Assurance of Learning

According to AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business):

Assurance of learning refers to processes for demonstrating that students achieve learning expectations for the programs in which they participate. Schools use assurance of learning to demonstrate accountability and assure external constituents such as potential students, trustees, public officials, supporters, and accrediting organizations that the school meets its goals. Assurance of learning also assists the school and faculty members to improve programs and courses. By measuring learning, the school can evaluate its students’ success at achieving learning goals, use the measures to plan improvement efforts, and (depending on the type of measures) provide feedback and guidance for individual students. For assurance of learning purposes, AACSB accreditation is concerned with broad, program-level focused learning goals for each degree program, rather than detailed learning goals by course or topic, which must be the responsibility of individual faculty members.

Assurance of learning refers to the processes through which the Koppelman School of Business demonstrates:

• the currency of our programs,
• engagement by faculty in the academic development of our students, and
• accountability to our stakeholders.

Our Assurance of Learning Cycle is captured in the following diagram:

The Assurance of Learning Cycle

Learning Goals of Degree Programs

B.A. / B.B.A. / B.S. Program Learning Goals

Business Knowledge

• Students will be able to apply foundational knowledge to analyze and solve problems and interpret written and visual material in their major field.
• Operational Target: 70% of KSB students will achieve a score on the Major Field Test—Business that lies at or above the national average range.

Quantitative Reasoning

• Students will have the ability to identify, apply, and utilize mathematical and statistical concepts, techniques, and tools to derive meaningful conclusions.
• Operational Target: 70% of KSB students will demonstrate a minimum grade of 80% on a KSB proprietary test of quantitative reasoning, or score at or above the average achieved by students in peer schools in the same standardized quantitative test.

Written Communications

• Students will be able to write effectively using appropriate language and business conventions to be understood in the business environment.
• Operational Target: 70% of KSB students will write a case study analysis at an acceptable or better level when evaluated with a written communication rubric, or score within or above the range of students in peer schools when our students and peers use the same standardized test of the issues important to effective business writing.

Critical Thinking

• Students will be able to identify issues and problems, gather and interpret relevant data, evaluate assumptions, develop informed solutions and conclusions, and articulate consequences of proposed actions.
• Operational Target: 70% of KSB students will demonstrate acceptable or better critical thinking skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with a critical thinking rubric, or completing a standardized test using critical thinking scenarios at or above the level achieved by students in peer schools who took the same standardized test.

Information Literacy

• Students will be able to collect, analyze, synthesize, and present data. They will demonstrate ethical conduct related to the use of data.
• Operational Target: 70% of KSB students will demonstrate acceptable or better information literacy skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with an information literacy rubric.

Ethical Awareness, Sensitivity, and Managerial Competency

• Students will recognize ethical dilemmas, respond sensitively to parties involved, and translate ethical considerations into appropriate managerial action.
• Operational Target: 70% of KSB students will demonstrate acceptable or better ethical reasoning skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with an ethical reasoning rubric, or score at or above the level achieved by students in peer schools when the instrument used is the same standardized test.

M.S. in Business Administration Program Learning Goals

Written Communications

• Students will be able to write effectively using appropriate language and business conventions to be understood in the business environment.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will write a case study analysis at an acceptable or better level when evaluated with a written communication rubric, or score within or above the range of students in peer schools when the same standardized test is used.

Critical Thinking

• Students will be able to identify issues and problems, gather and interpret relevant data, evaluate assumptions, develop informed solutions and conclusions, and articulate consequences of proposed actions.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate acceptable or better critical thinking skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with a critical thinking rubric, or completing a standardized test using critical thinking scenarios at or above the level achieved by students in peer schools who took the same standardized test.

Ethical Awareness, Sensitivity, and Managerial Competency

• Students will recognize ethical dilemmas, respond sensitively to parties involved, and translate ethical considerations into appropriate managerial action.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB students will demonstrate acceptable or better ethical reasoning skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with an ethical reasoning rubric, or score at or above the level achieved by students in peer schools when the instrument used is the same standardized test.

Quantitative Reasoning

• Students will have the ability to identify, apply, and utilize mathematical and statistical concepts, techniques, and tools to derive meaningful conclusions based on an analysis.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB students will demonstrate a minimum grade of 80% on a test of quantitative reasoning.

Strategic Thinking

• Students will be able to demonstrate a holistic understanding of organizations and their environments; synthesize information from multiple sources; question prevalent concepts, perceptions, and mental models; and envision a desired future for an organization that provides a focus for all activities.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate acceptable or better strategic thinking skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with a strategic thinking rubric.

Leadership

• Students will demonstrate the ability to identify leadership capabilities and identify areas of weakness in others, as well as in themselves, and develop a leadership blueprint to maximize their leadership potential.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate proficient knowledge of leadership through the analysis of business cases or performance on a test.

Global Awareness

• Students will apply their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to global issues and intercultural situations.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate proficient knowledge of global issues through the analysis of business cases intercultural situations through performance on a test.

M.S. in Accounting Program Learning Goals

Written Communications

• Students will be able to write effectively using appropriate language and business conventions to be understood in the business environment.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will write a case study analysis at an acceptable or better level when evaluated with a written communication rubric, or score within or above the range of students in peer schools when the same standardized test is used.

Critical Thinking

• Students will be able to identify issues and problems, gather and interpret relevant data, evaluate assumptions, develop informed solutions and conclusions, and articulate consequences of proposed actions.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate acceptable or better critical thinking skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with a critical thinking rubric, or completing a standardized test using critical thinking scenarios at or above the level achieved by students in peer schools who took the same standardized test.

Information Literacy

• Students will be able to collect, analyze, synthesize, and present data. They will demonstrate ethical conduct related to the use of data.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB students will demonstrate acceptable or better information literacy skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with an information literacy rubric.

Ethical Awareness, Sensitivity, and Managerial Competency

• Students will recognize ethical dilemmas, respond sensitively to parties involved, and translate ethical considerations into appropriate managerial action.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB students will demonstrate acceptable or better ethical reasoning skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with an ethical reasoning rubric, or score at or above the level achieved by students in peer schools when the instrument used is the same standardized test.

Quantitative Reasoning

• Students will have the ability to identify, apply, and utilize mathematical and statistical concepts, techniques, and tools to derive meaningful conclusions based on an analysis.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB students will demonstrate a minimum grade of 80% on a test of quantitative reasoning.

Strategic Thinking

• Students will be able to demonstrate a holistic understanding of organizations and their environments; synthesize information from multiple sources; question prevalent concepts, perceptions, and mental models; and envision a desired future for an organization that provides a focus for all activities.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate acceptable or better strategic thinking skills when analyzing a business case evaluated with a strategic thinking rubric.

Leadership

• Students will demonstrate the ability to identify leadership capabilities and identify areas of weakness in others, as well as in themselves, and develop a leadership blueprint to maximize their leadership potential.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate proficient knowledge of leadership through the analysis of business cases or performance on a test.

Global Awareness

• Students will apply their knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to global issues and intercultural situations.
• Operational Target: 80% of KSB graduate students will demonstrate proficient knowledge of global issues through the analysis of business cases intercultural situations through performance on a test.