Transforming Grades into Meaningful MPA Program Outcomes: Lessons from Benchmarking Learning Objectives in the Public Budgeting and Finance Course

Abstract

MPA programs have experienced increasing pressure from external stakeholders to produce indicators of program effectiveness. Producing these measures, however, can be both difficult and expensive. This article presents a low-cost method of transforming grades into meaningful MPA program outcomes. The method consists of (1) defining learning objectives, (2) structuring assessment instruments according to these learning objectives, and (3) using basic statistical procedures to determine whether a benchmark has been reached for each learning objective. The method presented in this article allows individual faculty to align course content with program mission, refine the specifics of program objectives, and measure the achievement of both. Hence the method is a good means of not only outcome assessment but also of faculty and curriculum development. Course specific indicators provide timely information on performance and can produce positive effects that spill over into the internship, capstone, and eventual realworld job experiences of students and alumni.