Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
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Western Carolina University
Program Assessment Plan
Master of Entrepreneurship
College of Business
Assessment Plan for 2006-2007
Primary Contact:
Dr. JoAnn C. Carland
Director of the Master of Entrepreneurship Program
carland@email.wcu.edu
828-227-3798
Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Master of Entrepreneurship is to inculcate in graduates an advanced level of
entrepreneurial vision and entrepreneurial will.
Entrepreneurial vision is: 1) the ability to identify entrepreneurial opportunities that exist, those
that represent untapped markets and underserved markets, and those that can be created by
applying existing technologies to new fields and new markets; and, 2) the ability to create
entrepreneurial opportunities through the invention, development and exploitation of entirely
new ideas, products and services, and/or the creation of new industries, infrastructures, and ways
of doing business.
Entrepreneurial will is the self confidence to actually establish and grow entrepreneurial ventures
which is established through the mastery of entrepreneurial skills.
Alignment with the University and College Mission:
The mission of Western Carolina University is to “serve the people of North Carolina” through
“teaching and learning.” The ME program is perfectly aligned with this objective as it employs
teaching and learning to create entrepreneurial development skills and abilities which will serve
program graduates and the region through the economic development which will result.
The mission of the College of Business is to “facilitate student learning for a global business
environment...” and to “provide students with technological expertise, discipline-based
knowledge, and career enhancing skills.” The ME program is less well aligned with this
objective as it does not seek to prepare graduates for employment, but for entrepreneurship. The
ME program is aligned with the COB objective of providing discipline based knowledge and it
does prepare graduates for careers as entrepreneurs.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
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Program Goals and Objectives:
Intended
Learning
Objectives
Be innovative
and creative
thinkers who
will recognize
entrepreneurial
opportunities
and recognize
when
entrepreneurial
opportunities
can be created.
Curricular
Experiences
Direct Methods of
Assessment
Indirect Methods
Of Assessment
Students will
develop an
intermediate level
of creativity
through
completion of Ent
601, Creativity and
Innovation, and
through
completion of the
balance of the
required courses,
each of which will
advance the skill,
will develop an
advanced level of
creativity and
innovation.
Ent 601 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with
creativity and innovation and a term assignment
which consists of a creative project.
We will measure attainment of this objective in
part by requiring graduating ME students to
complete a survey in the capstone course, Ent
660, which addresses, among other things, the
application of creativity and innovation in their
own firms and organizations. The survey will
be administered by the Instructor and results
will be provided to the Program Director.
Ent 675 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with
intellectual property and a term project which
consists of a provisional patent or trademark
application.
Every examination in every course will include
cases which provide an opportunity for the
student to display an innovative or creative
solution.
Ent 660, the capstone course, will require a
research paper which develops a personal
philosophy of entrepreneurial leadership, which
is central to creativity and innovation.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by the
Instructor of the course to evaluate the student’s
progress in demonstrating an advanced level of
creativity and innovation.
The survey will specifically request
information about intellectual property
activities and about new products, services, or
markets.
The Program Director will survey past
graduates of the ME program with the same
instrument every three years.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Create and
establish
successful
entrepreneurial
ventures.
Students will develop a
basic level of skill
through completion of
Ent 620 and Ent 610,
and an intermediate
level of skill through
completion of Ent 640,
and an advanced level
of ability through
completion of Ent 625.
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Ent 620 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which deal
with venture planning.
Ent 610 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which deal
with venture creation and a term project
which requires the development of a vision
statement.
Ent 640 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which deal
with venture creation and a term project
which requires the development of pro formas
for a new venture launch and the
demonstration of the feasibility of that
venture.
Ent 625 will require a term project which
consists of a business plan capable of
supporting the launch of a venture requiring
significant capital investment.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by
the Instructor of the course to evaluate the
student’s progress in demonstrating an
advanced level of ability to create successful
entrepreneurial ventures.
We will measure attainment of this objective
in part by requiring graduating ME students to
complete a survey in the capstone course, Ent
660, which addresses, among other things,
ventures which they have created or expanded
during the course of the program. The survey
will be administered by the Instructor and
results will be provided to the Program
Director.
