Annual Assessment Report

Program: Accounting Annual Assessment Report Accounting 2015-2016 Lee Bailey, JD, CPA

Annual Assessment Report Program Profile 2014-2015 2015-2016 Majors (total, majors 1,2,3) 20 18 Minors 6 6 Concentrations (Add Rows 9 5 if needed) Full Time Faculty 1.5 Part Time Faculty Program Delivery (HLC 3A3) Traditional on-campus Yes Online Program No Evening Cohort No Analysis Analysis: Changes to the number of accounting majors, minors and concentrations are minimal. Principles of Accounting I classes remain at 25 to 30 with two sections taught each Fall on ground and four sections taught on line with an average of 10 students in each online section. This course services several majors on campus Accounting, Business, MIS, Sports Management, and Equestrian Administration. MBA students who are admitted provisionally without the pre-requisite undergraduate coursework in accounting, often take ACC 240 online. Outside Accreditation The Accounting program at WWU is accredited by the ACBSP as of May 2015. The cycle for review includes a three year quality assurance review and a ten year re-accreditation process.

Program: Accounting Program Action Items Action Item 1: Action steps: Timeline Faculty Responsible Evaluation Include the results of internship evaluations within the Assessment Report. Employer s evaluations should be compiled and summarized and included in this report. 2015-2016 Academic year. Lee Bailey, JD, CPA Action Item 2: Action steps: Timeline Faculty Responsible Improve the students performance on qualitative and quantitative analytical skills. Modify curriculum to better address the students abilities in qualitative and quantitative analytical skills. 2015-2016 Academic year. Lee Bailey, JD, CPA Evaluation Program Objectives 1. Demonstrate a solid basis of knowledge of the law, ethics and economics. 2. Apply quantitative and qualitative skills to accounting and business problems, transferring knowledge from one situation to another. 3. Demonstrate proficiency in the application of spreadsheet and other accounting software. 4. Evaluate issues relating to the basic concepts of payroll, taxation, and auditing 5. Evaluate issues relating to the advanced concepts of financial and managerial accounting. 6. Analyze financial statements and other communications to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a business entity. 7. Determine appropriate career paths based on actual experience obtained in a professional business environment.

Program: Accounting Program Objectives Matrix (from most recent Assessment Plan) Obj. 1 Obj.2 Obj.3 Obj. 4 Obj. 5 Obj. 6 Obj. 7 ACC240 I I ACC241 R I R ACC312 R I R I R ACC319 R R, M, A ACC321 R, M, A ACC322 M R M R ACC343 R ACC390 M-A ACC412 M ACC430 M-A M-A M M-A M-A ACC441 M-A R, M, A BUS214 BUS335 I M BUS415 ECN251 ECN252 R R MAT114 I MIS125 I

Program: Accounting Assessment of Program Objectives Objective 1 Methods Demonstrate a solid basis of knowledge of the law, ethics and economics. 1. Case Study 2. Standardized External Test through Peregrine Academic Services. Benchmark A successful case study is one that shows the student has considered all of the major factors that should be examined in order to solve this issue; within the law, within the boundaries of ethical behavior and showing a consideration for the economic factors that are present. 80% of students will perform at or above the national average on the sections of the test from Peregrine Academic Services that address this objective. (ACC 441) (Assessment Day, external tests, Senior Achievement) Students in ACC 441 Auditing were asked to analyze a company s quantitative and qualitative data to determine the best course of action considering the ethical, legal and economic factors present. Three students completed the assessment exam during their last semester, (ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies) through Peregrine Academic Services that tests their understanding of the law, ethics and economics pertaining to this objective as well as other accounting concepts. Results/Outcomes 66% of the students performed at or above 80% on the Auditing assessment task. Students performed slightly under or over students from other ACBSP accredited institutions on the Peregrine Academic Services Exam. (See Chart Below.) Proposed changes to the assessment process Budget needs related to the objective? The assessment process is working very well through Peregrine. Administration of the exam is a very smooth process. The data available afterwards is amazingly full and complete. The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student.

