Program Assessment Plans & Report: Ay 2013-2014

BCJ – CORRECTIONS

PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLANS & REPORT: AY 2013-2014

Program Rationale/Purpose Statement:
College graduates with a major in corrections will be the backbone of the American Justice System. Individuals in this major are equipped to handle the dynamic nature of the largest facet of the criminal justice system. In addition to theory, correctional standards have become an integral part of the field. These standards represent an effort to professionalize the field of corrections, thus, it is imperative that graduates entering the field have a thorough understanding of theory and practice.
Marketing / Recruitment Target Statement:
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Probation and Parole statistics, at yearend 2005, over7 million adult men and women were incarcerated or under Federal, State, or local probation or parole jurisdiction.(available: Of that, over 2.3 million offenders were incarcerated in jails and prisons in the United States. With that in mind, the market for graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Corrections is vast. Virtually all entry level probation and parole employment opportunities require a college degree for consideration. The vast majority of upper-level employment opportunities in prisons and jails require a college degree as well.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Goals of the Program/Corresponding Classes:
Graduates will understand the four main theories of corrections. COR220
Graduates will understand the major constitutional issues of offender supervision. COR436
Students will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills. COR220/230
Program Executive Summary:COR220 was renumbered and is COR120. COR436 was renumbered and is COR336. COR230 was renumbered and is COR420.
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 Outcomes 1:(D – Career Readiness – Program Specific) Graduates will understand the four main theories of corrections. (COR120)
Assessment Criteria:Students will complete a paper on the four theories and score an 80% or higher based on the rubric.
Section One – Activity Statement:Data was collected on two COR120 courses, Week 1 assignment.
Section Two –Results of Outcomes Activity:
2013-2014
COR120 / Met/Not Met
Met / Data Details
83% of students scored an 80% or higher on a correctional theory paper. Week 1 assignment.
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
A comprehensive review and revision of the outcome maps for the program was undertaken in 2013/2014. This will result in new key assessment tools being developed for all aspects of the program, leading to ab ability to assess learning in a more objective manner.
Intended Outcomes 2: (D - Career Readiness – Program Specific) Graduates will understand the major constitutional issues of offender supervision. (COR336)
Assessment Criteria:Students will outline five land-mark cases in corrections and receive an 80% or higher based on the rubric.
Section One - Activity Statement:The course ran online as COR236 three times in 2013-2014. It ran once on the seated environment. While no single assignment specifically addresses the assessment criteria, the final examinations and class assignments provide faculty an ability to subjectively assess student learning.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2013-2014
COR236 / Met/Not Met
Met / Data Details
All students demonstrated understanding of the issues to a level satisfying the outcome standard.
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
A comprehensive review and revision of the outcome maps for the program was undertaken in 2013/2014. This will result in new key assessment tools being developed for all aspects of the program, leading to ab ability to assess learning in a more objective manner.
Intended Outcomes 3: (D – Speaking Abilities / D – Writing Abilities)Students will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills. (COR120 & COR420)
Assessment Criteria:Students will receive an 80% or greater on written and oral presentations, based on the rubric.
Section One - Activity Statement:See intended outcome 1 for COR120 assessment. No section of COR420 was offered online or seated during the academic year.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2013-2014
COR120
COR420 / Met/Not Met
Met
N/A / Data Details
See Intended Outcome 1.
This course did not run this academic year.
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
A comprehensive review and revision of the outcome maps for the program was undertaken in 2013/2014. This will result in new key assessment tools being developed for all aspects of the program, leading to ab ability to assess learning in a more objective manner.

Updated: May 2014