Report on Computer Technology Requirements
for Undergraduate Degrees at Winthrop University
Executive Summary  2006  

Introduction and procedures

Technology as a critical skill is embedded in the following general education goals:

1.3 Understand and practice rhetorical techniques and styles by writing and giving oral presentations,

3.4 Use computers competently,

3.5 Use the library and other information sources competently,

4.2 Understand cultures in their own terms and in terms of such factors [as the diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral  codes and ethical principles], and

7.2 Examine problems, issues, and choices that confront citizens and the world.

Office of Assessment personnel examined how undergraduate degree programs are meeting technology competency, a critical skills core requirement of Winthrop University’s general education program.  For the present assessment, all undergraduate degree programs and concentrations were operationally defined as undergraduate program options.  The list of 96 program options included in the present review is available through the Office of Assessment. The multi-step process for a course to be approved as meeting technology general education requirements  begins with course materials being submitted to the university’s General Education Faculty Committee.  General Education Committee faculty members evaluate all courses submitted for approval as general education electives. Courses approved for the technology requirement are listed on page 38 in the 2005-2006 Undergraduate Catalog.

Verifying technology competency

The University Office of Records and Registration utilizes an automated auditing system to verify that all candidates for baccalaureate degrees from Winthrop University have met all general education requirements, including technology competency. In 2003, faculty conference voted to approve the following operational definition of technology competency

“Mastery” of the objectives is defined as passing the approved course or courses with a grade of C/S or better. Source 

 Faculty teaching technology-approved courses are responsible for documenting how technology competency is measured. Technology assessment strategies are to be documented in course syllabi distributed to students and kept in departmental files.  Students failing to meet the technology requirement are notified by the Office of Records and Registration of the need to meet all academic requirements before the baccalaureate degree can be awarded.  Degree program faculty members are responsible for deciding if the general education technology requirement will be met as an elective (student selects any of the approved courses) or specific course(s) approved as a program requirement by departmental faculty.

Results

Of the 96 available undergraduate degree program options reviewed for the 2006 survey, 60.42 % (n = 58) specify which course(s) (typically courses in the major or computer science courses) must be taken to meet the program option’s general education technology requirement. The remaining program options (39.58%) allow students to select any of the approved courses (see pp 38-39 Winthrop University Undergraduate Catalog 2005-2006) to meet the general education technology requirement. The technology requirement reads, "0-3 credits required" because a single course approved for both the technology and another general education requirement (e.g., humanities and arts, social sciences) may be counted for both requirements.      

Discussion and Recommendations

The number of undergraduate degree programs requiring general education technology competency increased from 72.9 % (n = 51) in 2000 to 100.0% (n = 96) in 2006.   The automated audit system ensures that all undergraduates will meet the technology requirement to earn a baccalaureate degree from Winthrop University. Results of the current survey will be communicated online during Spring 2006.  Deans, department chairs and faculty members are told about the availability of assessment reports online and may contact Office of Assessment personnel for additional discussion.

Report on Computer Technology Requirements
for Undergraduate Degrees at Winthrop University
Executive Summary  2000  

Winthrop University’s General Education Goal Three is: “To use critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a variety of research methods”. The fourth subpart of Goal Three is to  “Use computers competently” (Winthrop University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001, page 54). The initial survey was conducted during the 1998-1999 academic year to determine how “computer competence” was addressed within undergraduate degree requirements.  Copies of the full report are available in the Office of Assessment.

Procedures

 During Fall 2000, the Coordinator of General Education Assessment (Winthrop University’s Office of Assessment) asked deans of degree-granting colleges to provide updated information about computer and technology knowledge and/or skill requirements for undergraduate degree programs at Winthrop University. Information included in the 2000-01 update was also obtained from department chairs via e-mail, voice mail messages and telephone conversations.  Office of Assessment faculty reviewed the Winthrop University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001 and Winthrop University web sites to identify what computer requirements, if any, were documented by undergraduate degree programs of study. The initial survey was conducted to obtain information about several basic questions: (1) What, if any, computer skills are required for undergraduate degree programs; (2) How are computer and technology knowledge and/or skill requirements documented;  and (3) How, if at all, do faculty assess/evaluate students’ ability to “use computers competently”?   In the present updated report, as in the initial survey, faculty did not attempt to document all specific methods by which students meet the general education requirement for computer competence or to identify every university course with a required computer component. 

For the 2000 update, “required computer competence” was assessed for each undergraduate degree option (n = 70).  Computer competence was operationally defined as successful completion (i.e., a passing  grade) of required courses which included a computer component. 

Assumptions made in the 2000 computer technology requirements update report for general education 

1. Assessment office faculty and staff assume the list of courses reported in the 2000 survey do not represent an inclusive list of all Winthrop undergraduate courses which include a computer component. No attempt was made to document all specific methods by which students meet the general education requirement for computer competence or to identify every university course with a required computer component.

2. For the purposes of the 2000 review, "required computer competence" was assessed for each undergraduate degree option (n = 70).  Competence was defined as successful (i.e., passing grade) completion of courses which include a required computer component.

3.  The following terms are used in Winthrop academic departments to signify a variety of degree opportunities: (1) concentration, (2) track, and (3) option. For the purposes of documenting computer requirements for undergraduate degrees, the terms concentrations, tracks and options were operationalized as synonymous terms.

            4. Writing 101 (WRIT 101) and Writing 102 (WRIT 102) are writing composition courses required in Area I of Winthrop University’s General Education Distribution Requirements (Winthrop University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001, page 55). WRIT 101 and WRIT 102 include computer components. Students enrolled in WRIT 101 and/or WRIT 102 participate in two class meetings during which a university librarian provides an orientation on the use of computers, Internet and computerized databases. Students are required to use word-processing for all out-of-class assignments in WRIT 101/102.

Results in the full technology requirements report are aggregated by college and department. Findings are summarized in the full report as follows: (1) undergraduate degrees awarded (including degree options, tracks or concentrations ), (2) statement on the presence of computer requirements for the undergraduate degrees awarded by major, Competence is reported as “computer literacy” in the full report.  (3) documentation [source(s)] of information about computer requirements, (4) faculty comments, (5) degree-required courses (Not all degree-required courses which include a computer component are listed.) with a computer component and (6) evaluation mechanism(s).

Subpart four of Winthrop University’s General Education Goal Three is to "Use computers competently" (Winthrop University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001, page 54). The survey of computer competency requirements in undergraduate majors is summarized in Table One.

Table 1. Summary of undergraduate (UG) degree options* and status of computer competency

* For the 2000 computer requirements review, "required computer competence" was assessed for each undergraduate degree option (n = 70). The terms concentrations, tracks and options were operationalized as synonymous. 

** College of Arts and Sciences (A&S); College of Business Administration (BADM); Richard W. Riley College of Education (EDUC) ; College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)

*** Area I General Education requirements include WRIT 101 and WRIT 102 which have computer components. Of the 70 undergraduate degree options reviewed for the 2000 technology survey, 72.9 % (n = 51) require students to demonstrate computer competence by successfully completing degree-required courses which include computer components. An additional 21.4% (n = 15) undergraduate degree options provide elective courses in the major which include computer components. Four undergraduate degree options (5.8%) do not require computer competence or offer an elective course within the major which includes a computer component.

Of the 70 undergraduate degree options reviewed for the 2000 technology survey, 72.9 % (n = 51) require students to demonstrate computer competence by successfully completing degree-required courses which include computer components. An additional 21.4% (n = 15) undergraduate degree options provide elective courses in the major which include computer components. Four undergraduate degree options (5.8%) do not require computer competence or offer an elective course within the major which includes a computer component.