June 2007June 2007 AIHCE, John N ZeyAIHCE, John N Zey 11

Using Membership Directories of Using Membership Directories of Professional Societies to Assess Professional Societies to Assess

Academic Program Alumni SuccessAcademic Program Alumni Success

AIHCEAIHCEPhiladelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

June 2007June 2007

June 2007June 2007 AIHCE, John N ZeyAIHCE, John N Zey 22

Using Membership Directories of Using Membership Directories of Professional Societies to Assess Professional Societies to Assess

Academic Program Alumni SuccessAcademic Program Alumni Success

AIHCEAIHCEPhiladelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

June 2007June 2007

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CoCo--authorsauthors

John N. Zey, MS, CIHJohn N. Zey, MS, CIH–– Department of Safety Sciences, UCMDepartment of Safety Sciences, UCM

Sandy Hutchinson, Sandy Hutchinson, EdDEdD–– Department of Education Leadership, Department of Education Leadership,

UCMUCM

Larry Ferguson, Larry Ferguson, EdSEdS, CHMM, CHMM–– Department of Safety Sciences, UCMDepartment of Safety Sciences, UCM

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Presentation TopicsPresentation Topics

Why assess alumni?Why assess alumni?BackgroundBackgroundMethodologyMethodologyFindingsFindingsDiscussionDiscussion

Future plansFuture plans

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A Question?A Question?

Why assess academic Why assess academic program?program?–– Quality AssuranceQuality Assurance–– Continuous improvementContinuous improvement–– ConstituentsConstituents

University administration, employers, University administration, employers, alumni, prospective students, current alumni, prospective students, current students, internal and external review students, internal and external review groupsgroups

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A Sub QuestionA Sub Question

Why assess alumni success?Why assess alumni success?–– Monitoring alumni activities provides a Monitoring alumni activities provides a

different type of assessmentdifferent type of assessment–– Long term success is at least as Long term success is at least as

meaningful as short term success.meaningful as short term success.–– A warning: you might find alumni are A warning: you might find alumni are

not doing as well as you had hopednot doing as well as you had hoped

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BackgroundBackground

IH Program at UCMIH Program at UCM–– IH program started in 1973IH program started in 1973–– First graduates 1974First graduates 1974–– 501 graduates total501 graduates total

BS, MSBS, MS

–– Name change in 2006 (CMSU)Name change in 2006 (CMSU)

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BackgroundBackground

Assessment activities used by Assessment activities used by academic programsacademic programs–– Exit examsExit exams–– Exit interviewsExit interviews–– Advisory board reviewsAdvisory board reviews–– PortfoliosPortfolios–– Evaluations of InternshipsEvaluations of Internships

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BackgroundBackground

Assessment activities used by Assessment activities used by academic programsacademic programs–– External reviews (NIOSH, ABET)External reviews (NIOSH, ABET)–– Surveys of alumniSurveys of alumni–– Surveys of OSH professionalsSurveys of OSH professionals–– Focus groupsFocus groups–– Faculty perceptions of student workFaculty perceptions of student work

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BackgroundBackgroundJohn N. Zey & and one of his 6 sisters

Which one is John?

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MethodologyMethodology

What is neededWhat is needed–– Membership directories of professional Membership directories of professional

societiessocietiesTwo of the authors are members of five Two of the authors are members of five OSH professional organizationsOSH professional organizations

–– An interest in how the program An interest in how the program graduates have performedgraduates have performed

–– Willingness to invest time in tracking Willingness to invest time in tracking alumni activitiesalumni activities

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MethodologyMethodology

1997 started compiling a list of 1997 started compiling a list of alumni from IH programsalumni from IH programs–– Initially used word of mouthInitially used word of mouth–– List from alumni officeList from alumni office–– Used memberships directory lists to Used memberships directory lists to

better track employer, certification, better track employer, certification, service to the professionservice to the profession

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MethodologyMethodology

ABIH recently published the year ABIH recently published the year each certification (CIH) was each certification (CIH) was awardedawarded–– Already had a list of most of the Already had a list of most of the

graduates from the IH program at UCMgraduates from the IH program at UCM–– Combined that information with the data Combined that information with the data

on alumni and if they were certifiedon alumni and if they were certified

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ResultsResults

~500 alumni~500 alumni–– One of the largest IH alumni groupsOne of the largest IH alumni groups–– 42.5% (213) obtained CIH42.5% (213) obtained CIH–– 12.7% (64) CSP, 12.7% (64) CSP, –– 6.8% (34) CHMM, 6.8% (34) CHMM, –– 1% CPE, CHCM, COHN, QEP1% CPE, CHCM, COHN, QEP–– 48.9% obtained at least one 48.9% obtained at least one

certification certification

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ResultsResults

Time to obtain CIHTime to obtain CIH–– 6.2 years after getting degree6.2 years after getting degree

Range was Range was --2 to 23 years2 to 23 years58.4% (458.4% (4--9 yrs)9 yrs)17.8% (1017.8% (10--23 yrs)23 yrs)

–– Some alumni are double or triple Some alumni are double or triple certifiedcertified

–– Some have earned JD, 2Some have earned JD, 2ndnd MS, MS, Doctorate Doctorate

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ResultsResults

Alumni continued:Alumni continued:–– 2525--35% of the technical committees for 35% of the technical committees for

AIHA & ACGIH have UCM alumni AIHA & ACGIH have UCM alumni –– About 75% of the alumni are still active About 75% of the alumni are still active

in the OSHE disciplinein the OSHE discipline

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Limitations of the DataLimitations of the Data

Unable to track some of the alumniUnable to track some of the alumniNot all alumni are members of Not all alumni are members of professional societiesprofessional societiesSeveral alumni obtained degrees partSeveral alumni obtained degrees part--timetimeSome obtained certification shortly Some obtained certification shortly after receiving MSafter receiving MS

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DiscussionDiscussion

The data suggests the IH program The data suggests the IH program has produced the type of graduate has produced the type of graduate employers are seeking employers are seeking We are unable to compare our data We are unable to compare our data to other programs as very little to other programs as very little information appears on this issueinformation appears on this issueEmphasis on program assessment Emphasis on program assessment should provide future datashould provide future data

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ConclusionsConclusions

Use of membership directories Use of membership directories is a very valuable tool for is a very valuable tool for assessing long term success of assessing long term success of programsprogramsIt is expensive both in time It is expensive both in time required and money if your required and money if your employer doesnemployer doesn’’t pay for duest pay for dues

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ConclusionsConclusions

Program assessment is conducted Program assessment is conducted for constituentsfor constituents–– University administrationUniversity administration–– EmployersEmployers–– Prospective & current students Prospective & current students –– AlumniAlumni–– Peer programsPeer programs–– OthersOthers

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Future EffortsFuture Efforts

One of the authors is embarking on One of the authors is embarking on a comprehensive assessment of the a comprehensive assessment of the industrial hygiene masters programindustrial hygiene masters programThis should provide richer This should provide richer information on the alumni information on the alumni We hope other programs will report We hope other programs will report this type of datathis type of data

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Questions?Questions?