2017 UNDERGRADUATE ASSESSMENT REPORT

LEE BUSINESS SCHOOLUNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS

LBS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS

Upon completion of the LBS undergraduate degree program, students will . . .

1. Demonstrate knowledge of core business concepts

2. Communicate effectively in a business setting

3. Work effectively in a team environment

4. Recognize and analyze ethical and legal dimensions of business decisions

and identify probably outcomes and effects on stakeholders

5. Identify global and cultural issues that affect how a firm operates and describe

how these issues affect business decisions

2016 RECOMMENDATIONSFOR CLOSING THE LOOP

Continue embedding core knowledge assessment questions in exams that count toward course grades

Emphasize development of students’ grasp of accounting and finance concepts and ongoing

reinforcement of the other four disciplines.

Continue modeling and promoting the use of effective presentation content, delivery, non-verbal, and

media preparation skills

Provide students with clear expectations or guidelines for content, organization, documentation, and

formatting in the instructions for business writing assignments.

Emphasize analysis and evaluation of ethical and legal issues in business in multiple courses

throughout the curriculum.

Consider modifying the current case or adopting a case more amenable to assessing progress toward

student ability to identify, analyze, and make recommendations about ethical and legal issues in

business.

Continue building and reinforcing student skills at crafting in-depth, specific solutions and

recommendations that detail how organizations may address global and cultural challenges.

LEARNING GOAL #1 OBJECTIVECRITERIA/COM

PETENCY

DEMONSTRATE

KNOWLEDGE OF

CORE BUSINESS

CONCEPTS

Have a functional

understanding of . . .

Accounting skills

Finance skills

Role of MIS

Marketing skills

Management

Economics

2017 CORE EXAM STATISTICS: CORRECT RESPONSES BY DISCIPLINE

MGT MIS ACC

ECO

FIN MKT Q1-5 Q6-10

MEAN 8.5 8.1 6.8 4.2 4.2 6.4 7.7

MEAN (%) 85% 81% 68% 84% 84% 64% 77%

N 338 111 738 95 172 206 174

#

QUESTIONS10 10 10 5 5 10 10

85%

81%

68%

84% 84%

64%

77%

80%

77%

71%72% 72%

77%

85%86%

77%

68%

77%

75%

68%

83%

60%

75%

90%

% C

orr

ect R

esponse

Discipline

2015-2017 Performance on Core Assessment Questions by Discipline

2017 2016 2015

2017 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CLOSING THE LOOP - LEARNING GOAL #1

Immediate action by Curriculum Committee:

Review and assess the validity of each discipline’s core exam questions to ensure that they do not become outdated or less relevant, but rather evolve as the disciplines evolve.

Continuing Actions

Embedding of core exam assessment questions for each discipline in exams that count toward course grades in the respective core courses.

Enhancing and reinforcing students’ grasp of core knowledge of accounting and finance as student performance in 2017 is lowest on these two disciplines.

Reinforcing student grasp of core knowledge in other four disciplines.

LEARNING GOAL #2 OBJECTIVE CRITERIA/COMPETENCY

COMMUNICATE

EFFECTIVELY IN A

BUSINESS SETTING

Speak effectively about a

business topic (2A)

Make effective oral presentations

on a business topic in front of an

audience.

Write effectively about a

business topic (2B)

Express in writing their position on

business issues in a clear,

concise, and professional manner.

MEAN RATINGS: ORAL PRESENTATIONS 2012-2017

RUBRIC

CRITERION

MEAN RATING

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

ORGANIZATION 2.09 2.22 2.01 2.08 2.00 2.46

CONTENT 2.24 2.11 2.23 2.00 2.04 2.07

DELIVERY 1.70 2.00 1.98 2.07 1.98 2.00

NON-VERBAL 1.63 1.74 1.85 1.79 1.75 1.87

USE OF MEDIA 2.16 2.11 2.10 2.00 2.18 2.42

APPEARANCE 1.90 2.32 2.33 1.86 2.05 2.08

Rating Scale

3 = Exceeds Expectations

2 = Meets Expectations

1 = Below Expectations

2017 FREQUENCIES: ORAL PRESENTATION RATINGS

RUBRIC CRITERION

2017 PERFORMANCE AGAINST EXPECTATIONS

EXCEEDS MEETS BELOW

ORGANIZATION 55% 34% 11%

CONTENT 24% 58% 18%

DELIVERY 18% 63% 18%

NON-VERBAL 21% 42% 37%

USE OF MEDIA 50% 42% 8%

APPEARANCE 24% 55% 21%

1.5

2

2.5

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Organization Content Delivery

Non-Verbal Use of Media Appearance

Mean Rating Trends-Oral Presentations (2012-2107)

2017 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CLOSING THE LOOP - LEARNING GOAL #2A

Immediate action by Curriculum Committee:

Build student skill at memorizing, rehearsing, and maintaining eye contact with the audience during verbal presentations required throughout the curriculum.

