LibGuides: Assessment 101: General Education

General Education Learning Goals

From the AAC&U on the importance of General Education:

There is an emerging—and necessary—revolution occurring within general education. This revolution is led not by higher education “disruptors” intent on breaking apart existing systems, but by innovators creating intentional, coherent, engaging, and integrated educational experiences. College and university faculty, cocurricular professionals, and other academic leaders are leveraging research on what facilitates and strengthens liberal learning for all students seeking the benefits of higher education. Their revolution is based on the recognition that twenty-first-century general education

must be a central mechanism for integrating knowledge and developing higher-order learning skills and abilities rather than a set of unconnected introductory courses;
must connect with the learning goals of the major, the work of student affairs, and the goal of preparing students for lifelong learning;
is the foundation for equity in preparing current and future civically engaged graduates;
is a potentially powerful tool for retention and completion; and
provides valuable and enduring professional development for the current and future workforce.

In the context of urgent social challenges such as growing economic and demographic segregation and a breakdown of public trust in higher education at large, general education must prepare students to

create meaning and sense in the face of the active denigration of reason, evidence, and facts;
use critical thought, reflection, and considered judgment to countervail a culture defined by snap decisions, distrust, and division;
value difference and diverse viewpoints as the cornerstone of a thriving democracy.

Photo: CCAC Commencement

CCAC's General Education Learning Goals embrace both the College Vision and the Assessment of Student Learning Committee's definition of an educated person. The College Vision of providing "an exemplary learning community where individuals can develop their full potential" in an environment of the highest standards "of academic excellence, technological advancement, innovative responsive programming and economic development" is the foundation for CCAC's General Education program. An educated person is one who acquires and continues to expand upon the following (ASL July 2005):

A broad range of knowledge upon which to make value judgments
The skills to locate valid information and comprehend that information
The ability to analyze critically and synthesize efficiently valid information
The ability to listen carefully and to communicate effectively

General Education Learning Goals support the above definition of an educated person by uniting student learning experiences across all programs, courses and services at CCAC. General Education Learning Goals include essential knowledge and skills that help students to adapt to and to participate in global, cultural, social, political, economic, personal and technological change. The Learning Goals support students in achieving:

successful pursuits in higher education
successful careers
life-long learning

PDF File

Communication

Employ written and oral communication skills in order to convey clear and organized information to target audiences for specific purposes.