University of South Carolina Columbia
Act 629 - Summary Reports on Institutional Effectiveness
Fiscal Year 2001 - 2002

Geography, BA, BS, MA, MS, PhD

Assessment methods/instruments used in the undergraduate programs include: transcript analysis, capstone course assessment, exit interviews and alumni surveys. Because of student and alumni concerns, faculty have modified the requirements for the undergraduate major to make sure that students interested in geographical techniques will be able to complete the requirements. In particular, faculty are making sure that each of the 500 level technique courses are offered on at least a three semester cycle. Faculty have also changed the approach to air photo interpretation to have a considerable digital component. This will make it a better introduction to the 500 level remote sensing course.

Assessment methods/instruments used in the graduate programs include: monitor transcripts, monitor professional activity, thesis defense, comprehensive examination and alumni surveys. It was learned from the alumni survey that graduates did not feel "connected" to the department. The department now publishes semiannual newsletters that inform graduates about events in the department. At the same time faculty solicit information about alumni. The department faculty have reconciled mailing lists from the alumni office with their own. They have implemented a new procedure through the departmental web site to obtain the information. Faculty have also requested copies of business cards from alumni. These are new procedures that have greatly improved the faculty's ability to keep in touch with the graduates of all programs.