School of Business

School of Business

Assurance of Learning (AoL)

As an AACSB-accredited institution, Central Connecticut State University's School of Business is committed to assuring that our graduates enter the workforce with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and competencies. The Assurance of Learning processes that our school has in place make sure that the school is in compliance with both AACSB and NEASC standards.

Overview of Undergraduate AoL Process

The School of Business offers five undergraduate degrees, which share a unified core. The degrees are in Accounting, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing. Our faculty assess students' learning on four learning goals with a total of eight learning objectives (see Table 1).

Table 1. Undergraduate degree program learning goals and objectives

Critical and Analytical Thinking (CA)

  1. Apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze business data and interpret results to support decision-making. 
  2. Formulate and justify a recommended solution to a complex business problem. 
  3. Analyze the credibility, relevance, reliability, and limitations of sources used to support business arguments. 

 Social and Ethical Responsibility (SE) 

  1. Identify and analyze ethical dilemmas in business contexts, considering relevant stakeholders and potential consequences. 
  2. Assess the societal, environmental, and economic impacts of business decisions and justify responsible courses of action. 

Communication Skills (COM) 

  1. Communicate professionally in oral and written formats by tailoring content, structure, and tone to purpose and audience. 
  2. Strategically apply digital communication tools to craft and adapt business messages across platforms and audiences. 

Business Knowledge and Technology (BK)

  1. Demonstrate understanding of core business functions and their interrelationships in real-world contexts. 
  2. Apply business technology and analytical tools to develop data-driven solutions that enhance strategic and operational decision-making in a global business environment. 

Assessment takes place during each student's senior year. Students enroll in a zero-credit course (BUS 480), graded as pass-fail. Six of the eight objectives are assessed in this class. The remaining two learning objectives are assessed within MGT 480, a course required of all students in their senior year. BUS 480 is offered as a required co-requisite to MGT 480, to ensure that all students are assessed just before they graduate. This ensures that our process captures all students – including transfer students – at the appropriate stage of their academic careers.

In BUS 480, students are required to complete two hours of assessment activities, including both objective and subjective measures, in a classroom setting using Blackboard. All full-time faculty are able to evaluate students' work in Blackboard, using standard rubrics. Blackboard is an assessment and e-portfolio system.

Once students' artifacts are scored, the results are shared with faculty task forces (one for each learning goal). Those task forces analyze the data and present their findings to all faculty at the School's annual assessment retreat. Faculty then discuss how to improve student learning for each of the objectives. The faculty vote on possible solutions and take action to ensure continuous improvement in student learning.

Overview of MBA AoL Process

The School of Business offers an MBA program with five specializations/tracks: accounting, finance, business analytics, supply chain analytics, and central track. The faculty assess student learning on four learning goals with a total of six learning objectives (see Table 2).

Table 2. MBA degree program learning goals and objectives

Competency: Knowledge & Technology (KT)

  1. Students will evaluate the applicability and limitations of multiple business frameworks in solving a strategic business challenge and justify a recommended course of action. 
  2. Students will integrate data from multiple systems or technologies to support a strategic recommendation for a cross-functional business decision. 

 Critical Thinking (CT)

  1. Students will critically analyze multifaceted business problems, incorporating financial, operational, and ethical considerations to identify core issues. 
  2. Students will develop and justify a solution to a complex business problem by comparing strategic alternatives and supporting their recommendation with quantitative and qualitative data. 

 Communication (COM)

  1. Students will construct a persuasive business report or executive summary that clearly conveys analytical findings, strategic recommendations, and justifications to a defined stakeholder group. 
  2. Students will deliver a professional oral presentation that uses data visualization and executive-level messaging to communicate complex business findings and strategic implications. 

Leadership (LD)

  1. Students will assess global and organizational factors to identify a strategic opportunity and demonstrate leadership in framing the issue for action. 
  2. Students will design and present a strategic initiative that reflects leadership in decision-making and integrates relevant business functions to address the identified opportunity. 

Assessment takes place during each student's final year. Students enroll in a zero-credit course (BUS 582), graded as pass-fail. All of the learning objectives are assessed in this class.

In BUS 582, students are required to upload written artifacts to Blackboard, deliver a presentation, and take part in other assessment activities.

Members of the school's Graduate Programs Committee work with the MBA Director and AoL Coordinator to evaluate students' work in Blackboard.

Once students' artifacts are scored, the results are shared with a faculty task force that analyzes the data and present its findings to all School of Business faculty at the School's annual assessment retreat. Faculty then discuss how to improve student learning for each of the objectives. The faculty vote on possible solutions and take action to ensure continuous improvement in student learning.

Overview of MSA AOL Process

The School of Business offers a MS in Accounting program with five required courses and five electives. The overall learning goal for the program is information literacy, which initiates, sustains, and extends lifelong learning beyond formal classroom settings and provides practice with self-directed investigations as individuals move into internships, first professional positions, and increasing responsibilities in all arenas of life.

1. Accounting Knowledge (AK)

AK3: Students will demonstrate their accounting knowledge by answering questions derived from across the curriculum.

2. Ethical Reasoning (ER)

ER1: Students identify the problem and / or ethical issues in accounting.
ER2: Students identify stakeholders and ethical principles, including relevant professional ethical standards.
ER3: Students identify alternative courses of action for all stakeholders and choose the best alternative.
ER4: Students analyze pros and cons of alternative course of action

3. Communication Skills (CS)

CS1: Students demonstrate effective written communication skills.
CS2: Students demonstrate effective oral communication skills.

4. Analytical Skills (AS)

AS1: Students demonstrate proficiency in the interpretation of data to make informed recommendations.
AS2: Students utilize technology to analyze accounting data.

5. Critical Thinking (CT)

CT1: Students identify the relevant business issue.
CT2: Students demonstrate the ability to research authoritative literature to evaluate the issue.
CT3: Students develop relevant conclusions.

Assessment is performed during a zero-credit course (AC 582) that MSA students take during their last semester. Assessments are evaluated by accounting department faculty, which analyzes the data. Pedagogical improvements are made based on assessment results.