Degree Program Assessment Reports : View Reports

Unit: Mathematics
Program: Mathematics (PhD)
Degree: Doctorate
Date: Tue Nov 07, 2017 - 2:37:57 pm

1) Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs) and Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

1. Mastery of graduate level mathematics in core areas including at least 2 of analysis, algebra, topology, applied mathematics.

(1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge in one or more general subject areas related to, but not confined to, a specific area of interest.)

2. Familiarity with the breadth of modern mathematics, by successful completion of a range of advanced courses.

(1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge in one or more general subject areas related to, but not confined to, a specific area of interest.)

3. Deep knowledge of a specific area of specialization.

(1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge in one or more general subject areas related to, but not confined to, a specific area of interest.)

4. Ability to accomplish significant mathematical research.

(2. Demonstrate understanding of research methodology and techniques specific to one’s field of study., 3. Apply research methodology and/or scholarly inquiry techniques specific to one’s field of study., 4. Critically analyze, synthesize, and utilize information and data related to one’s field of study., 6. Conduct research or projects as a responsible and ethical professional, including consideration of and respect for other cultural perspectives.)

5. Ability to write professional quality mathematics.

(3. Apply research methodology and/or scholarly inquiry techniques specific to one’s field of study., 4. Critically analyze, synthesize, and utilize information and data related to one’s field of study., 5. Proficiently communicate and disseminate information in a manner relevant to the field and intended audience.)

6. Ability to present advanced research mathematics to a mathematics audience.

(5. Proficiently communicate and disseminate information in a manner relevant to the field and intended audience., 7. Interact professionally with others.)

7. Ability to learn advanced mathematics independently.

(2. Demonstrate understanding of research methodology and techniques specific to one’s field of study., 4. Critically analyze, synthesize, and utilize information and data related to one’s field of study.)

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

Department Website URL: http://math.hawaii.edu/wordpress/requirements-for-the-phd-in-mathematics/

Student Handbook. URL, if available online:

Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online:

UHM Catalog. Page Number:

Course Syllabi. URL, if available online:

Other:

3) Please review, add, replace, or delete the existing curriculum map.

Curriculum Map File(s) from 2017:

File (03/16/2020)

4) For your program, the percentage of courses that have course SLOs explicitly stated on the syllabus, a website, or other publicly available document is as follows. Please update as needed.

1-50%

51-80%

81-99%

100%

5) Did your program engage in any program learning assessment activities between June 1, 2015 and October 31, 2017?

Yes

No (skip to question 16)

6) What best describes the program-level learning assessment activities that took place for the period June 1, 2015 to October 31, 2017? (Check all that apply.)

Create/modify/discuss program learning assessment procedures (e.g., SLOs, curriculum map, mechanism to collect student work, rubric, survey)

Collect/evaluate student work/performance to determine SLO achievement

Collect/analyze student self-reports of SLO achievement via surveys, interviews, or focus groups

Use assessment results to make programmatic decisions (e.g., change course content or pedagogy, design new course, hiring)

Investigate curriculum coherence. This includes investigating how well courses address the SLOs, course sequencing and adequacy, the effect of pre-requisites on learning achievement.

Investigate other pressing issue related to student learning achievement for the program (explain in question 7)

Other:

7) Briefly explain the assessment activities that took place in the last 28 months.

The Department has undertaken a review of SLOs and student assesment.

The Graduate Committee of the department has analysized previous qualfying exam results. They have also collected feedback on student oral presentatio, both comprehensive exam presentation and thesis defenses.

This has resulted in changes in the course structure, new qualifying exams and comprehensive exam protocols.

8) What types of evidence did the program use as part of the assessment activities checked in question 6? (Check all that apply.)

