Graduate Assessment Plan 2014-2015 Executive Masters in Public Graduate Assessment Plan Page 1
Graduate Program Learning Outcomes The Executive Masters in Public program was launched purposely to prepare senior public administrators to become leaders in the field of public policy and administration at both local and international levels. In order to meet this broad goal, the EMPA curriculum has been designed to contribute to the following learning outcomes. Hence EMPA students must be able to demonstrate the skills and ability to: Utilize best practices of public administration (Best practices. Apply analytical tools to analyze, interpret, and present data in order to frame policy problems and make decisions towards the implementation of policy ( implementation. Identify ethical problems and to apply ethical principles to propose solutions (Public values perspective. Communicate effectively through both speaking and written mediums to the level expected of public managers (Managerial communication. Integrate theory and practice into decision making (Integrated theory and practice. Use research methods to conduct, analyze and interpret data in order to make evidenced-based decisions (Applied research. In the 2014-2015 academic year, the two GPLOs that should have been assessed were Best Practices and Managerial Communication (see Table 1.1 below. However, the graduate program coordinator s departure from ZU in the middle of the academic year meant that the scheduled assessment exercises did not take place as shown in the original assessment plan. As such, after discussion with Dr. Kevin Schoepp (Director, OEE, Dr. Kristian Alexander (EMPA s new coordinator, Dr. Sara Chehab (CSSH Assessment Coordinator and Dr. Chris Southgate (CSSH Dean, it was decided that for 2014-2015, a deviation would take place and different learning outcomes would be measured in Public Formulation and Analysis, taught by Dr. Simon Okoth in May-June 2015 in. The two GPLOs to assess are Best Practices and Implementation. See Table 1.2 below. It was also decided that during the 2015-2016 academic year, a new assessment cycle would start, one that would not be based on the previous years work given that the data collected is incomplete. Graduate Assessment Plan Page 2
Table 1.1 Original Assessment Cycle Graduate Program Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle Outcomes Assessed 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Best Practices Implementatio n Cohort 6 EMPA 507 ( - EMPA 502- (Governanc e Cohort 9 EMPA 512 (Ethical & Legal Issues Cohort 10 EMPA 510 (The Practice Public Values Perspective Cohort 7 EMPA 510 (The Practice Cohort 10 EMPA 508 (Budgeting Managerial Communicatio n Integrated Theory and Practice Applied Cohort 6 EMPA 505 (Q & IT Methods Cohort 7 EMPA 599 (Capstone EMPA 504 (Human Resources Cohort 9 EMPA 599 (Capstone Cohort 10 EMPA 512 (Leadershi p EMPA 505 (Applied Graduate Assessment Plan Page 3
Table 1.2 Adjusted Assessment Cycle Graduate Program Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle Outcomes Assessed 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Best Practices Implementation Public Values Perspective Managerial Communication Integrated Theory and Practice Applied Graduate Assessment Plan Page 4
Table 2 Graduate Program Learning Outcomes Mapped to Curriculum & Assessment Points Course EMPA 502 EMPA 503 EMPA 504 EMPA 505 EMPA 506 EMPA 508 EMPA 509 EMPA 510 EMPA 511 EMPA 512 Title Governance in a Global Context Comparative Public Sector Public Human Resource Management Quantitative and IT Methods for Public and Applied Methods in Public and Public Formulation and Analysis Public Sector Budgeting and Finance Program Evaluation The Practice of Public Strategic Leadership for Organizational Improvement Legal and Ethical Issues in the UAE: The Public Context Best Practices Implementa tion Public Value Perspective GPLOs Managerial Communica tion Integrated Theory Applied [] [] EMPA 599 Capstone Seminar [ ] Indicates Assessment Points Please note that EMPA507 is not originally mapped to the Best Practices GPLO. Because EMPA 507 is the only class left to be taught in the Spring 2015 semester and the deviation in the assessment cycle, it has been mapped to Best Practices until another mapping exercise can be taken next year. Graduate Assessment Plan Page 5
Table 3 Graduate Programs Learning Outcomes Assessment Method and Points GPLO Academic Year & Semester Course Method(s of Assessment Sample Plan & Size Target Best Practices Spring 2015 Public TBA 20 students (approx. 80% Exemplary Implementation Spring 2015 Public TBA 20 students (approx. 80% Exemplary The Instructor of EMPA507, Dr. Simon Okoth, is not currently at ZU. Therefore, the assessment methods and rubrics to be used will be determined once the class begins in May 2015 in coordination with Dr. Sara Chehab (CSSH Assessment Coordinator and Dr. Kristian Alexander (EMPA Program Coordinator. 26 March 2015 26 March 2015 Dean s Signature Date Graduate Assessment Plan Page 6