General Business graduates will be capable communicators and competent business decision makers.
Objective
Writing Competency
Students will be able to compose effective business messages using accepted standards of English grammar and punctuation, sentence structure and paragraph design.
Indicator
Written Communication
General Business degree candidates will respond in writing to a series of business scenarios during the required GBA 389 coursework.
Criterion
Writing Assessment
At least 80% of sampled students must meet expectations on the business communication rubrics.
Finding
Written Business Communication Capability
Of the students in the selected sample, 94% met or exceeded the standards.
Indicator
Written Report
Students will research a business topic and will write a well-developed, well-organized, and appropriately documented report during the required GBA 389 course.
Criterion
Report Rubric
At least 80% of sampled students must meet expectations on the report evaluation rubrics.
Finding
Business Report Writing
Of the students in the sample, 62% met or exceeded expectations.
Action
Written communications 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.
Action
Business Communications Written Report
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.
Objective
Speaking Competency
Students will be able to speak effectively before a group by connecting with the audience and organizing and presenting the topic accordingly.
Indicator
Oral Presentation
Students will give an oral presentation during the required GBA 389 course.
Criterion
Oral Rubric
At least 80% of sampled students must meet expectations on the oral presentation rubrics.
Finding
Oral communication skills
Of the students in the sample, 98% met or exceeded expectations.
Action
Oral communication competency
Continue to monitor effectiveness of rubric and revise when indicated.
Objective
Decision-Making Competency
The student will use analytical and problem solving skills to make business decisions.
Indicator
Business Decision Making
General Business degree candidates will take the Texas Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills test in the required BAN232 class and again in the required MGT475 class.
Criterion
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 semester, 70 students (38 in the BAN232 class and 32 in the 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.
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.