GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLAN

Transcription

1 GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLAN General Studies is a system-wide program through Indiana University School of Continuing Studies. As a system-wide program, the degree is governed by the policies and requirements approved through the School of Continuing Studies. Final decisions regarding degree policies and requirements are not made at this campus. Suggestions for changes that would affect the whole system are made through the School of Continuing Studies Faculty Council. Two faculty representatives from the IPFW General Studies Faculty Advisory Committee sit on that Council. Approval of changes through this Council would then be implemented throughout the system. The system-wide School does not have a system-wide assessment process or program learning objectives in place. Through many discussions with the Director of Assessment, Chris Tokpah, the General Studies Degree Program is currently revising the assessment plan. Chris, as Assessment Chair, suggested we revisit our outcomes and assess that over which we have some control, our services. As we are also going through program review, it is an appropriate time for us to reassess our outcomes as a part of this process. For purposes of this report, I have included data consistent with previous reports, student demographic information, student admission information, and enrollment and graduation information. I have also included the results of the graduate survey sent in 2009 that we have conducted annually since The last section of this report will be future plans for review of services and degree satisfaction.

2 GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT REPORT The General Studies Degree Program is a unique program, part of the universitywide system of the Indiana University School of Continuing Studies. Students may start and complete an Associate of Arts in General Studies or a Bachelor of General Studies on any of Indiana University s campuses or through Independent Study. Students are subject to the policies, procedures, and graduation certification processes of the system-wide School of Continuing Studies. A key characteristic of an adult-oriented program is the flexibility that allows students to individualize their programs, incorporating their academic and career goals into the degree requirements. Students bring multiple sources of knowledge to the program, based upon personal experiences and life responsibilities. Because of the unique nature of this program, students may only be with the program for as little as 10 credit hours (Associate of Arts) or the entire 120 credits for the Bachelor s Degree. GOALS FOR THE GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAMS *Provide students with the opportunity to complete a non-specialized curriculum based on individual choices or needs. *Enable transfer students to maximize the number of credit hours applicable toward the degree. *Provide students with a means of professional advancement and development of specific career related skills. *Provide students with a degree program that offers quality, convenience, reputable advising, and personal satisfaction. ADDITIONAL GOALS FOR ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN GENERAL STUDIES *Help students to view this degree as progress toward educational goals. *Help students build confidence by excelling in college courses, no matter what their age. ADDITIONAL GOAL FOR THE BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES *Provide students with basic preparation for many careers and graduate programs.

3 Section I. General Studies Student Information Demographic Information on General Studies students and comparison to IPFW data from fall semester to fall semester. Fall 2006 Fall 2007 IPFW IPFW General Studies G.S. of IPFW s Total General Studies G.S. of IPFW s Total Gender Male Female Ethnicity Asian/Pac.Is Black Hispanic Am.Ind./Alas Age Over Enrollment Part-time Full-time Class Standing Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors

4 IPFW Fall 2008 Fall 2009 General G.S. of IPFW General Studies IPFW s Studies Total G.S. of IPFW s Total Gender Male Female Ethnicity Asian/Pac.Is Black Hispanic Am.Ind./Alas Age Over Enrollment Part-time Full-time Class Standing Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors Information on numbers of students admitted to General Studies from fall semester to fall semester. Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Admission Category Adult Admit GED Admit High School Admit Permanent Intercampus Transfer Re-admit Re-entry Temporary InterCampus Transfer Transfer Total

5 Active students changing their major to General Studies. Change of Major Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall 2009 A & S BUS EDUC ETCS HS/HHS OLS 1 0 * * SPEA ACCS/MAC VPA TOTAL *OLS numbers became a part of ETCS in Fall 2008 General Studies Students and Credit Hours Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Students Headcount Survey Results We did not have as high a response this year as last year. We sent out 326 surveys, with an 8 return (25 returned). Last year we sent out 395 surveys, with a 10 return (40 returned). We sent it out by mail with a return postage-paid envelope. We also included a web site for the survey as an alternative to returning it. Only one student returned the survey through the web site. The survey results are attached.

6 2007 General Survey Results 326 students who graduated from General Studies in and (1 and 5 years out) were sent the survey. 8 of the surveys were returned (25). 80 of those who responded are still living in Indiana (20). 76 of the respondents received their bachelor s degree with General Studies and 34 received their associate s degree. 64 of the respondents were women and 36 were men. 76 (19) felt their degree expectations were met, 24 (6) did not. 84 (5) of those who did not explained that it was a stepping stone to another degree: 2 associate degree graduates were working on bachelor s degrees 1 bachelor degree graduate was in Transition to Teaching 2 bachelor degree graduates were in graduate school 48 felt their IPFW experience was excellent and 48 felt it was good. 24 of the respondents pursued credited higher education after graduation. Participants were employed by: DLA Piper, LLP (US) Parkview Health East Allen Co. Schools Dr. Salam, MD First Steps Bi County Services Alpha 3 MFG Northwest Mutual Big Brothers Big Sisters Dollar General East Noble HS Bowen Center Aetna Insurance Aurora Parts & Accessories Windsor Oaks Apartment Homes Crazy Pinz Indiana Dept. of Child Services St. Charles School Center for Mental Health Caring About People Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance National City Comcast

