BA – COMMUNICATION – JOURNALISM CONCENTRATION

PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLANS & REPORT

AY 2011-2012

Program Rationale/Purpose Statement:
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications offers students a thorough grounding in communication theory, practice and ethics along with practical knowledge and skills for majors interested in journalism. Three complimentary interests drive the degree program:
1. To offer communication curricula that is aligned with Tiffin University’s mission of offering professional education.
2. To offer major and minor concentrations that give students the professional and technical skills they need for employment opportunities across different communication fields.
3. To develop solid oral, written and electronic communication skills for its majors and students taking communications courses to fulfill university requirements.
Marketing / Recruitment Target Statement:
The communications program seeks to recruit students who want to major in one of the three areas of communication offered at Tiffin while receiving a comprehensive general education in a small university environment. As a professionally focused major, the faculty strives to link communication theory with practice so students will be prepared to enter the field with the knowledge and skills to be successful. The strength of the program is in its ability to offer students individual attention in an atmosphere where they can interact, grow and develop as communicators in a close-knit and dynamic educational community.
Goals of the Program/Corresponding Classes:
Students will understand and demonstrate acceptable writing skills appropriate to contemporary journalism practices. COM218/235/318/410 / ENG262
Students will understand and recognize theories of mass communication. COM300/438/450
Section One: Describe all department activities with respect to improving student learning in the major. This may include new faculty hires, course revisions, assignment creation, rubric revisions, goal evaluations, etc.
Section Two: Describe which program goal(s) in the Major Program Plan was assessed during the academic year.
Section Three: Describe analysis of assessment data and action plans for upcoming academic year.
Intended Outcomes/Assessment Criteria:
Intended Outcome 1: (D - Writing Abilities / D - Career Readiness) Students will understand and demonstrate acceptable writing skills appropriate to contemporary journalism practices.
Assessment Criteria: Students will develop their writing skills for their professional foundations courses in COM218. This will be demonstrated by 80% of students achieving a “B” or higher on their final project in COM218.
Section One - Activity Statement:
This year the communications program taught 16 sections of COM 130: Introduction to Speech Communication, serving approximately 350 students as part of the university's general education core. Ten other basic and advanced courses were offered as part of communication core and concentrations, including:
COM 134 Digital Photography
COM 212 Intro to Public Relations
COM 218 News Writing
COM 241 Intro to Mass Communication
COM 310 Human, Interpersonal, and Small Group Communication
COM 325 Public Relations Cases, Campaigns, and Non Profits
COM 325 Sports Writing for Marketing and Promotion
COM 318 Feature Writing
COM 330 Video Production
COM 410 Advanced Reporting
COM 438 History and Tradition of American Journalism
In keeping with developments in the field of communication and the evolution of Internet technologies, a new course in social media was created and taught as a special topic Spring semester:
COM 390 Social Media
Extra Curricular Activities included:
The publication of editions of the Campus Newspaper.
The Communication Club was active on campus and sponsored a number of activities, including a panel of industry practitioners during Fall semester. The club inducted four new members into the National Communication Honor Society of Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) and remained an active student chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.
Communication Faculty supervised:
• Three Master of Humanities Thesis Projects
• Four Internships
• Two Independent Studies
The communication major continues to be the second most popular major in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012 / Met/Not Met
Met / Data Details
Eighty percent of students achieved a “B” or higher on their final project in COM218.
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
This year’s assessment results focused on the need for students to develop stronger written communication skills for the print journalism media and quantitative reasoning/critical thinking skills. COM 218 is an entry-level journalism course designed to introduce students to basic journalism skills.
The Communication faculty and the School of Arts and Sciences continue to emphasize the importance of oral and written communication skills across the curriculum. The course emphasized writing skills by having students write stories every class meeting as well as attend meetings and other events to develop note-taking and listening skills.
Intended Outcome 2: (D - Quantitative Reasoning / D - Critical Thinking) Students will understand and recognize theories of mass communication.
Assessment Criteria: Students will compare and contrast mass communication theories in COM300. At least 80% of students will receive a “B” or higher on the final project in COM300.
Section One - Activity Statement:
See above
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012 / Met/Not Met
Not met / Data Details
Four out of eight students met the criteria for this year’s outcomes activity by receiving a “B” or higher on the final research design project. Three of eight students did not complete the project, and one received a grade of “C”.
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
This was the first year for this assessment, using the Communication department’s new class in communication research methods. The department is contemplating returning to its previous arrangement with the School of Criminal Justice where students took its research methods and design course.

Updated: November 2011