Date Received
Fall 2005 Semester Assessment Report Form
DUE March 31, 2006
Directions: Please complete a form for each of the programs within your department. This
form was designed to provide a format for assessment reporting and should not be used to limit
the amount of information provided. Each box that is attached to each of the sections is designed
to adjust to varying lengths. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Bea Babbitt at x51506
or via email at: bea.babbitt@unlv.edu.
***Please submit the report electronically to bea.babbitt@unlv.edu
1. Program Information:
Program BA, BSBA
Department Economics
College Business
Program Ron Cronovich
Assessment
Coordinator
Semester Data Fall 2005
Collected
Report Ron Cronovich
Submitted by
Phone/email 895-3015 roncron@unlv.nevada.edu
Date Submitted October 30, 2006
2. According to the Assessment Plan for this program, what were the planned assessments to be
conducted during the Fall 2005 semester? You may want to copy and paste from this program’s
assessment plan.
Which outcomes for
this program were
measured?
How did you measure
the outcomes?
What results did you expect? If the
students performed well what would their
performance look like, i.e. percentages,
means, or comparisons to a national
standard?
__10__outcomes out of a total of __10__ outcomes evaluated this semester.
1. use supply and
Department final exam On Department final exams, we would
demand analysis
in ECON 102,
expect at least 70% of students to answer
Department final exam questions on this topic correctly.
in ECON 103,
On the ECON 495 rubric, we would
Rubric used to score
expect the modal student to earn a score
performance of seniors of “Satisfactory,” “Above average,” or
in ECON 495
“Excellent.”
2. apply the concept
of opportunity cost
Department final exam
in ECON 102,
Rubric used to score
performance of seniors
in ECON 495
3. use marginal
analysis
Department final exam
in ECON 102,
Rubric used to score
performance of seniors
in ECON 495
4. use the appropriate Department final exam
models to explain
in ECON 102
the behavior of
economic agents in
different market
structures
5. explain the causes
of short-run
fluctuations in
macroeconomic
variables
Department final exam
in ECON 103
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
On the ECON 495 rubric, we would
expect the modal student to earn a score
of “Satisfactory,” “Above average,” or
“Excellent.”
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
On the ECON 495 rubric, we would
expect the modal student to earn a score
of “Satisfactory,” “Above average,” or
“Excellent.”
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
6. explain the
determinants of
long run economic
growth
Department final exam
in ECON 103
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
7. predict the effects
of various microand
macroeconomic
policies using the
appropriate models
Department final exam
in ECON 102,
Department final exam
in ECON 103,
Rubric used to score
performance of seniors
in ECON 495
Rubric used to score
performance of seniors
in ECON 495
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
On the ECON 495 rubric, we would
expect the modal student to earn a score
of “Satisfactory,” “Above average,” or
“Excellent.”
On the ECON 495 rubric, we would
expect the modal student to earn a score
of “Satisfactory,” “Above average,” or
“Excellent.”
9. describe the role
and function of
financial markets,
institutions, and
policies
Department final exam
in ECON 103
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
10. analyze global
economic issues
Department final exam
in ECON 102,
Department final exam
in ECON 103
On Department final exams, we would
expect at least 70% of students to answer
questions on this topic correctly.
8. gather, analyze,
and interpret
economic data
3. Results. What are the results of the planned assessments listed above? Describe below or
attach to the form.
Results
1. use supply and demand analysis
In ECON 495, the modal student’s performance for this learning outcome is rated
“above average.”
On the Department final exam in ECON 102, 52.4% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
2. apply the concept of opportunity cost
In ECON 495, the modal student’s performance for this learning outcome is rated
“above average.”
On the Department final exam in ECON 102, 65.3% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
3. use marginal analysis
In ECON 495, the modal student’s performance for this learning outcome is rated
“above average.”
