responsibility and service to the public
17. Understand the role values play in decision making and develop a commitment to ethical practices and professional excellence

What outcomes did you assess this academic year?

Each program within SPEA assessed the specific identified outcomes using course-embedded strategies such as written and objective examinations, research papers, oral presentations, journals, peer evaluations, and community organization assessments of service-learning projects, role play activities, and project reports.

The Masters of Public Affairs program has a matrix that indicates how the student learning goals of the program are met through the required assignments in the various graduate courses. 

How did you assess their skills before, during and / or at the end of the semester / academic year?

A formal means of assessing their skills (knowledge and abilities) before instruction was not used this past academic year. Although SPEA did not have a formalized plan to gather data to assess student learning outcomes other than through the means used to determine individual student grades, plans are being developed to initiate a variety of methods in the coming academic year including pre / post tests based on identified learning objectives and curriculum mapping. 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities are assessed during the semester through use of the course-embedded strategies identified in the response to the previous question. Adjustments in teaching strategies are frequently made based on student performance during the semester.

The predominant means through which student knowledge, skills, and abilities are assessed at the end of the semester are through documented student performance on a variety of course-embedded assessment methods noted above. The progression of the students’ learning is assessed through comparison of beginning level performance on exams and/or assignments to end of the semester performance.

Please summarize the data you have collected this semester / academic year.

SPEA faculty determined that the initial means of data gathering in the academic year of 2008-2009 would be through administration of a survey of graduates (undergraduate as well as graduate).  The survey questions pertain predominately to what would be considered “satisfaction” with the program.  Although this is not a direct measure of student learning outcomes the results of the data analysis will be used for planning curriculum and student services.

Please describe any programmatic changes you have made or are planning to make based on the data you have collected.

As noted in the responses above, data directed related to assessing student learning, above and beyond the traditional examinations and assignments used in courses, did not take place this past academic year. However, a plan has been established for assessing student learning in the various academic programs in the 2009-2010 academic year. The following information provides a brief summary of the strategies that will be used to assess student learning outcomes based on academic program:

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:

Development of a formalized assessment plan
Pre / post tests based on course learning objectives administered in each of the major required courses (data generated from this strategy will be provided in next year’s annual assessment summary)
Development of a curriculum map indicating major required courses, program goals, and assessment strategy used

Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs:

Development of a formalized assessment plan
Pre / post tests based on course learning objectives administered in a select number of major specific courses (data generated from this strategy will be provided in next year’s annual assessment summary)
Development of a curriculum map indicating major required courses, program goals, and assessment strategy used

Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management:

Development of a formalized assessment plan
Development of a curriculum map indicating major required courses, program goals, and assessment strategy used

Masters of Public Affairs:

Development of a formalized assessment plan
Assignments required in the Capstone course (V600) utilizing team activities through which members demonstrate their ability to use specific knowledge and skills they have learned in previous graduate courses

Graduating Student Survey – Administered to all students graduating from any of the Programs:

We plan to continue administering the survey initiated in the 2008-2009 academic year. This will provide information useful in determining whether any specific programmatic changes based on the students’ feedback result in increased satisfaction. Although we intend to make some minor changes to the survey to improve clarity in question wording, the information solicited will remain similar.

**Note: Please use this template to provide the responses to the prompts above.**