Core Competency Outcomes Assessment Plan

With input from the business community, the faculty of Walsh College have identified and defined four Core Competencies that all students are expected to master upon graduation. The Core Competency student learning outcomes assessment plan includes a variety of measures which are used collectively to evaluate student achievement of the Core Competencies. Some of the measures include major field tests developed and published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) (www.ets.org) and participation in the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) (www.cae.org) developed by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE) with the Rand Corporation. Additional measures include student, alumni, and employer surveys and course embedded assignments.

Communicate

Development of skills enabling graduates to communicate effectively in a business environment.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation from Walsh College, students will be able to:

• Organize ideas in a logical, well-developed, clear, and concise manner.
• Select the tone, word choice, and style of communication appropriate for the intended audience and occasion.
• Incorporate credible examples and properly referenced source materials when presenting information.
• Write well-structured sentences and paragraphs using correct language, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Format documents in a relevant and professional manner.
• Employ a variety of  techniques to enhance delivery of content.

Problem Solve

Development of skills enabling graduates to solve business-related problems.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon graduation from Walsh College, students will possess the critical thinking skills necessary for them to:

• Identify and define a problem.
• Analyze the problem within its business context.
• Utilize specific tools or techniques to develop potential solutions to the problem.
• Determine the most appropriate solution to the problem.
• Implement the solution and evaluate its effectiveness.

Conduct Research

Development of skills enabling graduates to conduct effective research in a business or professional environment.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation from Walsh College, students will be able to:

• Frame a research topic.
• Identify credible and appropriate sources of information.
• Properly cite selected sources.  
• Incorporate research results and analysis.
• Develop and present a research project in a format appropriate to the researched discipline.

Master a Business Discipline

Development of skills enabling graduates to master key concepts and models within their selected business discipline.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation from Walsh College, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in a chosen business discipline.
• Analyze and present concepts and theories within the business discipline.
• Effectively apply the business discipline concepts and theories in a business setting.

Academic Program Outcomes Assessment Plans

Each academic program has a plan for the assessment of student learning that has been developed by the faculty. Academic program outcomes assessment plans include a mission statement, expected student learning outcomes based on the mission of the program, and the measures used to evaluate student achievement of the student learning outcomes.

Academic program assessment plans include a variety of qualitative and quantitative measures which are used collectively to evaluate student achievement of the program’s student learning outcomes. Qualitative and quantitative measures can either be a direct or indirect measure.

Examples of direct measures include:

• Pre and post tests
• Major Field Test
• Research Project
• Case Study
• Course Project
• Project Presentation
• Portfolio of Student Work
• Performance on Licensure, Certification or Performance Exams

Examples of indirect measures include:

• Alumni Survey
• Currently Enrolled Student Survey
• Employer Survey
• Exit Survey
• Focus Groups
• Job Statistics
• Peer and Self-evaluations

A selection of student learning outcomes in each program is measured on a cyclical basis. Upon completion of the measures, the director of student outcomes assessment compiles the results and discusses the results with the academic department chair. The academic department chair, along with full-time faculty, determines how the results will be used for program and instructional improvement. Program outcomes assessment plans are evaluated on a cyclical basis and revised as needed to meet the focus of the program.

Schedule an Outcomes Assessment Test