When applicable, licensing and certification examinations are used in program-level assessment plans as measures of student achievement. Programs establish a criterion level for success (achievement target/goal) for each licensure or certification exam measure. A summary table is provided here. |
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COLLEGE
Program
Licensing/Certification Exam |
Target
(Threshold for success set by faculty in the discipline) |
Finding
(Achievement results reported by faculty in the discipline) |
Action Plans for Improvement if Target Unmet |
ARTS & LETTERS
Dane (Dance Education) BFA
Praxis II Exam |
90% of students will pass Praxis II Exam |
2010-2011:
100% (5/5) passed.
2011-2012:
100% (4/4) passed.
2012-2013:
100% (5/5) passed.
2013-2014:
100% (3/3) passed. |
Targets met.
|
ARTS & LETTERS
History (Social Studies Licensure) BA
Praxis II Exam |
100% of students will receive a passing grade of 143 (prior to Sept. 2012)/150 (after Sept. 2012) or greater on the Praxis II Social Studies Examination. |
Fall 2010:
Hattiesburg: 100% (4/4) received a passing score.
Gulf Park: 100% (1/1) received a passing score.
2011-2012:
Hattiesburg: 87.5% (7/8) received a passing score.
Gulf Park: 100% (6/6) received a passing score.
2012-2013:
Hattiesburg: 86.7% (13/15) received a passing score.
Gulf Park: 83.3% (5/6) received a passing score.
2013-2014:
Hattiesburg: 100% (12/12) received a passing score.
Gulf Park: 100% (3/3) received a passing score.
|
Target met. (Fall 2010)
Target partially met. (2011-2012)
Target not met. (2012-2013)
Target met. (2013-2014)
Plan for helping students successfully pass Praxis II Content Exam on the first try
When one of our students fails the content area exam, it is usually by one or two points. During advisement, our Department will provide information about measures to reduce test anxiety. We are currently allowing students to take the practice Praxis II exam in Social Studies. However, this is usually done at the end of the term and not enough feedback is given to them. In Fall 2012, HIS 487 students were allowed to take the practice test earlier so they become more aware of areas of content weakness. We also offer students a chance to sit in on HIS 101/102 and other basic subjects so that they can increase their content knowledge base. We refocused our advising efforts to make sure students are taking courses that reflect the curriculum that they will teach in 7-12 classrooms. |
BUSINESS
Accounting MPA
CPA Exam |
Pass rates of candidates on the three accounting-related parts (FAR, AUD, REG) will be evaluated relative to each other as well as against state averages with the expectation that USM graduates’ scores will exceed the state average. Rationale for threshold: The state averages will serve as a benchmark to normalize results for a larger group with similar demographics. |
2008:
FAR
USM: 47.1%; State: 45.4%
AUD
USM: 54.5%; State: 43.1%
REG
USM: 61.9%; State: 50.5%
2009:
FAR
USM: 44.4%; State: 40.6%
AUD
USM: 37.5%; State: 42.6%
REG
USM: 30.8%; State: 36.9%
2010:
FAR
USM: 36.4%; State: 42.5%
AUD
USM: 22.2%; State: 42.5%
REG
USM: 66.7%; State: 51.9%
2011:
FAR
USM: 35%; State: 31.3%
AUD
USM: 39%; State: 30.9%
REG
USM: 37%; State: 39.2%
2012:
FAR
USM: 40.7%; State: 36.5%
AUD
USM: 40.6%; State: 41.7%
REG
USM: 62.8%; State: 47.9%
|
Target met. (2008)
Target partially met. (2009)
Target partially met. (2010)
Target partially met. (2011)
Target partially met. (2012)
The AOL team believes that pass rates on the CPA exam should be viewed over time, with curriculum changes required only when downward trends in pass rates become obvious. As all trending data for USM candidates are positive across the 2010 - 2012 range for the accounting-specific exam sections (AUD, FAR, REG), the AOL team makes no recommendations for curriculum changes. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Counseling Psychology MS
National Counselor Exam (NCE) |
90% will pass the NCE on the first attempt. |
2009-2010: 100% passed on first attempt (n=6)
2010-2011: 100% passed on first attempt (n=6)
2011-2012: n/a
2012-2013: 100% passed on first attempt (n=6)
2013-2014: 100% passed on first attempt (n=6)
|
Targets met.
