Using External Guidance

The faculty has the responsibility for setting the learning goals for degrees.  However, they need not, indeed they should not, operate in an isolated fashion on a task so critical to success of the school in meeting its mission.  External constituencies can inject expertise and perspectives into the process that will be unavailable if the faculty operates alone. 

For business degrees, the business community provides valuable information about critical skills and knowledge for graduates.  Major employers of graduates and corporate advisory groups give information about the situations most often faced by graduates and view the learning goals of the school from the perspective of persons who must put knowledge into practice on a daily basis.  They also may provide insight into trends and anticipated demands on graduates, thus assisting in curricular revision toward future needs. 

University expertise outside of the business school can also be a valuable resource.  Faculty in language and area studies, communications, social sciences, law, information technology, and other disciplines can share information about the latest research of their disciplines, how it is best taught, and how business graduates may utilize it. 

Students and recent graduates of degree programs can provide their insights into strengths and weaknesses of the educational experience provided by the business degree programs.  Faculty may incorporate those ideas into the work of shaping the set of learning goals.

The definition of learning goals must be developed at each member institution to fit the characteristics, circumstances, and mission of the institution and its business degree programs.  The definition of learning goals is the first step toward the development of a program of assurance of learning.  This first step answers the question, "Assurance of learning of what?"  Once this first step has been completed, the faculty can begin its work on the final question of an assurance of learning program, "How do we demonstrate that we are accomplishing our learning goals?"  The following discussion provides suggestions for demonstrating learning accomplishment.