7 Grad Student Nucor Building System Don Ayre's Honda Current job titles included: Attorney Business Analyst Case Manager Commodity Manager Consultant Customer Relations Manager (2) Customer Service Representative(2) Day Service Trainer Financial Representative Enrollment Specialist Leasing Specialist Medical Assistant Mental Health Provider Public Relations Representative Purchasing Manager Registered Nurse Sales Associate (2) - Safety Supervisor Substitute Teacher Teacher Skills former students reported using: Business Communication Computer Critical Thinking Customer Service Human Services Leadership Management Medical Terminology Multi-Tasking Negotiator People Skills Planning Problem Solving Social Work Teaching

8 Teamwork Writing/Reports Did the degree meet your career or educational goals? The degree served as a stepping stone for an advanced degree. I am also writing a business plan for future business. Mortgage Information Systems. I wanted to become involved with the healthcare field. I now work as a medical assistant for a retired surgeon. Pairing my degree with my minors allowed my degree to fit just right for me. I got a job as a financial professional and could move to many other sales positions if desired. With this degree I can now substitute teach. I need to get a Bachelor's degree (BA in Sociology) What career is this good for? Anyone with a specific degree beats me out for ALL jobs. I have been able to find employment pretty easily in the fields I am interested in. I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I am now back into school in transition to teaching I was unsure about it at first but I have had no problems with it. A General Studies degree allowed me to be educated in many areas And obtaining minors in fields I wanted to pursue. Planning on obtaining my MBA soon. Bachelor's is a great foundation though. I just love to learn and an MBA will help me more professionally. Yes it allowed me to go to grad school, in a field that does not have an undergrad degree. (student affairs administration) The education has helped me advance to my current level-safety Director The flexibility allowed by the GS program allowed me to pursue my education while continuing my career. Comments received on academic experience: I was told I could go for a master's with the degree. With 2 years of more education I found out while applying. IPFW's Advisors and instructors were great and supportive If I had it to do again, I would have taken more Business-related courses. I chose to minor in SOC and WOST, which were classes I enjoyed. Recommended All the time

9 Please make any comments you have about the General Studies Degree Program or its services: I believe what you all do is very valuable- giving people the opportunity to go a different direction in life. I had no problem with entering law school after IPFW. IU offered me more. I went to University of Wash because it was "home" for me and offered a more family support structure. For me, the BGS was a stepping stone that I was using for a career as a MD, PA or NP. Due to family commitments, I had to decline my acceptance in the PA program at St. Francis and went back to IPFW a couple of years later for nursing instead, while completing my MA in Anthro a love I found in the BGS program. I am currently pursuing my MSN in Woman's Health through Frontier School of Midwifery and Family nursing. I would have been thrilled to attend the same program at IPFW, however, despite my BGS and MA, they would not accept me as the program required a BSN. As a student who s BGS would have gotten them into a PA program, as well as possible med school, I find that ridiculous. So, while overall it was a great program, I was very frustrated. Thanks. I am pursuing my Master's degree in Public and Environmental Affairs in Public Administration Policy. Major for a degree in MPM. GS is awesome; you helped me to focus on future goals and continue to pursue them. I didn't think it was going to work out at first but then I did!! The GS program is the most organized with the best staff, who take care and pride in each of their students. I appreciate all you have done for me. Overall, this degree has made me feel like I have accomplished something in my life. However, if I want to pursue in teaching then I will have to get another degree in Education, but the General Studies Degree got me started I was very pleased with it. Useless degree, I was almost forced into it once I found out that my Purdue education classes didn't transfer to the IU education program there- RIDICULOUS!!! The P in IPFW stands for PURDUE. I had been pursuing my degree in another program at IPFW, but did not feel my advisor was listening to me or interested in what I was trying to accomplish. I switched to the GS program and was amazed at how different my advisor was from my previous. Also, it seemed as though everyone knows you when you walk in. I appreciated their interest and encouragements. I was able to use my degree to get this job and to get into the Masters program for Human Services. This degree has a wide-range of usages. A perfect choice for what I wanted to achieve. I've gained other certifications thru my agency that allows me to gain further knowledge. Gave me a foundation to kick start my career. I am in the process of getting ready to get my MBA. GREAT PROGRAM (A little of everything) Thank you for a great program.

10 Future Plans 1. As part of program review, we will be revising our outcome objectives, looking towards student services and degree satisfaction. 2. We will continue to send out our alumni survey annually to alums who have graduated five years and one year out. 3. We are going to create an exit survey of our graduates. We plan to start with our December 09 graduates surveying advising services and degree satisfaction. 4. We plan to use focus groups with our previous graduates, 08-09, as they will not have been surveyed, either with the alumni survey or exit survey. 5. The Dean of Continuing Studies is interested in requiring a capstone experience. A task force from the system-wide office is working on this. We can then use this to assist with assessment purposes.