CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATION REPORT
Planning and Review Committee
Consultant Recommendation
I.
Degree: M.S. Operations and Supply Management
Date of Review: 11.07.14
Program Director: Dr. James Keyes
PRC Consultant(s): Dr. Byron Anderson, Dr. Wei Zheng
Purpose of the Review: This review was conducted to assess the quality and status of the
M.S. Operations & Supply Management.
Committee Findings: Recommend continuation of the program through the next program
review cycle.
Abstract: The M.S. Operations & Supply Management program at UW-Stout prepares
students for advanced leadership positions in business and industry. The program can be
completed online or on campus, and is particularly appropriate for people with undergraduate
degrees in such areas as technology, engineering or business. The program is nationally
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) in
2011. The applied focus nature of the program and dedicated faculty strongly contribute to
the steady and increasing enrollment, and high retention, graduation and graduate placement
rates. Previous and current review details follow.
II.
III.
Process Followed for Current Review: The PRC Chair met with the dean, program director
and chair of the primary department to discuss the review process. The PRC consultants also
met with the program director to review the procedures and offer assistance. Under the
guidelines developed by the PRC, information regarding the program was gathered from the
placement office, institutional research, program director, key instructors, program
committee, students and one-year and three-year graduates. The consultants based their
findings on the above and the self-study authored by the program director. The program
director also the Interim Chair of Operations and Management Department presented a
summary of his report to the committee and had an opportunity to express concerns. The
Associate Dean from the College of Management was in attendance and available to answer
questions.
Previous Review Year 2007-2008
Previous Recommendations for Program Director:
1. Pursue inclusion of a financial management course or integration with current coursework.
2. Seek opportunities to include global component/curriculum for program participants.
3. Continue efforts with established cohorts and develop plan to recruit additional students to
program.
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4. Seek classroom facilities with appropriate technology capacities and instructional flexibility.
5. Share students’ course evaluation concerns with faculty in the program.
Response from Program Director:
1. The Business department has agreed to develop a Manufacturing Cost Analysis course for
2008-09 implementation. Key course requirements were collected from the Technology
Management Advisory Committee at the spring 2008 meeting and forwarded to the Business
department. The course will be offered as an elective course. The course will be assessed and
if it meets program objectives, it will be considered as a required course in 2009 or 2010.
2014-15 follow-up PD response:
Developed and implemented BUACT 730, Financial and Cost Analysis in 2010. It is now a
required course in the MS OSM program.
2. Per the recently approved strategic plan, the current global content of the program will be
reviewed in Fall 2008. In 2009, the Program Director will identify possible partnerships with
international universities. By the end of Fall 2009, the goal is to have a global requirement
for all new students in the program.
3. The current plans are to continue operating one cohort at a time, rotating between distance
sites. Per the strategic plan, an expanded marketing plan will begin in 2009, with the goal of
increasing program enrollment to 70 students by Fall 2010. Three avenues for program
growth are more local students, multiple cohorts, or an international partnership.
4. Concerns about classroom facilities are primarily from the distance education cohort
students. As the program returns to distance sites, rooms and facilities will be selected based
on ITV capabilities, room size, television screen size and resolution, and Internet access.
5. There were moderate concerns about course evaluation procedures. It is not clear if this is a
general problem or if it refers to an isolated course. However, these concerns will be shared
with all key faculty members in the program.
Previous Recommendations for Department Chair:
1. Continue level of support for Technology Management Program.
2. Continue support of development of alternative course delivery.
3. Work with Dean to investigate the possibility of increasing program director allocation to
allow more time for recruiting efforts and cohort oversight.
Response from Department Chair:
1. The department will continue to support the Technology Management students, program and
program director.
2. The department will support the assessment and adaptation of instructional technology to
support the delivery of courses in a variety of formats. We will support the procurement of
the necessary technology through the customized instruction funds, as well as provide
professional development opportunities to faculty and staff addressing both the use of
technology and appropriate instructional strategies.