The survey will specifically request
information about the types of ventures,
number of employees, growth in revenues and
employees over the past year, etc, which the
graduate has launched or with which the
graduate has been involved.
The Program Director will survey past
graduates of the ME program with the same
instrument every three years.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Lead
entrepreneurial
ventures.
Students will develop a
basic level of skill
through completion of
Ent 630 and an
intermediate level of
skill through
completion of Ent 670,
Entrepreneurial
Strategy. Students will
develop an advanced
level of skill through
completion of the
capstone course, Ent
660, Entrepreneurial
Leadership.
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Ent 630 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which deal
with leadership.
Ent 670 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which deal
with leadership.
Ent 660 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which deal
with leadership and a term project which
consists of a capstone research paper which
presents a personal philosophy of
entrepreneurial leadership.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by
the Instructor of the course to evaluate the
student’s progress in demonstrating an
advanced level of ability to create successful
entrepreneurial ventures.
We will measure attainment of this objective
in part by requiring graduating ME students
to complete a survey in the capstone course,
Ent 660, which addresses, among other
things, leadership experiences which they
have demonstrated during the course of the
program. The survey will be administered by
the instructor and results will be provided to
the Program Director.
The survey will specifically request
information about positions held within
entrepreneurial ventures and other
organizations and about activities in which
the graduate has engaged to effectively lead
the people in those organizations.
The Program Director will survey past
graduates of the ME program with the same
instrument every three years.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Develop and
maintain an
ethical culture
within an
entrepreneurial
venture.
Students will develop a
basic level of skill
through completion of
Ent 620 and Ent 630,
and an intermediate
level through
completion of Ent 640,
and an advanced level
of skill through
completion of Ent 670
and Ent 660.
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Ent 620 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with ethics.
Ent 630 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with ethics.
Ent 640 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with ethics,
fraud, and fraud prevention.
Ent 670 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with culture,
culture creation and change.
Ent 660 will require examinations and cases and
Message Board interaction which deal with culture
and ethics and a term project which consists of a
capstone research paper which presents a personal
philosophy of entrepreneurial leadership, the
central aspect of the creation and maintenance of an
ethical culture.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by the
Instructor of the course to evaluate the student’s
progress in demonstrating an advanced level of
ability to create and maintain an ethical culture
within an entrepreneurial venture.
We will measure attainment of this
objective in part by requiring graduating
ME students to complete a survey in the
capstone course, Ent 660, which
addresses, among other things, the
evolution of a personal philosophy of
ethics. The survey will be administered by
the instructor and results will be provided
to the Program Director.
The survey will specifically request
information about instances of fraud or
unethical behavior, steps the graduate took
to deal with such behavior and activities
the graduate employs to maintain an
ethical culture in the venture.
The Program Director will survey past
graduates of the ME program with the
same instrument every three years.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Communicate
effectively with
the internal
constituencies of
an
entrepreneurial
venture,
including
officers,
managers,
employees, and
agents.
Students will develop a
basic level of
communication skill
through completion of
the first course in the
program, Ent 620, and
will progress to an
intermediate level of
skill through
completion of each
additional course in the
program, achieving an
advanced level of skill
in the capstone course,
Ent 660.
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Ent 620, and every course in the program, will
require examinations and cases which require
extensive writing assignments and will require
weekly participation in a Message Board which
also requires extensive writing and interaction
and communication with other students and the
Instructor.
Ent 660 will also require a term project which
consists of a capstone research paper which
presents a personal philosophy of
entrepreneurial leadership, and demonstrates
the ability to communicate that philosophy.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by
the Instructor of the course to evaluate the
student’s progress in demonstrating an
advanced level of ability to communicate
effectively with internal constituencies of an
entrepreneurial venture.
We will measure attainment of this objective in
part by requiring graduating ME students to
complete a survey in the capstone course, Ent
660, which addresses, among other things, the
development of communication skills. The
survey will be administered by the instructor
and results will be provided to the Program
Director.
The survey will specifically request information
about oral and written presentations and
communications with internal constituencies of
ventures and organizations with which the
graduate has been involved during the course of
the program.
The Program Director will survey past graduates
of the ME program with the same instrument
every three years.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Communicate
effectively with
the external
constituencies of
an
entrepreneurial
venture,
including
customers,
investors,
lenders,
suppliers, and
regulatory
agencies.