|
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Educational Administration and Supervision MEd
School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) |
The SLLA is a nationally recognized test that ensures educational leaders are ready for entry level positions in their school district. It is required for all entry-level candidates in the Master`s or Specialist building level programs to get licensure in Mississippi and requires a minimum score.
80% of program completers will pass the SLLA (MS pass score is 169) as required by their state.
|
2009-2010:
61% (14/23) scored at or above 169.
2010-2011:
68% (15/22) scored at or above 169.
2011-2012:
75% (9/12) scored at or above 169. (Online Cohort only)
2012-2013:
71% (5/7) scored at or above 169.
2013-2014:
86% (18/21) scored at or above 169.
|
Target not met. (2009-2010)
Target not met. (2010-2011)
Target not met. (2012-2013)
Target met. (2013-2014)
ETS modified the test format for the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) and the Mississippi State Department of Education increased its passing cut scores. The department evaluated modifying testing formats for courses and comprehensive exams so that students can have similar formats as the SLLA exam and to offer workshops for students to provide them tips and guidance on the testing formats. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Elementary Education BS
Praxis II – Elementary Content Knowledge |
90% of K-6 teacher candidates will be successful. Both the Mississippi Department of Education and NCATE require an 80% pass rate for state teacher education programs. |
2010-2011:
Hattiesburg: 82% (42/51)
Gulf Coast: 80% (32/40)
2011-2012:
Hattiesburg:
96% (145/151)
Gulf Coast: 88% (69/78)
2012-2013:
Hattiesburg:
100% (98/98)
Gulf Coast: 91% (50/55)
TAP: 84% (21/25)
2013-2014:
Hattiesburg:
93% (113/122)
Gulf Coast: 90% (53/59)
TAP: 100% (6/6) |
Target partially met. (2010-2011)
Target partially met. (2011-2012)
Target partially met. (2012-2013)
Target met. (2013-2014)
Beginning, in 2011, CISE faculty have access to subscores on the Praxis II: PLT for individual teacher candidates. Analysis of subscores will enable faculty to determine if there are categories of pedagogy that need further emphasis in coursework and/or clinical experiences. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Marriage and Family Therapy MS
National Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Exam |
80% first-time pass rate; administered final semester of the program |
2009: 100% (n=9)
2010: 100% (n=7)
2011: 100% (n=8)
2012: 89% (n=9)
2013: 100% (n=8)
2014: 100% (n=8)
|
Targets met. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology PhD
EPPP: Examination for the Professional Practice of Psychology |
85% of all eligible program graduates in the applied emphasis areas will achieve licensure. |
2013-2014:
72 of 94 (76.6%) recently graduated PhD students who were eligible for licensure, earned their license. |
Target not met.
Licensure information will be regularly distributed to all program graduates and reasons for non-licensure will be tracked in the coming year to determine what types of action may be helpful to increase licensure rates closer to the target levels. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
School Counseling and Guidance Services MEd
Praxis II Exam |
60% of USM’s school counseling Praxis participants will pass the exam on the first attempt with the required minimal score. Mississippi requires 156 for a pass. |
2009-2010: 100% (n=9)
2010-2011: 81% (9/11)
2011-2012: 66.7% (6/9)
2012-2013: 50% (N=2)*
2013-2014: 100% (n=14)
*The test number changed for the school counseling Praxis exam this year. |
Target met.
Target met.
Target met.
Target not met.
Target met.
