Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Assessment Report, 2013-2014

CLASS, Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Assessment Identifiers

College / School
CLASS

Department
Political Science and Public Affairs

Program / Major / Certificate
Homeland Security and Emergency Program

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Terri Clay
Norbert Chandler

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan? Yes

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Terri Clay

Program Mission Statement

The Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) program uses an interdisciplinary approach, preparing students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to leverage and coordinate the full range of capacity and resources to improve outcomes in a disaster – whether natural or human-caused. The program offers students knowledge specific to different types and causes of disaster, lessons from past disasters, and both comprehensive and hazard-specific practices that lead to effective prevention, protection, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan?

PSLOs

HSEM Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will analyze and explain natural and human-caused threats to people and property, including potential impacts, challenges, and approaches related to socioeconomic and cultural factors.

2. Students will apply oral and written English language communication skills, including the ability to think critically and to develop, organize and present concepts, factual information/data, and analysis.

3. Students will analyze policy and synthesize information across key subject areas including: critical infrastructure protection, planning and incident management, interagency coordination, intelligence analysis and sharing, and legal, constitutional, policy, and ethical issues.

4. Students will conduct research and present in a scholarly form, applying information literacy, including identification and organization of relevant materials using library research and information search technologies.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2013-2014 – 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 analyze and explain natural and human-caused threats to people and property, including potential impacts, challenges, and approaches related to socioeconomic and cultural factors.	Spring 2014	Clay	HSEM 3140 Diversity Issues in HSEM	Final research paper - HSEM writing rubric	75% of students achieve 70% or better	TARGET NOT MET 61% passed the supporting assignment.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will create clearer expectations for the project and stronger guidance for meeting assignment due dates.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students will apply oral and written English language communication skills, including the ability to think critically and to develop, organize and present concepts, factual information/data, and analysis.	Spring 2014	Chandler	HSEM 3840 Effective HSEM Communication & Leadership	Leadership oral and graphic presentation - HSEM presentation rubric	75% of students achieve 70% or better	TARGET MET 93% passed the supporting assignment.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue to support student preparation and participation.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Students will analyze policy and synthesize information across key subject areas including: critical infrastructure protection, planning and incident management, interagency coordination, intelligence analysis and sharing, and legal, constitutional, policy, and ethical issues.	Fall 2013	Clay	HSEM 3110 Politics & Policies of HSEM	Final policy paper assignment - HSEM writing rubric	75% of students achieve 70% or better	TARGET 1 NOT MET 60% passed the supporting assignment. Generally those not passing did not submit a final paper.	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGET 1: The program will create clearer expectations for the project and stronger guidance for meeting assignment due dates. TARGET 2: The program will continue to support student preparation and participation.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Spring 2014	Bentley	HSEM 3120 Laws & Ethics in HSEM	Final research paper - HSEM writing rubric	75% of students achieve 70% or better	TARGET MET 83% passed the supporting assignment.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Students will conduct research and present in a scholarly form, applying information literacy, including identification and organization of relevant materials using library research and information search technologies.	Fall 2013 & Spring 2014	Clay	HSEM 4901 Senior Capstone Seminar	Final capstone paper - HSEM Capstone rubric	75% of students achieve 70% or better	TARGET NOT MET 70% passed the supporting assignment.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue to support student preparation and participation.

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 student internship opportunities	Attend meetings and functions by HSEM professional stakeholders	Number of interactions with HSEM stakeholders yearly yielding internship opportunities	2 interactions/ internships yearly	TARGET MET New internships: U.S. Attorney�s Office, Garden City PD, Savannah Airport Commission, CrimeStoppers of Savannah Target exceeded by 2 internships.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue to utilize new internship opportunities for student experience and placement.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase student enrollment	Perform enrollment outreach to high schools, colleges and HSEM professionals	Blackboard Analytics database	10% increase per year	TARGET MET Fall 2012 Enrollment = 118; Fall 2013 Enrollment = 137 16% increase reached	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Enrollment and graduation rate increased yearly within the program. Continued outreach will be performed.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase student enrollment for nontraditional students	Adjust course scheduling to enable nontraditional access to evening classes	Evening class size in Banner data base	Evening Class sizes over 10 enrollment with 50% nontraditional students	TARGET NOT MET Nontraditional enrollment = 21%	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue night classes with yearly review.