HCoB Final FroshAdmissions_GPA_BusMinor_Proposal_0908

REQUEST TO COLLEGE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE FOR CURRICULAR IMPROVEMENTS DEPARTMENT: BUS PROPOSED EFFECTIVE SEMESTER: Fall 2009 COLLEGE: Haworth College of Business PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS Academic Program Substantive Course Changes Misc Course Changes New degree* New course Title New major* Pre or Co-requisites Description (attach current & proposed) New curriculum* Deletion (required by others) Deletion (not required by others) New concentration* Course #, different level Course #, same level New certificate Credit hours Variable credit New minor X Enrollment restriction Credit/no credit Revised major Course-level restriction Cross-listing Revised minor Prefix Title and description COGE reapproval X Admission requirements (attach current & proposed) Other (explain**) Graduation requirements General education (select one) Deletion Transfer Not Applicable Other (explain**) Other (explain**) ** Other:       Title of degree, curriculum, major, minor, concentration, or certificate: Existing course prefix and #: N/A Proposed course prefix and #: N/A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Existing course prefix and #: N/A Credit hours: N/A Existing course title: N/A Proposed course title: N/A Existing course prerequisite & co-requisite(s): N/A Proposed course prerequisite(s): N/A Proposed course co-requisite(s): None Proposed course prerequisite(s) that can also be taken concurrently: Is there a minimum grade for the prerequisites or corequisites? N/A No The default grades are D for undergraduates and C for graduates Major/minor or classification restrictions: This proposal has two components: A The minimum number of credit hours to be completed for admission to the Haworth College of Business (HCoB) Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program would be lowered from 48 to 26 credit hours with inclusion of specific courses and general education areas B The minimum grade point average (GPA) for admission to the BBA program would be increased from 2.5 to 2.75 For 5000 level prerequisites & corequisites: Do these apply to: (circle one) undergraduates graduates both Specifications for University Schedule of Classes: a Course title (maximum of 30 spaces): b Multi-topic course: Yes c Repeatable for credit: N/A X N/A N/A d Mandatory credit/no credit: N/A e Type of class and contact hours per week (check type and indicate hours as appropriate) N/A Lecture    Lecture/lab/discussion Independent study Lab or discussion Seminar or studio Revised May 2007 All previous forms are obsolete and should not be used Supervision or practicum CIP Code (Registrar’s use only): Chair/Director Date       Chair, College Curriculum Committee Date       Dean David Shields Date: Curriculum Manager: Return to dean Date       Graduate Dean: Forward to: Date       Date       Chair, COGE/ PEB / FS President FOR PROPOSALS REQUIRING GSC/USC REVIEW: Date       * Approve Disapprove Chair, GSC/USC Date       * Approve Disapprove Provost Date       Explain briefly and clearly the proposed improvement This proposal has two components A The minimum number of credit hours to be completed for admission to the Haworth College of Business (HCoB) Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program would be lowered from 48 to 26 credit hours The following must be among the 26 hours: - BUS 1750 - BCM 1420 - CIS 1020 - MATH 1160 or higher - General Education Area II: Humanities - General Education Area V: Behavioral Science (in addition to BUS 1750) - General Education Area VII: Natural Science and Technology This proposal continues the existing requirement that students earn at least a “C” grade in BUS 1750, BCM 1420, CIS 1020, and MATH 1160 (or program requirement) but makes this mandatory prior to admission The requirement that a student earn a “C” also continues for the students’ sophomore level courses after admission: STAT 2160, ECON 2010, ECON 2020, ACTY 2100, ACTY 2110, and General Education Area V: Behavioral Science B The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for admission to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program would be raised from a 2.5 to a 2.75 Both components will be reevaluated two years after implementation and regularly thereafter Rationale Give your reason(s) for the proposed improvement (If your proposal includes prerequisites, justify those, too.) A Admission after 26 credit hours would ensure that students in 2000 level BBA-required classes shared a common, declared interest in business as a major and a common body of knowledge, as identified by the four designated 1000 level pre-requisites The required 1000-level classes are currently taken in a freshman’s first year, and General Education Area V is required as part of the pre-business administration (PBA) curriculum The additional General Education requirements in Area II and VII represent the broad background necessary for business success and allow a student some individualization within the first year of the program B The 2.75 cumulative GPA requirement would provide students in 2000-level classes with a more academically homogeneous student body These students would have proven themselves academically and could be expected to manage the more challenging 2000-level material at a common pace Those who maintain a GPA near the WMU university average GPA of 2.81 after 26 credit hours have a greater probability of completing the more challenging 2000-level courses successfully and finishing in four years Such a GPA criterion is also expected to help improve our Educational Benchmarking (EBI) rankings on “Characteristics of Fellow Classmates,” which is currently 5/7 among our “Select 6” institutions In addition, students who are weighing the competitive benefits of attending either WMU or Grand Valley State University will find that the Seidman College at GVSU admits students who have a 2.75 cumulative GPA but after 55 credit hours The slight increase in GPA is expected to diminish the number of students by approximately 130 students per year This reduction would allow: - A gradual decrease in class size for at least one section of MKTG 2500, MGMT 2500, BUS 3750, and LAW 3800, four of the thirteen