Feedback
from Assessment Results and Curricular Change
Although
direct measures of learning outcomes are new to the College of Business, the
indirect measures have been used to evaluate student learning and curricular
changes have been implemented as a result of that evaluation. Listed below are a
few of the changes that have been made.
The Marketing Department,
in 1993, started offering MKT 343 Personal Selling, in response to feedback
from students and recruiters that students need more education related to
selling.
The Marketing Department, in 1995, found that
graduating students did not perceive that they were learning strategic
marketing concepts. As a result, the department decided to reclassify MKT
443, Strategic Marketing Management, from an elective to a required course.
Over the last several years, instructors have incorporated more case
analysis, simulation, and company projects (marketing plans) to help
students apply strategic marketing concepts and thus enhance learning.
The LOMIS Department used assessment data from
recruiters to evaluate and change the curricula of the transportation
logistics major and the production operations major—new courses were
developed and integrated to create new majors, logistics and supply chain
management and operations and supply chain management.
The Management Department used assessment data from
students and recruiters with respect to human resource management and
decided to drop that as an area of emphasis for management majors, given
that companies were looking for students with graduate degrees in the human
resource area.
Future Outlook for Business
Curriculum The immediate issue is to fully implement
direct measures of learning outcomes and to routinize the feedback process of
outcomes assessment. It is anticipated that these efforts will enhance
curriculum review and development; while the already occurs, a more systematic
process of assessment will enable a more strategic approach to curriculum
development. In particular, these efforts will help move the college toward
major changes in the undergraduate curriculum, e.g., integrated core classes.