For the purpose of continuous quality improvement, each academic program at Montreat College has determined a number of appropriate student learning outcomes and assesses two or more each academic year. The results provided below reflect the direct measures of outcomes assessed during 2014-2015.
Bible & Religion
Students will demonstrate a full-orbed understanding of biblical literature.
83% of graduating students (N=6) earned at least 70% of the points on the objective-knowledge portion of the departmental exit exam. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate the ability to be sound role models and leaders in the church.
All six ministry-track senior students earned excellent or very good ratings on 83% of the items on the final Internship Supervisor’s Evaluation Form.
Biology
Students will demonstrate understanding of the broad foundational concepts and skills of biology.
86% of students (N=9) in BL 421 (Contemporary Biological Investigations) and CH 323 (Organic Chemistry Lab-II) scored at an 85% or better on the project rubric that evaluates advanced application of foundational concepts. [goal 80%]
Aggregate scores in the Cell Biology area of the standardized Major Field Test (MFT) was above the national mean (N=10). Aggregate scores were below the mean in the other three areas, molecular biology/genetics, organismal biology, and population biology/evolution/ecology. [Two students scored above the national average in all four areas.]
Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and conduct scientific projects both independently and in teams.
67% of BL 421 and CH 323 students (N=9) earned a “good” or “excellent” rating in use of professional resources to inform the protocol of their investigation and interpretation of their findings. [goal 90%]
83% of the students (N=6) in BL 401 (Genetics) scored above a B on tests using a student designed applied model, while 60% of students (N=5) in CH 321 (Organic Chemistry I) did so. [goal 80%]
72% final research projects (N=7) earned at least 90% of the points on the lab notebook, paper presentation, and oral presentation. [goal 85%]
Students will demonstrate anunderstanding of concepts and technical ability in business functional areas, including management, marketing, and quantitative areas.
94% of all BS 460 (Strategic Management capstone) students (N=16) earned at least a 70 on the Business Strategy Game, in which students analyze financial statements and devise strategies based on that analysis. [goal 80%]
The mean aggregate score of graduating seniors (N=17) in the Major Field Test subcategory of Management was below the national mean.
Students will demonstrate the computer, informational, and technological skills necessary for success in the business field.
The mean aggregate score of graduating seniors (N=17) in the Major Field Test subcategory of Information Systems was below the national mean.
Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate their Christian world-view into ethical and legal business decision-making in the business context.
All students engaged in a business internship during the summer, fall and spring terms (N=15) satisfactorily integrated a Christian world view in their final reflective projects. [goal 80%]
90% of students in BS 309 (Business Ethics, N=54) correctly answered questions on the final exam requiring them to relate biblical truth to ethical decision making. [goal 80%]
Business Administration (non-traditional/adult program)
Students will demonstrate effective written and oral business communication skills.
100% of the students in BS 437 (Marketing Management, N=25) earned at least 90% of the available points on the final paper. [goal 80%]
100% (N=25) of students earned over 85% of the final presentation points in BS 437. [goal 80%]
Students in BS 471 (Individual Business Proposal, N=15) earned an average of 97% of the available points on the written aspect of the final proposal paper. [goal 80% avg]
Students will demonstrate computer information systems skills essential for business professionals.
Students in BS 422 (Issues in Corporate Finance, N=15) scored an average of 83% on two exams testing the use of spreadsheets in problem solving. [goal 85% avg]
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply administrative and organizational theory in the work environment,
100% of students in BS 471 (Individual Business Proposal, N=15) earned at least 90% of the available points on the content aspect of the final proposal paper. [goal 80% of students to earn 80% of points]
B.S. in Management (non-traditional/adult program)
Students will demonstrate analytical skills essential to decision making in the business management context.
82% of students (N=11) in BS 430 (Organizational Strategic Management) earned at least 80% of the available points on case analysis section of assignment that requires analysis and evaluation. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate interpersonal and team skills needed for success in business contexts and an understanding and appreciation of their personal strengths and weaknesses as leaders or members of a business team.
100% of students (N=20) in BS 403 (Leadership & Human Resources Management) earned at least 85% of the available points on a paper comparing their leadership style to that of a leader they interviewed. [goal 80%]
MBA program
Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of management principles and their effective application.
In the capstone BS 590 (Management Consulting), a cohort of three MBA students engaged in a supervised management consulting experience evaluated by the client sponsor, and on the rubric item “usefulness of project to client,” their project earned the top rating. [goal all projects to earn top rating]
Students will demonstrate analytical skills essential to financial and administrative decision-making.
