Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning

Assessment Report, 2015-2016

CLASS, Urban Planning and Development (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 Science in Urban Studies and Planning

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Dr. Deden Rukmana

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. Deden Rukmana

Program Mission Statement

The Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning (MSUSP) program is committed to preparing graduate students with the knowledge and applied skill-base necessary to excel in the urban studies and planning field.

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

PSLOs

1. Students have knowledge of the city and its regional context as well as an understanding of urban finance, infrastructure, land use, and social and economic conditions.

2. Students understand the history and theory of planning in relation to social and economic structures, including, but not limited to, such characteristics as income, race, ethnicity, and gender.

3. Students understand the contexts in which planning takes place, focusing particularly on enabling legislation, agencies conducting planning or employing planners, and the processes by which plans are made and implemented.

4. Students have the ability to use and apply the planning skills to perform specific tasks required in the practice of planning

5. Students have the ability to apply statistical and Geographic Information Systems, as well as other analytic techniques, to define planning problems, generate alternatives, and evaluate their consequences.

6. Students have the ability to communicate effectively in writing, through public speaking, and by expressing concepts in visual terms.

7. Students have the ability to work effectively as members and leaders of teams, and to apply an understanding of interpersonal and group dynamics to assure effective group action.

8. Students have the basis for becoming ethical practitioners, who are aware of, and responsible for, the way their activities affect and promote important values, including but not limited to:

– Issues of equity, social justice, economic welfare, and efficiency in the use of resources

– The role of government and citizen participation in a democratic society and the balancing of individual and collective rights and interests

– Respect for diversity of views and ideologies

– The conservation of natural resources and of the significant social and cultural heritages embedded in the built environment

– The ethics of professional practice and behavior, including the relationship to clients and the public, and the role of citizens in democratic participation

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2015-2016 – 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 have knowledge of the city and its regional context as well as an understanding of urban finance, infrastructure, land use, social and economic conditions.	Fall 2015	Piatkowski	MSUS 8810 History of American Urbanization	Final paper - PSLO #1 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET NOT MET 14% of the students achieved level 1	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will have to reassess our approach to meeting our goal for PSLO #1 for next cycle.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students understand the history and theory of planning in relation to social and economic structures, including, but not limited to, such characteristics as income, race, ethnicity and gender.	Fall 2015	Rukmana	MSUS 8830 Introduction of Planning	Final paper - PSLO #2 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET NOT MET 25% of the students achieved level 1	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: We will have to reassess our approach to meeting our goal for PSLO #2 for next cycle.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Students understand the contexts in which planning takes place, focusing particularly on enabling legislation, agencies conducting planning or employing planners and the processes by which plans are made and implemented.	Fall 2015	Rukmana	MSUS 8830 Introduction of Planning	Final paper - PSLO #3 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET NOT MET 29% of the students achieved level 1	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will have to reassess our approach to meeting our goal for PSLO #3 for next cycle.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Students have the ability to use and apply the planning skills to perform specific tasks required in the practice of planning.	Fall 2015	Rukmana	MSUS 8830 Introduction of Planning	Final paper - PSLO #4 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET NOT MET 38% of the students achieved level 1	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: We will have to reassess our approach to meeting our goal for PSLO #4 for next cycle.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	5. Students have the ability to apply statistical and geographic information systems, as well as other analytic techniques, to define planning problems, generate alternatives and evaluate their consequences.	Fall 2015	Roise	MSUS 8840 Application of Urban Information Systems	Final paper - PSLO #5 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET MET 100% scored > level 2	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will continue strategies.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	6. Students have the ability to communicate effectively in writing, through public speaking and by expressing concepts in visual terms.	Fall 2015	Rukmana	MSUS 8830 Introduction of Planning	Final paper - PSLO #6 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET MET 100% scored > level 2	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will continue strategies.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	8. Students have the basis for becoming ethical practitioners, who are aware of, and responsible for, the way their activities affect and promote important values, including but not limited to: issues of equity, social justice, economic welfare and efficiency in the use of resources; the role of government and citizen participation in a democratic society and the balancing of individual and collective rights and interests; respect for diversity of views and ideologies; the ethics of professional practice and behavior, including the relationship to clients and the public, and the role of citizens in democratic participation	Fall 2015	Rukmana	MSUS 8830 Introduction of Planning	Final paper - PSLO #8 Rubric	At least 100% of students will score >= level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET NOT MET 50% of the students achieved level 1	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: We will have to reassess our approach to meeting our goal for PSLO #8 for next cycle. We have been unsuccessful with this PSLO twice in the assessment cycle. This will be a priority for 2016-2017.

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	Maintain the number of MSUSP graduates	Ensure all students to matriculate in the courses and complete all assignments	The number of graduates per academic year designated in Blackboard Analytics	Produce 2 graduates from the MSUSP program annually	TARGET MET 2 graduates	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will recruit more new students and ensure their matriculation and retention.
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 pursing minors in Urban Studies and Planning and those majoring in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science and Homeland Security; and c. Recruit students enrolled in Introduction to Planning - POLS 3813, Urban Politics – POLS 3811 and Introduction to GIS – POLS 3702. d. Conduct yearly mailings to students with a certain GRE score in contiguous states, offering them an application fee waiver and quick consideration because of their score	The number of newly enrolled students designated in Blackboard Analytics	Recruit 6 new students to the MSUSP program annually	TARGET MET 7 new students in the 2015/2016 academic year Target exceeded by 1 student.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will keep actively recruiting new students.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Host the Fourth Annual Urban Planning Conference	Coordinate with the city of Savannah and Savannah State University to plan the event	Publicity materials, registration rosters	Host the conference	TARGET MET The Fourth Annual Urban Planning Conference was held on April 1-2, 2016	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will make a plan for the fifth annual Urban Planning Conference.