Course Assessment Data

Assessment data from CMGT courses are automatically gathered during course grading in the Canvas learning management system. Key assignments are identified in each course, and assessment results are used to track student progress toward mastery of program outcomes and competencies. Aggregate reports of assessment data allow the program to review and maintain grading standards across the curricula.

Assessment data from several CMGT courses are entered into the University’s assessment software, CampusLabs, to assist in providing metrics to the University’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission. The process to input data to CampusLabs and its successor is now semiautomated, with data gathered electronically from the University’s online course delivery software, Canvas, to track results from specific assignments measuring the competencies identified for given outcomes. In addition to University-level reports, CampusLabs allows aggregated assessment data to be reported at course, program, and college levels as well.

In fall 2022, CMGT will begin a pilot of a new tool for assessment reporting on behalf of our college and in coordination with University partners. The Assessment, Evaluation, Feedback & Intervention System (AEFIS) is a web-based end-to-end assessment management platform that facilitates the collection and application of real-time assessment data. As an all-in-one platform, AEFIS integrates with our learning management system, Canvas, and includes tools for curriculum mapping and outcomes alignment, evidence collection, and accreditation reporting. AEFIS will allow CMGT to produce more types of reports to better understand student learning needs and produce timely reports immediately after course-level ratings of student learning mastery are completed by faculty. This tool will alleviate dependence on our academic technology team to produce assessment reports and allow easier and more direct access to assessment data for CMGT Faculty Director and Director of Undergraduate Applied Studies. It is the top priority of our Curriculum and Assessment Specialist to complete the migration of CMGT’s assessment and reporting process to AEFIS by May 2023.

Study Abroad 2022

In January 2022, the eighth Pura Vida Study Abroad program in Costa Rica was one of a handful of programs permitted to participate in person in Costa Rica. Fourteen students from six different academic programs across the University took part in assisting a nonprofit agency catering to cancer survivors with a facility and operations proposal—in Spanish, in colones (currency), and in metric—in two weeks. The report is typically presented by the agency to the federal government for entry into the lottery system food project funding requests. The experience is not merely academic, but also cultural, incorporating various local events and site visits that make the experience unique.

Further information: Costa Rica: CCAPS Pura Vida Tour

ACE Mentor Program

The ACE Mentor program is a national program founded in the early 1990s, geared toward mentoring high school students into the industry. In addition, it provides academic scholarships and is widely supported by local industry. As part of our program’s outreach, we sponsor the ACE mentorship final presentations on the University of Minnesota campus, last hosted in-person March 2020 just before the pandemic lockdown took place. In March 2022 the presentation was again fully online.

In 2020, the CCAPS video technology team prepared a video in conjunction with Mortenson Construction focused on ACE students applying for the ACE scholarship. The video featured alumna Karli Schmitt and a former ACE participant, along with a national scholarship recipient, both of whom worked for Mortenson as interns. The video is now hosted on the ACE Twin Cities YouTube channel.

Construction History Society of America Academic Collaboration

CHSA is an international organization dedicated to the study of the history of construction, and the University of Minnesota Construction Management program supports CHSA with time and talent. Serving on the American organizational board of this British-based group, Peter Hilger continues to coordinate affiliation with other organizations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) MN State Convention, and regional CMAA meetings. Our construction history course, The Construction Industry Through Time and Tomorrow, is one of the few such courses in the nation, co-taught with Mr. Brian Bowen, a national expert from Georgia Tech.

Inspired by the now historic lockdowns, a series of webinars were hosted by Peter Hilger supported with technical talent provided by Paul McLagan of the Academic Technology team, all of which attracted a record number of registrants and is now an annual event. The webinars were:

Two more webinars are planned for 2022–23.

Upper Midwest Collegiate Construction League: Construct*ium

The University of Minnesota Construction Management program led the initiative to form a collaborative organization, not unlike collegiate sports leagues, consisting of the nine collegiate institutions in the upper midwest with programs in Construction Management: University of Wisconsin-Stout; Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Dakota State University; South Dakota State University; Iowa State University; University of Northern Iowa; Dunwoody Institute of Technology; and the University of Minnesota. Further, St. Cloud State University and the South Dakota School of Mines have also joined the League and started to participate in events. In 2015, the Minnesota Construction Association (MCA) moved forward by officially organizing the group, registering the trade name and domain, and launching a website. The MCA’s Academic Outreach Committee is now officially known as Construct*ium.

The Construct*ium/MCA Leadership Training Academy is held every two (odd) years that brings together students and practitioners for a series of speakers, workshops and student competitions. The next Academy event will be in April 2023.

quiz bowl pennants hanging

 

Photo: The pennants of the Construct*ium League Schools

Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)

The Construction Management program is committed to supporting this national organization dedicated to construction management, providing time and talent for Peter Hilger to serve on the Twin City Chapter Board. Students are offered the opportunity to take the CMIT exam upon completion of the Project Management Capstone Course. Peter Hilger is president of the Twin City chapter. He was also awarded Educator of the Year from CMAA in 2017. Due to the limited nature of its owner members across the Midwest, and the stronger presence of the Minnesota Construction Association (predecessor to the CMAA chapter), the chapter has been inactive.

Design Build Institute of America (DBIA)

The local chapter of the Design Build Institute of America has welcomed our students and faculty into its programs and courses. Students have participated in some monthly program meetings and local construction site tours.

Quality Improvement Plan

The University of Minnesota’s reputation as a premier learning institution is well established, nationally and internationally. The University’s Construction Management program has also acquired an excellent reputation for itself through its commitment to practical, applied instruction. Our program is grounded in current industry practices and technologies. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to the real issues facing construction managers. The program’s Quality Improvement Plan outlines our process for continuous assessment and improvement of the program goals, objectives, curriculum, faculty, and resources. The Quality Improvement Plan represents collaboration with our faculty, staff, program directors, and students. It is updated annually and posted on our website as part of our Annual Report.

The Quality Improvement Plan is provided in Appendix A.

Academic Quality Plan

The Program’s Academic Quality Plan is used to measure the effectiveness of our program and how well we are meeting the program goals and mission. It lists all of our Student Learning Outcomes, along with the measurement tools we use to determine whether students are obtaining each. The Academic Quality Plan is updated annually and available to the public, as it is contained in our Annual Report.

The Academic Quality Plan is provided in Appendix B.