Program Review for
2003-2004
a. A core of well-qualified faculty
b. All graduates have been able to find employment in the field of accounting.
c. Program has sufficient number of graduates to support it as a viable program. However, a downward trend in both number of students and number of graduating students is evident.
a. Under H-12, there is no indication that any program improvement goals have been set for the subject program during the past five years. This may account for some of the weakness present.
b. The program during the last three years of data presented has experienced a decline in the number of students in the program and the number graduated from the program. (from data submitted in report)
c. The percent of students admitted under conditional status seems very high—80% (III-07)
d. The graduate coordinator, while terminally qualified in his field, is not terminally qualified in accounting and does not have a CPA. This is from table on qualifications of faculty.
e. Program resources and facilities and the operating budget are viewed by the faculty as in need of improvement. This is from Part V, Program Resources and Facilities, table V-01.
a. An internal review of the program should be started with the goal of addressing the issues of student numbers and qualifications. In addition the possibility of developing support for the current graduate coordinator should be considered. Thus weakness seen in II parts 1 to 4 should be addressed by the review.
b. An integrated plan for incorporating faculty involvement in recruitment efforts coupled with the pursuit of increased student scholarships is recommended to increase student enrollments. This is being incorporated into the current IEP process.
c. New graduate admissions requirements should be brought into alignment with the criteria established by the Graduate College to ensure that better qualified students are enrolled in the program.
d. The graduate coordinator should have CPA credentials.
e. Resources, budget considerations, and facilities are problems facing all programs today. Faculty are being called upon to increase their scholarly output, engage in recruitment, and still maintain quality education in the classroom. A realistic partial solution may be found in the seeking of funds that may be available to support minority programs in accounting.
Dean’s Comments:
The review findings mention that the program coordinator should have CPA certification. This is absolutely not necessary. It is necessary for the program coordinator to understand the curriculum—the undergraduate prerequisites, the core courses, the supporting graduate business electives, etc.—and to maintain good student relations and records. But having a CPA certification should not be a requirement for an MPA program coordinator. In the past, at different times, the department chair and a faculty member have served as MPA program directors. Neither had a CPA license and yet the program experienced its largest enrollments during that time.
Outcome/Assessment
Report
Dean’s Comments:
Enrollment/Number of Graduates – The number of students in the program is actually larger than reported in the program review document. This is because, the program review document shows those in the stand-alone M.P.A. but not those students who are taking graduate courses in and graduating from the five-year combined B.B.A./M.P.A. program. The number of M.P.A. graduates during the current academic year (2004-05) will be at least 7 (2 in 04F and 5 in 05S).
Internal Program Review – Some of the recommendations resulting from the M.P.A. review are being addressed by an internal review of the M.B.A. program because there are common elements between the two programs, for example, admissions, scholarly activity, and resource requirements. In addition, our work toward AACSB accreditation has required examination of the graduate admissions requirements and program goals. Completion of the program-level student learning outcomes now in progress will also clarify the program goals.
Scholarships – We are working toward establishing a new scholarship program for M.P.A. students. The funds to support this program are already been obtained.
Faculty – We are currently recruiting a new faculty member for the M.P.A. program who will replace Dr. Alworth who retired in May 2004.