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Weber State University Annual Assessment of Evidence of Learning

Department/Program: Business Administration Academic Year of Report: 2013-14 Date Submitted: November 1, 2014 Report author: Michael J. Stevens Contact Information: Phone: (801) 626-8099 Email: mjstevens@weber.edu

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A. Brief Introductory Statement:

The contact information below for the Business Administration Department is current on November 1, 2014. No further action is

required.

The student who majors in business administration is seeking the most general business degree that is offered at the bachelor's level.

This major is sometimes described as an undergraduate MBA because of its emphasis on breadth of education across all of the

functional areas of business. This degree would be especially appropriate for students who intend to become entrepreneurs.

Business Administration Website: http://www.weber.edu/goddard/dropdowns/Undergraduate_Programs.html

Contact Information

Dr. Michael Stevens

Weber State University

3802 University Circle

Ogden, UT 84408

Wattis Business Bldg, Rm. 245

mjstevens@weber.edu

(801) 626-8099

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B. Mission Statement

The mission statement below is up to date but changes may occur over this coming year to ensure alignment with the new Goddard School mission statement. This alignment is due for announcement this academic year. Mission Statement

Reviewed September, 2014

The mission of the Department of Business Administration is to promote increased organizational effectiveness and efficiency, and

thereby advance productivity in our community, state, nation, and world. We seek to maintain a learning environment for our students

in which the elements of successful organization and operation of businesses will be studied, disseminated, and practiced. Our

students will able to think strategically and to develop strong planning and analytical skills. We will provide for our students an

environment in which application is used to support the understanding, application and mastery of theory. Our students will be given

opportunities to enhance their written and oral communication skills and develop the interpersonal skills necessary to compete

successfully in a highly diverse and interactive world. Finally, the department will recognize that the cornerstone of educational

quality is an active community of teaching scholars.

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C. Student Learning Outcomes The student learning outcomes below are current as of November 1, 2014. They are due for review during the 2014-15 academic year to ensure alignment with recent changes to the revised learning outcomes for the Goddard School. Student Learning Outcomes

Updated December, 2013

Current for the 2013-14

At the end of their study at WSU, students graduating from the department’s degree programs will meet the following standards and

expectations:

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate proficient communication skills.

2. Graduates will exhibit knowledge of theoretical concepts, ideas, and topics taught in the areas of Business Administration &

Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems and Technology, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

3. Graduates will become proficient in interpersonal/human relations skills while acquiring the ability to effectively work in a team

environment.

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D. Curriculum

Changes to the curriculum map below are in progress at present. In particular, the Supply Chain Management emphasis has been

undergoing development and refinement and as such, this will result in the development of new courses and the removal of some

courses during the 2014-15 academic year.

Curriculum Map

Student Learning

Outcomes

Course # & Title 1 2 3

BSAD 1010: Introduction to Business L L L

BSAD 3000: Smal Business Management L H M

BSAD 3200: Legal Environment M H L

BSAD 3330: Business Ethics M H M

BSAD 3500: Intro to Business Research L H L

BSAD 4210: Survey Business Law M H L

BSAD 4500: Entrepreneurship M H M

BSAD 4620: Executive Lecture Series L L L

BSAD 4680: Internship in Business Admin H M H

BSAD 4780: Strategic Management H H H

ENTR 1001: Principles of Entrepreneurship L M H

ENTR 1002: Introduction to Entrepreneurship M M H

ENTR 1003: Ideation and Customer Development M H H

ENTR 1004: Entrepreneurial Finance M H H

ENTR 2001: Sales and Marketing H H H

ENTR 3002: Starting The Business H H H

ENTR 3003: Growing The Business H H H

IST 1100: The Digital Society L M L

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IST 2010: Business Computer Skills L L L

IST 2015: Intro to IS&T L M L

IST 2110: Software Development (I) L L L

IST 2410: Systems Architecture M M M

IST 2720: Data Structures & Algorithms L M L

IST 3110: IS&T for Business M H M

IST 3210: Database Design/Implementation L L M

IST 3610: Networks & Data Comm (I) M L M

IST 3620: Networks & Data Comm (II) M L L

IST 3700: E-business Tech & Web Develop M L M

IST 3710: Global Issues in IS&T L H L

IST 3720: Software Development (II) L M M

IST 3730: Systems Analysis and Design L M M

IST 3750: Electronic Business Comm M M M

IST 4600: Information Security L L H

IST 4700: Senior Practicum L L L

IST 4710: Enterprise Software Development l L L

IST 4730: Senior Practicum (Project Mgmt.) H H H

MGMT 3010: Organizational Behavior H M H

MGMT 3200: Communication H H H

MGMT 3300: Human Resources Management H H H

MGMT 3350: Labor Law L H L

MGMT 3400: International Business H H H

MGMT 4300: Leadership & Group Effectiveness H H H

MGMT 4310: Compensation L H M

MGMT 4320: Staffing & Selection M H H

MGMT 4350: Training & Development H H H

MGMT 4400: Advanced Org. Behavior H H H

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MGMT 4650: Negotiations H H H

MGMT 4860: Internship in Management H M H

MGMT 4865: Internship in HR Management H M H

MKTG 3010: Concepts M H M

MKTG 3100: Consumer Behavior M H M

MKTG 3200: Selling H H M

MKTG 3450: Promotion H H M

MKTG 3600: International Marketing L H M

MKTG 4400: Marketing Strategy H H M

MKTG 4860: Internship in Marketing H M H

SCM 3050: Operations & Logistics Mgmt L H L

SCM 3500: Computer Modeling & Application L H L

SCM 3600: Logistics L H L

SCM 3700: Purchasing & Supply Mgmt L H L

SCM 4100: Quality Management M H M

SCM 4400: Global SCM L H L

SCM 4500: SCM Relational Strategies M H M

SCM 4550: Strategic SCM Design M H M

SCM 4860: Internship in SCM H M H

KEY: Level of Contribution towards Student Learning Objectives:

L = Low level of contribution M = Medium level of contribution H = High level of contribution

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E. Assessment Plan

The statement below is current; however, as with previous sections, it is currently under review and is likely to change during the

2014-15 academic year.