86% of students (N=7) earned at least 80% of the available points on the analytical questions on the final exam in BS 550 (Financial Management). [goal 80%]
Students will be able to describe how a biblical worldview can help an individual develop a sense of purpose, responsibility, loyalty, and personal ethics.
100% of students in BS 530 (Ethics & Legal Environment, N=14) earned at least 80% of the points on a paper describing formation of ethics. [goal 80%]
Master of Science in Management and Leadership
Students will demonstrate growth in leadership skills and an understanding of how to further realize their leadership potential, both personally and professionally.
92% of students in ML 504 (Exploring Leadership & Personal Leadership Dev, N=13) earned at least 80% of the available points on the final paper describing their understanding of their own leadership potential and how to develop it. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate knowledge of theory-based best practices in business management and leadership.
100% of the students in ML 542 (Strategic Planning, N=11) earned at least 80% of the available points on the for-profit strategic plan paper. [goal 80%]
100% of final capstone projects (N=9) in ML 585 (Advanced Entrepreneurship) earned a “satisfied” rating from the clients. [goal 90%]
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply Christian ethical principles to managerial issues.
100% of students (N=14) in BS 530 (Ethics & Legal Environment) earned at least 80% of the points on the essay analyzing an ethical dilemma in a managerial context. [goal 80%]
Communication
Students will demonstrate marketable skills in the communication field, such as analytical, production & public speaking skills.
100% of students (N=7) earned a score of 80 or higher on their senior portfolio. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate a grasp of the connection between the communication field and social science, the humanities, the arts, history, and mathematics.
86% of students (N=7) in CM 318 (Film History and Theory) earned at least 80% of the available points on a research paper in which they examine the cultural influence of an important film over the past 115 years. [goal 80%]
50% of CM 318 students earned at least 80% of the available points on the final exam. [goal 80%]
English
Students will demonstrate effectiveness in literary interpretation and research.
The average rating given by an external reader to a random sample (N=12) of upper-level English majors’ essays was 89% on the rubric item “exhibited thoughtful literary analysis of appropriate depth.” [goal 85% avg]
75% of essays in the random sample (N=12) were rated by the outside reader as having earned 80% of the rubric points for content & organization. [goal 80%]
Environmental Science
ES graduates will demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the structure and function of the Earth’s natural systems.
The aggregate score of graduating seniors (N=4) on the Environmental Studies ACAT Exam was above the national norm.
71% of ES 301 (Physical & Environmental Geography) students (N=7) scored a “B” or higher on their final exam. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate research skills appropriate to the Environmental Studies field, such as formulation of appropriate research questions, data collection techniques, use of appropriate literature and resources, and research presentation.
77% of students (N=13) scored a “B” or higher on their ES 340 (Research Methods) final project. [goal 80%]
100% of students (N=3) scored a “B” or higher on their final project in ES 302 (Environmental Systems). [goal 80%]
History
Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of world history with a special emphasis on the history of the United States and Europe.
The aggregate score on the standardized ACAT exam (N=3) was above the national mean.
The aggregate scores in at least 4 of the 6 subcategories (US Social, Intellectual & Cultural History, and Medieval, Early Modern, & Modern European History), were above the national mean (N= 3). [goal 4 of 6 categories]
Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in research skills with particular attention to source retrieval and the incorporation of latest technological advances.
100% of graduating students (N = 3) earned an A- or higher on the senior thesis. [goal of at least A- avg]
Music Business
Students will be able to recognize and respond to opportunities and to propose innovative approaches to current challenges in the music industry.
MS 262 (Music Business Seminar) students (N=4) earned a net return on investment from their Battle of the Bands project.
Students successfully dealt with unexpected challenges and put together an excellent stage production.
Outdoor Education/Outdoor Ministry
Students will integrate relevant foundations of Outdoor Education in written and verbal communications.
100% of students in OE 462 (Current Issues in Outdoor Education, N=4) earned grades of B- or better on the literature review assignment. [goal 80%]
In OE 491 (Senior Seminar) 100% of graduating seniors (N=6) had A-range content, argumentation, and organization on both the philosophy of leadership and philosophy education papers for their final portfolio. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate effective leadership, making sound decisions based on accurate assessment of self, the group and the situation.
100% of senior students (N=11) earned positive assessments (within the highest two categories) on the leadership rubric by their internship supervisors. [goal 80%]
Two-thirds of the graduating seniors (N=6) scored a rating of “proficient” or better in the leadership category of the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) portfolio system. [goal 75%]
The student will demonstrate an ability to integrate Biblical principles into the practice of Outdoor Education.
