Data-Based Decisions (Continuous Improvement)

Undergraduate Program

The MIS department works closely with its nationally prominent advisory council to review survey data, student projects, and the department's curriculum. As a result of the data reviewed, the following changes have recently been made:

  • In 2008-2009 we again updated the curriculum. We followed the following process:
    • Many group meetings of Undergrad Curriculum Committee
    • Individual meetings with some faculty
    • Feedback from Advisory Board members
  • The objective of the 2008-2009 process were:
    • Map core requirements to IS 2008 Model Curriculum
    • Map tracks to entry-level career opportunities
    • Increase flexibility for students
      • Among courses
      • With fewer required courses
  • In 2005-2006, a complete curriculum review was completed and a number of courses modified to bring them in line with industry needs.
  • Starting in 2004-2005, the department head and other faculty started attending professional organization meetings throughout the state to boost the visibility of the program and create more opportunities for job placement and internships.
  • The department has hired two new faculty and these new faculty members will bring additional technical expertise into the curriculum.
  • We have moved our computing fundamental course BIS 1400 to the new OSS major outside of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business and made it an online course. This was done in recognition of the increased computer literacy of the incoming freshmen and the need to free faculty to work on advanced courses.
  • We are coordinating with the career service center to help students become more aware of services offered.
  • We have began a recruitment effort to increase the number of undergraduate students.

Graduate Program

The MIS department works closely with its nationally prominent advisory council to review survey data, student projects, and the department's curriculum. As a result of the data reviewed, the following changes have recently been made:

  • Dr. Robert Mills was appointed in 2009 to the position of director of MIS Graduate Programs
  • In 2008-2009 we began an overhaul of the curriculum following a process
    • The Director has held meetings with various faculty
    • New program planning sheets were developed
  • In 2009 we also developed a strategy to increase enrollment in the program
  • In 2006-2007, a first step toward a transition to the recent MSIS 2006: Model Curriculum and Guidelines for Graduate Degree Programs in Information Systems was completed. The program was streamlined and more courses were brought into the core and a number of courses were modified to bring them in line with industry needs.
  • Based on issues with advising satisfaction, a half-time advisor was hired for the graduate students in 2006.
  • Our Distance Education MS program is being phased out to allow faculty to concentrate on building the quality of the on-campus programs.
  • Starting in 2004-2005, the department head and other faculty started attending professional organization meetings throughout the state to boost the visibility of the program and create more opportunities for job placement and internships.
  • The department has hired two new faculty, and these new faculty members will bring additional technical expertise into the curriculum.
  • A new course MIS 6700 (Historical Foundations of MIS) was added to the curriculum to replace EDUC 7300 for MIS Ph.D. option students. This will give students a better exposure to the core MIS Literature.
  • We will focus on Ph.d. rather than Ed.D. students due to the elimination of the business education options.

Anyone with questions about our program and its efforts to continuously improve student opportunities may contact Dr. John Johnson at 435.797.2342.