College of Liberal Arts

Italian

PROGRAM ASSESSMENT

Qualitative and Quantitative Information Collected from Portfolios and Exit Interviews

Several years ago we attempted to initiate a portfolio system within our graduate degree programs. It proved to be cumbersome and not as informative as we had expected, so we abandoned it. It is not our practice to conduct exit interviews with graduating seniors, graduate students or departing faculty. There simply is not enough time for faculty to do so, given all the administrative duties and committee work that they must perform.

Degree Completion Ratio

Our advisors report that many - a significant majority - of students who graduate as Italian majors started their undergraduate careers in other disciplines. Similarly, many students who declare an Italian major at some point in their careers move on to other major programs, where they either do or do not eventually graduate. At present it is impossible to compile any specific data by which to compile a statistical report. We are, however, in the process of establishing a coordinated information-gathering process to address this issue.

Average Time to Completion

Our advisors estimate that our major's average undergraduate careers are probably consistent with the national average for all majors (about five years).

Percent of Graduates Employed in Our Field(s)

We have no demonstrable "field." Graduating Italian majors use their cultural and linguistic knowledge in a wide variety of professional areas, primarily in the business community, the social services area and public and private education.

Results of Program Assessment, Standardized or Licensing Exams

Standardized or licensing exams do not apply. Our own program assessments in recent years have led to important intemal reforms, most notably new graduate curricula and comprehensive exams, revised tenure and promotion criteria, and revised student evaluation forms.

Alumni Satisfaction with the Program

No data is available. One of our immediate goals is to establish a DSIP Newsletter that will serve as a link with our alumni and recent master’s degree candidates.

How This Information Has Been Used for Program Improvement

The Department's faculty have always made an effort to keep abreast of scholarly and pedagogical advances in their respective fields, likewise, they have initiated program assessments, almost always without any stimulus, to improve the internal workings of the department and its various programs.