Departmental Assessment Update - Travel Industry Management Report

Department: Travel Industry Management
Program: MS
Level: Graduate

1. List in detail your graduate Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for each degree/certificate offered.

Objectives of the Master of Science Degree Program:

    • To provide advanced studies at the graduate level for persons with managerial/professional experience in the travel industry.
    • To increase the supply of personnel who have a broad capacity to deal with travel industry policy issues at the highest level within the State, national and international communities.
    • To promote and advance travel industry research in order to increase existing knowledge of travel industry phenomena and their impacts.
    • To enhance the development of the travel industry in Hawaii and the Pacific and Asian regions, through advanced studies and research.
    • To establish Hawaii as a center of excellence in the international field of travel industry education and research beyond the baccalaureate level, thereby enhancing the reputation of both the University of Hawaii and the State.

2. Where are these SLOs published (e.g., departmental web page)?

These SLOs are published in student relations material, accreditation reports and on the TIM School’s website.

3. Explain how your SLOs map onto your curriculum, i.e., how does your program of graduate studies produce the specific SLOs in your students?

The Master of Science degree program is designed to provide a management level education through coursework and research to master a broad and sophisticated set of interdisciplinary skills and knowledge.  Students develop analytical abilities and the critical thinking skills necessary for higher-level management careers in the travel and tourism industry. Given the program’s focus, students are expected to engage in understanding and execution of rigorous research activities.

4. What population(s) is covered by your assessment(s)?

Aspects of the Program Assessed

Graduate student perceptions and satisfaction in regards to:

§         Course content

§         Quality of faculty

§         Advising experience

 Types of Instrument or Data-Gathering Approach

A variety of modes are used to collect data on satisfaction of the areas listed above.  These include end of semester CAFÉ evaluations, student feedback through town meetings, focus groups, participation in Faculty Senate meetings and regularly schedule graduate meetings.

 

Response Rate

§         CAFÉ evaluations – varies per course

§         Focus groups – 1 group of 4-5 representative students

§         Town meeting – 30-40 students (combined graduate and undergraduate students) per meeting with 3 meetings per semester.

§         Graduate student meeting – 10-20 students per semester

 Specific Methodologies Used to Collect Data from FacultyAspects of the Program Assessed

Courses in the graduate program and overall graduate curriculum review.

 Types of Instrument Used in Data Gathering

Ongoing syllabi and curriculum review activities.

 Response Rate

All required and elective course offerings at the graduate level.

 Specific Methodologies Used to Collect Data from Accreditation Commissions Aspects of the Program Assessed

Master of Science curriculum

 Types of Instrument or Data Gathering 

§         World Tourism Organization TedQual Certification

§         Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA)

 

Specific Methodologies Used to Collect Data from the Advisory Council

 Aspects of the Program Assessed

Curriculum of the MS program

 Types of Instrument or Data-Gathering Approach: 

Advisory Council meetings are held to specifically review current course offerings, course content and modes of delivery.

 Response Rate

10 of the 12 Advisory Council members are usually present and meet 4-5 times per year.

 

 

5. Please list/describe all the assessment events and devices used to monitor graduate student progress through the program. Consider the following questions:

Written exams, oral presentations and research projects are used in all graduate level courses to determine the students’ understanding of the course material.  A culminating experience is required in the form of a capstone course at the end of each student’s course work.  This culminating experience allows student to bring together the theories and concepts learned in class situations.

6. Please list/describe how your graduate students contribute to your discipline/academic area? Consider the following questions:

It is important to note that the School of Travel industry Management is a professional program.  Many students when they graduate proceed immediately to work for both the industry and the public Sector.  A small percentage of the graduates go on to Ph.D. studies.  Students who write a thesis and elect to go on to Ph.D. studies often publish their work in many instances in cooperation with faculty members.  Graduate students are encouraged to present their work at professional conferences and increasingly students are electing to present their research for peer review.

7. What attempts are made to monitor student post-graduate professional activities?

The administration works closely with the graduates in order to determine how effective the skill and knowledge that that has been provided to them helps them to meet their job requirements.

8. How were the assessment data/results used to inform decisions concerning the curriculum and administration of the program?

Input from graduate students through focus groups and town meetings allow the Graduate Chair to better align advising and mentoring activities.  Faculty use comments received through the CAFÉ evaluation process to improve course material, modes of delivery and course content.

 Syllabi are continually reviewed by faculty to ensure course material, content and mode of delivery is most effective and efficient for the program while enhancing program quality.  The graduate faculty meets throughout the academic year to discuss and recommend improvements to the MS program.

Both the TedQual certification and the ACPHA accreditation process assure the quality of the program and assist in quality improvements.  The School is accredited through 2007 by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA), and has earned the TedQual (Tourism Education Quality) certificate designation by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). Annual progress reports and self-study requirements help the school to align curriculum and operations to be effective and efficient. 

Feedback from the Advisory Council is taken into consideration when evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum in meeting the stated learning objectives.  The Advisory Council provides the School with invaluable insight into the skills and ability of the graduate students through their interaction via internships and career placement upon graduation.