On the Department final exam in ECON 102, 41.8% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
4. use the appropriate models to explain the behavior of economic agents in different
market structures
On the Department final exam in ECON 102, 41.3% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
5. explain the causes of short-run fluctuations in macroeconomic variables
On the Department final exam in ECON 103, 55.4% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
6. explain the determinants of long run economic growth
On the Department final exam in ECON 103, 53.6% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
7. predict the effects of various micro- and macroeconomic policies using the
appropriate models
In ECON 495, the modal student’s performance for this learning outcome is rated
“above average.”
On the Department final exam in ECON 102, 50.5% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
On the Department final exam in ECON 103, 55.2% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
8. gather, analyze, and interpret economic data
In ECON 495, the modal student’s performance for this learning outcome is rated
“excellent.”
9. describe the role and function of financial markets, institutions, and policies
On the Department final exam in ECON 103, 60.9% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
10. analyze global economic issues
On the Department final exam in ECON 102, 65.2% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
On the Department final exam in ECON 103, 57.3% of students answered
questions on this topic correctly.
4. Conclusions and Discoveries. What conclusions or discoveries were made from these results?
Describe below or attach to the form.
Conclusions and Discoveries
Soon-to-be graduating seniors generally perform well on the learning outcomes we
measure in ECON 495.
The average performance of students enrolled in ECON 102 and 103, which include
mostly non-majors, disappoints, particularly in the following areas:
* use supply and demand analysis (goal #1);
* use marginal analysis (goal #3);
* use the appropriate models to explain the behavior of economic agents in different
market structures (goal #4);
* explain the causes of short-run fluctuations in macroeconomic variables (goal #5);
* explain the determinants of long run economic growth (goal #6); and
* predict the effects of various micro- and macroeconomic policies using the
appropriate models (goal #7).
The majority of students taking ECON 102 and 103, however, do not major in
economics. Nonetheless, these results generated substantial concern and discussion
among faculty in the department.
5. Use of Results. What program changes are indicated? How will they be implemented? If
none, describe why changes were not needed.
After seeing the results from our ECON 495 rubric, we will revise the instruments used
to measure learning outcomes in ECON 495 so that they will provide more specific and
useful information in future semesters. We will implement the updated instruments in
Fall 2006.
We studied in great detail the results of the department final exams in ECON 102 and
103. We determined that the questions students most frequently missed are analytical in
nature – requiring the same type of logic used in basic algebra, and/or requiring an
intermediate logical step or calculation to determine the correct final answer. Since
MATH 124 (basic college algebra) is already one of the degree requirements for
Economics and Business majors, we added MATH 124 (with a minimum “C” grade) as
a prerequisite to enroll in ECON 102 and ECON 103. In late Fall 2005 and early Spring
2006, we secured all of the necessary approvals for this prerequisite change. The change
now appears in the 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog and takes effect beginning in the
Fall 2006 semester. We will begin to see the results of this change in December 2006.
6. Dissemination of Results, Conclusions, and Discoveries. How and with whom were the
results shared?
All Economics Department faculty and part-time instructors received detailed results,
analysis, and course-specific recommendations based on the data.
These results led to a series of lengthy discussions. A concrete outcome at the program
level involved adding a prerequisite to the ECON 102 and ECON 103 courses (see item
#5 above). In addition, individual faculty members reviewed these results and will make
adjustments in their teaching, as each sees appropriate.
APPENDIX
Additional assessment data from ECON 495
student 6
student 5
student 4
student 3
student 1
student 2
individual student scores
# unsatisfactory
# satisfactory
# above average
# excellent
class summary
Application of basic
economic theory
1
5
0
0
A
A
A
E
A
A
Application of basic
economic statistics
4
2
0
0
E
A
E
E
A
E
Use of basic economic data
5
1
0
0
E
E
E
E
A
E
Understanding of economics
3
in public policy
3
0
0
A
E
E
E
A
A
Ability to write short
economic papers
4
0
0
A
E
A
E
A
A
Key:
E = excellent
A = above average
S = satisfactory
U = unsatisfactory
2