Bj re think presentation 1 17-13

School of Business Administration

ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13

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On-line Assessment of SBA Post-graduate Career Performance: Curriculum Feedback & Life Long Learning

School of Business Administration (SBA)PI:

• Bill Jones, Ph.D.• Melissa Appleyard, Ph.D.



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Context: BA495: Business Strategy & Capstone Program• End of education: last course before graduation – “end of Pipe”• Capstone: “tests” SBA core educational competencies using “real” world

clients with “real” world business challenges • We & participating clients can observe how well students are prepared

for the business world• Career launching course• We do some immediate assessment of capstone performance: on-line

client surveys (qualtrics), focus groups, student evaluations (SBA & UNST)

It is insufficient for a modern business education degree!

Career Success



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What is missing? Longitudinal Career Assessment!

Longitudinal Assessment can address such questions as:• How do our students perform in their career 5, 10, 15, 30

years & beyond?• How can a longitudinal assessment inform & help improve

curriculum development & pedagogy?• Can assessment feedback act as a “early warning system”

identifying potential deficits in SBA Curricula?• Did PSU & SBA prepare our graduates to be life-long learners,

to adapt to a dynamic economy?• Can SBA continue to be a partner in our graduate’s careers

through on-going, relevant business education.• What is the value of an SBA degree?

• And, importantly, how well will our increasingly on-line dependent education perform?



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What we propose: Longitudinal assessment of SBA graduate career performance

• Immediate: Both Student & Client performance assessment in BA495 to create a student base-line assessment

• Long-term: 2nd year post-graduation, 5th year post graduation, and five year year increments thereafter

How we will do it:On-line assessment is the ideal long-run mediumDevelop Assessment Methodology: Goals, metrics & measures

• Use: business leaders, thought leaders, students & alumniUse On-line assessment tools to collect data

• Establish student contact information (active alumni association)• Recruit student participation & keep contact information updated & current • Continued contact: Linked-In, Facebook, Blackboard Collaborate, Go-to-

meeting

• Business contact (Initially BA495 clients): SBA business advisory council

• Survey tools: Qualtrics & other on-line assessment tools• Administer assessments

• On-line focus group assessments• Assessment, findings, reporting: SBA, Alumni, businesses, etc.



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How we will use the assessments: the exciting part

• Inform the curriculum committee:• On-line as well as resident course effectiveness

• Compare effectiveness of each medium• To bolster current course offerings, design new courses, etc.• Provide faculty feedback on the pedagogical aspect of curricula

• Serve graduates’ continuing educational needs.• Develop post-graduate programs such as the on-line “SBA capstone

alumni weekend” where webinars & on-line mentoring between graduates from different years can mentor younger graduates

• Improve BA495 Capstone Program:• Add, subtract, emphasize, de-emphasize aspects of the capstone to

better prepare students for their career

• Enhance the “BA495 Follow-on Internship Program”• Video capture of interviews with students & clients on the

effectiveness of the SBA & BA495 education as a preparation for the internship & for career



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Why it is important?Business schools have come under increasing Criticism

• “Default Major”, “Skate by”, not as demanding as other majors (NYT 4/14/11)

Business Community concerned about future qualified graduates

Concern with the value of a Business School Degree• Increasing student debt: average $23k by some measures

Technology & rise of on-line courses & education -- Competition

• Students can now “vote with their technology & wallets” rather than “their feet”

• More convenient, less cost, and “prestigious” institutions

“Credential inflation” devaluing the college educationIncreasing financial stress of higher educational institutions

• Affects curriculum, programs, jobs… everything



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On-line solutions are only as good as the content they provide• On-line assessment must go hand in hand with all on-line course

development • Longitudinal assessment is one of the most effective means to measure

effectiveness SBA education• Assessment can be used to help graduates throughout their career• An engaged alumni can provide multiple benefits: financial support,

mentoring, jobs, etc.• An engaged business community can provide multiple benefits: financial

support, jobs, etc.• The Longitudinal assessment model proposed here can be duplicated in

other university departments & Schools, as well as other academic institutions



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Thank you

Please read & comment on our Proposal• http://www.rethink.pdx.edu/?q=rethink/projects

Bill Jones: [email protected]; 503-869-6407

http://www.rethink.pdx.edu/?q=rethink/projects

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Bj re think presentation 1 17-13