Unit: Natural Resources & Environmental Management
Program: Natural Resources & Environmental Mgt (BS)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Thu Oct 01, 2009 - 2:46:24 pm

1) List your program's student learning outcomes (SLOs).

NREM has 5 student learning outcome (SLO) objectives: #1 develop positive personal and work-related skills through contact and interaction with role models, class (individual and team) projects, and participation in extracurricular activities; #2 demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills through technical reports and class presentations in each of the 300-400 level core NREM courses; #3 broaden social perspectives through exposure to diverse culture and thinking in course work, service projects, and departmental or college seminars; #4 ability to explain the ecological processes and relationships that determine given environmental conditions in core course assignments; #5 demonstrate technical competencies in natural resource management, develop and implement solutions to real-world problems in integrative core course projects and extracurricular/service-learning activities.

2) Where are your program's SLOs published?

Department Website URL: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/nrem/academics/undergrad.html
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:
Other:

3) Upload your program's current curriculum map(s) as a PDF.

Curriculum Map File(s) from 2009:

4) What percentage of courses have the course SLOs explicitly stated on the course syllabus, department website, or other publicly available document? (Check one)

0%
1-50%
51-80%
81-99%
100%

5) State the SLO(s) that was Assessed, Targeted, or Studied

All five SLOs were assessed.

6) State the Assessment Question(s) and/or Goal(s) of Assessment Activity

The goal is to determine whether the SLOs are being achieved.  The program has adopted a common goal of 75% for each SLO as measured by scaled indicators.

7) State the Type(s) of Evidence Gathered

NREM uses 9 quantitative indicators to measure student performance: grades in introductory science courses, scores on internship term paper and final presentation, employer ratings of intern work performance and job-related personal skills, scores on capstone final paper and oral presentation, and positive responses to selected questions from the college’s exit survey of graduating students.  Qualitative information includes employer comments about student interns.  Quantitative data from the last three academic years are combined to obtain sufficient observations for statistically valid averages and percentages of the indicators.  Indicator statistics are proportionally scaled on 0-100 percent basis, then averaged for a given SLO to evaluate results against the 75% goal.

8) State How the Evidence was Interpreted, Evaluated, or Analyzed

Data are compiled in a spreadsheet and summary statistics computed.  The NREM undergraduate committee meets to review the data, comparing outcomes with the previous year’s results and the overall goal.  Separate components of an indicator may be assessed to better understand the results.  Qualitative information is also reviewed.  The committee interprets the results and develops an overall assessment.  As needed, faculty who teach core courses may assist the committee with its interpretation.

9) State How Many Pieces of Evidence Were Collected

Sample sizes for quantitative indicators: introductory science grades N=115, internship paper N=38 and final presentation N=39, internship employer ratings for work performance N=37 and job-related personal skills N=35, capstone final paper and oral presentation N=42, and student exit survey N=33.  Written comments by employers of N=8 student interns from the last academic year were reviewed.

10) Summarize the Actual Results

Average of scaled indicators: SLO #1 77%, SLO #2 83%, SLO #3 79%, SLO #4 72%, SLO #5 83%.  Internship employers were unanimous in their positive evaluations of student interns.

11) Briefly Describe the Distribution and Discussion of Results

The NREM undergraduate program committee summarizes assessment results, which are submitted to the department chair and circulated to NREM faculty.  The findings are discussed in department meetings and individual consultations with instructors.

12) Describe Conclusions and Discoveries

The program currently meets standards for 4 of 5 SLOs; the one unmet standard for introductory science courses is only 3% points off from the target.  Student difficulties in introductory science are apparently overcome by junior year, where internship indicators are all very high.  Despite high ratings for job-related training, student self assessment is comparatively low for some personal characteristics

13) Use of Results/Program Modifications: State How the Program Used the Results --or-- Explain Planned Use of Results

The undergraduate committee is investigating opportunities for a student club, annual award, and community service to raise student self confidence, independence, and leadership skills.

14) Reflect on the Assessment Process

Employer evaluations of student interns continue to show excellence - straight A’s for overall performance in the last academic year.  Senior students now produce scientific posters as part of their capstone research.  The undergraduate committee will seek external reviewers for the capstone posters.

15) Other Important Information

 

16) FOR DISTANCE PROGRAMS ONLY: Explain how your program/department has adapted its assessment of student learning in the on-campus program to assess student learning in the distance education program.

17) FOR DISTANCE PROGRAMS ONLY: Summarize the actual student learning assessment results that compare the achievement of students in the on-campus program to students in the distance education program.