The program coordinator is working with the appropriate offices to ensure proper Praxis data retrieval. There may be some discrepancy in the retrieval process since the new test has a new test number. We are also considering asking the student to upload the scores in TK-20 upon receipt as a part of their university portfolio. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Special Education BS
PRAXIS II: Special Education Content Knowledge |
90% of special education teacher candidates will attain Mississippi teacher licensure passing scores on the PRAXIS II: Special Education Content examination. NCATE and MDE require an 80% pass rate. |
2011-2012:
SPE K-12 program
100% (11/11) passed Dual licensure program
100% (4/4) passed
2012-2013:
SPE K-12 program
100% (16/16)
Dual licensure program
100% (18/18)
2013-2014:
SPE K-12 program
100% (10/10) passed
Dual licensure program
100% (9/9) passed |
Targets met. |
EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
Secondary Education and Teaching (Teach Mississippi Institute) Graduate Certificate
Praxis II: Content Specific Licensure Examination |
100% of TMI candidates will pass the Praxis II content specific licensure examination for their teaching area. |
2013-2014:
100% (16/16) passed
2012-2013:
100% (12/12) passed |
Targets Met. |
HEALTH
Audiology AuD
Audiology Praxis Exam |
95% of each graduating class will successfully complete the ETS Praxis Exam in Audiology. At this time a passing score is 170. |
2010-2011: 100% (n=8)
2011-2012: 86% (6/7)
2012-2013: 100% (n=7)
2013-2014: 100% (n=5)
2014-2015: 100% (n=4) |
Target partially met. (2010-2011)
Target not met. (2011-2012)
Target met. (2012-2013)
Target met. (2013-2014)
Target met. (2014-2015)
Analysis of data led the AuD faculty to revise the curriculum to include two summative exams. To provide test-taking experiences that are aimed at improving performance on the national praxis exam, a 2nd year Qualifying exam is required for students entering on/after the Fall of 2011, and a 3rd year comprehensive exam is required for classes entering on/after 2013. These revisions to the curriculum are positively reflected in the pass rate after 2012. |
HEALTH
Human Performance (Physical Education Licensure) BS
Praxis II |
100% of students obtain the passing score (138) established by the Mississippi Department of Education on the Praxis II: Physical Education Content Knowledge (0091) Exam. |
2010-2011: 100% (n=10)
2011-2012: 100% (n=12)
2012-2013: 100% (n=5)
2013-2014: 100% (n = 7) |
Targets met. |
HEALTH
Medical Laboratory Science BS
Certification Exam of the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry for medical laboratory scientists |
80% of students will pass the national certification exam |
2010-2011: 100% (n=8)
2011-2012: 90% (n=10)
2012-2013: 100% (n=15)
2013-2014: 92% (n=13)
|
Targets met. |
HEALTH
Medical Laboratory Science MS
Certification Exam of the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry for medical laboratory scientists
|
90% of the non-certified students will pass the national certification exam on the first attempt |
2010-2011: 100% (n=1)
2011-2012: 100% (n=3)
2012-2013: 100% (n=4)
2013-2014: 100% (n=6) |
Targets met. |
HEALTH
Nutrition and Dietetics BS
Registration Examination for Dietitians |
80% of DPD graduates who have completed supervised practice programs will pass the RD exam on the first attempt. |
2011: 82% (n=11)
2012: 83% (n=6)
2013: 91% (n=11) |
Targets met.. |
HEALTH
Phlebotomy Undergraduate Certificate
National Certification Exam |
50% of students who complete the phlebotomy certificate and take a national certification exam will pass the exam. |
2012-2013: 75% (3/4)
2013-2014: 60% (3/5) |
Targets met. |
HEALTH
Recreation (Therapeutic Recreation) BS
NCTRC Certification Exam
Graduates of the program take the NCTRC Certification Exam in order to obtain the title of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. |
75% of students taking the NCTRC certification exam for the first time will achieve a score on the Foundational Knowledge portion of the exam that is at or above the minimum acceptable competency level as determined by the NCTRC test administrators. |
Reports from NCTRC are provided annually, and results are for student performance over the past 3 years (2011, 2012, 2013). The most recent report of first time candidates received in December 2013 (n=30) indicated that 50% of students from USM met the target. |
Target not met.
