Comprehensive Program Review (CPR)

Follow-Up Report Template

Due December 3, 2007 as an addendum to the AOL Report

 

Rationale: The primary purpose of comprehensive program review is to foster continuous improvement of all degree programs. All undergraduate programs reviewed in the 2001-2002 cycle received recommendations from the University Program Review Council and submitted Follow-Up Reports in spring of 2003. The following questions are designed to allow programs to continue to report on their progress in addressing those recommendations and their efforts in program improvement.

 

Content of Follow-up Reports (2-5 pages):

 

1.      Provide evidence of quality enhancement of the program since 2003.

 

2.      Provide evidence of productivity enhancement of the program since 2003.

 

3.      Identify the action plans and priorities from the 2003 Follow-Up Report that have been accomplished.

 

4.      Identify the action plans and priorities from the 2003 Follow-Up Report that still need to be addressed and indicate a timeline for their completion. If specific action plans and priorities have changed since 2003, please explain.

 

5.      Address the current status of the program’s viability. If viable, justify whether the program should be sustained, reconfigured, or enhanced.

a.       Indicate how the program advances specific goals and action steps of KSU’s Strategic Plan.

b.      Identify resources needed to strengthen the program’s ability to meet the goals of KSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

c.       If the program is delivered off-campus, please provide a cost analysis of the off-site delivery.

d.      Indicate the resources needed to sustain, reconfigure, or enhance the program’s quality and productivity.

1.  Program Quality Enhancement since 2003

 

Provide evidence of quality enhancement of the program since 2003.

 

The Information Systems BS program quality enhancement evidence is described in by continues improvement in curriculum, new lab space, faculty lines and ABET accreditation. These enhancements are listed below:

 

Continuous Improvement in the IS Curriculum

Based on assessment data and reviews conducted by the IS Curriculum Committee, the IS curriculum was enhanced in the following ways:

  • Program focus for IS majors defined as: developing information systems using integrated development environment.
  • Two optional tracks created: Business Intelligence / Database Analyst and e-Business / Internet Systems Developer.
  • New courses for the Business Intelligence / Database Analyst: four courses enterprise systems, data warehouse and business intelligence, data mining, and advanced databases were identified for this track. Three new courses (enterprise systems, data warehouse and business intelligence, and data mining) were created and the advanced databases class was modified to achieve the focus of this track.
  • New courses for the e-Business / Internet Systems Developer: four courses enterprise systems, XML services, web systems development, and advanced databases were identified for this track. Two new courses (enterprise systems and XML services) were created, the advanced database course was modified, and the web systems development course was adapted.
  • The IS core courses were revised. Ten courses now make the IS core: fundamentals of IS, web development I, systems analysis, data management, application development I, IT infrastructure, project management, systems development, application development II, and principles of information security and assurance. Two of these courses (application development I and systems design) were new additions; the remaining eight core courses were modified to fit the revised program focus.
  • Computer literacy course developed (CSIS 2101: Computers and Your World). A new computer literacy course was developed under the leadership of Drs. Jorge Perez, M. Meg Murray, and Martha Myers. This course is targeted to increase computer literacy for all KSU students.

 

Improved Computer Laboratory Space

One additional classroom, Room #2005 in the Clendenin Computer Science Building, was reconfigured as a lab/lecture classroom. Forty computers were mounted on a retractable fixture. The classroom maintains its former lecture classroom setting when the computer fixtures are retracted. When the computer fixture is extended the classroom serves as a computer lab.

 

Faculty Lines

Since 2003 two tenure track faculty lines were added: Dr. Pamila Dembla and Dr. Tridib Bandyopadhyay.

 

ABET Accreditation Review

The BSIS program received the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

 (ABET) accreditation in 2004. ABET began accrediting information systems programs in 2002-2003; the KSU BSIS program was among the first in this milestone. Re-accreditation is scheduled for 2009.

 

 

2. Productivity Enhancement since 2003

 

Provide evidence of productivity enhancement of the program since 2003.

