MARA Program Performance

Overview

MARA Program Performance

Program Based Assessment

The San José State University School of Information has developed a set of Program Learning Outcomes that are focused on the core competencies of our profession. The culminating e-Portfolio serves to assess a student’s mastery of all program learning outcomes (core competencies) for the MARA degree before graduation.

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Review and Measurement of Individual Program Learning Outcomes

e-Portfolio data is collected to assess the achievement level of graduating students in meeting specific program learning outcomes.

Starting with the spring 2011 semester, the school has collected data on the number of revisions needed to satisfactorily demonstrate achievement of each of the 9 MARA Learning Outcomes or Core Competencies presented in students’ culminating electronic portfolios. Our goal is to have 90% or better of MARA 289 (e-Portfolio) students who need no or only 1 revision to a Statement of Competency, the essay in which they demonstrate achievement of a specific Program Learning Outcome. If less than 90% of students submit work at that level, then that identifies for the faculty a need for curricular review of the courses that address that PLO.

Since 2011 we have collected datasets on all of our competencies and are in the process of reviewing all of them as part of our ongoing curricular review process.

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Assessment of Individual Program Learning Outcomes Reports MARA

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Course Student Learning Objectives and Course Mapping to Program Core Competencies (Program Learning Objectives)

Each course has both student learning objectives – linked to assignments – as well as core competencies (program learning objectives) defined for that particular class. – See http://ischoolapps.sjsu.edu/slo-core/mara.php

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External Inputs into the Curriculum

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Retention and Graduation Data

Through fall 2015, there were three key points monitored to understand MARA retention rates.  As of spring 2016, there are two key points. The data point no longer consider is the MARA New Technology Workshop offered through fall 2015.

Data was gathered after the required new technology workshop, Online Social Networking, and between that course and the start of the following semester. The students began this workshop before they started their first semester were required to pass it to continue in the program. One of the purposes of the class was to help determine if a student was equipped for the online environment. This workshop was not taken for credit, and statistics were not available before fall 2011. Beginning in spring 2013, MARA students could also start their program in January. Figures for this non-credit workshop are available from fall 2011 through fall 2015.  Some students completed the technology workshop but didn’t register for classes for the following term. In spring 2016, the course was replaced with an optional, self-paced MARA Program Technology Preparation Workshop. Therefore, It became no longer feasible to use this option to gather retention data.

Table 1.a. MARA New Technology Workshop: Online Social Networking Retention and Pass Data (through fall 2015)

Semester Total Enrolled by iSchool Withdrawn/ dropped Still Enrolled at End of Course Not Satisfactory Satisfactory Retention Rate Pass Rate Enroll in classes the first term % Completed Enrolled in classes the first term
Fall 2015 20 2 18 0 18 90.0% 100% 18 100%
Spring 2015 16 1 15 0 15 93.75% 100% 15 100%
Fall 2014 18 4 14 0 14 77.7% 100% 14 100%
Spring 2014 17 5 12 0 12 70.5% 100% 11 92%
Fall 2013 22 4 18 2 16 82% 89% 15 94%
Spring 2013 17 0 17 0 17 100% 100% 17 100%
Fall 2012 25 2 23 0 23 92% 100% 22 96%
Fall 2011 18 4 14 0 14 78% 100% 9 64%

MARA Program Technology Preparation course (optional, self-paced), spring 2016 and beyond.

The previous process of providing an introduction to the technology that would be used in MARA classes was dropped in favor of a self-paced. optional approach. A Canvas course was created with the program coordinator as instructor to interact with students and answer questions. Students were invited but not required to participate. This workshop is not reviewed for retention purposes.

2. Core Courses. Students who began the MARA program in the fall semester between 2008 and 2011 were required to take two core classes: MARA 200 (The Records and the Recordkeeping Professions) and MARA 202 (Information Technology, Records, and the Information Age).

Table 2.a. Data about Students Taking MARA 200 and MARA 202 in their first term (Students entering program prior to fall 2012 ONLY) and continuing on to a second term the following spring.

  200 Total Enrolled # B or better % 202 Total Enrolled # B or better % # Started following term % Started following term
Fall 2011 9 7 78% 9 0 100% 8 89%
Fall 2010 15 14 93% 15 14 93% 10 67%
Fall 2009 11 4 36% 11 8 73% 5 45%
Fall 2008 8 8 100% 8 8 100% 8 100%

MARA students who entered the program in the fall, beginning in fall 2012, were expected to take MARA 200 and MARA 204 (instead of MARA 202 as previously required). However, students could elect to take just one course if they wished.

Table 2.b. Data about Students Taking MARA 200 (priority) and MARA 204 (if taking 2 courses) in their first term. Students entering program in fall (beginning in fall 2012) and continuing on to a second term the following spring.

First Term 200 Total Enrolled # B or better % 204 Total Enrolled # B or better % # Started following term in MARA % of highest total in either course
who started following term
Fall 2020 32 29 91% 29 27 93% 32/34 94%
Fall 2019 13 12 92% 12 11 92% 12 92%
Fall 2018 16 13 87% 14 11 79% 14 88%
Fall 2017 17 15 88% 17 15 88% 15 88%
Fall 2016 12 7 58% 11 6 55% 7 58%
Fall 2015 18 13 72% 15 13 87% 12 67%
Fall 2014 13 12 92% 13 13 100% 12 92%
Fall 2013 15 14 93% 15 14 93% 12 80%
Fall 2012 22 20 91% 19 18 95% 19 86%

MARA students who entered the program in the spring semester spring 2013 through spring 2018 were required to register for MARA 210 and were advised to take one MLIS elective (optional). MARA students entering the spring semester from spring 2019 forward were required to register for MARA 210 and advised to take MARA 283 as a second course.

