Direct Measures
The department now has two capstone courses. CSIS 496 Seminar in Computer Science is the capstone course for Computer Science majors, CS Comprehensive majors, and Airway CS majors. CSIS 497 Seminar in Computer Information Systems is the capstone course for Computer Information Systems majors and CIS Comprehensive majors.
Students in the capstone courses produce software packages or equivalent products of a marketable quality while demonstrating the ability to work with team members, to analyze, design, program and maintain a system, and to use the tools of the field. The latter includes selection of and proficiency in appropriate computer languages, computer assisted software engineering tools, operating environments, and project management software. Student teams work with a client, either from on campus or from off campus. Students are also required to demonstrate professionalism while engaging in the work of their team, interacting with their client, and presenting the team's results upon completion of the project.
Clients will be are asked to assess the quality of the work completed by the students and the professionalism of those students as they interact with the client.
Capstones courses will culminate in formal presentations to which the entire campus community is invited. Oral questions and written evaluations will be solicited from all present. The faculty members will then evaluate the projects and suggest any program upgrade that is indicated.
The faculty will maintain contact with employers and prospective employers of our alumni to determine what could be improved upon to better prepare students to be more successful both in the job interview process and in adapting to their new work environments. Recruiters and employers who come to campus to interview prospective students will be asked to complete the employer/recruiter survey.
Indirect Measures
Once each semester the student ACM chapter sponsors an open forum attended by CSIS students and faculty. The forum allows for a free-flowing exchange of ideas regarding curriculum and other issues. This activity allows undergraduate students to discuss issues that affect them while they are still in the program. Students will be surveyed at this forum to determine their degree of satisfaction with their progress toward the learning objectives of the department.
All graduates will be surveyed 1 year and 5 years after their graduation to assess their preparedness for the career or graduate study they pursued after graduation.
Assessment Cycle:
Data for each of the measures in the Assessment Plan will be collected each year. An analysis of the data will be conducted every three years. The analysis report will be filed in October 2007 for 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and each subsequent cycle. During the data collection cycle, the annual report will consist of a listing of the measures administered and either number of students participating or scores.