Continuing Actions

Encourage students to effectively project their voice and enthusiasm for a topic when speaking during verbal presentations.

Continue to stress the value of well-designed and easily readable slide decks used during business presentations.

MEAN RATINGS: WRITTEN COMMUNICATION2012-2017

MEAN RATING

CRITERION 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

CONTENT 2.23 2.06 2.50 2.22 2.03 2.13

ORGANIZATION 1.92 1.99 2.09 2.17 2.22 2.21

STYLE 2.08 1.98 2.34 2.02 2.00 2.02

GRAMMAR & MECHANICS 2.04 2.10 2.39 2.09 2.08 2.07

CITATION &

DOCUMENTATION1.81 1.80 1.84 1.84 1.97 2.02

PROFESSIONALISM 2.22 2.13 2.27 2.27 2.28 2.29

FORMAT 1.78 1.88 1.61 1.73 2.11 2.08

REVISION 2.03 2.01 2.39 2.02 1.94 2.17

Rating Scale

3 = Exceeds Expectations

2 = Meets Expectations

1 = Below Expectations

2017 FREQUENCIES: WRITTEN COMMUNICATION RATINGS

2017 PERFORMANCE AGAINST

EXPECTATIONS

CRITERION EXCEEDS MEETS BELOW

CONTENT 20% 71% 8%

ORGANIZATION 24% 71% 4%

STYLE 20% 57% 22%

GRAMMAR & MECHANICS 20% 61% 18%

CITATION &

DOCUMENTATION18% 65% 16%

PROFESSIONALISM 29% 71% 0%

FORMAT 27% 47% 27%

REVISION 29% 59% 12%

1.5

2.1

2.7

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Content OrganizationStyle Grammar & MechanicsCitation & Documentation ProfessionalismFormat Revision

Mean Rating Trends-Written Communication (2012-2107)

2017 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CLOSING THE LOOP - LEARNING GOAL #2B

Continuing Actions

Providing instructions for writing assignments throughout the curriculum that state clear expectations regarding the specificity, accuracy, and completeness of content discussed in a paper.

Reinforcing the importance of effective word choice, avoidance of clichés, and unnecessary wordiness in business writing pieces.

Reinforcing the necessity and value of adequate documentation and citation of source materials in written pieces.

Provide formatting standards (e.g., page numbers, section headings) in the instructions for written assignments throughout the curriculum.

Reinforcing the need throughout the curriculum for thorough proofreading and revision of written works.

ONGOING GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS LEARNING GOALS #2A & #2B

Each department’s curriculum will include at least one (1) course that requires an oral presentation and two (2) courses that require a significant writing assignment.

In these courses, faculty members will make the LBS program oral presentation and writing assessment rubrics or other equivalent oral presentation and writing rubrics transparent to students and use those rubrics for grading purposes.

Faculty members must refer students who perform poorly in their writing assignments to the UNLV Writing Center to seek help with their assignments.

LEARNING GOAL #3 OBJECTIVE

STUDENTS WILL WORK

EFFECTIVELY IN A TEAM

ENVIRONMENT.

A. Students will exhibit proper

cooperation with team members

B. Students will demonstrate

individual responsibility for

component parts of team projects

2

3

4

5

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017

Mean r

ating (

Scale

1-5

)

Set high, challenging expectations

Creatively structure roles & responsibilities

Practice participative leadership

Regularly communicate a wide variety of topics

Combine actions in an efficient and effective manner

2

3

4

5

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017

Mean r

ating (

Scale

1-5

)

Act in professional manner

Anticipated potential team conflicts

Made impressive contributions to team efforts

Sought diverse & dissenting viewpoints

Tried to make everyone's job easier

Work in harmony toward a common end

2

3

4

5

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017

Mean r

ating (

Scale

1-5

)