Table 2.c. Data about Students Taking MARA 210 required and an MLIS elective (optional) in their first term (Students entering program beginning in spring 2013 through 2018) and continuing on to a second term the following fall). Starting with the Spring 2019, students took MARA 210 and MARA 283 (optional) instead of an optional elective and continuing to a second term the following fall.

  210 Total MARA Enrolled # B or better % 283
Total Enrolled		 # B or better % # Started following term % of students
who Started following term
Spring 2020 7 6 86% 3 2 67% 5 71%

Spring 2019

 9 8 89% 8 7 88% 7 78%
                 
  210 Total MARA Enrolled # B or better % MLIS Elective
Total Enrolled		 # B or better % # Started following term % of students
who Started following term
Spring 2018 18 17 94% 11 11 100% 16 89%
Spring 2017 14 14 100% 10 8 80% 11 79%
Spring 2016 17 15 88% 13 10 77% 9 53%
Spring 2015* 12 8 67% 9 6 67% 4 33%
Spring 2014 11 10 90% 8 7 87.5% 9 81.8%
Spring 2013 13 11 84.6% 11 9 81.8% 7 54%

*Some students since spring 2015 have registered for more than two courses.

3. In order to graduate with their MARA degree students must complete as a culminating experience: MARA 289 (e-Portfolio).

MARA students are required to complete an e-Portfolio for their culminating experience. The goal of the e-Portfolio is to provide a program-based assessment to ensure that each student demonstrates mastery of all program learning outcomes (core competencies) for the degree before graduation.

The e-Portfolio can be completed in one semester though the preparation happens all throughout the student’s program and is reviewed following the MARA e-portfolio rubric developed to evaluate the MARA competency statements.

Table 3. MARA 289: e-Portfolio Statistics

 

 Total Enrolled Passed Failed* Incomplete % Completion Rate
Spring 2023 9 8 0 1 89%
Fall 2022 9 8 1 0 89%
Spring 2022 10 9 1 0 90%
Fall 2020 15 15 0 0 100%
Spring 2020 13 12 0 1 (withdrew) 92%
Fall 2019 3 3 0 0 100%
Spring 2019 10 10 0 0 100%
Fall 2018 3 3 0 0 100%
Spring 2018 9 9 0 0 100%
Fall 2017 4 4 0 0 100%
Spring 2017 8 8 0 0 100%
Fall 2016 9 9 0 0 100%
Spring 2016 16 15 1 0 93.7%

*Students who fail MARA 289 have one more chance to retake the e-Portfolio course. If they fail again, they are disqualified from the MARA program. To date, there have been no disqualifications due to failing to produce a satisfactory e-Portfolio.

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Student Exit Survey Data

We survey our graduating students as they complete the MARA program. The information below is from our most recent exit survey, presenting the responses we received from MARA students (n=2) who completed MARA 289 in spring 2024.

Key survey findings include the following:

  • 100% of the survey respondents completed the MARA program within 4 years.
  • 100% of the survey respondents said their overall education experience in the MARA program was Very Good.
  • 100% of the survey respondents said they would recommend the MARA program to others.

The survey also provided insight regarding the employment trends of our recent MARA graduates, such as:

  • 100% of the survey respondents were working at the time they completed the MARA program.
  • Respondents worked in non-profit and educational organizations at the time of graduation.

The survey also provided insight regarding the MARA program’s top strengths, including:

  • The top strengths of the MARA program are Faculty, Online Learning Environment and Flexibility.
  • 100% of the survey respondents utilized the student services felt very satisfied.
  • 100% of respondents who sought help said the course planning support from their Academic Advisor was Very Good.
  • 100% of users rated the Academic Advisor Very Good for supportiveness and helpfulness.
  • Society of American Archivists, ARMA International and ASIS&T were organizations where respondents were members.
  • MARA respondents were involved in a variety of extracurricular activities including: Association Student Chapter Events, Archives/records management-related newsletter or wiki/blog contributions, Archives/records management-related volunteering, ASIS&T student chapter activities, SAA student chapter activities, MARA guest lectures, Second Life events.

Survey results also provide insight regarding MARA student demographics, including the following:

  • 50% of survey respondents lived in states outside of California. 
  • 50% of survey respondents stated that they were first generation graduate students.
  • Respondents were White and Hispanic/ Latinx.

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Alumni Placement Data

We survey our MARA alumni every two years in order to track employment trends, ensure that our curriculum remains relevant, and help us anticipate shifts in the job market.

Our most recent survey was sent in June 2024 to graduates who completed the MARA program during calendar years 2022 and 2023. We received a total of 9 responses to our survey. The responses may be rounded.

We are pleased to share the following data regarding our alumni:

  • 100% of alumni responding to the survey are currently employed in the archives, records, or information governance fields or related capacity, with 100% working in full-time positions as a records and information management specialist, digital archivist and historian, data analyst, systems administrator, and other roles. 
  • After graduation, 50% remained with an employer or position they held while attending the MARA program, and receiving the MARA degree advanced their careers. For example, they received a promotion and/or a salary increase. Only one respondent noted no change in status.
  • For those who conducted a job search after earning their MARA degree, they were employed within 6 months after graduation.
  • Survey respondents listed the following experiences as the most helpful in obtaining their jobs: technological skills; previous employment experience; internship, practicum, or fieldwork experience; additional certifications; MARA guest lectures/webcasts; and learning to work collaboratively with people in an online environment.
  • MARA alumni can be found working at businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations located across the United States.
  • The survey respondents believe that the skills and knowledge they learned in the MARA program prepared them for their jobs in the archives/records/information governance fields. 

We invite you to learn more about our MARA alumni by browsing our alumni career spotlights, reading alumni stories, and watching videos of them at work.

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