PPA Advisory Board
Meeting, May 12, 2006
Assessment Summary
PPA Graduate Themes and
Objectives
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THEME 1. COMMUNICATION.
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Objective 1a. Oral Communication: Students will be able to
present opinions, theories, and research findings orally.
Objective 1b. Writing: Students will be able to produce focused,
coherent, and grammatically correct written communications
applicable to government and nonprofit management.
Objective 1c. Teamwork: Students will be able to collaborate
effectively in team processes.
Objective 1d. Interpersonal: Students will be able to
demonstrate skills in personal interaction.
PPA Graduate Themes and
Objectives
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THEME 2. THE CONTEXT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
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Objective 2a. History: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the
history of public administration.
Objective 2b. Politics: Students will be able to explain how the political
processes of the United States influence public management.
Objective 2c. Theory: Students will be able to explain the key elements
of public administration theory, organizational theory and organizational
behavior.
Objective 2d. Diversity: Students will demonstrate awareness and
sensitivity to a diverse public.
Objective 2e. Careers: Students will understand the careers available in
public administration and how to prepare for them.
PPA Graduate Themes and
Objectives
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THEME 3. CRITICAL THINKING.
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Objective 3a. Theory Application: Students will be able
to apply theories to policy and administrative situations.
Objective 3b. The Scientific Method: Students will be
able to explain the scientific method and apply it to a
policy or management issue.
Objective 3c. Problem Solving: Students will be able to
structure problems and apply a systematic problem
solving approach.
PPA Graduate Themes and
Objectives
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THEME 3. CRITICAL THINKING.
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Objective 3d. Ethical Reasoning: Students will be able to
describe and apply a range of ethical perspectives to ethical
dilemmas inherent in Public Administration.
Objective 3e. Data analysis: Students will demonstrate ability to
analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
Objective 3f. Argumentation: Students will be able to organize
and defend an argument.
Objective 3g. Reporting: Students will integrate the elements of
theory, methods, problem structuring, ethics, analysis, and
argumentation to generate reports usable in government and
nonprofit management.
PPA Graduate Themes and
Objectives
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THEME 4. CORE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES.
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Objective 4a. Policy Process: Students will understand the stages and
processes of policy making.
Objective 4b. Policy Analysis: Students will demonstrate the ability to
formally structure problems, forecast expected policy outcomes,
recommend preferred policies, monitor observed policy outcomes, and
evaluate policy performance.
Objective 4c. Budgeting: Students will be able to develop budgets and
know when to apply which budgeting approaches.
Objective 4d. Human Resources Management: Students will
demonstrate the ability to perform core and strategic human resources
functions.
PPA Graduate Themes and
Objectives
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THEME 4. CORE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
COMPETENCIES.
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Objective 4e. Public Management: Students will be able to
effectively design work, delegate tasks, manage contracts,
assess performance, and implement programs.
Objective 4f. Leadership: Students will be demonstrate an
understanding of human behavior, leadership, and organizational
theory to guide and inform leadership activities.
Objective 4g. Information Technology: Students will be able to
effectively use information technology to accomplish
administrative and policy tasks.
Assessment Procedures
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TEAM-BASED LEARNING
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The Department adopted a team-based, collective
approach to assessment in 2002-2003.
A team structure was chosen in order to facilitate problem
solving, information sharing, and collective learning among
the faculty.
The Department’s team-based outcome assessment
process is cyclical, involving planning meetings, program
implementation, data gathering, and data analysis
meetings.
Assessment Procedures
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OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT PROCESS
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Fall - Planning Meetings - Assessment
Improvements.
Year round - Program Implementation
(teaching, support)- Program Improvements.
Year round - Data gathering
Winter, Spring - Data analysis meetings Feedback
Assessment Activities, 2005-2006
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Since communication and analysis are critical to our MPA model, the
Department chose to examine the following objectives during the
2005-2006 academic year:
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Objective 1a. Oral Communication.
Objective 1b. Writing.
Objective 1c. Teamwork.
Objective 3a. Theory Application.
Objective 3c. Problem Solving.
Objective 3e. Data analysis.
Objective 3f. Argumentation.
Objective 3g. Reporting
Objective 4b. Policy Analysis.
Assessment Activities, 2005-2006
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The Department assessed these objectives during
Winter 2006 in PPA 502, Program Evaluation; PPA
503, The Public Policy-Making Process; and PPA
691, Policy Analysis.
The instructor for these courses developed (with
Departmental input) scoring rubrics for the writing
assignments in PPA 503 and PPA 691 and the
midterm and final test content in PPA 502, PPA
503, and PPA 691.
Assessment Activities, 2005-2006
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Conclusions:
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1a (oral presentation): 90% acceptable standards.
1b (Writing): 80% to 90% acceptable standards.
1c (teamwork): 71% acceptable (NEEDS EXAMINATION BY
DEPARTMENT)
3a (Theory Application): 83% acceptable.
3c (Problem solving): 82% acceptable (culminating project); 98%
acceptable (PPA 503) (PROBLEM STRUCTURING AND
ORGANIZATION NEED HELP IN CULMINATING).
3e (Data analysis) and 3g (Reporting): 94% acceptable.
3f (Argumentation): 86% acceptable (IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST
ASSESSMENT IN 2004)
4b (Policy Analysis): 84% acceptable on exams.