Unit: Pacific & Asian Studies, School of
Program: Student Services/Advising
Date: Fri Oct 12, 2012 - 10:04:25 am

1) Below are your program's student outcomes (SOs). Please add or update as needed.

The Asian Studies undergraduate program provides the student with a broad interdisciplinary approach to Asian national and cultures. Upon receiving an area studies degree, the student should have the following skills:

  1. Students possess basic skills in at least 1 Asian language. Demonstrate college-level fluency in reading, writing, speaking at basic and intermediate levels.
  2. Students can demonstrate a basic understanding of the interrelationship of economy, politics, literature, religion, the arts, history of Asian countries.
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of major themes in Asian history and cultural development.
    2. Be able to explain how Asian Studies is constituted in the West.
    3. Be able to explain the ways in which global forces have interacted with the Asian regional context in shaping the character and course of societies in Asia today.
  3. Students can demonstrate an advanced understanding of two Asian countries or regions (example: Japan(country) Southeast Asia(region)
    1. Be able to explain Asian world views
    2. Be able to explain intra-Asian as well as West vs Asia differences
    3. Be able to analyze and interpret specific issues in research projects
  4. Students can find and evaluate sources of information about Asia
    1. Be able to use the library to find appropriate sources of information for a research project
    2. Be able to evaluate the probable quality sources found on the web
  5. Students conduct and communicate research findings
    1. Be able to outline, organize and present a research project
    2. Be able to design and deliver a presentation that communicates key findings of their research
  6. Students gain a greater appreciation of the variety of human experience.
    1. Make students open to different and creative ways of seeing the world.
    2. Foster a spirit of inquiry so that received mainstream knowledge is never accepted uncritically.

2) Your program's SOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.

Program's Website. URL: website currently being reconstructed to make SLO's easier to find.
Student Handbook. URL, if available online:
Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure. URL, if available online:
UHM Catalog. Page Number: Page 312-313
Other: postcard passed out at fairs
Other:

3) Provide the program's activity map or other graphic that illustrates how program activities/services align with program student outcomes. Please upload it as a PDF.

No map submitted.

4) Did your program engage in any program assessment activities between June 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012? (e.g., establishing/revising outcomes, aligning activities to outcomes, collecting evidence, interpreting evidence, using results, revising the assessment plan, creating surveys, etc.)

Yes
No (skip to question 14)

5) For the period June 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the student outcomes that were targeted, if applicable.

We continue to conduct exit interviews with both our BA and MA candidates to help us reassess our curriculum requirements, course relevance as well as to re-examine shortfalls in curriculum that may delay students in completing their educational goals. Exit interviews and classroom surveys helped us to identify shortfalls in Korea as well as South Asia courses throughout disciplines at UH Manoa.  These shortfalls helped to guide decision making when hiring new instructors and designing topics driven courses.

Asian Studies is a multidisciplinary degree program and our students are able to select courses from various disciplines to complete their major requirements.  Student feedback helps formulate future course offerings and eliminate courses that are not effective in meeting student expectations or departmental goals.  

Mandatory advising is key for our majors helping us to enforce the pre-requisite of ASAN 201/202 for all incoming majors.  Asian Studies faculty have noted that majors who fulfill the ASAN 201/202 pre-requisite before enrolling in 300/400 level Asian Studies classes, tend to perform better in classes.    Mandatory advising for all our majors also allows us to gauge incoming student interests in terms of area study and disciplines and enhances our flexibility in course offerings.

Student feedback aids the program in assessing the cohesiveness in our course progression as well as relevance.

6) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #5.

Student surveys are administered in all Asian Studies courses.  Students are asked to rate the course as well as the instructor.  Exit questionaires are administered to all students finishing both the BA and MA programs at the time of their graduation check.  There is also a face to face exit interview in which students are asked about their experience in the program, things they would have done differently, pros/cons as well as their future plans.  

Exit interviews with BA candidates revealed that there was an interest in doing honors programs under Asian Studies.  The program has a disproportionate number of Phi Beta Kappa nominees relative to our student population.  These students however are unable to graduate with honors because they must be in the actual honors program.  Due to student and faculty interest, we have explored collaboration with the honors program and currently have a course being considered for honors designation by a faculty member.

