commission for academic accreditation report to … is a confidential statement from the external...

Commission for Academic Accreditation

Report to New York Institute for Technology (NYIT)

On NYIT’s 2nd Response to the ERT’s Report on:

The Application for:

Renewal of Accreditation

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

Commissioner: Dr. William Huw Williams

Commissioner, Commission for Academic Accreditation Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

United Arab Emirates

Date of ERT Visit: 21 - 24 September 2014 Date of ERT Report: 28 October 2014 Date of NYIT 1st Response: 14 December 2014 Date of ERT 1st Response Assessment: 10 March 2015 Date of NYIT 2nd Response: 7 April, 2015 Date of ERT 2nd Response Assessment: 25 May, 2015

Notice This is a confidential statement from the External Review Team of the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. The findings of the External Review Team reflect its observations at the time of the visit and relate to the Standards for Licensure and Accreditation, 2011 (the Standards). This report is for internal use only and is not for release except as allowed by policies of the Commission for Academic Accreditation.

Introduction An External Review Team (ERT) from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (hereafter the Commission or CAA) visited the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) from 21st to 24th September, 2014, to evaluate an Application for a Renewal of Accreditation for: Master of Business Administration (MBA); and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). The ERT are guided by the requirements established in the Standards for licensure and Accreditation (2011) known hereafter as the Standards, and the Procedural Guidelines for Initial and Renewal of Accreditation. The ERT’s report was sent to NYIT on 28th October, 2015. Their response was received by the CAA 14th December, 2014. The CAA responded to this document 10th March, 2015. NYIT’s 2nd response was submitted to the CAA 6th April, 2015 The CAA is pleased to inform NYIT that it has met all outstanding Requirements and Suggestions pertaining to the ERT Report October, 2014 and subsequent related Reports.

Requirements considered as Met: 3(ii); 4; 11; 14

NYIT’s Response

to

Follow-up Report from the External Review Team (Follow-up Report received on March 10, 2015)

Renewal of Accreditation

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

Prepared for

The Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

April 6, 2015 Office of Global Academic Programs Office of Academic Affairs

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Contact Information

NYIT Points of Contact in New York

Dr. Rahmat Shoureshi Provost & Vice President

for Academic Affairs

NYIT, Tower House Northern Boulevard,

Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000

Tel: +1-516-686-7630 E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Patricia Burlaud Dean, Operations, Assessments and

Accreditation

NYIT, Tower House Northern Boulevard,



Dr. Jess Boronico Dean, School of Management

NYIT, Wisser Library Northern Boulevard,



Alt. Location: 26 West 61st Street

New York, NY 10023-7692 Alt. Phone: +1-212-261-1706

NYIT Points of Contact in Abu Dhabi

Mr. Ahmad Tabbara Executive Director

NYIT-UAE CERT Technology Park, F2-01

P.O. Box 5464, Al Muroor Road Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971-2-4048-773 Alt. Phone: +971-2-4435-465

E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Garon Wheeler

Associate Campus Dean and Assistant Dean,

College of Arts & Sciences

NYIT-UAE CERT Technology Park, F2-08

P.O. Box 5464, Al Muroor Road Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates


mailto:[email protected]





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NYIT’s Response to March 10, 2015 ERT Assessment Report BSBA and MBA Programs

Table of Contents

Preamble……………………………………….………………………………………… p.4

NYIT’s Response to Requirement 3……………………………….……………………… p.4 NYIT’s Response to Requirement 4……………………………….……………………… p.5 NYIT’s Response to Requirement 11…………………………….……………………… p.13 NYIT’s Response to Requirement 14…………………………….……………………… p.15