required business courses that currently enroll at least one group of 350 students per semester of each academic year Reduced class sizes would provide an opportunity for experiential learning and classroom discussions in which to practice critical thinking skills Evaluation methods could be broadened from multiple-choice to short answer or essay examinations, consistent with the university’s intention to foster writing skills in the baccalaureate program Simulations and case studies that develop problem-solving skills and verbal communication abilities would also be possible Both written and verbal communication abilities, as well as problem-solving skills, are highly desired by employers, and therefore, are of benefit to students - More certainty for BBA students currently enrolled in the program that classes will be available so they can graduate in four years, as agreed under the Western Edge compact agreements - An improvement in student:faculty ratio, now at 46:1, the highest among our peer, competitor, or aspirant schools, as shown on The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) website Most of the comparison schools have a student:faculty ratio of approximately 35:1 or less, which would allow more attention to students’ individual learning needs Without a reduced number of incoming students, HCoB’s student:faculty ratio is expected to increase further as the 20% of HCoB faculty now over age 60 retire in increasing numbers in the next few years The ratios are a factor in our accreditation, which is due for renewal in Spring 2009 - “Enhanced advising,” as promised by the Western Edge, would be more feasible than under the current ratio of students to Academic Advisors of 1250:1 This ratio also exceeds any of our aspirant, competitor, or peer schools, and is far above the National Association of Academic Advisors’ recommended ratio of 350:1 Effect on other colleges, departments or programs If consultation with others is required, attach evidence of consultation and support If objections have been raised, document the resolution Demonstrate that the program you propose is not a duplication of an existing one A Admission of students after 26 credit hours would have little or no effect on other colleges, departments, or programs B A required cumulative GPA of 2.75 instead of the current 2.5 is expected to have one of four possible effects on HCoB, and on other colleges, departments, or programs These perceived effects may be viewed as the following potential scenarios that have likelihoods as follows I Very few students get into HCoB: Very unlikely Students will be informed of the requirements when they register for their first classes at freshmen orientation in June 2009 Parents will also be informed Evidence based on historical GPA’s suggests about 80% of freshmen will succeed Those who are motivated to study business are likely to strive to meet the requirements and gain entry, resulting in possible effect II II Everyone gets into HCOB upon admission: Unlikely In this scenario, forewarned students are expected to easily meet the requirements, resulting in more students than ever before gaining admission to HCoB However, as many freshmen enjoy their independence and struggle with time management during their first semester (or first year), this scenario is unlikely The average GPA for freshman is 2.81; thus, historical evidence across the university suggests that most incoming students will have a 2.75 GPA after their first year However, those who are motivated to study business are likely to strive to prove themselves, earn the benefit of a solid GPA base, and enjoy a more secure “good standing” status as they tackle more challenging nd year coursework Motivated students and higher GPA’s bode well for retention II Everyone gets in to HCoB eventually: Possible but ill-advised Students who not achieve a 2.75 after 26 credit hours may simply retake classes (up to times) until they achieve the necessary grades A student who earns a “D” could retake it and raise a lagging GPA Advisors who become aware of a student repeating more than one course might initiate a discussion on the student’s interest and motivation for the program In this scenario, the HCoB enrollment might increase briefly in 1000-level courses as students re-enroll to raise their GPA’s However, such an increase would be temporary, modest, and have little effect on other colleges Students who have to retake a number of courses to meet the 2.75 GPA may experience difficulty attaining the four requisite “C” grades in ACTY 2100 & 2110, ECON 2010 & 2020 & STAT 2160, all of which are required courses that many students regard as “more challenging.” We believe it is more appropriate to narrow the applicant field early to those students who are more likely to succeed than to allow more students to continue to enroll and spend limited resources on a program that is not well suited for them IV Approximately 21% (about 130) freshmen are denied admission to HCoB: Very likely, as shown by historical (static) data Based on the GPA’s of Fall 2007 pre-Business students, 20.9% would not meet the 2.75 GPA requirement after 26 credit hours, although they would meet a 2.5 GPA (HCoB’s current admission standard; see table and methodology at end of proposal However, such data are only accurate at a given point in time; we cannot predict what a motivated student who is forewarned of the higher GPA requirement would In fact, the decrease in students could be notably less than 21%, due to potential implications of both effect III and IV Static data of actual business students’ past performance is the best indicator we have that 20.9% will pursue an alternate major, and could be helped to find a major at WMU that is not currently over-enrolled, and take a business minor that helps them fill a unique job market niche (see Effect on Departments or programs, below) Instead of leaving the university, we believe it most likely that the majority of the expected 21% of students who not earn a 2.75 GPA will stay at WMU and pursue a major in another college, as they will have spent their first year learning what WMU has to offer, forming bonds with other students, and enjoying Kalamazoo While it is outside the college’s purview to tell these students what major