Assessment Plan

Updated December, 2013

Current for the 2013-14 Academic Year

The department has developed a detailed 'assessment of learning' cycle that begins with initial statement of key learning objectives,

through the various data collection phases, followed by the use of the collected data to inform curriculum and relevant course changes

and modifications over time.

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F. Report of assessment results for the 2013-14 academic year:

Activities aimed at providing evidence of learning are under review at both the School and Departmental level. It has been identified at the School level that improvements can be made to the methodologies used at present. The identification of more useful and appropriate methods which feed into a cycle of continuous improvement is underway.

a. Evidence of Learning: Courses within the Major (duplicate this page as needed – delete sample/instructional text)

BSAD Assessment Plan

Outcome Objective Methods of Measure

Threshold for Evidence of

Student Learning

Data Collection

Point

Findings Linked to Learning

Outcome 2013-2014 (Fall 13 &

Spring 14)

1. Proficient communications skills

Goddard graduates will write coherent documents to diverse audiences

In class writing assignment

80% of students achieve 80% or above

NTM 3250 (MGMT 3200)

n = 177. Only 71% met or exceeded the 80% threshold

Goddard graduates will deliver coherent oral presentations to diverse audiences

In class presentation

80% of students achieve 80% or above

NTM 3250 (MGMT 3200)

n = 177. 90% met or exceeded 80% threshold

2. Knowledge of concepts

Demonstrate knowledge of core business disciplines.

ETS Major Field Test for a bachelor of business.

80% of students achieve 80% or above

BSAD 4780 n = 85. 56%

achieved 80% or above

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3. Work effectively in teams

Meaningfully contribute to a team process on a business issue.

Peer evaluation form administered among group members on project

Students receive an average of above a rating of 3 on the 1-5 rating scale

BSAD 4780

This method has proved ineffective for providing evidence of learning as the tool failed to discriminate between levels achieved by students. As MGMT 4300 is no mandatory for all Business Administration students, the plan is to assess this learning outcome through a course level team based assessment.

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G. Summary of Artifact Collection Procedure

Artifact Learning Outcome Measured When/How Collected? Where Stored? Scores for Writing Test Graduates will be able to

demonstrate proficient communication skills.

Spreadsheet of results received from NTM at end of each semester.

Electronic copies in Goddard School’s AoL Dropbox.

Scores for Oral Presentation Graduates will be able to demonstrate proficient communication skills.

Spreadsheet of results received from NTM at end of each semester.

Electronic copies in Goddard School’s AoL Dropbox.

Scores from Major Field Test Graduates will exhibit knowledge of theoretical concepts, ideas, and topics taught in the areas of Business Administration & Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems and Technology, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain Management.

Spreadsheet of results received from external testing company at the end of two semesters each year.

Electronic copies in Goddard School’s AoL Dropbox.

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Appendix B The table below shows the full-time and adjunct faculty contracted by the Business Administration department during the last academic year (summer through spring, 2013-2014).

Faculty

Headcount

With Doctoral Degrees (Including MFA and other terminal degrees, as specified by the institution)

Full-time Tenured 9

Full-time Non-Tenured (includes tenure-track)

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Part-time 20

With Master’s Degrees

Full-time Tenured

Full-time Non-Tenured

Part-time 16

With Bachelor’s Degrees

Full-time Tenured

Full-time Non-tenured

Part-time

Other

Full-time Tenured

Full-time Non-tenured

Part-time 4

Total Headcount Faculty

Full-time Tenured 9

Full-time Non-tenured 10

Part-time 20

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Please respond to the following questions.

1) Reflecting on this year’s assessment(s), how does the evidence of student learning impact your faculty’s confidence in the program being reviewed; how does that analysis change when compared with previous assessment evidence? This year there has seen considerable attention paid to the methods and processes which have been long used for assurance of learning, both at the college and department levels. This past year, the department has taken a keen focus on improving these processes by developing more appropriate learning goals, as well as the methods and techniques best suited to provide data-informed, rather than data-driven, curricular decision making. The expectation is that more robust, effectively targeted and appropriate data collection methods will act to provide more meaningful information, which will then strengthen a continuous improvement cycle.

2) With whom did you share the results of the year’s assessment efforts? Assessment results have been shared with faculty and administration in the Goddard School of Business and Economics. Results were also shared with an independent quality assurance consultant and the AACSB accreditation team during the fall of 2013, as well as Weber State’s regional accreditation body. Results were also shared with the department’s external 5-year program review committee. Feedback from all sources was that current assessment of learning activities should emphasize streamlining and refinement. This process is now underway.

3) Based on your program’s assessment findings, what subsequent action will your program take?

In response to a particular concern to enhance students communication skills, we plan to explore possible development a strategic partnership with the WSU honors program to create or draw upon courses that teach higher level communication skills, which can be appropriately transferred to the business environment. In addition, the department faculty are pursuing a thorough review of how the campus general education curriculum is helping to build the critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills that are prerequisites to good writing. In line with this intention, a possible alliance with the English Department will also be explored to provide business students with more appropriately targeted classes in rhetoric. Action is also being taken to identify how and where teamwork is measured, to ensure that data collected are more useful in terms of providing evidence for evaluation and improvement.