Mitchell Technical Institute Annual Program Assessment Review Department Head: Deb Flynn Program: Date: 1/5/2015 Speech-Language Pathol... As a department, please review the following direct and indirect measures and provide the responses requested. Direct Measures A. Program Student Learning Outcomes Program learning outcomes meet industry and community trends and support the mission of Mitchell Technical Institute. 1. Date of review: 1/5/2015 2. Explain how outcomes were reviewed this year (i.e., input from advisory committee, instructors, students, etc.) and changes made, if any: The SLPA program faculty reviewed the SLPA Program outcomes and determined that no revisions were needed. The SLPA advisory board met twice, reviewing selected course syllabi, which contain program outcomes, during each meeting. No changes to program outcomes were recommended. Recent program graduates have reported that the SLPA program prepared them well for work as an SLPA. 3. Outcomes are up-to-date in WIDS and on the program's web page. Yes No B. Course Syllabi Course syllabi in the program include the following components (check the box if included): Course title and number Credit hours Instructor Instructor office hours/contact information Prerequisites Course description Competencies Required Text(s)
Grading criteria ADA statement Academic Integrity Policy 1. Date of review: 1/5/2015 2. Explain which syllabi were reviewed this year, input received from advisory committee, instructors, students, etc., regarding course objectives and textbooks used, and changes made, if any: Syllabi for SLPA 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 & 106 courses were reviewed in the Spring and Fall 2014 advisory board meetings. Reviewers indicated that the detailed class schedule, clear indication of instructor availability, and inclusion of a "three-before-me" policy were helpful. Prerequisites were not consistently listed in all syllabi. Advisory board members suggested that required ipad apps be listed on all syllabi. Course instructors are adding prerequisites and ipad app lists to syllabi. 3. Syllabi are up-to-date in WIDS. Yes No C. Program Competencies The program has a list of identified competencies. 1. Date of review: 1/5/2015 2. Explain how competencies were reviewed this year (i.e., input from advisory committee, instructors, students, etc.) and changes made, if any: Program competencies were reviewed and approved by advisory board members during the Spring and Fall 2014 advisory board meetings. 3. Competencies are up-to-date in WIDS. Yes No D. Program Assessment Instructors in the program will a.) use a variety of assessment instruments and tools; b.) assess identified program objectives and competencies; and c.) include assessment of higher level thinking skills, such as application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. 1. Complete the checklist indicating which kinds of assessments are used in your program. Types of Assessment Oral examinations/presentations Written essays Written reports Examinations Quizzes Comprehensive final exams Used by instructors in program
Journals Peer evaluations Self evaluations Class participation Portfolio projects Capstone projects Other projects Video tapes of student mastery Lab demonstrations Clinical/internship observations 2. Are assessments used in the program matched to the objectives/competencies for the program? Yes No 3. Explain changes in the assessments used in your program since your last review (including input received and rationale): Students in SLPA 235 now create a portfolio of treatment activities in preparation for SLPA 240 Clinical Fieldwork. This better prepares students for the treatment they will be providing during their fieldwork experiences. Grading rubrics have been created for lab demonstrations. These rubrics grade student performance of specific screening and treatment competencies. The criteria in these rubrics are used to assess performance of therapeutic specific skills that are needed for competence as a speech-language pathology assistant. A new grading rubric was designed for student participation in VoiceThread discussions and is used in all online courses in which VoiceThread participation is graded. Use of a single participation rubric for all SLPA courses ensures that students are clear on expectations across courses. 4. Give examples of how assessments used in the program reflect higher level thinking skills, such as application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Competency validation in lab demonstrations require students to demonstrate application of knowledge in simulated screenings and treatments. Use of SimuCase clients requires students to analyze client behaviors, synthesize information, and determine appropriate clinical decisions. Written course assessments utilize case studies to increase problem-based assessment and application of knowledge. E. Certification If available, the program uses industry and/or program certification tests to assess student mastery of learning objectives or competencies. 1. List any industry or program certification tests taken by students or graduates of your program in the past year (Jan-Dec). # Testing # Passing Pass Rate
Certification Tests ParaPro Praxis Examination 2 2 100 National Career Readiness Certificate 0 0-1.#IND 2. As you reviewed results of certification tests, what curriculum changes were made in your program? The certification examinations are optional and are not required for SLPA employment. No curriculum changes have been made based on results of certification tests. F. Program Internships/Externships If applicable, the program uses internships, externships, or on-the-job training to assess student mastery of learning objectives or competencies. 1. How do you evaluate program competencies or learning objectives during internship/externship experiences? Fieldwork supervisors use the ASHA Verification of Technical Proficiencies of a Speech-Language pathology Assistant to document progress and mastery of learning objectives during externship/fieldwork placement. 2. As you reviewed results of internship/externship evaluations, what curriculum changes were made in your program? In Spring 2014, Students completed pre-fieldwork hours, working with the fieldwork supervisor to explore the fieldwork caseload. Feedback from students and fieldwork supervisors indicated that this was beneficial and it will be continued in Spring 2015. G. Closing the Loop Assessment results were used to revise and improve instruction and curriculum both for current students and future cohorts in this program. Explain how you used direct assessment results to make changes in your program: Based on difficulties students demonstrated creating treatment plans and accurately documenting treatment results in treatment logs in SLPA 202, specific grading rubrics were developed to assist students to identify and meet the criteria for these assignments. A website was created for lab instructors for the online SLPA program. This site allows the instructors to access student grading rubrics and lab schedules so that there is better consistency between labs and the grading of lab demonstrations.