Artistic exhibition/performance

Assignment/exam/paper completed as part of regular coursework and used for program-level assessment

Capstone work product (e.g., written project or non-thesis paper)

Exam created by an external organization (e.g., professional association for licensure)

Exit exam created by the program

IRB approval of research

Oral performance (oral defense, oral presentation, conference presentation)

Portfolio of student work

Publication or grant proposal

Qualifying exam or comprehensive exam for program-level assessment in addition to individual student evaluation (graduate level only)

Supervisor or employer evaluation of student performance outside the classroom (internship, clinical, practicum)

Thesis or dissertation used for program-level assessment in addition to individual student evaluation

Alumni survey that contains self-reports of SLO achievement

Employer meetings/discussions/survey/interview of student SLO achievement

Interviews or focus groups that contain self-reports of SLO achievement

Student reflective writing assignment (essay, journal entry, self-assessment) on their SLO achievement.

Student surveys that contain self-reports of SLO achievement

Assessment-related such as assessment plan, SLOs, curriculum map, etc.

Program or course materials (syllabi, assignments, requirements, etc.)

Other 1:

Other 2:

9) State the number of students (or persons) who submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.

30 Almost all current PhD students were used. We considered qualifying results (as a group) and individual thesis/orals.

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

Course instructor(s)

Faculty committee

Ad hoc faculty group

Department chairperson

Persons or organization outside the university

Faculty advisor

Advisors (in student support services)

Students (graduate or undergraduate)

Dean/Director

Other:

11) How did they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? (Check all that apply.)

Used a rubric or scoring guide

Scored exams/tests/quizzes

Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used)

Compiled survey results

Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, open-ended response data

External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., external organization administered and scored the nursing licensing exam)

Other:

12) Summarize the results of the assessment activities checked in question 6. For example, report the percent of students who achieved each SLO.

It was determined the (former) system of Qualifying exams was not appropriate. While it aligned with old SLOs, those SLOs needed to be changed to be in line with the growth of the mathematics discipline.

A new system was implemented. New SLOs were written and new qualfying exam structure was implemented.

13) What best describes how the program used the results? (Check all that apply.)

Assessment procedure changes (SLOs, curriculum map, rubrics, evidence collected, sampling, communications with faculty, etc.)

Course changes (course content, pedagogy, courses offered, new course, pre-requisites, requirements)

Personnel or resource allocation changes

Program policy changes (e.g., admissions requirements, student probation policies, common course evaluation form)

Students' out-of-course experience changes (advising, co-curricular experiences, program website, program handbook, brown-bag lunches, workshops)

Celebration of student success!

Results indicated no action needed because students met expectations

Use is pending (typical reasons: insufficient number of students in population, evidence not evaluated or interpreted yet, faculty discussions continue)

Other:

14) Please briefly describe how the program used the results.

Progam instituted new qualifying exam proceedures that are more in line with the expansion of the discipline.

15) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries? This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, and great achievements regarding program assessment in this reporting period.

New system of course/ qualifying exams will be monitored in the coming years.

1) Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs) and Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

1. Mastery of graduate level mathematics in core areas including at least 2 of analysis, algebra, topology, applied mathematics.

2. Familiarity with the breadth of modern mathematics, by successful completion of a range of advanced courses.

3. Deep knowledge of a specific area of specialization.

4. Ability to accomplish significant mathematical research.

5. Ability to write professional quality mathematics.

6. Ability to present advanced research mathematics to a mathematics audience.

7. Ability to learn advanced mathematics independently.

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

3) Please review, add, replace, or delete the existing curriculum map.

4) For your program, the percentage of courses that have course SLOs explicitly stated on the syllabus, a website, or other publicly available document is as follows. Please update as needed.

5) Did your program engage in any program learning assessment activities between June 1, 2015 and October 31, 2017?

6) What best describes the program-level learning assessment activities that took place for the period June 1, 2015 to October 31, 2017? (Check all that apply.)

7) Briefly explain the assessment activities that took place in the last 28 months.

8) What types of evidence did the program use as part of the assessment activities checked in question 6? (Check all that apply.)

9) State the number of students (or persons) who submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.

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

11) How did they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? (Check all that apply.)

12) Summarize the results of the assessment activities checked in question 6. For example, report the percent of students who achieved each SLO.

13) What best describes how the program used the results? (Check all that apply.)

14) Please briefly describe how the program used the results.

15) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries? This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, and great achievements regarding program assessment in this reporting period.

16) If the program did not engage in assessment activities, please explain.