Exec. Masters Health Care Administration Annual Learning Outcomes Assessment Report 2013-14 Assessment Report Page 1
Introduction The EMHCA assessment plan focused on Global Awareness (GA) and Strategic Leadership (SL). Assessments were undertaken within two independent courses of the cohort 8 instance of the program. For convenience, and due to this being the first iteration of the cycle, we chose two courses that were delivered by ZU faculty. ZULO/MALO Assessed Strategic Leadership (SL) - Assessed in EMHCA 613 Graduates will demonstrate their knowledge, skills in the context of making meaningfully contributes to integrated health care systems planning. They will demonstrate the ability to integrate strategic, organizational and information level objectives. They will also demonstrate core leadership attributes, and be able to exhibit different styles of leadership as context demands. SL was broken into two indicators, for the purpose of this assessment 1. Knowledge of strategic alignment 2. Communication of strategic alignment Assessment Method & Point The assessment for strategic leadership took place in the EMHCA 613: Health Care Information Management. The leadership learning outcome and its indicators were assessed by means of a case study, one component of which was to ask students to critically discuss the alignment between different levels of strategic objectives (enterprise, organizational, information) We had also intended to use a self- report inventory, however it was felt the dual duty course embedded assignment was more than adequate. Furthermore, the use of the inventory at the undergraduate level had proven fairly uninformative during the 2012 assessment cycle. Target Thirty- one students were assessed. Our target was for 80% of our students to achieve B- or above (80% range) for the strategic alignment component of the assignment. This was the target for both indicators, i.e. knowledge of concepts, and communication of concepts. Findings & Analysis See next page Improvement Plan Page 2
GPLO - Leadership EMHCA 613) - Spring 2013 - n=31 90.00 % at or above 85.00 % of students 80.00 75.00 70.00 65.00 77.42 70.97 74.19 60.00 Strategy Communica\on Overall Based on student performance, we failed to make our target of 80% at 80% for both indicators. However, the shortfall was fairly minimal, although written communication of these important strategic leadership concepts appeared to be particularly challenging for around 30% of the cohort. This is certainly an area for remedial concern pertaining to language. Communication & Dissemination of Results Results were discussed with the course instructor, other EMHCA instructors and also shared with the graduate office. These discussions lead to a number of remedial actions being suggested. Actions & Follow up General To strengthen the culture of assessment we have implemented the following: All EMHCA faculty have been asked to review syllabi to ensure alignment with GPLOS. All courses to include one assignment/rubric aligned with at least one GPLO. All faculty have been asked to use grade-center to record grades rather than offline spreadsheets. This will be in place for the start of cohort 10 We have instituted the use of a teaching assistant as the cohort size is viewed as too large to manage in a three-day workshop type delivery mode. Similarly, online Improvement Plan Page 3
discussions need TA support. This has been done Specific The 613 instructor and TA have been asked to provide writing and persuasive communication workshops for students at least twice per year. This will strengthen the ability to communicate strategic leadership ideas. This was the primary area of weakness: communication rather than knowledge. This is being phased in for cohort 9 and it is hoped it will be continued for cohort 10 ZULO/MALO Assessed Global Awareness (Healthcare context) Graduates will demonstrate an awareness of the overall health care system. This will include comparative international perspectives, socio- historical context and key contemporary concerns focusing on emerging trends and the implications for their own local contexts. Assessment Method & Point This GPLO was assessed in EMHCA 606, Comparative Health Care systems. Again, assessment was course embedded and a the Comparative Health Care systems Exam Section was mapped to 2 indicators: knowledge and analysis Target In all, twenty- seven students were assessed. Our target was for 80% of our students to be achieve a B- (80% range) or above for the aforementioned exam section. Findings & Analysis Improvement Plan Page 4
Global Awarness EMHCA 606) - Spring 2013 - n=27 95.00 % at or above 90.00 85.00 % of students 80.00 75.00 70.00 65.00 60.00 Knowledge Analysis Overall Communication & Dissemination of Results Results were discussed with the course instructor, other EMHCA instructors and also shared with the graduate office. These discussions lead to a number of remedial actions being suggested. Actions & Follow up It was decided that a good way to further strengthen this GA GPLO would be to review the international field trip. At present the trip occurs at the end of the program and is aligned with the leadership course. It was felt that this overseas trip would be more beneficial earlier in the program and should be reconstituted so as to become a credit bearing activity specifically aligned with the GA GPLO. This is presently under consideration, and the EMHCA study trip has been suspended pending its possible realignment with GA Dr. Chris Southgate 14 April 2014 Dean s Signature Date Improvement Plan Page 5