CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATION REPORT
Planning and Review Committee Consultant
Recommendation
I.
Degree: MS Risk Control
Date of Review: Feb 2015
Program Director: Dr. Elbert Sorrell
PRC Consultant(s):
Gundala, Raghava; Loizides, Georgios; Ogden, Mitchell; Wilson, Marya
Purpose of the Review: To assess the quality of the MS in Risk Control program as part
of the seven-year cycle required of all degree programs at UW–Stout.
Committee Findings: The PRC recommends continuation of this program through the
next scheduled review in 2021 and that the recommendations made by the committee be
implemented.
Abstract: The mission of UW–Stout’s MS degree in Risk Control program is to facilitate
enriching on-campus and off-campus learning experiences which prepare students for
careers that focus on protecting employee safety/health as well as the property, legal,
environmental, material, product, public, time and financial-based assets of
business/industrial entities. The MS in Risk Control started in 1974 (name changed from
MS in Safety in 1994) to address a professional need for well-trained graduates. The
program manages a broad curriculum that includes lab-based courses.
II.
Process Followed for Current Review:
The PRC consultants met with the program director several times during the process to
review the procedures and offer assistance. Data regarding several aspects of the
program were collected from students, key instructors within and outside the department,
and program advisory committee members through surveys.
III.
Previous Review Year 2008-2009
Recommendations for the Program Director
Share survey results regarding instructor and student concerns about relevant industrialhygiene based department members to the Chemistry Department Chair. Support the
Chemistry Department Chair’s efforts to resolve these concerns.
Response from the Program Director
The Program Director will meet with the Chemistry Department Chair and the applicable
faculty for the purpose of identifying teaching strategies that will improve the students’
perceptions of how the industrial hygiene courses are structured/delivered.
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Assess the viability of industrial hygiene concentration within the program. Explore
alternative areas of concentration to meet demands of prospective employers, such as
security.
Response from the Program Director
The Program Director will assess the potential/need for the various specialty tracks (i.e.,
industrial hygiene and/or security) which could be as concentrations in the program. As a
result of work with a core risk control faculty member, the subject area of security was
successfully integrated into the RC-595 Emergency Preparedness and Response course
during the late spring of 2008. Content specific integration in this course will continue in
the future.
Explore potential of offsite and online delivery to reach non-traditional off campus
students.
Response from the Program Director
The Program Director will work in conjunction with core Risk Control program faculty
to develop and subsequently administer a needs assessment and prospective/current
student survey related to distance education. This survey will help determine the type as
well as extent that distance education can be implemented to serve non-traditional offcampus students.
Pursue funding sources to allow program members the opportunity to take the CCHEST
exam (additional certification may also make program more attractive to prospective
applicants).
Response from the Program Director
The Program Director will work with a core program faculty member to explore utilizing
the CCHEST exam to assess program graduate competencies. In addition, the Program
Director will also work with CTEM Administration to identify and secure funding
sources which will enable the program to utilize this assessment method.
Recommendations for the Department Chair – Department of Operations,
Construction and Management
Focus on laboratory facilities that will not be upgraded as a result of Jarvis Hall Science
Wing addition. Work towards acquiring funding to modify facilities not being upgraded
to be comparable with peer programs.
Response from the Department Chair
The department chair will work with the risk Control faculty to identify the unmet
laboratory needs and identify options for meeting those needs, including on campus
funding and industrial donations.
Pursue funding sources to allow program members the opportunity to take the Council on
Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) exam;
additional certification may also make program more attractive to prospective applicants.
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Response from the Department Chair
The department chair will work with the program director to review the options for
securing this funding through grants, advisory committee and professional organization
support.
Recommendations for the Dean – College of Technology, Engineering, and
Management
Focus on laboratory facilities that will not be upgraded as a result of Jarvis Hall Science
Wing addition. Work towards acquiring funding to modify facilities not being upgraded
to be comparable with peer programs.
Response from the Dean
The dean will request that the department chair work with the Risk Control faculty to
identify unmet risk control laboratory needs. The first step will be to determine
equipment needs for the newly remodeled laboratories. Next, the funding sources will be
identified and selected. Based on the types of expenses, proposals will be prepared to
utilize the campus’ laboratory modifications funds, department capitol equipment budget
and/or external funding sources via industry partners. The goal will be to bring the
laboratories inline with Stout’s polytechnic peer institutions.
Pursue funding sources to allow program members the opportunity to take the Council on
Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) exam;
additional certification may also make program more attractive to prospective applicants.
Response from the Dean
The dean will work with the department chair and program director to locate and pursue
funding sources to support the use of the CCHEST exam as part of the assessment in the
major.
IV.
Current Year Program Review:
Program Strengths-Indicate Source:
 Faculty members are actively involved in multiple professional organizations
representing different specializations in risk control (PD).
 Faculty are recognized as dedicated and knowledgeable with connections to
industry and professional experience (PD, advisory board, students).
 Program provides applied and industry-relevant learning (advisory board,
students).
 Internship program is relevant and enriching (advisory board).
 Program provides good preparation for employment (advisory board, key
instructors).
 Program achieves 100% placement rate with starting annual salaries for graduates
ranging between $57,000 and $70,000. Employment is often secured prior to
graduation (PD).
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Issues of Concern-Indicate Source:
 Laboratory facilities are due for upgrades to support necessary laboratory courses,
requiring funding for up-to-date laboratory facilities (PD, advisory board, key
instructors, students).
 Heavy teaching loads for program faculty (i.e. taking on overloads for
undergraduate classes) may hinder the ability of instructors to conduct research
and to explore other program delivery methods (PD). In particular, the program
has 3 FTEs but about 1.5 FTEs are dedicated to service programs (i.e. the
undergraduate program), leaving 1.5 FTEs as dedicated faculty to deliver the MS
program.
Recommendations for the Program Director:
 Work with the Department Chair and Dean to secure funding for more up-to-date
facilities, including upgrades for laboratory courses.
 Work with the Department Chair and Dean to explore feasible ways to minimize
overload teaching to increase the ability of instructors to conduct research.
 Work with the Department Chair and Dean to investigate other program delivery
methods (remote locations, weekend courses, hybrid courses) that would make the
program accessible to the large potential market.
Recommendations for the Chair of Department of Operations and Management:
 Work with the Program Director and Dean to secure funding for more up-to-date
facilities, including upgrades for laboratory courses.
 Work with the Program Director and Dean to explore feasible ways to minimize
overload teaching to increase the ability of instructors to conduct research.
 Work with the Program Director and Dean to investigate other program delivery
methods (remote locations, weekend courses, hybrid courses) that would make the
program accessible to the large potential market.
Recommendations for the Dean of the College of Management
 Work with the Program Director and Department Chair to secure funding for
more up-to-date facilities, including upgrades for laboratory courses.
 Work with the Program Director and Department Chair to explore feasible ways
to minimize overload teaching to increase the ability of instructors to conduct
research.
 Work with the Program Director and Department Chair to investigate other
program delivery methods (remote locations, weekend courses, hybrid courses)
that would make the program accessible to the large potential market.
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