Exit interviews with MA candidates have shown that many not pursuing a PhD were interested in more information regarding a career track.  Several were interested in internship programs.  We are currently exploring an internship program with the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.

7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.

Classroom surveys are done at the end of each semester.  Typically, the professor will leave the room while students fill out the surveys.  These are then collected by a student and turned into the departmental secretary and not the professors.

Exit surveys can be turned in via hard copy or by email.  We generally have between 12 and 15 students completing their BA program each semester and each of these students are polled during their graduation check regarding their experiences and recommendations for the program.  The same is done for our MA candidates, generally between 8 and 10 each semester.

8) Who interpreted or analyzed the evidence that was collected? Check all that apply.

Program faculty/staff member(s)
Faculty/staff committee
Ad hoc faculty/staff group
Director or department chairperson
Persons or organization outside the university
Students (graduate or undergraduate)
Dean or Associate Dean
Advisory Board
Other: Graduate Chair for MA students

9) How did he/she/they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? Check all that apply.

Compiled survey results
Used quantitative methods on student data (e.g., grades, participation rates) or other numeric data
Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, or other open-ended response data
Scored exams/tests/quizzes
Used a rubric or scoring guide
Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used)
External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., Social Science Research Institute)
Other:

10) For the assessment questions/goals stated in Question #5, summarize the actual results.

As in past years, many of the students completing the BA program exceed the 4 semester requirement for an Asian language.  A majority of the students have done either an International Exchange or Study Abroad program in the country of their focus.  In addition, students who do these programs express  strong desire to return to these countries.  Those who do Japan or Korea programs also apply for either the JET or EPIK programs after graduation.

Several of our students graduate with a concurrent degree or an additional minor.  Students appreciate the ability to diversify into other disciplines in order to complete their major requirements.  Asian Studies has a high upper division credit requirement.  The majority of our students did not feel this was a burdensome requirement with many stating that it pushed them to work at a higher level and prepared them for graduate work.  Mandatory advising helps to keep these students on track and several have finished within four years despite the upper division credit requirement.

MA students not pursuing a PhD program have expressed a desire to have a career track within Asian Studies that encompasses an internship program.  We are currently exploring these options with the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.  

11) What was learned from the results?

The exit interviews and advising sessions with students enable us to identify short falls in course offerings.  It helped us to identify the lack of Korean and South Asian courses.  As a result, the program has worked with various departments to increase course offerings with a Korea focus.  The addition of Hindi and Urdu languages has opened the discussion with Center for South Asian Studies in identifying South Asia related courses currently at UHM as well as the development of additional courses.

Again, student comments have resulted in our constant examination of our course progression and cohesiveness.  Professors examine their own courses for relevance and content.  Those teaching undergraduate courses have responded to student desire for more HAP, O, E and WI courses within the Asian Studies offerings by reworking their courses to fit these designations.

In addition, we found that both our undergraduates and graduate students had a strong desire to connect with their peers in the program.  The undergraduates now have an Asian Studies Club and the graduate students are also discussing the possibility of an informal monthly gathering of graduates within the school itself.  The School of Pacific and Asian Studies does host a graduate conference and undergraduates are encouraged to participate as volunteers as well as attend the panel discussions.

12) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.

Data is used to create new courses or eliminate others.

Data is used to enhance the flexibility of course offerings such as the topics driven courses (ASAN 491 and ASAN 620).

Needed courses are provided by visiting faculty supported by endowed Chairs or external funding such as the U.S. Dept. of Education and other grants when possible.

Data is used to streamline the administration of minors and area certificates.

Enhances advising of graduate students by crafting a better program that includes the use of courses and seminars found in other departments and programs within the University.

13) Reflect on the assessment process. Is there anything related to assessment procedures your program would do differently next time? What went well?

The assessment process is an aid in examining our practices and programs.  Student comments push us to provide a better learning environment for our students.  Examining mandatory advising and proactive advising for students in danger of probation or suspension often helps the student towards  a more successful university career.  

14) If the program did not engage in assessment activities, please explain.
Or, if the program did engage in assessment activities, please add any other important information here.

none