Assurance of Learning

In support of its stated mission of “developing globally competitive business leaders, educators and scholars,” the Carson College of Business provides comprehensive curricular and cocurricular experiences to prepare students for successful careers in their chosen enterprises.

Our faculty are committed to continuous improvement of the student learning experience and, in support of that improvement, are actively involved in assessment of the college’s specified learning outcomes. For more information on the Carson College of Business assurance of learning processes related to the undergraduate and graduate programs, please follow the program links.

Assessment of Undergraduate Program
Assessment of Graduate Programs

Undergraduate Assessment

Program Goals

The Carson College of Business has a systematic assurance of learning process which captures, at the end of all students’ undergraduate program of study, the extent to which they have achieved the following Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) and Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business Management (BAHBM) program learning goals:

1. Identify, assess, and initiate opportunities to create value.
2. Act ethically and professionally.
3. Communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing.
4. Lead a team and act as an effective team member.
5. Make theory-based and data-driven decisions.
6. Gain a global business perspective and be sensitive to and respectful of cultural differences.

Assessment activities involve all campuses and include two primary direct measures: a foundation knowledge exam and faculty evaluation of capstone projects. The foundation knowledge exam assesses core knowledge across the six learning goals in accounting, finance, business statistics, management, marketing, information systems, and operations management, as well as spreadsheets, data visualization and data analytics, communication, teams, innovation, global awareness, and ethics. Evaluation of capstone projects captures synthesis of knowledge and application ability across learning goals 1, 3, and 5. We complement these direct measures with indirect measures such as graduating student exit surveys, including assessing transferable skills, and stakeholder surveys.  The assurance of learning process includes sharing information throughout the Carson College of Business and drives change to its programs.

Undergraduate Program Assessment Plan and Reporting Structure

Assessment Plan

The foundation knowledge exam is administered through the Next Carson Coug Amplifier Program. Students complete the assessment as part of their final tier activities. Faculty in the capstone courses evaluate class projects using a calibrated rubric on an alternating semester basis. In addition, the college collects graduating student exit surveys each semester as well as alumni and business surveys annually.

Reporting Structure

The director of undergraduate assessment provides foundation knowledge results, capstone class data, and analysis to the senior associate dean of academic affairs and to the Undergraduate Program Policy Committee (UPPC). The UPPC representatives present to departments. The representatives then bring departmental feedback back to the UPPC and senior associate dean for further discussion and consideration of next steps to support continuous improvement.

Undergraduate Accounting Program

Program Goals

Accounting graduates will:

• Possess a comprehensive foundation in the primary areas of accounting including, but not limited to, financial, managerial, cost, tax systems, and audit.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the accounting profession that includes the ability to distinguish between the different roles accountants have in society, as well as knowledge of the standard setting organizations and legal system applicable to accounting and business.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply relevant accounting concepts in practical settings.
• Exhibit the capacity to identify and evaluate ethical issues facing the business profession.
• Display professional skill in communication in the environment and language of business.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively use technology, including, but not limited to, employing data analysis, research, and presentation tools.

Program Assessment Plan and Reporting Structure

The Carson College of Business undergraduate accounting program is one of only 190 undergraduate accounting programs worldwide that are separately accredited by the AACSB.

Assessment activities involve all campuses and include two primary direct measures: a foundation knowledge exam and faculty evaluation of cases and data analytics projects. Accounting seniors complete a foundation knowledge exam covering topics from upper-division core accounting classes. Faculty evaluate synthesis of learning employing rubrics for financial accounting cases, systems data analytics projects, and audit data analytics projects. In addition, the department collects graduating student exit surveys.

The director of undergraduate assessment provides accounting senior data and analysis to the department chair of accounting and the faculty. Faculty evaluate and propose program change as needed.

Graduate Assessment

Our faculty are committed to continuous improvement of the graduate student learning experience and, in support of that improvement, are actively involved in assessment of the college’s specified learning outcomes.  For more information on the specific Carson College of Business assurance of learning processes related to the different graduate programs, please follow the program links.

Master of Business Administration

Program Goals

At the end of the MBA program, students will be asked to curate a portfolio of assignments from their MBA courses that demonstrate their accomplishment of each of the five program learning goals. The learning goals are:

1. Conduct business analysis and formulate actionable business strategies grounded in theory and practice from multiple disciplines.
2. Identify relevant data sources, use analytical tools and techniques, and conduct data-driven analyses to address significant business problems, pinpoint solutions, and prompt action.
3. Apply leadership skills to improve the organization and business situations.
4. Apply ethical decision-making approaches and frameworks that consider internal and external stakeholders.
5. Apply a global business perspective that takes into consideration cultural and international context differences.

This portfolio allows us to evaluate how well we help students toward these goals, which helps us improve the program. The portfolio also provides the kind of evidence our accreditors, the Association for the Advancement of the Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), request. The AACSB is a nongovernmental accrediting agency and the longest standing and most recognized professional accreditation body. Achieving AACSB accreditation means the university’s business program has undergone an extensive evaluation of its faculty and curriculum and earned a highly respected “seal of approval” for business studies. It represents the highest standard of achievement for business programs, with less than 5% of schools granting business degrees world-wide earning AACSB accreditation. Most importantly, accreditation provides students with a measure of their university’s program quality and signals they are graduating with the skills and abilities to support a successful career in business.

The first step in curating a portfolio is saving copies of all graded assignments in each MBA course taken. Each copy should contain any information related to the grade it received, including all in-text marks and comments, as well as any completed grading rubrics. Second, in BA 579, students will be asked to submit this curated portfolio comprised of a subset of assignments that best demonstrate accomplishment of the learning goals. Further instructions will be provided in BA 579.

PHD IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

PROGRAM GOALS

Assessment responsibility for the PhD in Business Administration is assigned to the Doctoral Program Policy Committee (DPPC). An overview of assurance of learning assessment procedures follows.

PROGRAM TITLE

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD-BA).

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Carson College of Business offers one PhD-BA program that serves seven subdisciplines within the college: Accounting, Finance, Hospitality Business Management, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, and Operations and Management Science. The program admitted its first students in 1984 with its first student graduating in 1987. The Hospitality Business Management subdiscipline began in 2009.

PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of this degree program is to develop and educate scholars prepared to contribute to the body of knowledge in their chosen business field and communicate this knowledge to students, the research community, and business practitioners.

PHD STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

• SLO 1: Students will acquire a comprehensive knowledge of theory and methods used in their chosen field and related disciplines.
• SLO 2: Students will produce quality research.
• SLO 3: Students will communicate their research clearly and professionally in both written and oral forms.
• SLO 4: Students will teach college courses effectively.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS

The DPPC monitors assessment data to recommend curriculum revisions and program structure revisions continuously. The DPPC members, including the area coordinators for the seven PhD subdisciplines, work with faculty to improve all areas of their respective programs, including recruitment, achievement of student learning outcomes, professional development, and placement.

 

PhD Data Collection Matrix