Department of Communication Assessment Plan

The State University of New York at Fredonia Department of Applied Professional Studies E-336 Thompson Hall (716) 673-4959

ASSESSMENT PLAN-SPORT MANAGEMENT

1. Goals for student learning: In accordance with the department mission to provide outstanding education to its students we expect our graduates to be able to: 1. demonstrate advanced skills in business, communication, management and leadership in the sport management field including a. Ability to communicate with various public and professional audiences through written texts, oral discussions, and multi-media presentations. b. Understand the basic principles of interpersonal and mass communications and the interaction with internal and external sport publics. c. Ability to assume leadership roles in various professional settings and work effectively with diverse groups and organizations d. Demonstrate essential management and business related skills in the work place

2. Understand the common principles of sport management, sport leadership, sport operations management, event and venue management, and sport governance.

3. Understand the principles of finance, accounting, and the economics of sport as they fit into national and international economies.

4. Demonstrate skillful operation of technology and assessment related tools that may be applied to various sport management settings.

5. Critically discuss social, psychological, and philosophical bases of sport.

2. Methods of assessment: The foundational information for Goal 1 is presented, and assessed in the following courses: Principles of Sport Management (SPMG 210) Facility Management (SPMG 211) Event Management (SPMG 212) Technology in Sport (SPMG 218) Leadership and Management in Sport (SPMG 330) and Marketing & Public Relations in Sport (SPMG 428). The final, pre- professional level assessment of this goal is done through the student’s capstone course SPMG 400. Assessments in these courses include formal objective tests as well as oral and visual presentations. In SPMG 428 all students are required to perform two seminar assignments and a SWOT analysis. The instructors provide the Department Chair with a portfolio of a number of assignments. The Chair will apply a rubric sheet to assess Goal 1. The collective, final analysis of Goal 1 is assessed in SPMG 400 Internship. This capstone experience in Sport Management, taken toward the end of a student’s tenure at Fredonia, provides an opportunity to do an off-campus internship evaluated by both the student, faculty sponsor and the site-supervisor using the evaluation tools supplied by both the Career Development Office and the department. These include both midterm and final evaluations completed by both the student and site-supervisor evaluating goals and objectives set forth in collaboration between the student and the mentor determined prior to the internship experience. Additionally, the ANGEL diaries supplied during the internship, by the senior student, to the faculty sponsor will be graded for content and fulfillment of the stated goals and objectives. The Department Chair will annually review ANGEL diary submissions, the midterm and final evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the internship. Currently the breakdown of the internship grade is as follows: 50% site-supervisor assessment, 15% student self assessment and 35% assessment from faculty sponsor (based on ANGEL diary submissions). Beginning with the spring 2012 semester, students will be required to submit a portfolio at the conclusion of the internship. The portfolio will contain but is not limited to: cover letter, resume, personal biography, philosophy statement, reflection and artifacts (certification, recommendations, sample coursework). The assessment breakdown will then include: 40% site-supervisor assessment, 20% portfolio assessment, 10% student self assessment and 30% faculty sponsor assessment (based on ANGEL diary submissions). Portfolios will be collected and assessed by the department chair for competence in Goal 1.

Goal 2 is assessed through the following courses: Principles of Sport Management (SPMG 210) Facility Management (SPMG 211) Event Management (SPMG 212) and Sport Law and Risk Management (SPMG 410). Research reviews, formal testing as well as written and oral presentations are included in these assessments. The instructors provide the Department Chair with a portfolio of a number of assignments. The Chair then applies a rubric sheet to assess Goal 2.

Goal 3 is supplemented by the foundational knowledge gained and assessed in our pre-requisite courses Microeconomics (ECON 202) and Macroeconomics (ECON 201). Goal 3 is then formalized through Principles of Financial Accounting (ACCT 201) and Economics of Sport (SPMG 305). Instructors use formal assessments as well as presentations to show student competency in Goal 3.The instructors provide the Chair with the student assessments and the evaluation forms. The chair reviews the gathered data and draws inferences about Goal 3 using a rubric system.

The formal assessment of Goal 4 is done though the core courses Statistics (STAT 200) and SPMG 218. STAT 200 includes the collection, analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data to further include comprehension and discerning the quality of research conducted in sport management. Assessment in this course consists of formalized objective testing, research analysis and the conduction of a class research project for analysis and understanding of statistical methods. SPMG 218 utilizes fitness assessment software such as Dartfish which allows the student to record and then perform a video analysis of a subject’s performance. This class culminates in the student completing a Mediabook , and a Technology in Sport PowerPoint Presentation. Additionally other software is used to create a social Media in Sport Paper, and a final Video Project. The instructors provide the Chair with the student assessments and the evaluation forms. The chair reviews the gathered data and draws inferences about Goal 4 using a rubric system.

Goal 5 is met though Sport in American Culture (SPMG 230) and Psychology of Sport (PSY 237). These courses critically analyze moral and ethical issues related to sport and allow the student to develop a personal philosophy regarding social responsibility in the sport management setting. Additionally, as a result of course completion, the student will understand the major theories and practices of Psychology within the contexts of sport and exercise. Assessment in these courses is done though formal objective tests, studying historical philosophical theories and then formally writing their own statement. Oral and visual presentations are assessed to demonstrate competency in philosophical and psychological issues in sport management. The instructors provide the Chair with the student assessments and the evaluation forms. The chair reviews the gathered data and draws inferences about Goal 3 using a rubric system.

In addition to the above assessment, we survey all our graduates using the attached form and use the information to refine the assessment of our programs testing statistical hypotheses and correlations. The results are used to improve learning in our discipline.

3. Time line: Every spring relevant student work is examined and the faculty as whole, discuss, and then concrete proposals for improvements are distilled. This wide-ranging discussion is then used to devise specific proposals for course modifications and improvements or changes in the program.

4. Assignment of responsibility: The department chair is responsible for initiating the meetings, writing reports, and leading the discussion. Individual faculty are assigned to collect the data, participate in the discussions and in the formulation of improvement plans, and implementing the assessment plans in their courses.

5. Record keeping: Documentation of assessment meetings are kept in the department office, and a summary of assessment activities is reported in the department’s annual report to the Dean of Arts & Sciences. This report includes a summary of the department’s assessment activities for that year. The data is also kept by the chair of the Assessment Committee and is available to all those with a demonstrable need to know.

6. Processes for using assessment results to improve learning: When applicable, the assessment techniques mentioned generate specific goals, plans for improvement, action items etc. These recommendations are implemented the next year and their effectiveness is reassessed the following year.