SACS Reaffirmation
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Assessment : 2007 - 2008 : Educational Programs :
Business Foundation
1 Goals 1 Objectives 4 Indicators 5 Criteria 5 Findings 4 Actions
GOAL: Business Foundation
| Objective | Skills Competency | |
| The student must demonstrate competency in critical thinking, oral communication, written communication and business core knowledge. Associated Goals: Business Foundation |
| Indicator | Business Core Knowledge Assessment in core classes will be used to determine if students demonstrate acceptable levels of business core knowledge. |
| Criteria | Business Core Knowledge/Business Analysis Students in three sections of BAN232 will score an average of 70% correct on selected items embedded in an end-of-semester exam. |
| Finding | Business Core Knowledge/Business Analysis The analytical skills of students in three sections of BAN232 were assessed using embedded questions on the final exam. Topics covered included: measures of central tendency; measures of variability; probability; probability distributions; derivatives; and optimization. Students achieved a mean score of at least 70% in all areas tested except on the probability of a sample proportion. Other areas where the average score was close to the minimum acceptable level include: measures of variability and optimization. |
| Criteria | Business Core Knowledge/Management and Marketing Students taking a pre-test and post-test in MKT371 and MGT475 will earn a mean score significantly better on the post-test than on the pre-test. |
| Finding | Business Core Knowledge/Management and Marketing On the first day of class in the spring 2008 semester, students in MKT371 were given a 25 question pre-test covering the major sections covered in the course. Topics included: global marketing; analyzing marketing opportunities; product and distribution decisions; promotion and pricing. The same questions were later embedded in the final exam. While learning varied from one student to the next, the results indicate significant improvement (more than 50%) in terms of learning the selected material. |
| Indicator | Critical Thinking Skills  Performance on TACTS Critical Thinking instrument. |
| Criteria | Analytical Evaluation The mean score on the TACTS critical thinking instrument for students in the senior level class will be statistically higher than the mean score for the student in the sophomore level class. |
| Finding | Critical Thinking Skills In the fall 2007 semester, 70 students (38 in a BAN232 class and 32 in a MGT475 class) were given the TACTS critical thinking instrument. The lower level students scored an average correct of 11.6 while the upperclassmen scored an average of 13.9. The mean scores are statistically different and consistent with previous years’ scores. |
| Indicator | Oral Communication Skills Performance on oral presentation. |
| Criteria | Oral Rubric At least 80% of sampled students will score at least 70% on the oral presentation rubric. |
| Finding | Oral Communication Skills Of the students in the sample, 98% met or exceeded expectations. |
| Indicator | Written Communication Business degree candidates will respond in writing to a series of business scenarios during required coursework. |
| Criteria | Writing Assessment At least 80% of sampled students will score at least 70% on the written business communication rubrics. |
| Finding | Written Communication Skills Of the students sampled, 94% met or exceeded expectations. |
Actions for Objective:
| Action | Business Core Assessment of the business core will continue next year to include more of the required classes. The faculty who teach business analysis will meet to determine ways to improve learning and retention in those areas for which the students under performed. |
| Action | Critical Thinking Skills The TACTS critical thinking instrument will continue to be administered to students in both sophomore and senior level business core classes. The instrument continues to be evaluated in an effort to improve its reliability and validity. |
| Action | Oral communication skills The effectiveness of the rubric used to assess oral communication skills will monitored and the instrument revised when indicated. |
| Action | Written Communication Skills The assessment instrument proved to be unwieldy and too time intensive in the evaluation process. The instrument will be revised and will be administered during the 2008-2009 academic year. |