There are 4 assessment criteria that control the design of our evaluations:
- formative
- summative
- internal
- external
Combinations of these criteria create the assessment framework in SCOB.
Formative Assessment
Assessments such as standardized final exams in core courses designed by SCOB faculty members are formative internal assessments. Formative assessments (see http://business.troy.edu/Portal/Formative-Assessments.aspx) are administered in core Business courses (currently undergraduate only - graduate to follow) to allow for individual student learning assessment, advising, and program adjustments before students progress through their programs. These assessments help both the students and faculty members to pinpoint problem areas before students are allowed to progress. Standardized formative assessments must be counted as part of the course grade at a level prescribed by the faculty.Program Capstone Assessment
Program/Capstone Assessment
Assessments such as Program Capstone Exams that are designed by faculty members are internal summative assessments. Program capstone assessments (http://business.troy.edu/Portal/Program-Capstone-Assessments.aspx) are administered in the capstone course of each undergraduate Business major (program) to assess the extent to which students internalized the prescribed student learning outcomes of the program. Currently, the graduate capstone exams assess both general program knowledge as well as concentration knowledge. Capstone assessments must be counted as part of the course grade at a level prescribed by the faculty.
Assessments such as program Major Field Tests (MFT) that are bought from third-party providers are external summative assessments. Major Field Test assessments (http://business.troy.edu/Portal/Degree-Capstone-Assessments.aspx) are administered in the capstone course of each degree program (graduate and undergraduate) and are designed to assess the level of knowledge attainment of the program core requirements. MFT assessments must be counted as part of the course grade at a level prescribed by the faculty.
There are two summative assessments being administered at the end of every program, both undergraduate and graduate: the Capstone Exam, developed by the faculty, and the Major Field Test (MFT), developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The ETS MFT allows for benchmarking of SCOB programs to programs at comparable institutions.
Using a combination of assessments allows a rich and deep evaluation of every program offered through Sorrell College of Business. The basic research principle of triangulation is met as more assessments are developed or bought to add to our evaluation plan. Further, additional assessments are made available by Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness, the branch of the University that coordinates activities for annual and strategic planning as well as provides data, statistics, and information to assist in planning and decision making. The information garnered through analysis of the varied assessments is used by the faculty to bring about substantive changes in each program toward improving all programs.