80% of seniors demonstrated an ability to critique OE trends and issues from a Biblical perspective by receiving an above average rating on level of integration in both group presentations and individual papers in required OE 462 (Current Issues). [goal 80%]
Graduate program in Environmental Education
Students will demonstrate an understanding of environmental systems operating on local, regional, and global scales and human impact on those systems.
Current students in the program earned an “acceptable” rating on environmental literacy by external reviewers from the National Association for Environmental Education (NAEE). [goal “acceptable” rating]
Psychology & Human Services (traditional)
Students will demonstrate mastery of the necessary knowledge and skills for their respective concentrations.
This year aggregate scores on the standardized ACAT exam were below the mean for students in the PY concentration (N=10) and for students in the HU concentration (N=7).
100% of student interns (N=9) earned a supervisor rating of at least a 4 out of 5 on the End of Internship Survey on the item “Performed tasks in a competent manner.” [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate insight into their own behavior/mental processes as they develop the necessary personal characteristics for their respective disciplines.
100% of students in PY 305 (Adult Development, N=16) earned at least 80% of the available points on the final paper rubric evaluating insight into the developmental processes of adolescents and adults. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate the knowledge of their respective concentration in light of their religious faith.
81% of PY 490 (Senior Seminar) students (N=16) earned at least a 3 (on a 4-pt rubric scale) on the faith integration component of their capstone paper. [goal 80%]
Worship Arts
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the responsibility placed on those who plan and lead worship to reflect the biblical, theological and historical foundations of Christian worship and to address the needs and goals associated with the styles of worship represented by the 21st-century Church.
100% of seniors (N=3) in WA 342 (Worship Arts Practicum) earned a grade of B or higher, as determined by their on-site supervisor and the worship arts program director. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the past and its interconnectedness with the present and future.
82% of HS 101 (Western Civilization I) students (N=76) will earn at least 80% of the available points on the content of a critical book review relating issues in one period of history to those of the present. [goal 80%]
93% of HS 201 (U.S. History I) students (N=28) earned at least 80% of the points on the essay-final exam. [goal 80%]
81% of HS 102 (Western Civ II) students (N=74) will earn at least 80% of the available points on a paper requiring students to connect a historical topic with a contemporary issue. [goal 80%]
Students will be able to articulate an understanding of the human condition through appreciation & evaluation of the artistic, literary & philosophical dimensions of the human experience.
86%of students in CM 318 (Film History, N=7) earned at least 80% of the available points on their research paper providing a critical evaluation of a film in terms of its cultural significance. [goal 80%]
100% of AR 101 (Survey of Art I) students (N=12) earned at least 80% of the available points on an essay explaining the significance of and appreciation for three pieces of art. [goal 80%]
100% of AR 102 (Survey of Art II) students (N=15) earned at least 80% of the available points on an essay comparing and contrasting art from 2 artists depicting the same biblical story. [goal 80%]
69% of MS 101 (Intro to Music) students (N=13) earned at least 80% of the available points on the essay section of the final exam, which includes questions related to appreciation & evaluation of music studied. [goal 80%]
Students will be able to articulate the meaning and value of a Christ-centered college education.
84% of IS 102 (Foundations of Faith & Learning) students (N=38) earned at least 80% of the available points on their report on Learning for the Love of God, describing how the text affects the student’s understanding of God, his/her work as a student at Montreat College, and his/her preparation for the future.[goal 80%]
89% of IS 102 students (N=35) earned at least 80% of the available points on their final paper, in which students explain what it means to be a successful Christian college student, experiences on campus that have already shaped their understanding of how to integrate faith and learning, and what all this means for their life after college. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate basic computer skills, such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and e-learning.
100% of online CS 101 (Computer Concepts & Applications) students (N=13) earned at least 80% of the available quiz points, demonstrating objective knowledge and skills. [goal 80%]
79% of seated CS 101 students (N=14) earned at least 80% of the available points on the cumulative final exam. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate basic writing skills, including use of standard grammar, punctuation, & spelling; coherent organization; clarity; and documentation.
97% of students (N=31) earned at least a C on their final research paper assignment in EN 112, the second of two required general education English composition courses. [goal 80%]
Students will demonstrate basic computation and problem-solving skills.
78% of students (N=9) in MT 102 (Mathematics for Managers) earned a C or above on the final exam. [goal 70%]
70% of students (N=10) earned a C or above on the MT 122 (Statistics) final exam. [goal 70%]