3. The department will support the increasing demand placed on the program director due to
the growth of the distance education population in a number of ways. We will provide an
additional contract for the summer session and continue to support a full time instructional
specialist to share in this load. Further, we will continue to monitor the load and review the
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possibility of the use of an additional graduate assistant or additional program director
contacts for cohort or market development should the demand warrant.
2014-15 follow-up PD response:
The increase of CI students has been significant. The Program Director has had to manage
this within the current .25 release time and without an instructional specialist. The Program
Director does receive a small summer contract that only covers the time needed to process
applications and to respond to prospective students.
With the growth of the program’s population and the additional needs of the CI students that
this model (a 25% release) may not be sustainable in the near future. If the program
continues at the present level or continues to grow there may be the need to increase the
release time to direct the MS OSM program.
However an instructional specialist is not a current need. All of the program courses have
been converted to on-line delivery by the assigned instructors.
Previous Recommendations for Dean:
1. Continue level of support and communicate with relevant Departments/Colleges to assist in
continued program success during the university’s reorganization transition and into the
future.
2. Continue support of development of alternative course delivery.
3. Review program director allocation for possible increase to aid in recruiting and cohort
oversight.
Response from Dean:
1. The college will continue to support the M.S. Technology Management degree program,
especially during the transition and realignment into the new College of Management. The
College of Technology, Engineering & Management’s programs, directors and faculty have
been leaders in the development and delivery of off campus cohort programs.
2. Departments have had to respond to the growing need for distance education delivery of
coursework. Response from the Operations, Construction & Management department has
been very good; numerous courses have been delivered via online, interactive television and
blended formats. Faculty have been provided professional development to enable them the
tools to deliver in a distance format. The new College of Management will continue to serve
as leaders in distance education and provide support to participating faculty.
3. The college regularly monitors program enrollments. As enrollment increases program
directors are provided additional resources as necessary. In the case of the M.S. Technology
Management program, discussions are held periodically with the director to determine the
need for additional release. Support is provided through a distance education instructional
specialist as well as a graduate assistant. As the program continues to grow and new markets
are developed, the release time and support provided to the program director will be
revisited.
IV.
Current Year Program Review
Program Strengths (Sources Indicated)
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1.
National accreditation in 2011 by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and
Programs (ACBSP) (PD report)
2.
Applied focus with at least five impactful experiential learning courses offered (PD report,
advisory board surveys)
3.
Convenient course scheduling allowing program completion on campus or online (PD report)
4.
Competent and experienced faculty (PD report, student and advisory board surveys)
5.
Steady and increasing enrollment (68 active student) particularly after the program revision
in 2011 including a program name change to reflect the market needs (PD report)
6.
Good and promising job market after graduation (PD report, student and advisory board
surveys)
7.
Strong diversity component with higher percentage of minority and international students
than the average of UW-Stout. (PD report)
8.
A unique exchange program with Guangdong University in Guangzhou, China (PD report)
Issues of Concern (Sources Indicated)
1.
Lack of a marketing plan to further grow the enrollment. However, the program should not
be marketed to increase enrollment without filling the open faculty positions in the
Operations and Management department. (PD report)
2.
The need of at least one qualified faculty to support the program growth (PD report)
3.
The lack of writing assistance particularly for international graduate students (PD report,
student survey)
Recommendations to the Program Director
1.
Work with the Chair and Dean to seek a marketing plan via university channels
2.
Work with Dean to seek additional qualified faculty to meet the program growth
3.
Work with Dean to set up a writing assistance program particularly for international graduate
students
Recommendations for the Department Chair
1.
Work with Program Director for a marketing plan with international partners, faculty need,
and the writing assistance for international graduate students
2.
Work with Dean to seek additional qualified faculty to meet the program growth
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Recommendations for the Dean of the College of Management
1.
Work with Program Director for a marketing plan with international partners, faculty need,
and the writing assistance for international graduate students
2.
Work with Department Chair to seek additional qualified faculty to meet the program growth
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