they should pursue, HCOB Office of Advising and Admissions can encourage students who are struggling with the coursework to identify a major that better fits their interests, personality, and values Students could save time and resources by identifying their major at this early stage of their academic careers with the resources available through the Career & Student Employment Services in Ellsworth Hall, or by enrolling in a one-credit hour elective to help them interpret their results and find their “best fit” career (e.g., UNIV 1020) The above scenarios would vary in their effect(s) on other colleges We will focus here on effect IV, which would have the most impact on other colleges Students who obtain a cumulative GPA of >2.0 but 2.0 GPA after 26 credit hours The example majors are shown here because all are applicable to understanding the world in which business is conducted and because they could provide the student with a unique disciplinary background that, in combination with the new business minor, provides a unique combination of skills and abilities that could help the student find a satisfying career Other effects: Specific departments within the College of Arts & Science may be affected Under anticipated effect IV (above), 79% of the usual number of freshmen will be admitted to the business program after 26 hours Many of these students will not have taken Economics 2010 and 2020 and Statistics 2160 However, all BBA students will continue to be required to take STAT 2160, ECON 2010 and 2020 Thus, BBA students will take Statistics 2160, and Economics 2010 and 2020 after admission to the business program, rather than prior to entry Those three courses may experience some drop in enrollment, consistent with the expected decline of approximately 130 students per academic year in the BBA program (effect IV) We plan to encourage students who intend to major in Accountancy, Finance or Economics to take Economics 2010 in the second semester of their freshmen year The Economics faculty could take advantage of this early course enrollment to recruit more Economics students Other uncertainties in predicting any change in enrollment include the effect of catalog year (see #5), and the effect of transfer students (see #11) Effect on your department’s programs Show how the proposed change fits with other departmental offerings A Students admitted after 26 credit hours: See #5, below Also, if component A is enacted without B, more students would be admitted to program than currently are admitted, as indicated by WMU average GPA of 2.81 after freshman year Without component B, all of the following would increase: Average class size for BBA students; current large class size in several classes; student: faculty ratio; advisor: student ratio B Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 including specific courses completed among >26 credit hours Depending on the chosen scenario (see #3, B above), different effects would follow: I: Very few students admitted: Average class size would be reduced; auditorium sections would be unlikely II: Everyone is admitted: The following could increase: Number of auditorium sections; average class size; student: faculty& advisor ratios Accreditation would be unlikely III: Everyone admitted eventually: Minimal change to program; accreditation would be unlikely IV: About 21% of students are denied: Ratios of students: faculty, and students: advisors would improve; class sizes could be reduced WMU and the HCoB could reclaim reputation as an excellent teaching, as well as research, institution Other possibilities for the long term are that better students who are interested in attending a college where the student body is more academically homogeneous may be attracted to WMU and overall applications will increase Effects on enrolled students: Are program conflicts avoided? Will your proposal make it easier or harder for students to meet graduation requirements? Can students complete the program in a reasonable time? Show that you have considered scheduling needs and demands on students’ time If a required course will be offered during summer only, provide a rationale Effect on PBA enrolled students who have a 2.75 GPA in 2009: “Moving up” catalog year: Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2009 and have attained a GPA >2.75 may choose to “move up” their catalog year of WMU admission to a selected later year (e.g., Fall 2009) and have the later admission criteria apply Students may perceive the advantage of moving up as being assured of BBA admission (under Fall 2009 criteria) without having to complete quantitatively-oriented courses (such as ACTY 2100 and 2110, STAT 2160, and ECON 2010 and 2020) while meeting the 2.5 required GPA We expect the number of students taking this option to be = 48 then delete the row This step eliminates the semesters that occur after the student first meets the 48 credit hour requirement The remaining rows are associated with the semester when the students first meet the 48 credit hour requirement The AccumGPAs are analyzed using traditional statistical analysis Limitations of the Analysis The analysis does not include students with transfer credits Reason: Although transfer credit data were provided, transfer GPA’s are available for only a portion of the transfer credits Consequently, it is not possible to determine the GPA that transfer students would have at 48, 30, or 26 credit hours The data not take into account courses that students take for credit rather than a grade Students might decide to defer application to HCOB until a later semester than the one in which they initially meet the minimum credit hour requirement  ... learning needs Without a reduced number of incoming students, HCoB? ??s student:faculty ratio is expected to increase further as the 20% of HCoB faculty now over age 60 retire in increasing numbers... gets into HCOB upon admission: Unlikely In this scenario, forewarned students are expected to easily meet the requirements, resulting in more students than ever before gaining admission to HCoB However,... attempts to proactively and rationally control HCoB? ??s enrollment and avoid having closed classes drive students away, which could damage not only HCoB? ??s reputation but also that of WMU Effects