Objective 2 Methods Apply quantitative and qualitative skills to accounting and business problems, transferring knowledge from one situation to another. 1. Financial Accounting Analysis Problems. 2. Standardized External Test through Peregrine Academic Services. Benchmark Accurate completion of the Financial Accounting Analysis Problems 80% of students will perform at or above the national average on the sections of the test from Peregrine Academic Services that address this objective. (ACC 430) (Peregrine Academic Services) ACC 430 students completed financial analysis tasks. Three students were enrolled in ACC 430 and completed the Peregrine Academic Services Assessment Exam. Results/Outcomes Students who enrolled in ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies completed several financial analysis problems All scores were above 95% for these three students. Students performed slightly under or over students from other ACBSP accredited institutions on the Peregrine Academic Services Exam. (See Chart Below.) Proposed changes to the assessment process Budget needs related to the objective? None The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student.

Objective3 Methods Demonstrate proficiency in the application of spreadsheet and other accounting software. 1. CapSim CompXM examination. Benchmark 2. Standardized External Test through Peregrine Academic Services. 80% of the students will perform at or above the national average on the CapSim CompXM examination. 80% of students will perform at or above the national average on the sections of the test from Peregrine Academic Services that address this objective. (ACC 430) (Peregrine Academic Services Assessment Exam) Three students completed the CapSim software assignments. Three students completed the assessment exam during their last semester, (ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies) through Peregrine Academic Services. Results/Outcomes ACC 430 Students in ACC 430 were asked to master the CapSim software program and to utilize the information that can be attained from this program to create Power Points presentations on various financial aspects of the companies. Students performed slightly under or over students from other ACBSP accredited institutions on the Peregrine Academic Services Exam. (See Chart Below.) Proposed changes to the assessment process Budget needs related to the objective? None The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student.

Objective 4 Evaluate issues relating to the basic concepts of payroll, taxation, and auditing. Methods 1. Case Studies in ACC 321, ACC 319 and ACC 441 2. Standardized External Test through Peregrine Academic Services. Benchmark 80% of the students will complete the case studies pertaining to payroll, taxation and auditing at 90% or above. 80% of students will perform at or above the national average on the sections of the test from Peregrine Academic Services that address this objective. (ACC 321, 319 and 441) (Peregrine Academic Services Assessment Exam) Students in 321, 319 and 441 are asked to prepare tax returns, payroll journal entries and auditing case studies. These courses are not taught every year. ACC 441 was taught in the Spring of 2016. Three students completed the assessment exam during their last semester, (ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies) through Peregrine Academic Services. Results/Outcomes Students enrolled in ACC 441completed an auditing case study of moderate to difficult complexity. Scores for this assessment averaged 82.67%. Students performed slightly under or over students from other ACBSP accredited institutions on the Peregrine Academic Services Exam. (See Chart Below.) Proposed changes to the assessment process Budget needs related to the objective? None The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student.

Objective 5 Methods Benchmark Evaluate issues relating to the advanced concepts of financial and managerial accounting. 1. Financial Accounting Analysis Problems. 2. Standardized External Test through Peregrine Academic Services. 80% of the students will score above 90% on the Financial Accounting Analysis problems. 80% of students will perform at or above the national average on the sections of the test from Peregrine Academic Services that address this objective. (ACC 430) (Peregrine Academic Services Assessment Exam) Three students completed the financial accounting analysis problems within the ACC 430 course. Three students completed the assessment exam during their last semester, (ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies) through Peregrine Academic Services. Results/Outcomes Scores for the financial accounting analysis problems were all above 95%. Students performed slightly under or over students from other ACBSP accredited institutions on the Peregrine Academic Services Exam. (See Chart Below.) Proposed changes to the assessment process Budget needs related to the objective? None The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student.

