By Nicholas Bussberg, Ryne VanKrevelen, Mark Weaver, Laura Taylor
Information
At many institutions, seniors must complete exit requirements such as capstone or seminar courses, portfolios, or standardized exams to graduate. Our department within a private, mid-sized university in the Southeastern United States has required statistics majors to complete a written portfolio addressing prompts based on our major’s learning objectives. While classes are capped at 30 students, advanced courses usually see 20 or less. However, with an increase in majors (around 40 declared undergraduates at any given time graduating around 15 seniors each year), faculty found reviewing portfolios to be cumbersome, and many students viewed the portfolio merely as a hurdle to graduation. In Fall 2023, our department revamped our portfolio process to include two pathways for majors. Students can still complete a written portfolio, but simplified questions direct students primarily to reflect on their statistical knowledge and growth. For the second option, students have flexibility to satisfy their graduation requirements by engaging in various statistical experiences. Possible experiences include research presentations, data competitions, professional certifications, departmental service (e.g., tutors or teaching assistants), and more creative outlets (e.g., news articles, data art, or song competitions). Overall, we have seen positive reactions from both students and faculty. We will present our overhauled approach along with faculty reflections on the process. Students are being encouraged to participate in statistical experiences that match their own ambitions and to think about how to communicate these experiences to future graduate programs and employers.