List of Tables

Table 1: AACSB 2013 Standards.………………………………………………………..... p.7 Table 2: 4-year comparison of NYIT-UAE (and its SoM Programs) with HEIs

in Abu Dhabi. ……………………………………………………………………..p.8 Table 3: 5-year comparison of Travel Funds to Present at a Conference granted to SoM

faculty at NYIT Global Campuses……………………………………………….. p.9 Table 4: 5-year comparison of Global faculty Summer Research & Creativity Grants

awarded to SoM faculty at NYIT Global Campuses…………………………….. p.9 Table 5: 6-year comparison of SoM FTE by Program and by Location…………………... p.10 Table 6: 4-year comparison of Graduate Numbers by SoM Program and by Location…… p.10 Table 7: 5-year comparison of Fall Retention Rates by SoM Program and by Location…. p.10 Table 8: 2013-2014 Additional Internal Benchmarking Results………………………….. p.12 Table 9: NYIT-UAE SoM Program Benchmarking Plan…………………………………. p.13 Table 10: Changes in MGMT 335 Induced by Inputs of the Business

Advisory Board (Example 1)……………………………………………………. p.16 Table 11: Changes in Courses Induced by Inputs of the Business

Advisory Board (Example 2)…………………………………………………… p.16 List of Figures

Fig. 1: Feb. 18, 2015 AACSB Announcement: NYIT Granted Initial Accreditation …….. p.6

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BSBA and MBA Programs – Submission for Re-Accreditation NYIT’s Responses to ERT Assessment Report

Preamble: NYIT would like to thank once more the External Review Team (ERT) members and the Commission for Academic Accreditation for examining and constructively critiquing both the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration programs offered in Abu Dhabi, and for their continued support and interest in the application for re-accreditation of these degree programs. Not only is NYIT grateful for the thoughtful, detailed, and thorough feedback received following the ERT’s visit in September 2014, but it is also appreciative of all of ERT’s additional remarks included in its follow-up Assessment Report. We are also confident that improvements to the programs, as a result of the re- accreditation visit and process, will ensure healthy and educationally valuable programs for the students who pursue them.

Requirement 3: NYIT is required to:

(i) Provide evidence that the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment has a direct reporting line to the Campus Executive Dean;

(ii) ensure that information collected on the performance of the various units of the UAE campus also has adequate reflection through the IR process in the UAE.

Comment on NYIT response NYIT has satisfactorily met Requirement 3(i). The complexities of the practicalities of the relationship, to outside observers, between NYIT in the USA and NYIT-UAE requires greater location clarity of the process described in 2.3 paragraph: “Data analysis is conducted over the following semester, and a timed action plan is completed based on the negative responses and the concerns recorded. A report is submitted to the NY Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, the NY Dean of Operations, the NYIT-UAE Executive Director, and the NYIT-UAE Institutional Effectiveness Committee. The effectiveness of the implementation of the action plan is assessed by the end of the timeframe. A follow-up report is written before the end of the timeframe to ensure compliance and implementation.” Requirement partially met Needed: A rewrite of the response to Requirement 3 (ii) that makes clear those areas of reflection and elements of the process implementation that are centred within the UAE IR process rather than NY driven.

NYIT’s Response:

As mentioned in NYIT’s response to ERT Report 1, “a set of surveys of the numerous parties integrally tied to the programs and services provided by NYIT-UAE are administered by the NYIT-UAE Office of Institutional Research and Assessment in regular cycles that provide administrators with both current data and views to trends over time.”

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These satisfaction surveys conducted by the NYIT-UAE Office of Institutional research and Assessment result in the gathering of essential information and evaluation that, once analyzed locally, lead to action plans for concerned NYIT-UAE units, as well as follow-up analyses on improvements put in place.

The updated NYIT-UAE Quality and Assurance Manual summarizes the results obtained locally for all these satisfaction surveys, and now explicitly includes respective action plans and, when available, corresponding follow-up analyses. Each report is submitted by the NYIT-UAE Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, to the NYIT-UAE Executive Director, and the NYIT-UAE Institutional Effectiveness Committee. The effectiveness of the implementation of each action plan is assessed by the end of the timeframe. Follow-up reports are written before the end of the timeframe to ensure compliance and implementation. The current elements can be found in Appendices D1 to D7 of the Manual as follows:

- Appx D1 Summary Results of Course Evaluations by Students - Appx D2 Summary Review for Student Services & Student Life - Appx D3 Summary Review for Computing Services - Appx D4 Summary Review for Library Services - Appx D5 Summary Review for Campus Facilities - Appx D6 Summary Review for Admission Services - Appx D7 Summary Review for Registration Services

The updated QA Manual is also available online here.

