CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATION REPORT
Planning and Review Committee
Consultant Recommendation
I.
Degree: B.S. Supply Chain Management
Date of Review: 2014-2015
Program Director: Gene Gutman
PRC Consultant(s): Chris Bendel, Loretta Thielman
Purpose of the Review: This review is to assess the quality of the BS SCM program as
part of the on-going review cycle of UW-Stout Programs. As a new program, this is the
program’s first review by the PRC.
Committee Findings: The PRC recommends continuation of this program through the
next scheduled review in 2021-2022.
Abstract: The B.S. in Supply Chain Management was implemented in the Spring 2010
semester, after previously being a concentration within the B.S. in Business
Administration. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to
maximize efficiency in the business supply chain from supplier to consumer. The
program has seen steady growth since its inception and has produced students who are in
high demand for internships and permanent positions upon graduation. Employment
rates have consistently been 100% with average salaries around $50,000. The program
director has provided good leadership and is ensuring that the program is up-to-date. The
program is poised for continued growth, however, work needs to be done to ensure the
necessary course availability for students to graduate in a timely manner.
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III.
Process Followed for Current Review: The PRC consultants met with the program
director to review the procedures and offer assistance. Per the guidelines developed by the
PRC, information regarding the program was collected from the placement office,
institutional research, program director, key instructors, advisory board, students, and
graduates. The consultants based their findings on the above and the self-study report
authored by the program director. The program director presented a summary of his report
to the PRC committee. The consultants then wrote the recommendation report. This report
was forwarded to the dean for his response. The PRC reviewed the dean’s response,
approved the recommendation report, and forwarded the report to the Faculty Senate.
Previous Review Year – None, First Review
Previous Recommendations for Program Director:
Not applicable.
Response from Program Director:
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Not applicable.
Previous Recommendations for Department Chair:
Not applicable.
Response from Department Chair:
Not applicable.
Previous Recommendations for Dean:
Not applicable.
Response from Dean:
Not applicable.
IV.
Current Year Program Review:
Program Strengths (Source Indicated):
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The program has seen steady enrollment growth since its inception. (program
director report)
The program has multiple experiential learning opportunities for students, with all
students completing a co-op. (program director report and advisory board
surveys)
Strong demand for co-op students with high salaries. (program director report)
Graduates are well-prepared and getting high paying jobs; 100% employment
rate. (program director report and advisory board survey)
Good program leadership and program is being kept up-to-date. (faculty, student,
and advisory board surveys)
Challenging program that is attracting high quality students. (program director
report and advisory board survey)
Students can obtain a second major in Business Administration by taking only 12
additional credits. (program director report and program plans)
Issues of Concern (Source Indicated):
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The program is still small and there is opportunity for further growth. (program
director report and advisory board surveys)
Significant growth will necessitate increased staffing. (program director report
and faculty and advisory board surveys)
The program contains several chains of 3, 4, or 5 courses which must be taken in
sequence. It is imperative that students be able to enroll in the initial courses
sufficiently early in their college career to graduate on time. (program director
report and student surveys)
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Coursework needs to provide sufficient depth so that students can succeed in
upper level coursework (particularly the capstone supply chain courses), pass the
APICS exams, and increase their level of performance on co-ops. (program
director report, student and advisory board surveys)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is commonly used in industry.
However, students are not currently exposed to such software in their coursework.
(program director report)
Recommendations for the Program Director:
1. Work with the Dean of the College of Management, the Chair of the Business
Department, and the Chair of the Operations and Management Department to
determine an optimal target size for the program and continue recruitment efforts
to achieve that goal.
2. Work with the Chair of the Business Department and the Chair of the Operations
and Management Department to ensure that sufficient seats in key foundational
courses are available.
3. Work with faculty in the Business Department and the Operations and
Management Department to review “foundations” course content and assessment
of learning objectives to ensure student success in upper level coursework, on the
APICS exams, and on co-ops.
4. Work with the Dean of the College of Management, the Chair of the Business
Department, and the Chair of the Operations and Management Department to
integrate Enterprise Resource Planning software into the relevant curriculum.
Recommendations for the Chair of Department of Business and the Chair of
Department of Operations and Management:
1. Work with the Dean to provide sufficient sections of required courses to meet the
needs of Supply Chain students. This could be achieved by increasing the total
number of sections or by restricting certain sections to certain majors.
2. Work with the program director and department faculty to review “foundations”
course content and assessment of learning objectives to ensure student success in
upper level coursework, on the APICS exams, and on co-ops.
3. Hire additional faculty/staff as needed to meet the needs of continuing program
growth.
4. Work with the Dean to integrate Enterprise Resource Planning software into the
relevant curriculum.
Recommendations for the Dean of the College of Management:
1. Support the program director in increasing program enrollment to the desired
target.
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2. Support department chairs in ensuring that sufficient course offerings in
“foundations” courses are available to meet the needs of students.
3. Support department chairs in hiring additional faculty/staff as needed to support
the growth of the program.
4. Support the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning software into the
relevant college curriculum.
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