Indirect Measures H. Enrollment Five-year data for this program will demonstrate that the program s 10-day count is at or above 75% of its enrollment cap. Does the most recent year's data meet this benchmark? If not, explain a singleyear anomaly or explain what strategies your program will implement to address a pattern (two or more years) of not reaching this benchmark. No. Enrollment for 2014 was 70%. Enrollment data is available for 3 years: 2012-45%, 2013-100%, 2014-70%. 3 year average - 72%. The program is relatively new. Admissions staff and program faculty continue to market the program across the state through career fairs and camps. Out-of-state students are being accepted into the program through the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. I. Retention Five-year data for this program will demonstrate that 75% or more of enrolled students complete their program or return to MTI the following year. Does the most recent year's data meet this benchmark? If not, explain a singleyear anomaly or explain what strategies your program will implement to address a pattern (two or more years) of not reaching this benchmark. Yes. In 2014, 76% of students returned or graduated. J. Graduation Five-year data for this program will demonstrate that 70% or more of enrolled students complete this program with a diploma or degree. Does the most recent year's data meet this benchmark? If not, explain a singleyear anomaly or explain what strategies your program will implement to address a pattern (two or more years) of not reaching this benchmark. No. In 2014 56% of the students who entered the program graduated. This was the first graduating class from the online SLPA program. Since this time, the admissions process has changed to include the use of a new admissions assessment (Accuplacer) which may help to better identify students with appropriate language skills.
K. Placement Five-year data for this program will demonstrate that 80% or more of completing students in the labor market obtain employment in the program field. Does the most recent year's data meet this benchmark? If not, explain a single year anomaly or explain what strategies your program will implement to address a pattern (two or more years) of not reaching this benchmark. Yes. Of the 5 students who graduated in 2014, 4 students (80%) obtained employment as an SLPA. L. Student Satisfaction Students in this program indicate an excellent level of satisfaction with their instruction, as demonstrated by no gaps exceeding 1.0 on questions related to instructional effectiveness on the most recent Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory survey. If this benchmark is not met, what strategy or strategies will be implemented to address this measure? No data available. M. Alumni Satisfaction Institutional surveys of alumni indicate an 80% or greater satisfaction with their career preparation in this program. If this benchmark is not met, what strategy or strategies will be implemented to address this measure? No data available. N. Employer Satisfaction Employers respond favorably 80% of the time when surveyed about the quality of this program. If this benchmark is not met, what strategy or strategies will be implemented to address this measure?
No data available. O. Professional Development Instructors in this program demonstrate a commitment to their own professional development by completing continuing education activities each year. What professional development activities have instructors in this program completed in the last year? Jennifer Schultz attended the ASHA Schools Convention. Jennifer Schultz & Bobbi Brink attended SD IEP Training, the SD Speech- Language-Hearing Association convention, and ASHA national convention. Both instructors have completed numerous 1-hour webinars from SpeechPathology.com during the past year. How were these activities used to improve this program? New content has been added to coursework to provide students with up to date knowledge and skills in the field. Both faculty members presented a session about the Online SLPA program at the ASHA national convention, increasing visibility of the program. The conventions attended provided opportunities to network with SLPs and other SLPA program instructors. P. Professional Organizations Instructors in this program are members of professional organizations and encourage their students to pursue such memberships. Do faculty members belong to professional organizations associated with this program? Yes No If no, explain why. Are students made aware of the professional organizations for their career field? Yes No Q. Advisory Committee Recommendations Suggestions and changes recommended by this program s advisory committee are addressed and implemented by the program.
What changes will be made to this program based on feedback provided at this year s advisory committee meeting(s)? A new course, SLPA 205 Adult Communication Disorders, will be added to the program. The course will be offered online as an elective course in Fall 2015 for students who entered the program in Fall 2014 and will be required for all students who enter the program in Fall 2015. A new SimuCase client, Kyle, was created for SLPA 230 Language Disorders. This case addresses treatment of language disorders and includes multicultural considerations. Indicate the personnel responsible for implementing the changes: Jennifer Schultz Implementation date: 8/25/2015 R. Program Improvement Plans As you review this past year, what changes do you propose for the next school year that will affect the program budget? Development of SLPA 205 will require addition materials for simulations of treatment with adult clients in lab demonstrations. A fluency client is being developed by SimuCase for SLPA 220. Anticipated costs: Costs covered by TED grant.