ERT Response: The ERT notes the detail on the reporting lines and processes makes clear those areas of reflection and elements of the process implementation that are centered within the UAE institutional research process rather than driven from and by the home institution in New York. Requirement 3(ii): This Requirement is Met. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Requirement 4: NYIT is required to provide evidence that it benchmarks the BSBA and the MBA against best local and international practice to support the continuous quality enhancement process. Comment on NYIT response The ERT commends NYIT’s positive recommendation by the AACSB and involvement of other North American bodies/consultants in their attempts to maintain best practice across their programs/campuses. The ERT is also aware that NYIT meets satisfactorily various governmental accreditation requirements in other parts of the world where they have campuses. In order, however, to meet Standard 2.4 of QFEmirates, and the ERT requires NYIT to provide a more comprehensive level of information for improvement on its UAE campus, they must ensure: “2.4.2 benchmarking against best local and international practices is deployed as a part of the continuous quality improvement process;” (Standards for Licensure and Accreditation 2011, Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE. p.10) Requirement not met Needed:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3ippr9y832211xp/AABp5TikBHNBEfTvDdDjXMiRa?dl=0

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NYIT is required to provide evidence that it benchmarks the BSBA and the MBA against best local or international practice to support the continuous quality enhancement process.

NYIT’s Response:

NYIT-UAE thanks the ERT for helpfully clarifying the elements still needed for Requirement 4 in order to comply with the Standard 2.4.2.

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Several phases of benchmarking have been pursued at the NYIT-UAE School of Management level over the course of the past two years, and are now pursued further:

1. External international benchmarking beyond the UAE; 2. External benchmarking of NYIT-UAE with other HEI in Abu Dhabi; 3. Internal benchmarking across NYIT campuses; 4. External local benchmarking of the NYIT-UAE SoM programs with peer programs in

the UAE. 1. External international benchmarking beyond the UAE.

On February 18, 2015, the NYIT School of Management has officially obtained, for all its campuses, the AACSB initial accreditation, a hallmark of excellence in business education that has been earned by less than five percent of the world's business programs.

Fig. 1: Feb. 18, 2015 AACSB Announcement: NYIT Granted Initial Accreditation

AACSB accreditation validates the high quality of education NYIT provides students in the School of Management on NYIT campuses worldwide and in particular at NYIT-UAE, and it affirms that NYIT stands among the top schools for business education, as positively benchmarked against all the 15 AACSB Standards listed below.

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Table 1: AACSB 2013 Standards. 2. External benchmarking of NYIT-UAE with other HEI in Abu Dhabi;

Given that the MBA and BSBA programs are the two most enrolled programs at NYIT- UAE, the trends observed through the local institutional benchmarking mostly derive from the two SoM program corresponding trends. Below are, among others, some examples of elements benchmarked, as published by the latest 4-year Abu Dhabi Education Council Report on Higher Education Institutions in Abu Dhabi.

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Table 2: 4-year comparison of NYIT-UAE (and its SoM Programs) with HEIs in Abu Dhabi.

This institutional benchmarking of NYIT-UAE and its programs compared to all HEIs in Abu Dhabi show, among other elements to improve, that a close attention to first- year student retention is needed. To address this, last year, a number of student services were re-assessed and improved (such as student lounges on campus, for instance).

3. Internal Benchmarking across NYIT campuses:

This phase was intensively pursued during the academic year 2013-2014 and the first Fall semester of 2014-2015 for the purpose of providing AACSB with documented comparisons of the various performance indicators of SoM (and, as a consequence, of its two MBA and BSBA programs) across all NYIT campuses.

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This internal benchmarking led to a comprehensive report including 3- to 5-year comparative data on:

- learning & IT resources, - faculty professional development, - applications/admissions/enrolments, - number of graduates, - Fall retention rates, - graduation rates, - employment data, and - graduate student surveys.

