Formal Process for Periodic Review of Program Outcomes
The Department Curriculum Committee will meet annually to review the current program outcomes and objectives to determine if changing internal or external conditions require an immediate revision. A thorough review will be done every four years, or more frequently if the Department Chair charges the Committee with this task.
The thorough review will be initiated by the Curriculum Committee, which will meet and identify issues that the Committee finds essential in the revision of the outcomes. These revisions can consist of additions, subtractions, and clarifications to the current objectives and outcomes. Feedback will be sought from the constituencies by formulating questions related to the identified issues. The questions will be added to existing surveys that evaluate whether outcomes are met or not. Alternatively, questions of how relevant an outcome is can be added to an existing question evaluating to what degree that outcome is being met. An example of a specific question that could be asked is “Do you believe that Program Outcome 6, today phrased as ‘Have an ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing’ should be expanded to read ‘Have an ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing as well as be proficient in using new media’?”
After the survey has been approved at a faculty meeting, it will be mailed to recent and earlier graduates from the program. We will primarily seek this feedback from alumni, but the same questions can be given to graduating students at their exiting interview and faculty members will be consulted at faculty meetings. Furthermore, formal and informal input will be sought from current students, and employers who also should be allowed to comment on these questions.
When the survey results are compiled, the Curriculum Committee will meet again and make recommendations based on the survey results as well as on other input given to the committee. ABET and University-wide General Education Requirements will also be considered. The recommendations for revisions to the outcomes will be forwarded to all faculty members for approval at a faculty meeting.