9/14/04

Ohio State University
College of Engineering
Annual Outcomes Assessment Overview
2003-2004 Academic Year

R. Gustafson and E. McCaul
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Services
September 2004

Purpose
This report is a brief record of continuous quality improvement activities at the College level for undergraduate engineering programs during the academic year 2003-2004. It is an overview or summary of activities and accomplishments. It is not intended to be a full report on each item. This is to compliment similar reports for each program.

1)  Key Activities of Outcomes Assessment Committee
     During the 2003-2004 academic year the Outcomes Assessment Committee (OAC) met regularly. Minutes of meetings of the Committee are available in the College Office. The committee continued its support of surveying of seniors, 2nd, 6th and 15th year alumni. A targeted survey on alumni perspectives related to communications was developed and implemented.

2)  Results from Surveys
     A report of results of general alumni surveys for the college common questions, collected during the 03-04 academic year, was issued by the OAC in September of 2004. 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, 2nd, 6th and 15th year alumni. This years report target two items in particular. First, was understanding of trends across the six years of available data. Second was the comparison response from the same graduation year as a) seniors and then 2nd year alumni and b) 2yr year alumni and then 6th year alumni.
     Results of the targeted alumni survey from 03-04 on the topic “Liberal Education” was distributed in the form of a report of the Outcomes Assessment Committee in autumn of 2003.
     Results of the targeted alumni survey from 02-03 on the topic “Liberal Education ” were presented at ASEE meeting (Gustafson, R. J., E. D. McCaul. 2004. Engineering Alumni Survey on Liberal Education. ASEE NC Section Meeting, April 2-3, Kalamazoo, MI.)

3)  Highlights of Changes Accomplishments or In-process

Administrative Program Structure -
     A proposal was submitted to make Engineering 367 an approved social diversity GEC course in 2003. After feedback from the appropriate GEC Panel, a revised proposal was approved in Spring 2004.

General Education Model –
     During the past year the Core Committee of the College made a major effort to develop a proposed revision to the Engineering General Education Curriculum (Eng GEC). Results of the alumni surveys are being used in support of the college’s proposal to change engineering’s liberal education portion of our GEC model. This proposal was passed by the College Committee on Academic Affairs in Autumn 2003 and moved to the University Council on Academic Affairs (CAA). It is currently under study by CAA. Projected implementation is Autumn of 2005.

Academic Probation and Dismissal –
     Work is continued on establishing more uniform policies for probation and dismissal of majors and pre-majors by the Academic Progress and Standards Committee. Standards across programs are now more uniform and available. This year focus will be on pre-major policies, in particular for pre-major, undesignated students.

Honors –
     In response to suggestions from graduates and others, a proposal developed by the Honors Committee for Graduation with Honors in Engineering was approved by the university. This program has been implemented in 2003-04. The program expands opportunities for Honors students in the College. Requirements include advanced course work, investigative experience, and service and leadership contributions.

ENG 185/186/187 Introduction to Engineering
for Transfer Students –
     This program has been expanded by more offerings at our regional campuses. We are cooperating with the regional campuses to offer the combination of these course for which they have student demand, available staff and facilities.

High School Outreach Program –
     Our cooperation with the offering of an equivalent experience to ENG 181 and 183 at the high school level was expanded to a second high school.

4) Focus of anticipated activities for the coming year