For instance, below is included a set of internal benchmarking tables extracted from the report submitted to AACSB:

Table 3: 5-year comparison of Travel Funds to Present at a Conference granted to SoM faculty at NYIT Global Campuses.

Table 4: 5-year comparison of Global faculty Summer Research & Creativity Grants awarded to SoM faculty at NYIT Global Campuses.

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N.B: All SOM data (as a whole) for BSBA and MBA includes all campuses (NY campuses and global campuses)

Table 5: 6-year comparison of SoM FTE by Program and by Location.

Table 6: 4-year comparison of Graduate Numbers by SoM Program and by Location

Table 7: 5-year comparison of Fall Retention Rates by SoM Program and by Location

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In general, this internal benchmarking of the SoM BSBA and MBA programs delivered at NYIT-UAE compared to their peer programs at the other two NYIT campuses led to an increased effort in marketing and recruitment in these two programs that resulted in augmented enrolment in Fall 2014 that continued in Spring 2015.

In addition, additional internal benchmarking results for NYIT-UAE SoM programs performed across NYIT campuses led to the results shown in Table 8.

Critical Processes Abu Dhabi Campus Process

Improvements Process measures/improvements

over the AY 2013-2014

•Student Orientation Done twice annually – BUSI 100 (For BSBA) is a compulsory registration driven by the new PeopleSoft Registration process being implemented from Spring 2015 BUSI 610 (Professional Development Seminar) given every Cycle (was offered every semester in the AY 20113-2014) . BUSI 610 also offers modules for MBA students in Communication, Team Building and Research Methods

•Faculty interaction with Students outside class hours

Office hours being followed. In addition faculty answer queries from students on email, whatsapp group, blackboard discussion boards, and with appointments.

•Role of Business Advisory Board and stakeholders in curriculum improvements

Input elements from the Business Advisory Board implemented in the courses MBA: SBES 601 MRKT 610 ACCT 610 BSBA: LLAW 201 MGMT 335 MRKT 200

Courses in which student work is to be reviewed during Spring 2015 – BAB Meeting, April, 2015.

LLAW 110 BUSI 405 MGMT 335 MGMT 630

Survey of All stakeholders: April 9, 2015 during the Annual Stakeholders’ Conference (including Faculty, students, Student Advisory Board, Admin, Business Advisory Board, and Alumni)

Number of active BAB Members: 5 Attrition: 1

It is a conscious effort to expand the Business Advisory Board to factor in expert opinion of the Industry partners.

More courses and course work to be comprehensively assessed by BAB members as a continuous process.

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•Role of faculty in curriculum improvements

Section 5 (B) in all BSBA and MBA courses designed and driven by Faculty of SOM, Abu Dhabi Executive Summary mandatory from each faculty member – carries a Suggestion section on Curriculum improvements, resources, appropriateness of assignments and learning outcomes.

Inputs from faculty discussed during the Annual DADs Retreat Improvement in student performance using learning outcomes done during the Annual Retreat.

Shared inputs from Global Campus locations will drive process improvements.

Table 8: 2013-2014 Additional Internal Benchmarking Results

4. External local benchmarking of the NYIT-UAE SoM programs with peer programs in the UAE.

The AACSB initial accreditation granted to NYIT and NYIT-UAE in particular has implicitly provided and validated a benchmarking of the SoM BSBA and MBS programs offered at NYIT-UAE against their peer programs offered at a limited number of AACSB accredited institutions in the UAE such as Abu Dhabi University, the American University of Sharjah, or Zayed University for instance.

In addition, NYIT-UAE School of Management has proposed a Benchmarking Plan for the three upcoming academic years, as per Table 9 below.

(See Table 9 on next page)

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Benchmarking BSBA & MBA programs

Year 1 INTERNAL

BENCHMARKING

Year 1 EXTERNAL

BENCHMARKING

Year 2 and beyond EXTERNAL

BENCHMARKING

1. Critical Processes

• Student Orientation

• Faculty interaction with Students outside class hours

• Library Resources

• Usage of Software Resources

• Student Orientation

• Faculty interaction with Students outside class hours

• Library Resources

• Usage of Software Resources

• Role of Business Advisory Board and stakeholders in curriculum improvements

• Role of faculty in curriculum improvements

2. Data Collection • Surveys of student community

• Website reviews

• Surveys of student community

• Website reviews

• Interviews of faculty

3. Gap Analysis & New Strategies

To be identified To be identified To be identified

4. Implemented improvements

To be implemented after the process in 3

To be implemented after the process in 3.

