San Francisco State University s6

San Francisco State University Inventory of Program Assessment Activities, 2001-2002

PROGRAM: Public Administration Program COLLEGE: College of Behavioral and Social Sciences DATE: October 3rd, 2002

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY OF FINDINGS USE OF FINDINGS FOR LEARNING OBJECTIVES METHODS/STRATEGIES ABOUT STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT Students should posses a core body of Electronically managed student learning 1. Portfolio Database. The Program's 1. New Culminating Experience knowledge about public administration portfolio assessed by faculty-- see criteria portfolio database now contains the Requirement Developed as a Direct history, theories and current issues in the available at assessments for well over 100 students Result of the Assessment Process. field today http://bss.sfsu.edu/~mpa/portfolio/portfolio.ht and we continue to update the database Program faculty, after much discussion and m . The San Francisco State University Public with evaluations of student learning. with input from students, has approved a Students should develop a more Administration Program Student Learning major revision to the culminating specialized body of knowledge in a specific Portfolio has been nationally recognized as a 2. Database Changes Being Finalized. experience requirement. This is a direct subfield NASPAA (National Association of Schools of The database structure itself has been result of the Student Learning Assessment Public Affairs and Administration) Best updated this year and the final revisions process, which pointed out that the old Students should understand the Practice. are now being made in it. Once that is process was only evaluating one particular importance and role of economic, political complete, we will be able to once again student learning outcome-- that of and social institutions summarize the quantitative values for new traditional social science research. In student evaluations. The next step is to addition, it did not allow for adequate Students should develop an understanding create an online interface for the database synthesis of all the student learning that of organizations and how they work so that faculty can enter their student had taken place. Therefore, a new evaluations (of each learning objective) capstone course has been approved and is Students should understand the policy directly online and into the database rather now pending before CRAC and the process, policy issues, and public than have to do it in hard copy and then Graduate Council. Under this new case- administrators' role in the process have the data be entered. based courses, students will evaluate and discuss cases from the field to synthesize Students should develop an understanding 3. Portfolio CD-ROMs Distributed as what they have learned, will summarize the of human resources management issues Illustrations of Student Learning. The portfolio itself, and will write a Student Learning Portfolio CD-ROMs were comprehensive examination (Strategic Students should develop research skills distributed to all graduating students this Assessment Memo). and become intelligent consumers of year-- and the students have been statistical and qualitative data and research uniformly positive about these concrete 2. Redouble Efforts for Faculty examples of what they have achieved Involvement. Another important finding Students should learn to use electronic and during their degree Program. This CD- involves the resistance of faculty to other search methods to develop ROM includes explanations of our participate in this process, which without a bibliographic materials Program, our learning objectives, and doubt involves more work for them. linkages to any and all examples of the Lecturers have been particularly resistant Students should develop ability to conduct work they cared to include. This CD-ROM to participation. We have tried several cost benefit analysis represents the closing of the feedback loop ways to explain this process and are for our students in the assessment currently engaging in renewed efforts to Students should be able to complete process- they can see what they have encourage participation. effective budget proposals accomplished.

Students should develop the ability to read and understand public and nonprofit financial statements

Students should develop an understanding of human resources issues and workforce policies

Students should have the ability to write concisely and effectively Students should have the ability to make effective oral presentations Existing Quantitative Results Team Work Development Students should have the ability to work  Team Work (29.1 of 35-- 83.1%) effectively in teams Written and Oral Communication Students should be able to make effective  Writing Assignment (24.76 of 30- use of these tools: 82.53%)  Email  Oral Presentation with PowerPoint  Listserv (40.94 of 45- 90.9%)  World Wide Web for research  Computer Conferencing Computer Skills  Database Software (5 of 5- 100%) Students should be able to use these  Spreadsheets (4.94 of 5- 98.8%) computer applications  Presentation Software (4.87 of 5-  Word Processors 97.4%)  Statistical Packages  Statistical Software (4.67 of 5- 93.4%)  Spreadsheets  Presentation Software  Databases

Students should develop an understanding of public sector ethical issues and how they apply to daily organizational life

Students should develop an understanding of the importance and complexity of diversity in public sector and nonprofit organizations and diversity issues apply to daily organizational life

Students should develop a more specialized body of knowledge in a specific subfield