Accounting and Finance
Welcome to the Accounting and Finance webpage. On this page you'll find the mission of the department, departmental student learning goals, a curricular map and assessment schedule, and progress made from the most recent Program Review Action Plan (2016-2017). If you have questions about the assessment findings or questions about the department, please contact Steve Welch, Accounting and Finance Department Chair, at [email protected].
MISSION
The Accounting and Finance Department's mission is to educate accountants and finance professionals who are prepared for a dynamic and changing world.
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS
Goal 1: Technical Knowledge
Students will demonstrate proficiency in the application of accounting and finance principles and procedures through the study and use of underlying conceptual standards, policies and accepted practices.
Goal 2: Research and data analysis, including leveraging technology
Students will demonstrate their competence in accounting and finance research and data analysis by gathering financial data and leveraging available resources and technology.
Goal 3: Critical Thinking
Students will show a strong ability to think critically about accounting, finance and business issues and make solid assessments and recommendations based on that analysis.
Goal 4: Oral and written communication
Students will demonstrate competence in presenting effective written and oral analysis of business issues, including the ability to consider their audience.
Goal 5: Interpersonal and teamwork skills
Students will demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to function effectively in the workplace, demonstrating effective social behavior in a variety of settings, inspiring group cooperation and support, and making and keeping commitments to others.
Goal 6: Technology proficiency
Students will demonstrate effective utilization of technology in their analyses of accounting, finance and business issues.
CURRICULAR MAP and ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
|
Student Learning Goals and Objectives |
Assessment cycle |
2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | |||||||||
|
Goal Category |
Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | Fall | Spr. | |
|
Goal 1: Technical Knowledge |
To be rotated between Fall and Spring semesters, every year | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||
|
Goal 2: Research and data analysis, |
Spring semesters every other year | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
| Goal 3: Critical Thinking |
Because of prior, low assessment results on critical thinking skills, |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||
|
Goal 4: Oral and written communication |
Fall, every other year |
x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
|
Goal 5: Interpersonal and teamwork skills |
Spring, every other year |
x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
|
Goal 6: Technology proficiency |
Fall, every other year |
x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
|
2 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
Goal 1: Technical Knowledge
Objective: Students will demonstrate proficiency in the application of accounting and finance principles and procedures through the study and use of underlying conceptual standards, policies and accepted practices.
Assessment Approach-direct methods:
Principles 1 and 2 and Corporate Finance lay the technical foundation for the accounting and finance courses which follow.
Courses which introduce unique technical knowledge include Audit, Tax, and Governmental.
Include a series of specified embedded assessment questions in the final exam. Questions will be repeated in the senior exit exam for purposes of follow-up.
Classes in which goal is to be assessed:
Accounting technical knowledge: 325, 326, 338
Finance technical knowledge: 315, 320, 360, 361
Specific technical knowledge: 330, 332, 355
Goal 2: Research and data analysis, including leveraging technology
Objective: Students will demonstrate their competence in accounting and finance research and data analysis by gathering financial data and leveraging available resources and technology.
Assessment Approach-direct methods:
The focus here will be on a project-based assessment.
A significant project will be included in each class listed at right that includes a significant requirement for data gathering, use of technology and analysis. In addition to regular course grading, instructor will grade project using departmental assessment rubric.
Classes in which goal is to be assessed: 320, 395, 396
Goal 3: Critical Thinking
Objective: Students will show a strong ability to think critically about accounting, finance and business issues and make solid assessments and recommendations based on that analysis.
Assessment Approach-direct methods:
We need to build a strong foundation for critical thinking, beginning with Principles 1 and culminating in the Capstones.
Permissible assessment techniques include projects, written or oral presentations, or a series of essay questions. Each professor will analyze the results of the chosen assessment technique and summarize the results using the department critical thinking assessment tool.
Classes in which goal is to be assessed: Every class
Goal 4: Oral and written communication
Objective: Students will demonstrate competence in presenting effective written and oral analysis of business issues, including the ability to consider their audience.
Assessment Approach-direct methods:
Strong communication skills set accountants apart. We currently underemphasize oral communication skills in our curriculum.
Using oral presentation and written communication rubrics, for classes listed at right, professor will grade a class project or homework assignment.
For all other classes, professors will prepare a list of the required oral and written communication elements of their course syllabus and class work, and identify enhancements made over prior years. This will be used to review the emphasis placed in our courses on these important skills and to share ideas to help students develop these critical competencies.
Classes in which goal is to be assessed:
Specific assessment: 210, 333, 353
Goal 5: Interpersonal and teamwork skills
Objective: Students will demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to function effectively in the workplace, demonstrating effective social behavior in a variety of settings, inspiring group cooperation and support, and making and keeping commitments to others.
Assessment Approach-direct methods:
Our classes have varying levels of significant group projects. For the classes listed at right, professors will review the dynamics of successful group projects with their classes, including the establishment of defined student roles for group work.
Assessment techniques will include pre- and post student self-assessment, evaluation of fellow group members by peers, and faculty evaluation of group dynamics and results.
Classes in which goal is to be assessed: 310, 331, 395, 396
Goal 6: Technology proficiency
Objective: Students will demonstrate effective utilization of technology in their analyses of accounting, finance and business issues.
Assessment Approach-direct methods:
There are a host of important technologies that accounting and finance professionals will use in their career. We will emphasize the following:
- Excel
- Access
- Rule codifications: CCH/BNA, FASB Codification, GASB codification, AICPA professional standards
- Financial data extraction, including XBRL, SEC – Edgar, and Morningstar and/or Hoovers
We will begin assessment activities for this goal in the introductory courses to elevate the importance of this goal.
Using assignments and timed technology problems, asses the students’ ability to effectively utilize technology.
Classes in which goal is to be assessed:
111 & 112: Baseline Excel competencies
325: Intermediate Excel competencies
310: Assess financial data extraction baseline competencies
333: Assess intermediate Excel competencies
340: Assess Access basic competencies
326, 332 and 355: Assess FASB, Tax and AICPA tool competencies
333 and 340: Assess financial data extraction basic competencies