Assurance of Learning
“Eberly AOL”
All College Meeting – January 21, 2009
Prashanth Bharadwaj, Dean’s Associate
Cyndy Strittmatter, Assistant Dean
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Introduce AACSB standards related to
Assurance of Learning “AOL”
Build upon the work that was done by the
Strategic Planning Subcommittee on
Outcomes Assessment
Recognize that Accreditation is a COLLEGEWIDE endeavor
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AACSB International accreditation
represents the highest standard of
achievement for business schools,
worldwide. Institutions that earn
accreditation confirm their commitment to
quality and continuous improvement
through a rigorous and comprehensive peer
review. AACSB International accreditation is
the hallmark of excellence in management
education.
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AACSB International accreditation assures stakeholders
that business schools:
◦ Manage resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant
mission.
◦ Advance business and management knowledge through
faculty scholarship.
◦ Provide high-caliber teaching of quality and current
curricula.
◦ Cultivate meaningful interaction between students and a
qualified faculty.
◦ Produce graduates who have achieved specified learning
goals.
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Started efforts in 1982
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Accreditation Council formed in 1988
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Accreditation Self-Study 1998-1999
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Deferral in 1999-2000
◦ Inadequate scholarship productivity in two departments
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Accredited Spring 2001
◦ Directed to continue efforts to increase scholarly
productivity
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Compile Self-Study in 2009-2010
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Polish Self-Study in early Fall 2010
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Submit to Team in mid Fall 2010
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Complete Evidence Room Fall 2010
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Visit in February 2011
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AOL is assessment
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Move to implement has been underway for past 4-5
years within AACSB
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Efforts have been mixed thus far
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Guideposts are becoming clearer
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Pressure is
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Must have our house in order
ON !!
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The systematic collection, review, and
use of information about educational
programs undertaken for the purpose of
improving student learning and
development (Polomba and Banta, 1999)
“The end goal is continuous
improvement in student learning and
achievement”
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We want high quality business programs!
What do our graduates need in order to
be prepared for the marketplace?
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21 Standards for Business
Accreditation
Standards #15-21 focus on Assurance
of Learning (AOL)
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The school uses well-documented,
systematic processes to develop, monitor,
evaluate, and revise the substance and
delivery of the curricula on learning……..
Requires use of a systematic process for
curriculum management
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…the school specifies learning goals and
demonstrates achievement of learning goals
for key general, management-specific
and/or appropriate discipline specific
knowledge and skills that its students
achieve….
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KEEP IT
SIMPLE !!
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STEP #1 Define learning goals and objectives:
What are the most important things our students should learn in our
program? What are our expectations?
STEP #2: Align curriculum with goals:
Identify how and where they will learn these things.
Where is the best place to determine if our students have achieved our
learning goals/objectives?
STEP #3: Identify instruments and measures and collect, analyze and
disseminate data:
How will we know they have learned them? What direct and indirect
measures can we use?
STEP #4: Use assessment data for continuous improvement:
How will we use this information for continuous improvement?
We must close the loop!
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Must implement AOL Process for each
Program
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Undergraduate majors constitute ONE program
MBA
EMBA
MSIT
Program goals at UG and Grad level may be
similar but they need different assessments
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Follow the process!
Less is More – Don’t overdo it
Keep plan manageable
Not all students must be assessed – must be a valid
sample/representative group
Limit learning goals from 4-8 for each program
Limit learning objectives 2-3 for each learning goal
Assess each goal twice every five years
Distribute assessment among core courses
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Critical Thinkers
Competency in their Discipline
Effective Communications
Effective Decision Makers
Ethical Behavior
Global Perspective
Integrate across disciplines
Knowledge of all business disciplines
Problem Solvers
Team Players
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Step #1
◦ Learning Goal*: We expect our graduates to be able
to communicate effectively upon graduation.
 Learning Objective #1 – They should be able to
produce professional quality written communications
 Learning Objective #2 – They should be able to deliver
professional quality oral presentations
 Learning Objective #3 – They should be able to
demonstrate effective communication skills in a team
setting
* Learning Goals have been previously established by the
SPC
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Step #2
◦ Curriculum Alignment: We will best be able to
measure the achievement of these specific
objectives in:
 BTST 321– They should be able to produce
professional quality written communications
 BTST 321 & MGMT 495 – They should be able to
deliver professional quality oral presentations
 BTST 321 – They should be able to demonstrate
effective communication skills in a team setting
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◦ Program assessment involves evaluation of
student learning across the curriculum
◦ Program assessment is a curriculum function and
hence the responsibility of ALL faculty
◦ Program assessment is not a course function and
hence does not assess a particular course
◦ Program assessment is not about evaluating
faculty
◦ It is about evaluating student learning to assist in
program improvement
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Things that we need to document:
◦ We need to specify the curriculum process
◦ How do we manage our curriculum?
◦ Who is involved?
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