Objective 6 Methods Benchmark Analyze financial statements and other communications to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a business entity. 1. Create a plan for merging/consolidating two of the CapSim companies. 2. Standardized External Test through Peregrine Academic Services. 80% of the students will perform above 90% on the Merger/Consolidation assignment in the CapSim 80% of students will perform at or above the national average on the sections of the test from Peregrine Academic Services that address this objective. (ACC 430) (Peregrine Academic Three students enrolled in ACC 430 and were asked to complete the financial merger of two companies that were created within the CapSim software exercises. Three students completed the assessment exam during their last semester, (ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies) through Peregrine Academic Services. Services Assessment Exam) Results/Outcomes The mergers recommended by the students in ACC 430 were scored above 90%. Students performed slightly under or over students from other ACBSP accredited institutions on the Peregrine Academic Services Exam. (See Chart Below.) Proposed changes None to the assessment process Budget needs The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student. related to the objective?

Objective 7 Methods Benchmark (ACC 403) Determine appropriate career paths based on actual experience obtained in a professional business environment. A written paper describing their internship experience including job descriptions and other factors that lead to a student s perception of the different career paths open to accountants. Also, the evaluation of the student from the employer is used to determine if our students are capable of contributing to the accounting profession. 100% of the students completing an internship will receive positive evaluations. The student should convey an understanding of several career paths open to accountants and in describing their internship experiences of performing or observing others performing these duties, exhibit an accurate, and practical description of the professional s responsibilities. This course requires the student to complete at least 120 clock hours of experience in an accounting capacity for any company who agrees to allow the student to work and learn in their environment. Students are also required to complete a journal and a summation of their experiences. Five students completed the internship experience. This gave us data from four different companies, both public and private. Results/Outcomes Students who completed internships during the Fall and Spring of 2015-2016 received excellent evaluations from their employers which included Fifth Street Financial, H&R Block and Emerson Electric. Proposed changes to the assessment process Budget needs related to the objective? None The Peregrine exams cost approximately $40 per student. Attach Rubrics and or other explanatory documents pertaining to program assessment discussed in the chart to the report (portfolio guidelines, assignment sheet)

Program: Accounting Table 1 - External, Summative Testing Program Objective Peregrine Computerized Test ACBSP Schools WWU Accounting Majors 2015-2016 Assessment #1Demonstrate a solid basis of knowledge of the law, ethics and economics. Ethics 45.72% Law 56.07% Economics 50.32% Ethics 56.67% Law 36.67% Economics 60% #2Apply quantitative and qualitative skills to accounting and business problems, transferring knowledge from one situation to another. Accounting 59.75% Accounting 63.33% #4Evaluate issues relating to the basic concepts of payroll, taxation and auditing. Auditing 60.40% Auditing 53.33% #5Evaluate issues relating to the advanced concepts of financial and managerial accounting. Accounting 56.8% Accounting 51.4% #6Analyze financial statements and other communications to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a business entity. Business Finance 51.51% Business Finance 53.33% Table 2: ACC 319 Taxation Objective 4 Not assessed in 2015-2016. Evaluate issues relating to the basic concepts of payroll, taxation, and auditing. Table 3: ACC 441 Auditing Students in ACC 441 during the Spring of 2016 did very well on the assessment exercises. The class is very challenging, perhaps the most challenging course of the program. Although overall grades were lower than I would prefer, it was noticed that some students in the course had chosen it as a Business major elective. In the future, this course will only be open to Accounting majors.

