Master of Public Administration

Assessment Report, 2014-2015

CLASS, Public Administration (Masters)

Assessment Identifiers

College / School:
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Department:
Department of Political Science and Public Affairs

Program / Major / Certificate:
Master of Public Administration program

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Dr. Otilia Iancu

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan?
No

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Dr. Otilia Iancu

Program Mission Statement

The Master of Public Administration program seeks to train individuals to assume management and leadership positions in the public and non-profit sector.

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan?
No

PSLOs

1. Students will be able to apply Public Administration decision‐making techniques to practical problems using construct and theories pertinent to Public Administration.

2. Students will be able to employ appropriate writing techniques to enhance the structure, flow, organization, and development of a major paper and oral defense.

3. Students will be able to apply theories to organizational setting through the use of standards.

4. Students will use their knowledge of standards in Public Administration to assess the extent to which organizations are in compliance

5. Students will be able to formulate appropriate recommendations to address identified shortcomings in organizational practices.

6. Students will demonstrate proficiency in, and conduct scientific inquiry in public administration.

7. Students will augment learning by fusing theoretical concepts in Public Administration with practical real‐world situations.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2014-2015 – Supporting Documents

Assessment Results (PSLOs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PSLO	Semester	Professor	Courses	Assessment Artifacts and Instruments	Target Levels	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	1. Students will be able to apply Public Administration decision-making techniques to practical problems using construct and theories pertinent to Public Administration.	Fall 2014	Mallard	PADM 6850 Information Resource Management	Research Paper & Final Paper - Proficiency Rubric	Target: 80% of students will achieve “Above Average” or higher (3 or 4)	TARGET 1 MET The target was met with 100% performing at the 80% level or higher.	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 &2: Some of the assessment methods were redesigned. For example, the weight of assignments, i.e. short writing assignments, mid-term and final exams and the research paper were restructured. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year. TARGETS 1 & 2: The program will continue with the same methods.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Spring 2015	Bell	PADM 6834 Budgeting and Finance	Memo assignment - Proficiency Rubric		TARGET 2 NOT MET 50% performed at the 80% level or higher.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students will be able to employ appropriate writing techniques to enhance the structure, flow, organization, and development of a major paper and oral defense.	Fall 2014	Iancu	PADM 6832 Organizational Theory and Behavior	Organizational Assessment & Gap Analysis - Proficiency Rubric	Target: 80% of students will achieve “Above Average” or higher (3 or 4).	TARGET MET 100% of students performing at above average or higher.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Even though the target was met, students need better understanding of the writing structure of the assignments.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Students will be able to apply theories to organizational setting through the use of standards.	Fall 2014	Kalantari	PADM 6876 Capstone Seminar in Public Administration	Capstone paper - Proficiency rubric	Target: 80% of students will achieve “Above Average” or higher (3 or 4)	TARGET 1 MET 100% of students achieved at the 100% level.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 & 2: The main change here was that the number of in-class exercises increased. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year. TARGETS 1 & 2: The program will continue with the same methods (increased in-class exercises).
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Spring 2015	Kalantari	PADM 6876 Capstone Seminar in Public Administration	Capstone paper - Proficiency rubric		TARGET 2 MET 90% of the students performed at the level. This means that they exceeded their assigned targets.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	5. Students will be able to formulate appropriate recommendations to address identified shortcomings in organizational standards.	Fall 2014	Smith	PADM 6830 History Scope, and Practice of Public Administration	Memo Assignment - Proficiency Rubric	Target: 80% of students will achieve “Above Average” or higher (3 or 4)	TARGET MET 100% of the students performed at the level. The students demonstrated an ability to critique and analyze organizational structure and processes.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Target met. The program will continue with the same methods.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	6. Students will demonstrate proficiency in, and conduct scientific inquiry in Public Administration.	Fall 2014	Mallard	PADM 6850 Information Resource Management	Research Paper & Final Paper - Proficiency Rubric	Target: 80% of students will achieve “Above Average” or higher (3 or 4).	TARGET MET 100% performing at the 80% level or higher.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Target met. The program will continue with the same methods.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	7. Students will augment learning by fusing theoretical concepts in Public Administration with practical real-world situations.	Fall 2013	Iancu	PADM 6832 Organizational Theory and Behavior	Organizational Assessment & Gap Analysis - Proficiency Rubric	Target: 80% of students will achieve “Above Average” or higher (3 or 4).	TARGET NOT MET 85% of students performing at above average or higher.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Students need better understanding of the writing structure of the assignments.

Assessment Results (POs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase the number of graduating students	Ensure all students matriculate in courses and complete all assignments	Blackboard Analytics data	Produce at least two MPA graduates per year	TARGET MET 4 graduates Target exceeded by 2 graduates.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will continue upholding the standards and job placement in the field within 6 months of graduation.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase enrollment in the program	a. Participate in graduate fairs on campus and at local and regional universities b. Recruit students from Savannah State University by targeting those with majors in Political Science, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Mass Communications and Homeland Security c. Recruit students enrolled in Introduction to Public Administration (POLS 2601), Intro to Public Policy (POLS 4511), Public Personnel Administration (POLS 3501) d. Conduct yearly mailings to students with a certain GPA in contiguous states, offering them an application fee waiver and quick consideration because of their high GPA	Blackboard Analytics data	Recruit 5 new students into the MPA program each year	TARGET NOT MET 3 new students joined the MPA Program during the 2015-2016 academic year Target shortfall was 2 students.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will continue actively recruiting new students through enabling strategies.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Strengthen Standards, Quality, and Visibility of Program	a. Encourage academic engagement and achievement by promoting research, and scholarship through conference attendance and presentations b. Promote scholarship among students in the program by encouraging them to participate in conferences and other academic forums c. Facilitate internships, community projects, and opportunities for hands-on experience for students; invite highly qualified professionals to guest-lecture in classes d. Revamp GAPA (Graduate Association of [students in] Public Administration) e. Organize off-campus events for MPA students	i. The number of faculty presentations in conferences, publications/scholarly activities ii. The number of student academic presentations iii. The number of guest-lectures offered in classes iv. The number of students joining GAPA v. Number of “MPA Family Get-Together” per semester	i. Attending and presenting at conference. ii. At least one student presenting at a conference. iii. At least one guest-lecturer invited to present in a class iv. At least 50% of students enrolled in the MPA Program joining GAPA v. One “MPA Family Get- Together” per semester	TARGET MET Faculty attended and presented in conferences, round tables and seminars Guest-lecturers presented in classes GAPA gained status One “MPA Family Get- Together” per semester was organized and hosted by a MPA faculty member	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will continue improving the quality of program, offering faculty development opportunities, and engaging students in extra-curricular activities.