Program Evaluation
We have established a formal mechanism to involve our constituencies in a continuous process of
- defining and evaluating the educational objectives
- evaluating the level of achievement of the program objectives
- recommending as needed, changes either in the curriculum, or even in the educational objectives themselves
At the heart of this process is the MSE Curriculum Assessment Committee (CAC). Because of the small size of the program, this committee includes all the MSE faculty members, with Professor William Johns as the coordinator. The CAC reviews and evaluates the Program Educational Objectives on a continuing basis. It collects the needed data for this purpose, processes them and submits an annual Report to the MME Undergraduate Studies Committee (USC) along with recommendations for changes that need to be implemented. However, major curricular changes and revisions of objectives themselves (if found necessary) suggested by this annual evaluation process, are considered for implementation usually over a 3-5 year cycle (The "Outer Loop") when sufficiently clear data trends are detected.
The CAC also assesses and reports on a continuous basis, the Program Outcomes and makes recommendations for short-term changes in the Program based on its findings. External surveys as well as several internal reviews are used as "tools" in this Outcomes Assessment process. The curriculum changes recommended by the CAC in this case are usually effected on a 1-year time-scale ("The Inner Loop").
The Curriculum Review process consisting of both the loops is shown in the schematic below.
A student studies in Todd Atrium