To be implemented after the process in 3.

5. Effectiveness of Results

Measured in the subsequent Academic Year through satisfaction surveys



6. Comparison Units

Various campuses of NYIT

With one other AACSB accredited program and one non-AACSB accredited program in

the UAE

PROPOSED BENCHMARKING PLAN FOR BSBA AND MBA PROGRAMS

Table 9: NYIT-UAE SoM Program Benchmarking Plan. ERT Response: The ERT notes that NYIT-UAE has provided amble evidence of its benchmarking of the BSBA and the MBA programs against best local or international practice to support the continuous quality enhancement process. Requirement 4: This Requirement is Met.

Requirement 11: NYIT is required to review the people management content of the MBA program to ensure the expected elements of people management are included and that leadership in particular is not over covered to the detriment of other subject areas. Comment on NYIT response NYIT provided an updated outline for MGMT650, which is satisfactory. The ERT is still

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concerned that the MGT501 Principles of Management course on which the two courses MGT620 and MGT650 build does not cover the basic content needed. This has not been addressed by NYIT. Requirement partially met Needed:

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Principles of Management (MGT501): The course content does not cover many of the basic areas of organisational behaviour one would expect, for example individual differences; teams and groups; organizational structures, organizational learning. This should be addressed.

NYIT’s Response:

NYIT-UAE appreciates the advice of the ERT to include additional basic elements in MGMT 501. As a result, a complete revision of the topics covered in MGMT 501 has been made to include basic elements such as individual differences; teams and groups; organizational structures, organizational learning. The new weekly schedule of the MGMT 501 course is provided below (additions are listed in red):

Week Topic Book Section Wk 1 Managers and Entrepreneurs

The Evolution of Management Thought Changing Environment of Management

Chs. 1, 2 & 3

Wk 2 International Management and Cross-Cultural Competence Business Management’s Social and Ethical Responsibilities Strategic Management, Personality and Values

Chs. 4 & 5 Ch. 5 (Robbins & Judge)

Wk 3 The Basics of Planning and Project Management Strategic Management: Planning for the Long-Term Decision Making and Creative Problem Solving. Interim Case Evaluation

Chs. 6, 7 & 8

Wk 4 Midterm Exam Organizations: Effectiveness, Design, and Cultures Human Resource Management, Role of Perception & Decision Making Human Resource Management


Wk 5 Communicating in the Internet Age Motivating Job Performance Motivation: From concepts to Application


Wk 6 Group Dynamics and Understanding Work Teams Influence, Power, Leadership

Chs. 13 & 14 Ch. 10 & Ch. 12 (Robbins & Judge)

Wk 7 Change, Conflict, and Negotiation Organizational Culture, Foundations of Organization structure & Organizational Learning


Final Exam

Required Resource(s):

• Kreitner, R., and Cassidy, C. (2013). Management. 12th Edition. Cengage. ISBN 9781111221362.

• Stephen Robbins, P. (2015). Organizational Behavior. 16th Edition. Pearson Education. ISBN 9780133507645 © 2015

ERT Response:

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The ERT notes the changes to Principles of Management (MGT501) and the course content now covers the basic areas of organizational behavior that one would expect. Requirement 11: This Requirement is Met.

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Requirement 14: NYIT is required to provide evidence that students are able to demonstrate achievement of each of the course learning outcomes in order to pass the course. Comment on NYIT response The ERT are pleased to note, “The Abu Dhabi campus location is implementing a review of student work by the Business Advisory Board, building on a practice that is well established at the school’s New York campus location, to ensure that the course level learning goals are met through the lens of the practitioner and industry stakeholder groups”. Requirement partially met Needed: A definitive response at a later date to this Requirement after the various NYIT reviews.