Produced beyond what the team expected

Maximized their personal effort

Worked inter-dependently with & assisted others

Perform the duties expected of them by the team

LEARNING GOAL #4 OBJECTIVE CRITERIA/COMPETENCY

RECOGNIZE AND

ANALYZE ETHICAL

AND LEGAL

DIMENSIONS OF

BUSINESS

DECISIONS AND

IDENTIFY PROBABLE

OUTCOMES AND

EFFECTS ON

STAKEHOLDERS

Recognize and analyze

ethical and legal issues

Recognize forces that pertain to

ethics in business practices and

be cognizant of ethical dilemmas

Recognize major legal aspects of

the business environment,

including but not limited to

diversity and firm social

responsibility

2017 MEAN & FREQUENCIES: ETHICAL DIMENSIONS RATINGS

CRITERION

MEAN RATING

2017 PERFORMANCE

AGAINST

EXPECTATIONS

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 EXCEED MEET BELOW

IDENTIFIES ETHICAL

ISSUES IN THE CASE1.80 1.63 1.35 1.33 1.38 3% 32% 65%

EVALUATES ETHICAL

IMPLICATIONS OF

ALTERNATIVE

ACTIONS

1.65 1.97 1.30 1.45 1.58 5% 48% 48%

1

2

3

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017

Mean r

ating (

Scale

1-3

)

Identifies ethical issues in the case

Evaluates ethical implications of alternative actions

Ethical Dimensions Ratings

2017 MEAN & FREQUENCIES: LEGAL DIMENSIONS RATINGS

CRITERION

MEAN RATING

2017 PERFORMANCE

AGAINST

EXPECTATIONS

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 EXCEED MEET BELOW

IDENTIFIES LEGAL

ISSUES IN A

BUSINESS CONTEXT

1.54 1.63 1.15 1.20 1.13 3% 8% 90%

DEMONSTRATES THE

LEGALITY OR

ILLEGALITY OF A

SPECIFIC BUSINESS

COURSE OF ACTION

1.55 1.97 1.45 1.55 1.68 3% 63% 35%

EVALUATE LEGAL

IMPLICATIONS OF A

SPECIFIC BUSINESS

COURSE OF ACTION

1.85 2.17 1.30 1.58 1.68 18% 33% 50%

1

2

3

2012 2013 2015 2016 2017

Mean r

ating (

Scale

1-3

)

Identifies legal issues in a business context

Demonstrates the legality or illegality of a specific business course of action

Evaluate legal implications of a specific business course of action

Legal Dimensions Ratings

2017 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CLOSING THE LOOP - LEARNING GOAL #4

Immediate Action by Curriculum Committee

Review and assess the validity of the case study currently used to assess progress toward Learning Goal #4 and, if need be, recommend an alternative.

Continuing Actions

Emphasize awareness and analysis of ethical and legal issues in business situations in multiple courses throughout the curriculum.

Refine means of collecting assessment data for Learning Goal #4 (e.g., allows students to write case study answers in exam booklets) and motivating student performance (e.g., make collection part of graded course activity)

LEARNING GOAL #5 OBJECTIVE CRITERIA/COMPETENCY

IDENTIFY GLOBAL &

CULTURAL ISSUES

THAT AFFECT HOW A

FIRM OPERATES AND

DESCRIBE HOW

THESE ISSUES

AFFECT BUSINESS

DECISIONS

Recognize the existence of

global & cultural issues and

their effects on how a firm

operates.

Recognize the effects of global &

cultural issues on a firm.

Suggest solutions to

problems that are

recognized as global &

cultural issues.

Suggest solutions to problems that

are recognized as global & cultural

issues

2017 MEANS & FREQUENCIES OF PERFORMANCE RATINGS FOR GOAL #5

CRITERION

MEAN RATING

2017 PERFORMANCE

AGAINST EXPECTATIONS

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 EXCEEDS MEETS BELOW

IDENTIFIES

CULTURAL

ISSUES1.70 1.78 2.17 2.07 1.97 1.90 17% 56% 27%

RECOMMENDS

SOLUTIONS1.47 1.90 1.93 1.53 2.03 1.83 20% 43% 37%

Rating Scale

3 = Exceeds Expectations

2 = Meets Expectations

1 = Below Expectations

1

2

3

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Me

an r

ating (

Scale

1-3

)

Identifies Cultural Issues

Recommends Solutions

Mean Ratings Trend - Goal #5

2017 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CLOSING THE LOOP - LEARNING GOAL #5

Continuing Actions

In : MGT/IB 480, MKT/IB 456, FIN 308, ECO 358

Building skills at in-depth analysis of global and cultural issues

Stressing how higher-level cultural, legal, economic and labor force differences impact global businesses.

Emphasizing the need for specificity when recommending actions for addressing global and cultural issues in business