SACSCOC Fifth Year Interim Report
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Assessment : 2013 - 2014 : Educational Programs :
Communication Studies MA
Communication Studies MA
2 Goals 2 Objectives 4 Indicators 4 Criteria 4 Findings 2 Actions
| GOAL: Understanding And Written Communication Of Theory |
| Objective |
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| Graduate students will be able to understand the applicable theories of communication and related fields. Examples of these theories include, but are not limited to, expectancy violations theory, social penetration theory, relational dialectics theory, social judgment theory, cognitive dissonance theory, standpoint theory, and face-negotiation theory. |
| Indicator |
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| We will measure this goal with an annual evaluation of a sample of student papers assigned in graduate courses. The first component of this rubric is Evidence of Understanding of the Applicable Theory or Theories (see Supporting Document attached). The scale for measuring this degree objective will be the same throughout the department's set of objectives for MA students. |
| Criterion |
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| An average score of 4 out of a possible 5 is the criterion for satisfying the target outcome. This average will be taken over all student papers and all reviewers. |
| Finding |
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| The mean student score for understanding of theory was 4.0 (see Supporting Document attached). |
| Indicator |
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| The second component of this rubric is Control of the Mechanics of Written Composition (see Supporting Document attached). The 5-point scale for measuring this degree objective will be the same throughout the department's set of objectives for MA students. |
| Criterion |
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| An average grade of 4 out of a possible 5 is the criterion for satisfying the target outcome. This average will be taken over all student papers and all reviewers. |
| Finding |
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| The mean student score for mastery of written communication was 3.8 (see Supporting Document for Understanding of Theory). |
Actions for Objective:
| Action |
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| Although student scores met the criteria for understanding of theory and for mastery of written communication, it is clear that the faculty needs to address the higher writing expectations for graduate students. It will do so by developing and implementing a set of writing guidelines for graduate students. |
| GOAL: Research Literacy |
| Objective |
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| Graduate students will be able to understand, assess, and report the findings of communication research. |
| Indicator |
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| We will measure this goal with an annual evaluation of a sample of student research literature reviews assigned in appropriate graduate courses. The first component of this rubric is Evidence of Understanding of the Applicable Theory or Theories including the Effective Connection of Theory or Theories to Communication Behavior (see Supporting Document for Goal 1 Indicator 1). |
| Criterion |
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| An average grade of 4 is the criterion for satisfying the target outcome. This average will be taken over all literature reviews and all reviewers. |
| Finding |
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| The mean student score for research literacy was 3.8 (see Supporting Document attached). |
| Indicator |
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| We will measure this goal with an annual evaluation of a sample of student research literature reviews assigned in graduate course. The second component of this rubric is Control of the Mechanics of Written Composition (see Supporting Document for Goal 1 Indicator 2). |
| Criterion |
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An average grade of 4 is the criterion for satisfying the target outcome. This average will be taken over all literature reviews and all reviewers. |
| Finding |
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| The mean student score for mastery of written composition was 3.2 (see Supporting Document attached for Research Literacy). |
Actions for Objective:
| Action |
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As in Goal 1, the faculty will develop and implement a set of writing guidelines for graduate students. |
| Previous Cycle's "Plan for Continuous Improvement" |
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A leveling and then decline in enrollment during the year resulted in plans to put the MA wholly online beginning in the Fall semester, 2013. The university's Office of Graduate Studies is creating a multimedia advertising program to make prospective students aware of this change. Faculty are converting their classes to online versions.
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| Update on Previous Cycle's "Plan for Continuous Improvement" |
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The department began offering its MA wholly online this year and the conversion of its courses to an online format appears to have been successful. The multimedia advertising program developed by the Office of Graduate Studies was moderately successful in that enrollment has increased in the program. Applications for the coming year are more numerous than at any time in the program's history.
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| Plan for Continuous Improvement |
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The department intends to supplement the Office of Graduate Studies' recruiting efforts by those of its own, but the main effort in the coming year is the development of writing guidelines for graduate students. Writing scores, not considered in previous years, are much lower than is desirable. The graduate faculty will: 1) discuss the components of good technical writing, 2) develop guidelines for good technical writing, and 3) distribute the guidelines to all graduate students.
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