OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT PLAN—COMMUNICATION

I. PROGRAM GOALS

The Communication Program at the University of Wyoming is based on theory and practice and plans to provide students with a knowledge of the communication process in its many forms and an ability to apply this knowledge to an analysis of communication situations. Our graduates should be able to work as professional communicators and to serve as consultants of the communication process. Those who wish to pursue advanced degrees should be qualified for admission to top-flight graduate programs with a knowledge of the field that will allow them to serve as teaching and research assistants.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

--Graduates should have a broad understanding of the many theories applicable to the communication process and an in-depth understanding of those theories most applicable to one’s chose field.

--Graduates should have an understanding of and a demonstrated competence in both oral and written communication.

--Graduates should have an understanding of the components utilized in communication research and an ability to apply this knowledge to an analysis of communication situations.

III. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

--A demonstrated understanding of communication processes.

--Ability to produce oral and written communication in a format most applicable to a student’s area of expertise.

--Ability to critically analyze communication situations and provide solutions.

IV. METHODS

A. Internships. Roughly 40 students are engaged in internships in any given semester (120 students per year in a department with 300 majors). This number represents the vast majority of our majors over a 4-year span meaning that we have a very large and valid sample from which to assess student success. A representative sample of internship materials will be analyzed by members of the department’s assessment committee (which includes the internship director) as a measure of student success.

1, Portfolios. Every intern is required to submit a portfolio containing a representative sample of the work produced during the internship. These portfolios will be analyzed to determine competence in the student’s area of expertise.

2. Student Self-Assessment. At the end of their internships, all students write a final paper that analyzes how well the program prepared them for a work-related experience. The assessment team will analyze these papers to determine how well students feel they are prepared for their careers.

3. External evaluation. All interns are required to work under the direction of supervisors. All supervisors fill out an evaluation form that provides feedback on the knowledge and skills that the students bring to the work situation. This feedback will be analyzed by the assessment team as part of the assessment process.

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