Ohio State University

College of Engineering

Annual Outcomes Assessment Overview

2000-2001 Academic Year

  R. J. Gustafson

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Services

September 2001

 

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of this report is to create a brief record of activities related to continuous quality improvement activities for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering during the academic year 2000-2001 at the College level. This is to coincide with similar reports done by each program. It is an overview or summary of activities and accomplishments. It is not intended to be a full report on each item.

 

Key Activities of Outcomes Assessment Committee

 

During the 2000-2001 academic year the Outcomes Assessment Committee (OAC) met regularly. Minutes four meetings of the Committee are available in the College Office.

 

Results from Senior Exit, Alumni and Manager/Supervisor Surveys for 1999-2000

 

A report of results of surveys collected during the 1999-2000 academic year was issued by the OAC in August of 2000. The report was distributed to all programs, the executive committee of the college and key committees within the College. The report included information from senior exit interviews, 2 nd , 6 th and 15 th year alumni.

 

 

•  Highlights of Accomplishments

 

Primarily based upon items with the largest difference (negative and positive) between Importance and Ability/Preparation, in 1999 the OAC recommended six areas for high priority consideration by the College. For each of the areas, a brief statement of activities directed at improvement in the College will be given.

 

 

AREA

ACTIVITY/ACTION/ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Primary Entity)

Communications

  • Intro. to Eng. (IE) Courses, as part of the Core Curriculum change, became a requirement for all programs as of AU 01. All incoming freshman in 00-01 were encouraged to take the IE sequence. (Core Curriculum and Academic Affairs Committees)
  • FEH program expanded to six 36-student sections (CEEGS Dept.)
  • ENG 367 Second Writing Course offering extended to seven sections per year (TCRC)
  • Technical Communications Resources Center (TCRC) moved to 2 nd Fl of Hitchock to improve access.

Teamwork

  • Training and practice in teamwork expanded in IE program (College)

Basic Science

  • Revised engineering core curriculum model passed by Univ. Council on Academic Affairs (College)
  • Chemistry 125 content revised by collaboration with Chem. Dept. (Core Curriculum Comm.)
  • Data on surveys shared with Math, Physics, Chemistry (Core Curriculum Comm.)

Business/Finance

  • A special questionnaire on this topic was sent with alumni surveys and to Depart Advisory Committees. Report and ASEE paper produced. Programs asked to respond. (Outcomes Assessment Comm.)
  • College of Business minor became available during year.

Stay Current

  • A special alumni questionnaire on staying current was sent with alumni surveys. Report to be issued early AU 01 (Core Curriculum Comm.)

Ethics

  • Study of how ethics is taught in College and ethics course development funded continued. (Gateway/NSF Coalition Project)

 

 

 

Action Around Student Experience Factors

 

The following activities for 2000-2001 were directed at the College and University goal of improving the undergraduate experience.

 

Topic

ACTIVITY/ACTION (Primary Entity)

Advising

  • Full Direct Enrollment of students into the College implemented as of AU 01 (College)
  • Expansion in number of advisors (College and Departments)
  • Task Force on revision of ENG 100 formed and working.(Report on file in College)
  • Series of focus sessions on Early Student Success held. (Report on file in College)
  • College working with Registrar to test Noel/Levitz software for student retention efforts (College Advisors)

First Year Experience (FYE)

  • College hosted two-day conference for Ohio Engineering Schools on FYE for Engineering(CD of Materials available from Freshman Programs Office)

TA's

  • TA training for IE and FEH continued. Weekly training session added. (College and CEEGS)
  • Graduate course in College Teaching offered (FABE Dept)
  • Collaboration with Office of Faculty and TA Development strengthened, joint seminars offered to faculty and TA's (College)

Physical Facilities

  • Renovation of 2nds Floor of Hitchcock Hall for 1 st year program completed in SU 2000. ASEE paper describes new facility. (College)

 

Engineering Core Curriculum

 

A proposal for the revision of the Engineering Core Curriculum developed over the past five years was approved by University Council on Academic Affairs. During the 00-01 academic year, each program refined its plan for implementation of the new core. The new core will be implemented as of AU 01

 

Alumni Surveys for 2000-2001

 

The OAC made the decision to continue use of the Alumni (2 nd and 6 th year) and Supervisor/Manager (15 th year alumni) Surveys previously developed with only minor revisions. A report based on data collected during 1999-2000 was distributed in AU 00. This included results from use of multi-university senior exit survey developed by Educational Benchmarking Inc. (EBI) of Saint Louis , MO. The decision was made to not use the EBI survey in 2000-2001.

 

General Education Model

 

The College has a representative on a Committee established by the Provost and the University Senate to review the University's general education model. This is expected to continue through 01-02.

 

Engineering Minor

 

A minor in Biomedical Engineering was approved by the College during the year and will be considered at University level in the coming year.

 

Academic Probation and Dismissal

 

Policies for probation and dismissal developed for each program were developed by the Academic Progress and Standards Committee and approved by Committee on Academic Affairs.