The Effects of new Curricular Guidelines, Revised Accreditation Criteria, And Institutional Resources on Program Change in Computer-Related fields in Private Liberal Arts Colleges

• Main Author: Simmons, Linda L.
• Published: NSUWorks 1994
• Subjects: Computer Sciences
• Online Access: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/840

This research addressed three problems. What is the effect of recent professional curricular guidelines (DPMAlISTE 90; ACMlIEEE 92; ISTE 92) upon program change in computer-related fields in private, liberal arts colleges? What is the effect of professional accreditation criteria (AACSB; ACBSP; NCATEIISTE) on computer-related fields in private, liberal arts colleges? What is the effect of institutional resources (faculty and technology) upon program change in computer related fields in private, liberal arts colleges? Program change was defined as change in courses, major course content or change in major class projects or homework assignments. A national survey stratified by accreditation region and enrollment size was sent to chairpersons of computer-related departments in a randomly selected sample of private, liberal arts colleges. A return rate of 51 % was attained. The proportions of the respondent rate paralleled the strata proportions in the population. The results provided support for the hypothesis that professional guidelines affected program change. The results did not support the hypothesis. That accreditation criteria affected program change. The results provided support for the hypothesis that institutional variables affected program change. This study suggested that liberal arts institutions are in agreement with regard to the importance of professional curricular guidelines, the unimportance of accreditation criteria and the importance of faculty and technology resources as variables affecting program change. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which liberal arts institutions differ from public universities.