Department of Urban Studies and Planning Wayne State University Public Information, Academic Year

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1 Department of Urban Studies and Planning Wayne State University Public Information, Academic Year This report includes program assessment information related to three programs in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning: Master of Urban Planning (MUP) Graduate Certificate in Economic Development (GCED) BA in Urban Studies For more information about any program in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, its learning outcomes, their assessment, or findings, please write or call Master of Urban Planning Updated, January 24, 2017 This section relates to the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) degree at Wayne State University. It is being provided to inform the public on key indicators related to the degree program. It also satisfies Standard 7.D of the Accreditation Standards (2012) developed by the Planning Accreditation Board. 1. Student Achievement in MUP Program. An Exit Survey is completed by all students following their submittal of the Master s Essay, which typically culminates their studies in the program. It asks participants to report on their preparedness in PAB-identified competencies related to planning knowledge, skills, and values. It also seeks satisfaction scores in a range of categories related to the MUP curriculum and program administration. In the 2016 Exit Survey, 15 out of 16 (94%) respondents indicated being satisfied or very satisfied with their overall education/training, while 14 (88%) indicated the same for training in their chosen concentration. This is an improvement over the previous year in which 79% (n=19) reported being satisfied or highly satisfied with their training in the program. Self-reported preparedness is also high, with an average of 13.7 (out of 16) 2016 respondents reporting being prepared or better in all planning competencies. Competencies in which 13 or more students reported being prepared or better include: Purpose and meaning of planning, Planning theory, Planning Law, Human settlements and history of planning, Planning research, Written/ oral/ and graphic communication, Quantitative and qualitative methods, Leadership, Governance and participation, and Growth and development. Documentation of performance in the form of learning outcome measurement began in fall 2015 and therefore is incomplete for any cohort to date. Aggregate scores that are available range from 100% (e.g., written, oral, and graphic communication, n=29; plan creation and implementation, n=10), 90%-99% (e.g., planning theory, n=16; planning law, n=43; the future, n=23), to 80%- 89% (e.g., human settlements and history of planning, n=23; qualitative and quantitative 1

2 methods, n=23; planning process methods, n=15), with one outcome at 78% (purpose and meaning of planning, n=23). As of this writing in mid-january 2017, Fall 2016 scores are still being compiled. 2. Tuition and fees (full time, one semester, in-state), Academic Year Tuition calculation based full time enrollment, 8.0 credit hour(s) per semester Itemized Tuition and Fees Resident Graduate School per CREDIT HOUR RATE: $ Student Service per Credit Hour Fee: $49.40 Registration Fee: $ Tuition $ x 8.0 credits = $4, Student Service Fee $49.40 x 8.0 credits $ Registration Fee: $ Total Estimated Cost per Semester $5, Note 1: The total estimated cost amount does not include all fees, (i.e., late registration, course fees, lab fees, or optional fees). To calculate tuition using other parameters, browse: Note 2: The vast majority of our students are in-state. For out-of-state tuition calculation, browse the website in Note Student retention and graduation rates Retention (One-year) and Graduation Rates Academic year Semester Number enrolled 1 yr. Retention rate Graduated within 4 years F % 5 W % F % 13 4 year graduation rate 29% 33% 43% 67% 36% 33% Graduated within 5 years % 5 year graduation rate 29% 50% W % F % 5 W % F % W % F % W % F % W Note: To interpret these numbers, the end of the fourth year for a Fall 2012 entry is the Spring- Summer semester, Graduation rates often include in the denominator international exchange students who may take classes for one or two semesters (more recently to study Detroit) but do not intend to pursue a degree, as well as students who sign up for classes their first semester but fail to attend, or attend but leave after the first semester for financial reasons, inability to satisfy the conditions for a qualified admit, or other reasons. 2

3 3a. Master s One-Year Retention rate Of the 19 newly admitted students who enrolled in classes in the program in fall 2015, 15 enrolled in classes in fall 2016, constituting a one-year retention rate of 79 percent. A majority with part-time status, our students stop out for a variety of reasons, including financial and job related ones. See accompanying table on One-year Retention and Graduation Rates. 3b. Percentage Master s Students graduated within 4 years (of those entering who graduated in or before 2016) Of the 17 students who entered in Academic Year , 6 graduated within four years (i.e., 35 percent four-year graduation rate). See accompanying table on One-year Retention and Graduation Rates. 3c. MUP and BA Degrees awarded MUP degrees awarded in Academic Year (Sept. 1, 2015-August 31, 2016) 17 MUP degrees awarded in Academic Year MUP degrees awarded in Academic Year MUP degrees awarded in Academic Year MUP degrees awarded in Academic Year Total MUP degrees, BA in Urban Studies degrees awarded in Academic Year BA in Urban Studies degrees awarded in Academic Year BA in Urban Studies degrees awarded in Academic Year (this number 23 includes one Urban Studies Honors degree) BA in Urban Studies degrees awarded in Academic Year (includes 1 17 Urban Studies Honors degree) BA in Urban Studies degrees awarded in Academic Year Total BA in Urban Studies degrees, d. Bachelor s One-Year Retention and Six-Year Graduation Rates (BA in Urban Studies) Retention and graduation rates for Bachelor s degree students are calculated only for students who are Wayne State FTIAC (first time in a college). For such students in our BA in Urban Studies program, one-year retention rate from fall 2015 to fall 2016 is 88 percent (n=8) and the six-year graduation rate is 50 percent (n=4). The vast majority of our Urban Studies majors are transfer students, that is, they complete one or more years of their college education in a community college or another institution before transferring to Wayne State. 4. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam From reports obtained from the AICP, three out of four MUP graduates in 2013 or later successfully completed the AICP exam within three years of graduation (i.e., including the May 2016 AICP exam for 2013 graduates) Therefore the 3 year pass rate for the 2013 or later cohort for whom such data are available is 75 percent. The majority of our MUP graduates find planning employment in public, private, and non-profit sector positions for which AICP is not a required credential. 3

