Unit: Public Administration
Program: Public Administration (MPA)
Degree: Master's
Date: Fri Oct 14, 2011 - 2:02:45 pm

1) Below are your program student learning outcomes (SLOs). Please update as needed.

The overarching question for our Program is, "What do people in public service need to know to be effective in their work?"

We have recently revised our SLOs:

  1. Think critically and reflectively, with awareness of diverse perspectives, and employing multiple lenses to analyze public issues.
  2. Effectively communicate one-on-one, in small groups, and in broader arenas.
  3. Work effectively in teams and display leadership skills.
  4. Utilize knowledge of public institutions and processes.
  5. Participate effectively in civic life.

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

Department Website URL:
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: http://www.puba.hawaii.edu/Pages/program/courses.html
Other: Recently adopted SLOs will be posted on our website ASAP.
Other:

3) Below is the link(s) to your program's curriculum map(s). If we do not have your curriculum map, please upload it as a PDF.

Curriculum Map File(s) from 2011:

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.

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

5) For the period June 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.

One of our Masters degree Capstone projects in this period surveyed recent graduates to assess the applicability of stated areas of knowledge and skills, and the effectiveness with which the knowledge and skills were conveyed:

1) The ability to network with community leaders.

2) The ability to facilitate civic engagement at local, state, national, or global levels.

3) The capability for “Committed Openness” with respect to challenging issues or projects.

4) Leadership skills.

5) Problem solving and analytical skills.

6) Technical or “on-the-job” type skills.

7) The ability to have a conceptual understanding of organizational structures and policy processes.

8) Communication and listening skills.

9) The ability to work effectively in groups.

10) The ability to identify, process, and address issues through a multitude of lenses (or perspectives).

11) The ability to act in an ethical manner

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.

Survey of alumni, graduates from 2003 through 2008

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

Thirty-six responses to the survey sent to 127 alumni graduating between 2003 and 2008.

8) 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:

9) 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:

10) For the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goal(s) stated in Question #5:
Summarize the actual results.

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=not at all applicable and 5=very applicable), respondents reported that the ability to address issues from multiple lenses, being able to work effectively in teams, and leadership skills were particularly applicable. "Technical skills" were reported as being less applicable than others. The knowledge and skills reported as being most effectively provided included: the use of multiple lenses, working effectively in groups, and organizational structures and policy processes. Technical skills were reported as the least effectively provided.

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

Results will be used to adjust syllabi of Core Year modules and courses.  Discussion underway about whether/how to implement various mentoring suggestions.

12) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries?
This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, program aspects and so on.

Assessment activities are expected to shift in the future to our recently-revised SLOs.

13) Other important information.
Please note: If the program did not engage in assessment, please explain. If the program created an assessment plan for next year, please give an overview.