Students will develop a
basic level of
communication skill
through completion of
the first course in the
program, Ent 620, and
will progress to an
intermediate level of
skill through
completion of each
additional course in the
program, achieving an
advanced level of skill
in the capstone course,
Ent 660.
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Ent 620, and every course in the program,
will require examinations and cases which
require extensive writing assignments and
will require weekly participation in a
Message Board which also requires
extensive writing and interaction and
communication with other students and the
Instructor.
We will measure attainment of this objective in
part by requiring graduating ME students to
complete a survey in the capstone course, Ent 660,
which addresses, among other things, the
development of communication skills. The survey
will be administered by the instructor and results
will be provided to the Program Director.
Ent 625 will require a term project which
consists of a business plan capable of
supporting the launch of a venture requiring
significant capital investment.
The survey will specifically request information
about oral and written presentations and
communications with external constituencies of
ventures and organizations with which the
graduate has been involved during the course of
the program.
Ent 660 will also require a term project
which consists of a capstone research paper
which presents a personal philosophy of
entrepreneurial leadership, and demonstrates
the ability to communicate that philosophy.
The Program Director will survey past graduates
of the ME program with the same instrument
every three years.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by
the Instructor of the course to evaluate the
student’s progress in demonstrating an
advanced level of ability to communicate
effectively with external constituencies of an
entrepreneurial venture.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Build and grow
successful
entrepreneurial
ventures.
Students will develop a
basic level of skill in
building and growing
ventures through
completion of the first
course in the program,
Ent 620, and will
progress to an
intermediate level of
skill through
completion of each
additional course in the
program, achieving an
advanced level of skill
in Ent 650, and
perfecting that skill
through completion of
the remaining courses
in the program.
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Ent 620, and every subsequent course in the
program, will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which
demonstrate the development of the skills
required to build and grow entrepreneurial
ventures.
Ent 650 will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which
demonstrates the development of the skills
required to evaluate the growth and
development of an entrepreneurial venture.
Ent 660 will also require a term project which
consists of a capstone research paper which
presents a personal philosophy of
entrepreneurial leadership, the principal factor
involved in the successful growth of an
entrepreneurial venture.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by
the Instructor of the course to evaluate the
student’s progress in demonstrating an
advanced level of ability to build and grow
entrepreneurial ventures.
We will measure attainment of this objective in
part by requiring graduating ME students to
complete a survey in the capstone course, Ent
660, which addresses, among other things,
ventures which they have built and grown
during the course of the program. The survey
will be administered by the Instructor and
results will be provided to the Program Director.
The survey will specifically request information
about the types of ventures, number of
employees, growth in revenues and employees
over the past year, etc, which the graduate has
built or grown or with which the graduate has
been involved.
The Program Director will survey past graduates
of the ME program with the same instrument
every three years.
Master of Entrepreneurship Assessment Plan
Maintain and
harvest
entrepreneurial
ventures
successfully.
Students will develop a
basic level of skill in
building and growing
ventures through
completion of the first
course in the program,
Ent 620, and will
progress to an
intermediate level of
skill through
completion of each
additional course in the
program, achieving an
advanced level of skill
in Ent 650.
page 9 of 9
Ent 620, and every subsequent course in the
program, will require examinations and cases
and Message Board interaction which
demonstrate the development of the skills
required to maintain an entrepreneurial
venture.
Ent 650 will also require a term project which
consists of a harvesting plan for an
entrepreneurial venture.
Each of these measures will be evaluated by
the Instructor of the course to evaluate the
student’s progress in demonstrating an
advanced level of ability to maintain and
harvest entrepreneurial ventures.
We will measure attainment of this objective in
part by requiring graduating ME students to
complete a survey in the capstone course, Ent
660, which addresses, among other things,
ventures which they have maintained or
harvested during the course of the program. The
survey will be administered by the Instructor
and results will be provided to the Program
Director.
The survey will specifically request information
about the types of ventures, maintenance
strategies, and harvesting plans or activities with
which the graduate has been involved.
The Program Director will survey past graduates
of the ME program with the same instrument
every three years.