NYIT’s Response:

NYIT-UAE School of Management engages the Business Advisory Board twice annually to discuss both course contents and student accomplishment of learning outcomes. Suggestions offered by the Business Advisory Board are incrementally implemented and evaluated for their value addition to the courses. Examples of changes effected to course contents under section 5 (B) are presented below.

Closing the Loop and Continuous Quality Improvement

1. To improve the quality of the syllabus and to close the loops, the Department

Assessment Directors (DADs): a. Compile the suggestions given by the course instructors in the

Executive summaries at the end of every term b. Collect the feedback given in the Annual BABs meetings c. Collect the suggestions of the Stakeholders

2. During the DADs retreat, DADs discuss the compiled report with the faculty

and with further suggestions, will submit the report to Assistant Dean, who will forward with recommendations to the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean, after consulting with the course leaders gives approval to implement the changes in 5B and 5C.

3. Instructors add and implement the changes in 5B as well as in the instructors’

contextualization sections to improve quality Two examples of changes effected based on inputs of the Business Advisory Board:

1. MGMT 335: BABs suggested to add the topic on Commercial Compliance &

Consumer Protection (CCCP), and consumer rights in the UAE

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5. B1: Contextualized (Localized) Learning Goal(s): Upon the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Old Syllabus New Syllabus 1. Analyze the growing impact of

globalization on local firms Assurance of Learning Validation (In support of the Contextualized (Localized) Learning Goal(s)): B1. Written Assignment:

One written assignment in the course will specifically focus on the role of globalization in UAE-based firms. In the past several years, UAE has seen both the positive and the negative aspects of globalization, as it continues to make a niche as an international economic power.

1. One score is given for the correctness

of the analysis in the context of the UAE (G3O1).

2. Analyze the growing impact of globalization on local firms. Assurance of Learning Validation (In support of the Contextualized (Localized) Learning Goal(s)):

B1.Team Presentation: Student Teams will research the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP), consumer rights in the UAE, process of filing complaints, redress mechanisms at the disposal of a consumer and contrast these with the legislative processes in place in the US. The teams present their analysis with supporting examples and suggest process improvements to serve consumers better in the region. For the purpose of assurance of learning, two specific scores are given 1. One score for the correctness of the analysis in

the context of the UAE (G3O1); 2. Analyze the impact of the CCCP on Local

Firms and their Global standing (MGMT LO3).

Table 10: Changes in MGMT 335 Induced by Inputs of the Business Advisory Board (Example 1).

The above changes suggested by the Business Advisory Board Members in their meeting during 2014 have been now incorporated in MGMT 335.

RECAP ON CHANGES IMPLEMENTED BASED ON SUGGESTIONS BY THE BAB ON 9 NOVEMBER 2013

Course Suggestion Implemented Evidence SBES 601 Ethics was discussed in detail

Various models and perspectives of ethics Corporate Social Responsibility discussed in detail Corporate Governance covered

Integral to the Assignments

LLAW 201 DIFC discussed in detail Law related to the UAE, Each Emirate, and the Law pertaining to DIFC discussed

Integral to the Assignment

MRKT 610 On-line Marketing discussed in detail Assignment given and Formative Assessment filed

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MGMT 335

Ethical issues were considered and discussed in detail

Assignment on Branding covering applied ethical perspectives In-class exercise – Exclusively on Ethics - Graded

MRKT 200 Consumerism in the UAE discussed In-class exercise administered

ACCT 610 Need for Code of Conduct for MBA discussed Sales Tax discussed in class Value Added Tax discussed in class

Draft Code of Conduct for MBA created A question in the Final Exam on VAT and Sales Tax to assess student understanding of these terms in the UAE

Table 11: Changes in Courses Induced by Inputs of the Business Advisory Board (Example 2).

Incremental improvements are made as and when these inputs are received from the Business Advisory Board members that meet twice every year.

ERT Response: The ERT notes updated information on achieving the course learning outcomes. This will be further monitored in later reviews, but the information provided gives the Commission some comfort that this area is being addressed. Requirement 14: This Requirement is Met.

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