4 5. Employment of graduates in a professional planning or planning-related job 13 out of 13 graduates in 2015 (100 percent) are employed as of January 2017 in a part- or fulltime position or are self-employed, with 10 in a full-time, planning or planning-related job (77 percent). 4

5 Graduate Certificate in Economic Development Assessment Report and Action Implementation, Academic Year The Graduate Certificate in Economic Development is designed for students who wish to combine a graduate degree (Master's or Ph.D.) with a specialty in urban, regional and state economic development. It is awarded only in conjunction with the completion of a graduate degree or to those who already have such a degree. The graduate certificate in economic development is currently administered by the Department of Urban Studies and Planning in collaboration with the following graduate programs: Business Administration, Economics, Industrial Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, and Urban Planning. Students are required to complete 12 credits (normally 4 courses) selected from 4 areas of competency: [1] Theory and Practice of Economic Development, [2] Economic Development Policy, Politics and Institutions, [3] Economics and Finance of Economic Development and [4] Economic Development Management and Analysis Techniques. The only required course - Regional, State, and Urban Economic Development - is offered by faculty under the direction of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning), usually in tandem with the course being offered in the Master of Urban Planning program. This course is regularly scheduled in the winter semester, and usually taught by Professor Robin Boyle, except in 2015, when Adjunct Instructor Robert Heuton taught it. Student Data and Achievement Three students completed the Graduate Certificate Program in AY 2015/2016. Each was contacted by phone and answered the following 4 questions: (1) Did the Certificate Program, as a whole, provide you an adequate understanding of the key principles and concepts that underpin local (sub-national) local economies? (2) Did the individual courses you completed give you the necessary skills and competencies to work in the field? (3) Were you given the opportunity to test and experiment with current local economic development policies and programs that can impact the local economy? (4) Overall, did the Certificate build the necessary connections with local economic development agencies that might facilitate your eventual entry to the profession? In all cases the questions were answered in the affirmative. Selected comments: good, broad overview of the topics understanding of concepts came from different courses required class provided good context Real Estate course very useful Might recommend a capstone project 5

6 Several course offered access to profession through the introduction of guest lecturers Meeting professionals was valuable Tuition and Fees Academic Year : Tuition calculation based on taking 12.0 credit hour(s); Itemized Tuition and Fees per CREDIT HOUR RATE: $ Student Service per Credit Hour Fee: $49.40 Registration Fee: $ Total Tuition $ x 12.0 credits = $7,372.80; Student Service per Credit Hour Fee $43.50 x 12 credits = $592.80; Registration Fee: $285.86; Total Estimated Cost=$8, rb October,

7 Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies Program Assessment Report, Academic Year The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies Program at Wayne State University recently completed its Program Assessment for The following section includes key findings and action plans. The Urban Studies Program is a rigorous, cross-disciplinary course of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies. In the program, students gain in depth understanding of: how cities and metro areas came to be; the physical forms urban areas take; social, political, and economic relationships in these areas; costs and benefits of urbanization; the role of planning and public policy in shaping the quality of life and opportunity for residents of metro areas. Program Assessment Two key sources were used to measure seven program learning outcomes: a) academic performance in the Capstone Research course, and b) responses to an exit survey. The former is a required course that majors usually take as their last in the program. The second is administered to all students at the end of the Capstone Research course. Findings reported here are from Winter 2015 when the Capstone course was last offered. 100% of the students (n=12) were proficient in five of the seven learning outcomes (proficiency defined as earning a grade of B or higher on the related assignment), with 83% of the students proficient on the other two. The exit survey was completed by five out of the 12 students registered in the class. Nearly all reported being prepared or better on 16 of the 21 outcomes. Student responses to open-ended questions in the Exit Survey and other forums seeking suggested program improvements during the academic year included the following: assistance with finding internships and/or requiring internships Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a required course more environmental and sustainability content in the curriculum better coordination of assigned texts across diverse courses, to avoid repetition more regular course offerings more public policy focus on urban issues and planning Action Plan The following actions have been identified for AY , with implementation of some starting Winter Review learning outcomes and modify assessment methods, including strategies to improve the return rate of completed exit surveys. Modify Capstone course structure to incorporate research project implementation (ie, not just design), to better align with program learning outcomes. 7

8 Develop high quality internships through community relationships; better integrate internship information in program advising. Develop and submit for college approvals, curriculum revisions, including GIS as a required course and a new course related to internships with the City of Detroit. Explore strategies to strengthen Urban Studies curriculum and program administration (including recruitment, retention, and graduation rate and times) in DUSP Strategic Planning undertaken in AY