Texas A&M International University

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2003
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
Date Submitted

Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose Linkage:
Institutional Mission Reference:
Texas A&M International University, a Member of The Texas A&M University System, is committed to the preparation of students for leadership roles in their chosen profession and in increasingly complex, culturally diverse state, national, and global society … Through instruction, faculty and student research, and public service, Texas A&M International University is a strategic point of delivery for well-defined programs and services that improve the quality of life for citizens of the border region, the State of Texas, and national and international communities.

College/University Goal(s) Supported:
Graduates of the BAAS program will have developed the ability to advance in their chosen profession through an increased ability to think critically and through enhanced understanding of the world provided by a liberal arts education. The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree is designed to afford academic depth to individuals who possess recognized competency in an occupational or technical field.

Intended Educational (Student) Outcomes:

1. Graduates will have the ability to think critically.

2. Graduates will be prepared for advancement in their chosen vocational or technical field.

3. Graduates will be prepared for post-baccalaureate study.

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
Date Submitted

Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome listed. The intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.

1. Graduates will have the ability to think critically.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating seniors will take the California Critical Thinking Skills Test. These students will score at or above the median score for students at other universities.

1a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Six students took the assessment. Given the standard error in deviation, four testers scored at or above the above median and two scored below the median.

1a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The N for spring 2003 was six and an N of 30 will be required to consider programmatic changes. However, because the test scores were received in spring 2004, no evaluation took place for spring 2003. A review of critical thinking areas identified on the test will be evaluated in terms of those possibly affected by course substitutions. The possible outcome of this review of course substitutions may result in a more stringent course substitution policy.

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
The results of the California Critical Thinking Skills Test will be analyzed to determine the subscale scores. The average score on each subscale will not fall below the median score of students at other universities.

1b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
N is six (6)
Analysis- median is 5; scores were 6,5,6,3,5,and 4.
Inferential- median is 5.5; scores were 6,5,12,4,7,and 4.
Evaluation- median is 2; scores were 3,2,4,2,1, and 1.
Inductive- median is 8; scores were 10, 8,10,8,8, and 5.
Deductive- median is 4.5; scores were 5,4,12,1,5, and 4.

1b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The curriculum of the lowest and highest scoring individuals was reviewed by the chair of the social science department to determine how many course substitutions occurred within the student’s degree plan. It was hypothesized that course substitutions dilute the content areas of the program; however, no conclusions were reached that would warrant a change in program content.

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
Date Submitted

2. Graduates will be prepared for advancement in their chosen vocational or technical field.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating seniors will be surveyed six months following graduation to gather supporting data on job advancements including salary increases and promotions. Fifty percent or more of the graduating seniors will have improved job circumstances.

2a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Graduating seniors will be surveyed six months following graduation to gather supporting data on job advancements in terms of salary increases or promotions. Fifty percent of the graduating seniors will have improved job circumstances.

2a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Survey data have not been collected for Spring 2003 graduates; coordination with TAMIU alumni association is occurring to identify contact addresses/phone numbers/ or emails to survey BAAS graduates.

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating seniors will be surveyed to gather supporting data concerning whether they believe the BAAS degree has prepared them to advance in their chosen profession. The results will be measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (not well at all) to 5 (very well). At least 80% of those responding will agree that the degree has prepared them well or very well.

2b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Fifty percent of the students responding strongly agreed and 50% agreed that the degree has prepared them to advance in their chosen profession.

2b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
No action required in that the goals appear to have been met. However, the number of students is not sufficiently large a sample on which to base conclusions. Future graduating seniors will be asked this question until responses have been gathered from at least 30 students prior to concluding that our goals were met.

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
Date Submitted

3. Graduates will be prepared for post-baccalaureate study.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating seniors will be surveyed to ask whether they will be pursuing post-baccalaureate study in any field. At least 50% of those responding will report plans to pursue post-baccalaureate study.

3a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Seventy-five percent of the respondents (n=3) indicated that they intended to pursue a graduate degree or teacher certification.

3a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The number of graduates is too small to base wide programmatic changes on these results. The graduating seniors will be asked this question again until at least 30 students have responded. However, the number of students who indicated their desire to pursue a teaching certificate is cause for concern in that the BAAS degree is not intended as a teacher preparation degree. A statement will be placed in the next Catalogue advising students of that fact, and greater emphasis will be placed on guiding students who want to teach to a more appropriate program.

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
University records will be checked to verify whether graduating BAAS students have been accepted into a post-baccalaureate program at this institution. At least 50% of those applying for admission to graduate programs will have been accepted.

3b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Of the students who indicated a plan to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree, records indicate 50% have been accepted into a teacher certification program at TAMIU.

3b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The number of students is not sufficiently large a sample on which to base conclusions. We will continue to ask this question until the number of responses is at least 30 prior to drawing conclusions.