 

In fiscal year 2006 the BSIS program ranked in the top-10 in number of graduates at KSU; a position the program maintained for several years. The program has a 30% graduation rate; closely tracking to the 32% average at KSU.

 

Annual number of declared majors and graduates is depicted in the table below. While the program has solid numbers in both metrics faculty recognizes the negative trend. As a result of the DOT COM bust of 2001 many universities around the nation have reported significant drops in computing majors including information systems; at some universities as high as a 70% drop. Considering the national drop the BSIS program at KSU has sustained respectable productivity.

 

Fiscal Year

Declared Majors

Number of Graduates

FY 2003

461

110

FY 2004

404

97

FY 2005

356

94

FY 2006

298

81

 

Faculty is keenly aware of the negative trend. As a result faculty has revised the program curriculum to realign with disciplinary conventions. Activities of the revision are highlighted in the curriculum enhancement section above.

 

The newly created computer literacy course (CSIS 2101: Computers and Your World) has shown strong productivity rates. In a span of two years its enrollment has increased from zero to seven full sections and growing. Some departments across campus are adding this course to their required course list.

 

 

3.  Accomplished action plans and priorities from the 2003 Follow-Up Report

 

Identify the action plans and priorities from the 2003 Follow-Up Report that have been accomplished.

 

  • ABET accreditation

 

 

4.  Incomplete action plans and priorities from the 2003 Follow-Up Report

 

Identify the action plans and priorities from the 2003 Follow-Up Report that still need to be addressed and indicate a timeline for their completion. If specific action plans and priorities have changed since 2003, please explain.

 

  • None. The only action plan and priority set in the 2003 Follow-Up Report, ABET accreditation, was completed.

 

 

5.  Program Viability

 

Address the current status of the program’s viability. If viable, justify whether the program should be sustained, reconfigured, or enhanced.

a.      Indicate how the program advances specific goals and action steps of KSU’s Strategic Plan.

b.      Identify resources needed to strengthen the program’s ability to meet the goals of KSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

c.       If the program is delivered off-campus, please provide a cost analysis of the off-site delivery.

d.      Indicate the resources needed to sustain, reconfigure, or enhance the program’s quality and productivity.

 

In number of degrees awarded the Information Systems Program, through fiscal year 2006, is the highest performer in the College of Science and Mathematics; in the top-10 at KSU. The facts clearly state the viability of the program. Given the recent negative trends, however, faculty has taken a major enhancement action.

a.       Advancing KSU’s Strategic Plan: the information systems program advances KSU’s Strategic Plan. Some examples related to the goals and action plans stated in the KSU Strategic Plan are:

o       KSU Goal 1: to enhance and expand academic programs, action plan. To advance this goal the Information Systems Program has:

o       Reviewed and modified its degree program as described above to assure continued relevance to the needs and interests of students, the state, and the nation.

o       Continually develop online and hybrid courses.

o       KSU Goal 2: to improve retention, progression, and graduation rates while maintaining high quality. To advance this goal the Information Systems Program has:

o       Reorganized its student advising to increase graduation rates.

o       KSU Goal 4: to enhance student life activities and prepare students to be leaders. To advance this goal the Computer Science and Information Systems department has:

o       Participated in faculty travel to China and India. And has began study abroad program to Brazil, China, and Japan.

o       Increased number of students participating in internships and cooperative programs.

b.      Strengthen KSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan: Engaged Global Citizen

o       The Information Systems Program continues to provide global context in many of its courses.

o       Along with the department a concerted study abroad program is emerging that will strengthen KSU’s quality Enhancement Plan.

c.       Off-site delivery: Not Applicable

d.      Resources needed to sustain, reconfigure, or enhance the program’s quality and productivity

o       The number of tenure-track faculty relative to number of declared majors in the Information Systems Program is low, the lowest in the department. Considering the high number of graduates, in the top-10 at KSU in FY2006, additional tenure-track faculty is needed to sustain and enhance the program quality and productivity.