EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

An evaluation of the outcomes of the assessment process has revealed that upon graduation students are prepared for entry-level positions as clinical dental hygienists. Students are acquiring the knowledge and clinical competencies required to practice dental hygiene as indicated by the high passing rate on written and clinical exams. Student portfolios have demonstrated that students write effectively; over time are able to integrate knowledge and skills and as a result can effectively deliver current, comprehensive dental hygiene care to patients; and demonstrate their understanding of ethical issues related to practice.

Employer and alumni surveys were conducted in 2001. The results support that the program is preparing students for the work world. While the number of respondents was small, the results showed overall satisfaction with graduates with scores of either average or excellent on all skills and competencies to begin practice.

PROGRAM GOALS AND ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES USED TO MEASURE GOALS

INSTRUMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION:

1. Dental Hygiene National Examination: The exam is written and assesses the ability to recall important information from basic biomedical, dental and dental hygiene sciences and the ability to apply such information in a problem solving context.
2. Licensing Board/ Indiana State Dental Board Examination: The state board examination assesses clinical competency in dental hygiene skills.
3. Reaccredidation Review: Reaccredidation site visit evaluated the extent to which programs goals, institutional objectives and approved accreditation standards are met.
4. Alumni Surveys: Surveys evaluate how well the program prepared students for their initial positions in clinical practice.
5. Employer Surveys: Employer surveys evaluate the extent to which employers feel the graduates are prepared for entry level positions in dental offices.
6. Writing Portfolio: Writing portfolios are used to assess how well students achieve the following goals:
--1. Use writing as a means to help students "think through and organize" patient treatment.
--2. Increase student ability to communicate clearly and accurately in writing
--3. Increase the effectiveness of patient treatment.
--4. Help students develop a more global approach to dental hygiene treatment.
--5. Fulfill ADA Accreditation requirements regarding patient assignment, maintenance appointments, and evaluation of the outcome of treatment.

DETAILED ANALYSIS OF DATA

At the end of each year, the student portfolios and the results of licensing examinations are reviewed to determine how well program goals and objectives are being met. When areas of weakness are identified, problems are assessed and prioritized. Then plans are made, timetables set, and resources are allocated to remedy the weakness. Improvement plans are monitored throughout the year.

Assessment data continues to support the success of the Dental Hygiene curriculum in assisting students to reaching the program's goals and objectives. Therefore, there have not been any major changes to the curriculum, but there have been changes in the classroom assessment.

A shift to a competency-based curriculum as mandated by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation Standards has taken place since the last review. Competencies have been developed and have been approved by the full-time faculty, and have been presented to our associate faculty and advisory board.

Stimulated by the shift to a competency based curriculum, faculty members have been engaged in exploring and trying new ways of classroom and clinical assessment. Faculties are moving away from traditional testing to new forms of authentic assessment and performance assessment. While clinical assessment has been successful in helping identifying individual student's skill level, it has been very time consuming. It was also difficult to involve and calibrate part-time faculty who were needed to assist in conducting the clinical assessments. To assist in remediation needs that arise from clinical assessment, one faculty member is now assigned to work with students who do not passed competency exams or whose clinical skills are not at the appropriate level.

Informal feedback from full-time faculty has been very positive in terms of new classroom assess techniques. They are finding out more about student learning and have made alterations in their courses - changing methods of presentation, using technology, and employing new assignments.

The program's first time passing rate on the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam has remained at about 90% or better level, but the overall program average has been below the national average of 85 for several years. We feel as a faculty our average should be at or above the national average. Therefore, the last three years we have focused on improving the curriculum and student board scores. Techniques that are being tried include focusing on course vocabulary; using board type questions on exams, using board type case studies in classes, requiring students to take the mock board exam until they obtain a grade of 75, and reviewing the exam at the American Dental Association Headquarters in Chicago. Our average has gone up each of the last two years. See exhibit.

December 3-5, 2004 were the dates of our on-site accreditation review. The review was very successful, although the site visit team made several recommendations in their draft report. All recommendations have been implemented and the program has received full accreditation for the next seven years, the maximum reporting span.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN

The results provided by the assessment tools show the goals of the program are being achieved. Graduates have been successful in passing the examinations required to become licensed and then employed upon graduation. Feedback from both employers and alumni indicate that graduates are able to provide current and comprehensive care to patients. Many graduates join the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and attend continuing education programs in order to practice their profession at the highest level of clinical and ethical standards.

PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

The Dental Hygiene will again review the annual assessment data and address areas of concern. We will continue to review the clinical competency exams for form, time, and outcomes. And, we will continue to monitor success on the NBDHE.

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