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  • 1.  AACSB Assurance of Learning Standards

    Posted 11-01-2006 16:22
    Hello all:

    As I am sure everyone on this list serve is aware there has been a great
    deal of discussion and debate about the new AACSB accreditation
    standards (see below) which do not require specific coursework in the
    area of ethics/social issues in management. However the "Assurance of
    Learning Standards" used in the accreditation process do require
    documentation of student learning in the area of "Ethical understanding
    and reasoning abilities."

    I am not looking to reopen the debate about whether there should be a
    requirement for specific coursework in the field (I think there should
    be). However, because Virginia Tech is among the first schools
    undergoing reaccreditation with these standards, I am trying to figure
    out how to define and then measure "Ethical understanding and reasoning
    abilities." These seem to be a very important issues that many of us
    will be facing and that will have important implications for the field.

    After an initial brainstorming with a colleague, Kevin Carlson, we came
    up with 3 components of this that would be potentially measureable by
    evaluation of case analyses done by students and testing of knowledge of
    key ethics terminology:


    1. The capacity to identify ethical implications of situations
    2. The capacity to reason through the ethical implications of
    situations
    3. The capacity, given a problem with ethical implications, to
    articulate a course of action and provide the ethical
    justifications for the chosen course of action.


    I was wondering if anyone else out there is preparing for
    reaccreditation and is grappling with these same questions. Also, I
    would welcome feedback as to whether or not these seem like the
    reasonable components of "Ethical understanding and reasoning
    abilities."

    People may respond to me individually or over the list serve as you deem
    appropriate.

    AACSB Assurance of Learning Standards follow.



    THE ASSURANCE OF LEARNING STANDARDS

    15: Management of Curricula: The school uses well documented, systematic
    processes to develop, monitor, evaluate, and revise the substance and
    delivery of the curricula of degree programs and to assess the impact of
    the curricula on learning. Curriculum management includes inputs from
    all appropriate constituencies which may include faculty, staff,
    administrators, students, faculty from non-business disciplines, alumni,
    and the business community served by the school.

    The standard requires use of a systematic process for curriculum
    management but does not require any specific courses in the curriculum.
    Normally, the curriculum management process will result in an
    undergraduate degree program that includes learning experiences in such
    general knowledge and skill areas as:
    * Communication abilities.
    * Ethical understanding and reasoning abilities.
    * Analytic skills.
    * Use of information technology.
    * Multicultural and diversity understanding.
    * Reflective thinking skills.


    Thanks, Rich

    Richard E. Wokutch
    Pamplin Professor and Head
    Department of Management
    Pamplin College of Business
    2007 Pamplin Hall
    Virginia Tech
    Blacksburg, VA 24061 (0233)

    ph: (540) 231-6353
    fax: (540) 231-3076

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

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    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1


  • 2.  AACSB Assurance of Learning Standards

    Posted 11-01-2006 16:50

    Rich,

    Have you seen the AACSB books on Assessment of Student Learning? Chapter 9 of V1#1 is "Learning in Business Ethics Course" by Timothy Fogarty at Case. Among other things, the article includes some specific objectives, ideas about measurement methods, and an illustrative rubric. I have not tried to use these ideas, but perhaps you'll find something of interest to help you move from your current thinking to being able to say with confidence that your students are actually learning what they ought to be learning.

    Kathy


    Kathleen Getz
    Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
    Kogod School of Business
    American University
    Washington, DC  20016-8044
    202-885-1998
    http://www.kogod.american.edu/


    "Wokutch, Richard" <wokutch@vt.edu>
    Sent by: Social Issues in Management Listserv <SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>

    11/01/2006 04:22 PM

    Please respond to
    "Wokutch, Richard" <wokutch@vt.edu>
    To
    		SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    cc
    Subject
    		[SIM] AACSB Assurance of Learning Standards





    Hello all:

    As I am sure everyone on this list serve is aware there has been a great
    deal of discussion and debate about the new AACSB accreditation
    standards (see below) which do not require specific coursework in the
    area of ethics/social issues in management.  However the "Assurance of
    Learning Standards" used in the accreditation process do require
    documentation of student learning in the area of "Ethical understanding
    and reasoning abilities."

    I am not looking to reopen the debate about whether there should be a
    requirement for specific coursework in the field (I think there should
    be).  However, because Virginia Tech is among the first schools
    undergoing reaccreditation with these standards, I am trying to figure
    out how to define and then measure "Ethical understanding and reasoning
    abilities."  These seem to be a very important issues that many of us
    will be facing and that will have important implications for the field.

    After an initial brainstorming with a colleague, Kevin Carlson, we came
    up with 3 components of this that would be potentially measureable by
    evaluation of case analyses done by students and testing of knowledge of
    key ethics terminology:


    1.                 The capacity to identify ethical implications of situations
    2.                 The capacity to reason through the ethical implications of
    situations
    3.                 The capacity, given a problem with ethical implications, to
    articulate a course of action and provide                  the ethical
    justifications for the chosen course of action.


    I was wondering if anyone else out there is preparing for
    reaccreditation and is grappling with these same questions.  Also, I
    would welcome feedback as to whether or not these seem like the
    reasonable components of "Ethical understanding and reasoning
    abilities."  

    People may respond to me individually or over the list serve as you deem
    appropriate.

    AACSB Assurance of Learning Standards follow.



    THE ASSURANCE OF LEARNING STANDARDS

    15: Management of Curricula: The school uses well documented, systematic
    processes to develop, monitor, evaluate, and revise the substance and
    delivery of the curricula of degree programs and to assess the impact of
    the curricula on learning. Curriculum management includes inputs from
    all appropriate constituencies which may include faculty, staff,
    administrators, students, faculty from non-business disciplines, alumni,
    and the business community served by the school.

    The standard requires use of a systematic process for curriculum
    management but does not require any specific courses in the curriculum.
    Normally, the curriculum management process will result in an
    undergraduate degree program that includes learning experiences in such
    general knowledge and skill areas as:
    * Communication abilities.
    * Ethical understanding and reasoning abilities.
    * Analytic skills.
    * Use of information technology.
    * Multicultural and diversity understanding.
    * Reflective thinking skills.


    Thanks, Rich

    Richard E. Wokutch
    Pamplin Professor and Head
    Department of Management
    Pamplin College of Business
    2007 Pamplin Hall
    Virginia Tech
    Blacksburg, VA 24061 (0233)

    ph: (540) 231-6353
    fax: (540) 231-3076

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    _______________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________