Assurance of Learning

What is Program Assessment?

In the Manning School of Business, assessment is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and enhancing student learning with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of the undergraduate and graduate programs. Our continuous improvement model facilitates the development of our graduates through the engagement of students, faculty and external stakeholders.

Our model clearly articulates our expectations by setting high standards for learning quality then systematically gathering, analyzing, interpreting data, reporting the results, and making improvements.

The Assurance of Learning Model

The Manning School of Business has developed a comprehensive model for Assurance of Learning (AOL). The model includes the collaboration of multiple committees involved in this critical process. Representatives from each of the program areas, along with the Associate Dean, form this committee. Through the setting of schedules for the assessments and completing the initial evaluation of the results, the committee oversees the learning outcome assessment process and maintenance of the curriculum mapping documents. At the undergraduate level, they coordinate with the UMass Lowell Essential Learning Outcomes Committee to harmonize the assessment schedule and report institutional trends to the college.

Once this committee has analyzed the learning outcome assessment data, they share the results with the faculty, and in particular the departments, for consideration of appropriate interventions and implementation options. The assessment committee will also share recommendations with the curriculum innovation committee which is tasked with monitoring and benchmarking Manning core business curriculum against our competitor, peer, and aspirant peer schools. The curriculum innovation committee focuses on the integration of concepts across curricula and interdisciplinary opportunities that will support our learning outcomes.

Competency Goals

Competency Goals for the undergraduate program:

• Bachelor of Business Administration

Competency Goals for graduate programs:

• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Accounting
• Master of Science in Business Analytics
• Master of Science in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Master of Science in Finance
• Ph.D. in Business Administration

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Competency Goals

Competency	Goal
1. Communication Skills	Program graduates will be able to communicate effectively in professional situations.  Learning Objective 1 (Written): Students will demonstrate proficiency articulating key ideas in writing and developing professional quality business documents.   Learning Objective 2 (Oral): Students will prepare and deliver professional presentations.
2. Analytical Skills	Program graduates will be able to think analytically and critically when evaluating business decisions.  Learning Objective: Students will identify pertinent information to apply quantitative and qualitative knowledge and techniques from across all functional areas of business.
3. Team Management	Program graduates will be able to participate as an effective and professional team member and leader.  Learning Objective: Students will apply effective team management skills both as a team member and leader.
4. Information Technology Skills	Program graduates will have effective information technology skills for analyzing business information.  Learning Objective: Students will use and apply information technologies and data analytics tools to solve business problems.
5. Global Awareness	Program graduates will be aware of the global changes and market forces affecting business environments.  Learning Objective: Students will identify global changes affecting business and apply this knowledge in business decision-making.
6. Ethical Reasoning Skills	Program graduates will recognize, evaluate, and address ethical consequences of business decisions.  Learning Objective: Students will identify ethical dilemmas and be able to recognize and evaluate alternative courses of action in professional decision-making toward socially responsible goals.

1. Analytics Skills:	Program graduates will be able to think analytically and critically to solve organizational problems and meet organizational goals.  Learning Objective: Students will integrate business analysis, synthesize data, and apply diagnostic problem-solving for managerial decision-making.
2. Global Awareness:	Program graduates will be able to leverage their knowledge of the interconnectedness and changing nature of global markets and business environments for decision-making.  Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate effective team membership and leadership skills in accomplishing team goals.
3. Ethical Reasoning:	Program graduates will develop ethical reasoning and social responsibility knowledge for making business decisions.  Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate ethical reasoning and social responsibility knowledge in assessing business practices and decisions.
4. Communication & Research Skills:	Program graduates will exhibit logical and persuasive communication skills.  Learning Objective 1 (Written): Students will demonstrate executive-level proficiency in writing and producing business documents for professional audience.  Learning Objective 2 (Oral): Students will prepare and deliver business reports or actionable solutions for professional audiences.
5. Team Management:	Program graduates will have team management and leadership skills to coordinate and organize activities for managing change.  Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate effective team management and leadership skills in accomplishing team goals and managing change.
6. Strategic Management:	Program graduates will develop strategic planning and management skills for gaining organizational competitive advantage.  Learning Objective: Students will integrate business knowledge and apply management frameworks for strategic planning.

1. Disciplinary Knowledge & Analytics: Program graduates will be able to use quantitative and analytical methods to integrate accounting analysis and diagnostic problem-solving skills in order to support management decision-making.
2. Global Awareness: Program graduates will be able to assess global accounting principles and issues including their impact on business practice.
3. Ethical Reasoning Skills: Program graduates will be able to apply ethical reasoning for personal and professional decision-making.
4. Communication and Research: Program graduates will be able to clearly, efficiently, and effectively communicate accounting-related information and research in both oral and written methods.

1. Analytical Skills: Program graduates will be able to use strong quantitative and analytical skills through the integration of business analysis, data management, and diagnostic problem-solving skills in order to support management decision-making.
2. Communication Skills: Program graduates will be able to clearly, efficiently, and effectively communicate business-related information by applying both oral and written methods.
3. Ethical Data Management: Program graduates will be able to apply ethical reasoning for supporting individual and corporate data security and privacy decisions.
4. Team Management & Leadership: Program graduates will be able to apply team management skills as both an effective team member and leader.

1. Disciplinary Knowledge: Program graduates will be able to implement the technology innovation and entrepreneurship processes from both an academic and applied perspective.
2. Team Management: Program graduates will be able to integrate organizational and interdisciplinary team management techniques required to identify, launch and execute innovation products, services, and new ventures.
3. Analytical Skills: Program graduates will be able to conduct market research and formulate a sales strategy to successfully position technology innovations for competitive advantage.
4. Global Awareness: Program graduates will be able to assess how global competitive and regulatory environments are changing innovation and entrepreneurship processes.
5. Venture Financing: Program graduates will be able to value and finance technological innovations and new ventures.

1. Disciplinary Knowledge: Program graduates will be able to integrate financial concepts and techniques in both an academic and applied perspective.
2. Communication & Research: Program graduates will be able to clearly, efficiently, and effectively communicate finance-related information and research in both oral and written methods.
3. Analytical Skills: Program graduates will be able to access, analyze, and interpret financial data.
4. Risk Management: Program graduates will be able to assess and manage risk in financial decision-making processes.

1. Proficiency in research: Program graduates will be able to conduct high-quality research relevant to private or public organizations.
2. Discipline-specific knowledge: Program graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the current state of research in their specific area and how research in their business discipline impacts business practices.
3. Communicating and disseminating research: Program graduates will be able to effectively disseminate research findings through effective teaching, publication, and conference participation.
4. Research ethics: Program graduates will be able to combine sound ethical perspectives with research issues and approaches.