Objective 4 Benchmark Results Evaluate issues relating to the basic concepts of payroll, taxation, and auditing. 80% of the students in ACC 441 will score at or above 90% 66% of the students in ACC 441 scored at or above 80% Table 4: Internships Students who major in Accounting at WWU must complete an internship experience during their junior or senior year. The students who completed these internships during the Fall of 2015 and the Spring of 2016 did so at H & R Block, Fifth Street Financial, and Emerson Electric. Students received excellent evaluations from their employers. The evaluations from the students indicated a complex level of accounting tasks and a tremendous amount of knowledge gained regarding the size and type of company that each student would prefer. Program Objective #7 Determine appropriate career paths based on actual experience obtained in a professional business environment. Benchmark 100% of students completing an internship will receive positive evaluations from their employers Results 100% of students completing an internship did receive positive evaluations from their employers. Analysis of Assessment: Law, auditing and advanced accounting are areas that we scored slightly under the average of other ACBSP schools. The internal auditing assessment also resulted in less than favorable results. WWU scored slightly better than these schools in ethics, economics, finance and intermediate accounting. The evaluations from the employers of our students who completed internships were all very favorable as well. The results indicate there is room for improvement in the curriculum. Recent changes regarding the amount of technology within the coursework and the merging of ACC 430 with BUS 450 will take more than one assessment cycle to create positive results. Analysis of the Assessment Process (Empirical & Non-Empirical) (HLC4B3) The accounting program is assessed through an external formative and summative computerized test that is administered by Peregrine Academic Services. These tests are taken at the beginning of the accounting coursework after the students have completed Principles of Accounting I and again at the end of the program in ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies. See Table 1 for Assessment Results.

In addition, the accounting program is assessed through individual assignments (internal, summative) given in ACC 321, ACC 319 and ACC 441. These courses are not taught every year. Results for ACC 441 are listed above. Objective 7 is assessed during the student s internship experience. The Accounting program is a department of one faculty member, but a division of 7, so all decisions are discussed between the faculty member and the Division Chair. In the 2015 and 2016 academic year, the ACBSP Quality Assurance Committee met monthly to discuss assessment and accreditation issues. Program Changes Based on Assessment: ACC 430 Applied Accounting Strategies will be collaborating with BUS 450 to provide accounting consultant services to the Business major capstone course. Also within this course, accounting students will have the opportunity to further their knowledge of computerized accounting software and financial analysis. By providing presentations and other forms of summative coursework, the accounting students will be able to practice pulling together their skills and knowledge of all aspects of accounting. Upper level accounting courses will be offered online and in the evening to provide a better variety of instruction from various CPAs who cannot teach during the day. General Education Assessment: Two of the courses required for an accounting degree also award the student with general education credits; BUS 214 Business Ethics and MAT 114 Elementary Statistics. The general education component of a bachelor s degree from WWU includes courses that improve the students skills and knowledge pertaining to critical analysis, creative expression, quantitative inquiry, and the society. ACC 240, ACC 241, ACC 312, ACC 322, ACC 430, MAT 114, MIS 125 and BUS 415 all address the quantitative inquiry element. ACC 441 furthers the students critical analysis skills. ACC 312, ACC 319, ECN 251 and ECN 252 assist in the students development of their place in society. Program Activities: Student Performance Day Activities (Assessment Day): During Assessment Days, the Accounting Department conducts an outbound assessment of their students who have completed or who are about to complete the capstone course, ACC 430. An inbound assessment test is given to students just beginning their Accounting education. Both of these tests are completed through the Peregrine Academic Assessment Services. The data received this year compared our scores to those of other ACBSP accredited schools. In most instances our students scored above the national average, but in others lightly below. Two areas of concern are law and statistics. The changes made in previous years will continue to show results for the near future.

