Student Outcome Assessment: A Comprehensive Collaborative Assessment Process between Industry and the Department of Industrial Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Assessing the quality of the ITEC Department's programs through an ongoing evaluation and assessment process is mandated by the North Central Association and the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) [1].The ITEC Department is accredited by NAIT.As with any organization, it is good practice to constantly evaluate oneself to remain up-to-date and competitive.The Department of Industrial Technology not only considers itself as part of the College of Business and Technology, an institution of student learning, but a business as well.Our programs are not part of the general studies curriculum and as such we exist only to the extent that business and industry recruit and hire our graduates.Our product is our graduates and one of the most important assessments of our product is to the degree which they are recruited, hired, and retained by our industry partners.The ITEC Department boosts an almost perfect 100% placement rate. ASESSMENT BACKGROUNDAssessment or accountability of educational programs is not a new concept and has gained prominence in higher education during the past couple of decades [2].At least as far back as the Morrill Act of 1862, annual reports were required to demonstrate to stakeholders' money being utilized for higher education is being spent wisely and effectively.Section 5 paragraph 4 of the Morrill Act of 1862 (12 Stat.503) states: "An annual report shall be made regarding the progress of each college, recording any improvements and experiments made, with their cost and results, and such other matters, including State industrial and economical statistics, as may be supposed useful; one copy of which shall be transmitted by mail free, by each, to all the other colleges which may be endowed under the provisions of this act, and also one copy to the Secretary of the Interior."[3] Since this is the very act that established the Land Grant Universities including "such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts" [3], assessment of engineering and technical programs should not be foreign to those
Authors: Stanley Lightner, Richard Meznarich
Institution: University of Nebraska at Kearney
Language: English
Subfield: Media Technology
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W2395960344