Faculty are reviewing the competency expectations for therapeutic recreation and re-distributing them across all therapeutic recreation courses. |
HEALTH
Speech and Hearing Sciences MA/MS
Praxis II Exam in Speech-Language Pathology |
Students will achieve a passing score of 162. |
2010-2011: 93% (14/15)
2011-2012: 90% (9/10)
2012-2013: 93% (13/14)
2013:2014: 100% (9/9)
2014-2015: 93% (13/14) |
Targets not met.
With a 98.5% pass rate on the national Praxis examination (since 1995), faculty members believe that the curriculum is providing students with the necessary academic and clinical training background to succeed on the praxis exam. However, some additional measures, such as implementing a comprehensive exam requirement, as well as other strategies, are under review by the faculty. |
NURSING
Nursing BSN
National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) |
Composite NCLEX pass rate for CoN will be at or above the state and/or national level pass rate level. |
2010: 93.08%
State: 95.57%
National: 87.41%
2011: 97.87%
State: 96.17%
National: 87.89%
2012: 97.68%
State: 98.17%
National: 90.34%
2013: 93.29%
State: 93.65%
National: 83.04%
2014: 95.89%
State: 91.99%
National: 81.78% |
Target partially met. (2010)
Target met. (2011)
Target partially met. (2012)
Target partially met. (2013)
Target met. (2014)
In an effort to increase student success, a free NCLEX-RN review course is being offered to the senior nursing students with plans to move this review course to the beginning of the last semester. |
NURSING
Nursing
(Family Nurse Practitioner) MSN
American Nurses Credentialing Center Certification Exam (discipline specific) |
80% of the graduating students will take and pass the specific discipline certification exam. |
2010 : 92.3%
2011 : 88%
2012 : 91.45%
2013 : 85%
2014 : 91% |
Targets met. |
NURSING
Nursing (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner) MSN
American Nurses Credentialing Center Certification Exam (discipline specific) |
80% of the graduating students will complete and pass the PMHNP certification exam. |
2010:
No graduates
2011: 100% (n=8)
2012: 100% (n=5)
2013: No graduates
2014: 66.7% |
Targets met. (2011-2012)
Target not met. (2014)
Faculty will evaluate the Barkley Diagnostic Readiness Examination and compare results with certification results. |
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Biological Sciences (Licensure) BS
Praxis II Exam – Biology Content Knowledge |
80% will pass on first attempt. (The state minimum is 150.) |
2010-2011:
83% on first attempt (n=3).
2011-2012:
Hattiesburg: 50% (n=2);
Gulf Coast: 100% (n=1)
2012-2013:
Hattiesburg: 100% (n=5)
Gulf Coast: 100% (n=2)
2013-2014:
Hattiesburg: 33% (n=3)
Gulf Coast: 100% (n=3)
2014-2015:
Hattiesburg: 100% (n=2)
Gulf Coast: 50% (n=2)
|
Target met. (2010-2011)
Target partially met. (2011-2012)
Target met. (2012-2013)
Target partially met. (2013-2014)
Students not passing are mentored by the program advisor and are advised to audit the first year sequence and other areas where the student earned a low score. |
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Chemistry Licensure (BS)
Praxis II Exam – Chemistry |
75% will make a passing score of 151 before graduation. |
2010-2011:
80% (4/5)
2011-2012: 100% (3/3)
2012-2013: 100% (2/2)
2013-2014: n/a
|
Targets Met.
|
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Geology BS
Fundamentals of Geology exam, administered by the Association of State Boards of Geology and required for registration as a Professional Geologist in Mississippi. |
50% of our students (equivalent to the national pass rate) pass the ASBOG FG exam. |
2013-2014:
29% (2/7) |
Target not met. |
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Physics (Licensure) BS
Praxis II Exam – Physics |
100% pass rate. |
2011-2012: n/a
2011-2012:
n/a
2012-2013:
n/a
2013-2014:
100% (1/1)
|
Targets Met. |