Assessment Days during 2016 included a Panel Discussion. The Panel was comprised of adjunct faculty and alumni who work in the accounting profession. The students feedback was very positive about this event. Questions centered on assessing the need for further degrees or certification after college, interview techniques etc. Senior Achievement Day Presentations: Senior Achievement Day activities are seldom held within the Accounting program. The Senior Achievement Days occur every semester. They are an opportunity for each major to showcase their students capstone projects. Because of the small number of majors within the Accounting program, we do not offer the capstone course every semester. Therefore, quite often there are no seniors to participate. Students who complete ACC 430 will be demonstrating their achievements with the students from BUS 450 as they collaborate in the future as a result of the merging of ACC 430 and BUS 415. Service Learning Activities: The program mission does not include Service Learning. Our students engage in the community by completing internships at all types of businesses within Missouri as well as other states and countries. Program Sponsored LEAD Events: No LEAD events were sponsored this year from the accounting faculty. Student Accomplishments: Matt Bruno WWU Accounting and MBA graduate was accepted into the FBI. Faculty Accomplishments: None Alumni (Recent Graduates) Accomplishments (past year graduating class): Meagan Sharpe Employed as accountant for ABC Labs. Dyllon Harper Graduate Assistant for WWU Sports. Talia Slosson Unknown.

Program: Accounting Assessment Component Assessment Reflects Best Practices Assessment Meets the Expectations of the University Assessment Needs Development Assessment is Inadequate Learning Objectives Detailed, measurable program learning objectives Objectives are shared with students and faculty Multiple measures are used to assess a studentlearning objectives. Rubrics or guides are used for the measures. All measurements are clearly described. External evaluation of student learning included. All objectives are assessed annually, or a rotation schedule is provided. Data are collected and analyzed to show learning over time. Standards for performance and gaps in student learning are clearly identified. Measurable program learning objectives. Learning objectives are posted on the program website. Assessment measures relate to program learning objectives. Various measures are used to assess student learning. Measures chosen provide useful information about student learning. Program learning objectives are identified and are generally measurable Program learning objectives are not clear or measurable Assessment Measures Assessment focuses on class content only. Minimal description of how the assessment relates to the objective. Minimal assessment measures established. Assessment measures not connected to objectives. Assessment measures are not clear. No assessment measures are established. Assessment Results Most objectives assessed annually. Data collected and analyzed showing an annual snapshot of student learning. Data are used to highlight gaps in student learning. Some data from non-course based content. Data collected for at least one program objective. Data collection is incomplete. Gaps in student learning not identified. Lacking external data to support course data. Learning objectives are not routinely assessed. Routine data is not collected. No discussion on gaps in student learning. No use of external data to support student learning. Assessment data not yet collected. Faculty input is not sought. Conclusions about student learning are not identified. N/A Program recently started or too few graduates to suggest any changes. Faculty Analysis and Conclusions Data is shared that incorporates multiple faculty from the program. Discussions on data results incorporate multiple faculty. Opportunities for adjunct faculty to participate. Includes input from external sources when possible. All assessment methods, timetable for assessing, and evaluating the effectiveness modifications are included. Changes to assessment are inclusive of multiple faculty. Description of changes is detailed and and linked to assessment results. Multiple program faculty receive assessment results. Assessment results are discussed Specific conclusions about student learning are made based on the available assessment results. Minimal faculty input about results is sought Data not used to determine success or not to the objective. Minimal conclusions made. Actions to Improve Learning and Assessment More than one change to assessment is proposed, timetable for assessment, and evaluating the change is provided. Changes to assessment measures is highlighted. Changes are realistic, with a good probability of improving learning or assessment. At least one change to improve learning or assessment is identified. The proposed action(s) relates to faculty conclusions about areas for improvement. Adjustments to the assessment are proposed but not clearly connected to data Lacking actions to improve student learning. Actions discussed lack supportive data. Lacking discussion of the effectiveness of the assessment plan

Additional Comments: Just to make sure I am reading it correctly, the number of students who took the peregrine was only 3? I don t know if you have many December graduates? Or if you would get higher numbers if you did the Peregrine more often? Just curious. Thank you for such complete data provided in the report. The chart from Peregrine is very helpful in that format and it make is easy to see exactly where the issues might be from the scores. The changes being made to the curriculum (combining ACC430 and BUS450) make logical sense and should prove to show an increase in student learning. A natural benefit to the combination is the availability of the course being more often and the class size consisting of enough students to create a stronger learning environment.