1. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
On-line Assessment of SBA Post-graduate
Career Performance: Curriculum Feedback &
Life Long Learning
School of Business Administration (SBA)
PI:
• Bill Jones, Ph.D.
• Melissa Appleyard, Ph.D.
School of Business Administration 1

2. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
Context: BA495: Business Strategy & Capstone Program
• End of education: last course before graduation – “end of Pipe”
• Capstone: “tests” SBA core educational competencies using “real” world
clients with “real” world business challenges
• We & participating clients can observe how well students are prepared
for the business world
• Career launching course
• We do some immediate assessment of capstone performance: on-line
client surveys (qualtrics), focus groups, student evaluations (SBA &
UNST)
It is insufficient for a modern business education degree!
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3. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
What is missing? Longitudinal Career Assessment!
Longitudinal Assessment can address such questions as:
• How do our students perform in their career 5, 10, 15, 30 years &
beyond?
• How can a longitudinal assessment inform & help improve curriculum
development & pedagogy?
• Can assessment feedback act as a “early warning system” identifying
potential deficits in SBA Curricula?
• Did PSU & SBA prepare our graduates to be life-long learners, to
adapt to a dynamic economy?
• Can SBA continue to be a partner in our graduate’s careers through
on-going, relevant business education.
• What is the value of an SBA degree?
• And, importantly, how well will our increasingly on-line
dependent education perform?
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4. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
What we propose:
Longitudinal assessment of SBA graduate career performance
• Immediate: Both Student & Client performance assessment in BA495 to create
a student base-line assessment
• Long-term: 2nd year post-graduation, 5th year post graduation, and five year
year increments thereafter
How we will do it:
On-line assessment is the ideal long-run medium
Develop Assessment Methodology: Goals, metrics & measures
• Use: business leaders, thought leaders, students & alumni
Use On-line assessment tools to collect data
• Establish student contact information (active alumni association)
• Recruit student participation & keep contact information updated & current
• Continued contact: Linked-In, Facebook, Blackboard Collaborate, Go-to-meeting
• Business contact (Initially BA495 clients): SBA business advisory council
• Survey tools: Qualtrics & other on-line assessment tools
• Administer assessments
• On-line focus group assessments
• Assessment, findings, reporting: SBA, Alumni, businesses, etc.
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5. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
How we will use the assessments: the exciting part
• Inform the curriculum committee:
• On-line as well as resident course effectiveness
• Compare effectiveness of each medium
• To bolster current course offerings, design new courses, etc.
• Provide faculty feedback on the pedagogical aspect of curricula
• Serve graduates’ continuing educational needs.
• Develop post-graduate programs such as the on-line “SBA capstone alumni
weekend” where webinars & on-line mentoring between graduates from
different years can mentor younger graduates
• Improve BA495 Capstone Program:
• Add, subtract, emphasize, de-emphasize aspects of the capstone to better
prepare students for their career
• Enhance the “BA495 Follow-on Internship Program”
• Video capture of interviews with students & clients on the effectiveness of the
SBA & BA495 education as a preparation for the internship & for career
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6. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
Why it is important?
Business schools have come under increasing Criticism
• “Default Major”, “Skate by”, not as demanding as other majors (NYT 4/14/11)
Business Community concerned about future qualified graduates
Concern with the value of a Business School Degree
• Increasing student debt: average $23k by some measures
Technology & rise of on-line courses & education -- Competition
• Students can now “vote with their technology & wallets” rather than “their
feet”
• More convenient, less cost, and “prestigious” institutions
“Credential inflation” devaluing the college education
Increasing financial stress of higher educational institutions
• Affects curriculum, programs, jobs… everything
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7. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
On-line solutions are only as good as the
content they provide
• On-line assessment must go hand in hand with all on-line course development
• Longitudinal assessment is one of the most effective means to measure
effectiveness SBA education
• Assessment can be used to help graduates throughout their career
• An engaged alumni can provide multiple benefits: financial support, mentoring,
jobs, etc.
• An engaged business community can provide multiple benefits: financial support,
jobs, etc.
• The Longitudinal assessment model proposed here can be duplicated in other
university departments & Schools, as well as other academic institutions
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8. ReThink Proposal Presentation: 1/17/13
Thank you
Please read & comment on our Proposal
• http://www.rethink.pdx.edu/?q=rethink/projects
Bill Jones: wmj@pdx.edu; 503-869-6407
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