MBA students will take the online CAP Simulation in the spring semester. They will receive feedback on their individual performance in comparison to other students at SHSU and other universities in the database.
Criterion
First Year Result -- Critical Thinking
On the decision making component of the CAP simulation, SHSU MBA students should achieve a score ranked in the top quartile among firms in the CAP database.
Finding
Critical Thinking Score From The CAP Simulation
Based upon the assessment center administered by Collegiate Assessment Partners (CAP) during Spring 2012, our MBA students had an average critical thinking score of 118.4 with a standard deviation of 7.1. Our referent group of peers had an average score of 144.4 with a standard deviation of 27.6. These results are not acceptable.
One explanation of the difference between our score and the score of our referent group is that our score is based upon a small sample of 16 students. Another explanation is the way the assessment center was administered. The professors administering the assessment center were new to the process and, therefore, were not able to provide as much guidance as those in our referent group who do this routinely.
Action
Actions For Improving Critical Thinking Scores
Next year we will improve our scores by giving clearer instructions prior to the assessment center activity. We can clarify how the in-basket exercise is organized and how the time clock in the simulation is different from the actual time.
Objective
Communication Skills
Graduates of the MBA program should be capable of effectively communicating with a variety of audiences.
Indicator
Results From BUAD 5310 Research Writing In Business
Written assignments done in this class will be assessed using a common rubric.
Criterion
Acceptable Performance Level In BUAD 5310
At least 80% of all MBA students should achieve a score of 80% or higher on the assessment instrument.
Finding
Goal Assessment Team For Communications
The Goal Assessment Team decided not to assess this semester. They will do so Fall 2012.
Indicator
Collegiate Assessment Partners (CAP) Simulation -- Communication Score
MBA students participate in the CAP Simulation during the spring semester. They will receive a communications score as part of exercise.
Criterion
First Year CAP Results -- Communication
We hope to place in the top quartile of MBA programs in the CAP database.
Finding
Communication Results From CAP Assessment Center
The average communication score of our MBA students on the Spring 2012 CAP Assessment Center was 239.6 with a standard deviation of 13.8. The average for the referent group was 214.8 with a standard deviation of 27.1. Although our score is higher than the referent average, we are still not in the top quartile.
Action
Actions For Improving Communications Scores
Communication scores on the CAP Assessment Center can be improved by giving the students better directions at the outset. Because of budget considerations, we limited Assessment Center participation this academic year. Next year we should be able to afford a larger number of students.
Objective
Strategic Perspective
Graduates of the MBA program should possess the ability to integrate the business functions with a strategic perspective.
The CAP Simulation: The skills assessed by the simulation are among the most common learning objectives identified in a survey of business school deans. The specific skills assessed during the simulation are:
Decision-Making
Teamwork
Communication
Leadership Initiative
Planning and Organizing
Attention to Detail
Prioritization
Writing Quality
Criterion
First Year Results
This will be the first year of using the online assessment tool provided by CAP. Our objective is to place in the top quartile of MBA programs in the CAP database.
Finding
CAP Assessment Center Scores For Strategic Perspective
Because of budget considerations, we limited participation in the assessment center to 16 students. To keep costs down we did everything on-line rather than face-to-face. Because this was the first time doing the assessment totally on-line, direction provided to the students was not complete. Consequently, not all of the intended skills were measured in the assessment. We were ultimately able to measure Work Pace, Attention to Detail, Prioritization, and Writing Quality. The table below provides our average score (standard deviation) compared to our referent group.