AABI accreditation assures students and prospective employers that an educational degree program has met stringent industry standards of quality. It ensures that graduates have received quality training and education and are capable of performing a broad range of professional responsibilities. BSU’s flight training concentration has been accredited since February of 2014, having been reaffirmed as of February 2019 while the aviation management concentration received its initial accreditation as of February 2019.
1. Objectives of the Department of Aviation Science
a. The program’s educational objectives are met by successful completion of the Aviation Flight Training or Aviation Management required courses based on the concentration chosen. The holistic approach of the curriculum objectives reinforces the concepts and strengthens the program.
b. The educational objectives for the Department of Aviation Science (both the Flight Training and Aviation Management concentrations) and their alignment with the Ricciardi College of Business are as follows:
i. Table A: Program Educational Objectives
ii. Table B: Aviation Program Educational Goal alignment with Aviation Student Learning Outcomes
2. Assessment Measures
a. Mission: BSU’s assessment process is built upon the assumption that as faculty members we want to teach more effectively and help students learn more efficiently, and that together the faculty members and students can create a culture of teaching and learning that serves the common good. Assessment is dynamic and ongoing, as it fluidly adapts and responds to changing local and global ways of knowing. Assessment is also cyclical as we are always asking, intervening, analyzing, and changing.
b. Progress toward program objectives is measured against the training course Plan of Study:
i. Flight Training Concentration Plan of Study
ii. Aviation Management Concentration Plan of Study
c. Our Assessment Process:
i. Define intended student learning outcomes
ii. Assess the intended outcomes
iii. Review and discuss the results of the assessment
iv. Implement changes based on the results of the discussion
d. Collection of our data:
i. For academic courses, data to measure outcomes is collected at the end of each semester and reviewed at the end of the academic year by the departmental faculty. Type of data obtained will be specific to the course which could include written exams, presentations, or class projects. Based on the data, if benchmarks are not met or if there are concerns with specific objectives, the faculty will discuss solutions to improve results in order to meet the learning goals going forward.
ii. Due to the dynamic environment of flight training, data collection differs from the academic courses and utilizes a different process of resolution. Per the FAA part 141 certification, BSU flight students are subject to “stage checks” to ascertain completion of objectives and goals set forth in the appropriate training course outline. The stage checks are conducted by FAA approved check instructors. The outcomes of these exams are documented through the student’s record as well as a secure, confidential survey platform which allows for further data mining and refinement. To review outcomes, the check instructors will discuss the recent exam outcomes at a biweekly meeting. At this time, identification of further action is discussed as well as potential solutions to further student success and continue positive progress. The increased reporting capabilities allows for larger systemic changes (i.e. changes to the current training course outline to better suit the needs of the students).
3. Graduation Rates for the Department of Aviation Science
a. In the Department of Aviation Science, we support the mission of the University by offering an FAA and internationally accredited flight training program that offers rigorous academics and excellent in-flight training experience.
b. In order to determine the success rate of our program in terms of graduation, the BSU Office of Institutional Research gathers the information for each college and department:
i. Graduation rates for Flight program »
Graduation rates for Aviation Management program »
4. Rates and Types of Employment of our Graduates
a. Through the BSU Department of Career Services, we are able to ascertain the initial employment post-matriculation for recent graduates. Based on this information combined with our graduation rates, we are better able to determine the overall success of the program.
Employment data for Flight program »
Employment data for Aviation Management program »
b. To supplement this information and gather more relevant data, the Department of Aviation Science created a biennial alumni survey. The survey is dispersed via email to our known alumni list gathered from Career Services. Our objective is to ascertain our graduates’ career success as well as the program success by including the following questions:
i. Year of Graduation
ii. Current Employment Status
iii. Type of Employment
iv. Annual Salary Range
v. Position Relation to Course of Study
For the full compilation of alumni survey data, view CHART 3.