Health Services Management and BA Public Affairs Third Year Review Report

Evaluation Rubric

School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA)
Assessment Report – May 2, 2006
Prepared by Douglas A. Singh

This report pertains to two of the three bachelor’s programs offered in SPEA, the Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management (BSHSM) and the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (BSPA). Since in past years these programs had relatively small enrollments, program assessments were not feasible. Each program now has a critical mass of students, and the first assessment plan for both degrees was formulated in November 2005.   

In both programs, faculty have been involved in laying the programs’ missions and goals. Future progress and sharing of information are foreseen through ongoing discussions during monthly faculty meetings.

BSHSM
In 2005, the two primary faculty teaching in the program established a mission statement and identified educational goals for the degree.
                                                                                               
      Mission Statement

In keeping with SPEA’s overall mission, the BSHSM degree provides basic academic training and furnishes applied skills to prepare students for a variety of entry- to mid-level positions in the vast U.S. health care industry comprising both public and private sectors.

      Educational Goals

Following are the goals for students to achieve by the end of their degree program:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the main concepts and processes of health services delivery.
2. Demonstrate understanding of concepts and skills used in managing health care organizations.
3. Relate management concepts learned in courses to the workplace environment.
4. Understand and apply basic financial management techniques and principles of health economics.
5. Demonstrate competency in oral and written communication.

Assessment Techniques Used

      By mapping the mission and goals across the curriculum, the main course offerings were considered adequate to prepare students for entry- to mid-level management positions in health care. A course-embedded pretest-posttest was used for the first time for H320 (Health Systems Administration) in Fall 2005. Since assessment efforts have just begun, in order to make meaningful recommendations for change, the faculty recognizes that additional assessment techniques need to be employed and data gathered over a period of time.

      Data
    
      The pretest-posttest for H320 included 19 multiple-choice questions. The class scored 35% on the pretest and 63% on the posttest.

BSPA

In the assessment plan submitted in November 2005, the following mission and goals were reported:

      Mission Statement

The BSPA degree provides a liberal arts education with a professional orientation that will empower students as critical thinkers, effective written and oral communicators, and entry level managers in public, nonprofit, and private organizations.

      Educational Goals

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of bureaucratic organizations and service delivery.
2. Demonstrate the ability to analyze public policy issues as they pertain to managing an organization.
3. Relate management concepts learned in the classroom to workplace situations.
4. Exhibit a basic understanding of how bureaucracies are organized and limited, budgeting, public finance, human resource issues, and public law.
5. Demonstrate competency in oral and written communication.

Work in Progress
The BSPA faculty are currently in the process of revising the program mission and goals.

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