Weber State University   

Dental Hygiene

Results of Assessment

2004-2005 (submitted 11/10/05)

Graduates of the Dental Hygiene Program shall possess:

1. the necessary biophysical, psychosocial and dental hygiene knowledge requisite for a comprehensive understanding of dental hygiene practice;
2. the technical skills, both fundamental and advanced, essential to the practice of dental hygiene;
3. the reasoning and judgment skills necessary to engage in problem-solving behavior;
4. the theoretical bases, research and communication skills necessary for the acquisition, advancement and dissemination of dental hygiene knowledge;
5. the leadership and initiative capabilities essential for assuming roles of responsibility within the dental hygiene profession and society;
6. and the moral habitude requisite for the effective performance of responsibilities within dental hygiene practice and within society.

1. Description of Data Collected:

Internal measures:

Students completing the First Year in the Program

Students completing the Second Year in the Program

External measures:

1. National Board Examination for Dental Hygiene 30 candidates, 30 pass examination, 84.6 school average. Overall pass rate spanning 28 years 98.9% pass rate
2. Western Regional Examination for Dental Hygiene 29 candidates; 24 pass, rate 82.7 %. ( 91.2% pass rate for clinical board examinations over 28 years)
3. Western Regional Examination for Local Anesthesia 30 candidates; 30 pass, rate 100%
4. survey prior year’s graduates and their employers (Class of 2004)
5. observation of graduates assuming leadership roles at local, state and national levels
6. regular review of disciplinary actions taken by the Board of Dentists and Dental Hygienists identifying individual or group infractions
7. Number of students continuing on to a Bachelor’s degree and/or Master’s degree; number of Baccalaureate degree graduates increases annual (24 of 30 in 2005)

2. The department continues to experience successes as students, graduates and employers of graduates report satisfaction with outcomes.
3. Description of faculty activity to discuss these results
   1. Data Collected for each semester is compiled and reviewed at the End of Semester faculty meeting.
   2. Annual surveys’ final reports are completed by May of each year, mailed to the faculty and staff for review and reflection during the summer months.
   3. Beginning of the year faculty meeting includes discussion of assessments and plans for specific changes with didactic and clinical courses
   4. Advisory committee receives the assessment data and provides input.
   5. Specific information is shared with students, as appropriate.

   Implications to department and changes that have been made

   1. The results of the assessment process have provided the faculty with feedback that impacts the structure of the curriculum and delivery of the courses. The clinical board examination had a higher than usual failure rate. This phenomenon occurred approximately 10 years ago when the board criteria changed. Faculty are developing strategies to address this.
   2. Students feedback via surveys has assisted the program with changes to facilitate the clinical education in the program.
   3. Courses in the department are technology blended with the Clinic Manual completely on-line with its own website.
   4. With two exceptions, all courses are web-enhanced and have a component of using internet blogs for journaling.
   5. Long range planning for equipment and program needs has been revised to reflect strong components of technology for the on-campus clinic.
   6. Faculty teaching loads continue to be assessed and loads are re-assigned when appropriate.

Student Learning Outcomes Assessments for 2005-2006

Internal and external assessments will remain constant for the 05-06 academic year. The focus of the 5 year interval survey to our alumni will include questions to explore their experiences in obtaining and maintaining employment. There have been additional dental hygiene programs established in the state and anecdotal information (and survey reported information) has revealed increases challenges to graduates in securing full-time employment with market saturation that is occurring along the Wasatch Front spanning Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Cache counties. An additional area of query is dental hygiene alumni professional activities in community and public health settings.

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