Student Learning

Outcomes
Arlene Carney
Faculty and Academic Affairs
Student Learning Outcomes
• Developed by the Council for
Enhancing Student Learning in 2003.
• Approved by the Faculty Senate in
2007.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• can identify, define, and solve

problems
Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• can locate and critically evaluate

information
Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• have mastered a body of knowledge

and a mode of inquiry
Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• understand diverse philosophies and

cultures within and across societies
Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• can communicate effectively

Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• understand the role of creativity,

innovation, discovery, and expression
across disciplines
Student Learning Outcomes
At the time of receiving a bachelor’
degree, students:

• have acquired skills for effective

citizenship and life-long learning
Student Learning Outcomes
• Implementation is ongoing with 15
pilot departments.
–They are mapping their curricula onto
the SLOs.
–They meet with us to discuss their
progress.
Student Learning Liberal Major Minor
Outcomes Education
can identify, define, and solve
problems

can locate and critically

evaluate information
have mastered of a body of
knowledge and a mode of
inquiry
understand diverse
philosophies and cultures
within and across societies
can communicate effectively

understand the role of

creativity, innovation,
discovery, and expression
across disciplines
have acquired skills for
effective citizenship & life-
long learning
Student Learning Outcomes
• The seven SLOs can be considered
“umbrellas.”
• Departments will determine specific
elaborations for each of the SLOs that
may be discipline specific.
 Can identify, define, and solve problems

Non-discipline specific:

You will use information to answer questions and/or solve problems.

You will use information technologies to solve problems.
You will organize information to present a sound, central idea supported
by relevant material in a logical order

From a sample rubric, Suskie 2004

 Can identify, define, and solve problems

Arts Disciplines:

You will select and use a variety of construction materials with different
characteristics (e.g. strength, durability, cost, etc.) to design public
sculptures.

You will develop vocal control and movement techniques as a basis for
creating characters in at least five different scenes.
 Can identify, define, and solve problems

Natural/Physical Sciences Disciplines:

You will gain experience doing a variety of scientific protocols, using

modern research equipment and strategies. You will be learning how to
make observations, develop hypotheses, design experiments, and
interpret data.

You will gain additional experience using mathematical concepts and

tools to analyze, evaluate, and present data.

Robin Wright, University of Minnesota, Biology 2002, Fall 2008

 Can locate and critically evaluate information

You will learn how to find information and data, evaluate it,
and synthesize it to solve problems or make decisions.*

You will be able to read, interpret, and analyze a map (both

in terms of what is visible and hidden).**

You will be able to use at least three search engines (Medline,

PsychInfo, and ERIC) to locate materials for class presentations.

*Wright, 2008 (Biology); **Kessler, Frostberg College, 2008 (Geography)

Have mastered a body of knowledge and a mode of inquiry.

History:
You will be able to use original sources to discuss philosophical
issues related to the nature of history.

Finance:
You will be able to understand the theory and apply, in real
world situations, the techniques that have been developed
in corporate finance.

*UNC Fayetteville, 2008; **Damodaran, NYU, 2008

Have mastered a body of knowledge and a mode of inquiry.

Political Psychology:
You will be familiar with the modes of thinking, theorizing, and
inquiry that are characteristic of political psychology.*

Chemical Engineering:
You will learn the fundamental characteristics of materials
including mechanical and electronic properties, as well as
magnetic or optical or superconducting properties. **

*Steenbergen, UNC & Transue, Duke, 2006; Chem Eng UM, 2007
Understand diverse philosophies and cultures within and across
societies.

Family Social Science:

You will gain experience with family systems, including family
diversity studies.

Journalism:
You will write and speak knowledgeably about increasing racial
and ethnic diversity in the US, including census and related
demographic patterns and projections as they relate to media
specifically and society generally. (Jour 3745, UM, 2008)
Understand diverse philosophies and cultures within and across
societies.

Chicano Studies:
You will learn how to evaluate and interpret moving images,
visual symbols, and the narrative of cinema as an art form,
but also as a means of (re)constructing and maintaining an
ethnic identity. (Mendoza, 2007)

Psychology:
You will learn the constituent properties of happiness, in terms
of both basic mechanisms and individual differences.
(MacDonald, 2008)
 Can communicate effectively.

Creative Writing:
You will have an opportunity to produce written work in two
genres for review by your peers.*

Public Speaking:
You should be able to identify and critique established positions
in public debates, develop solid arguments in response to these
positions, and effectively voice these arguments to appropriate
audiences.

*Manis, Penn State, 2008; **Damodaran, NYU, 2008 (Finance)

 Can communicate effectively.

Nursing:
You will develop skills for listening to patients, writing notes and
reports, and communicating orally to provide effective patient
care.

Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences:
You will create a journal in which you describe and analyze the
communication strategies used in your service learning site.
Understand the role of creativity, innovation, discovery, and expression
across the disciplines.

Psychology:
You will be able to describe major classes of psychological
disorder and their symptoms and will become aware
of accuracies versus myths regarding how such disorders are
portrayed in the popular media. (Luciana, 2007)

Cultural Studies:
You will analyze ways in which suburbia has figured in high,
low, and popular culture, and its role in shaping politics,
economy, work, family, and domesticity. (Archer, 2007)
Understand the role of creativity, innovation, discovery, and expression
across the disciplines.

CFANS Intro Course on Biotechnology:

Students will learn:
How to clone a gene.
How to genetically modify microbes, plants, and animals.
What is possible, and what is not possible, using the tools of
biotechnology.
How biotechnology is likely to impact your life.
How biotechnology is likely to impact the environment.
How different people view biotechnology.
How biotechnology influences -- and is influenced by -- ethical,
legal, economic and social issues.
Have acquired skills for effective citizenship and life-long learning

Communication Studies:
You will understand how rhetoric shapes the meaning of events
and public life.*

Applied Economics:
You will gain an ethical perspective on public policy issues
related to food and the food industry.**

*Wilson, UM, 2008 (UM); **Kinsey & Senauer, 2007 (UM)

Student Learning Outcomes
• Final key to success is assessment of
each of these outcomes.
• How do we know that students have
learned?
• How do we change our courses to
enhance learning?