Thursday, September 15, 2016

General Education 2015 Academic Initiative Proposal

ACADEMIC INITIATIVE PROPOSAL


Primary Initiator(s): Jenn Boulay and Holly Pappas                          
Department/Division: Lash Center for Teaching and Learning         
Telephone # & Extension: 2853(Jenn), 2244 (Holly)                     Date: 10/15/15      
Email: jennifer.boulay@bristolcc.edu              



Initial Proposal

Working Title of Proposed Project: General Education Competencies Review

Working Summary of Project – Include required resources (not to exceed one page in length):

A 13-15 member task force will be formed and co-chaired by Jenn Boulay, Academic Coordinator for the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Holly Pappas, Outcomes Assessment Fellow. This working group will review and recommend Bristol Community College’s general education competencies to ensure they reflect the current College consensus and are sufficiently rigorous and measurable. Over the course of the fall semester, we will develop recommendations for the competencies, with future assessment of these competencies in mind; part of this process may involve exploration of how well our existing BCC General Education competencies align with the AAC&U LEAP Value Rubrics. The proposal, with potential recommendations for revision of the College’s General Education competencies, will be submitted to Academic Affairs by the end of December 2015.

Both faculty and students (current and prospective) will benefit from this work because it will provide them with clear statements of what skills students are expected to possess by the time they complete their academic program. This will be achieved by providing a measurable description of competencies with a framing language and glossary of terms.

This project fits in with a greater assessment plan for general education competencies and is aligned with accreditation standards 4.48, 4.49, 4.51 by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

4.48 The institution implements and provides support for systematic and broad-based assessment of what and how students are learning through their academic program and experiences outside the classroom. Assessment is based on clear statements of what students are expected to gain, achieve, demonstrate, or know by the time they complete their academic program. Assessment provides useful information that helps the institution to improve the experiences provided for students, as well as to assure that the level of student achievement is appropriate for the degree awarded.

4.49 The institution’s approach to understanding student learning focuses on the course, program, and institutional level. Evidence is considered at the appropriate level of focus, with the results being a demonstrable factor in improving the learning opportunities and results for students.

4.51 The institution’s approach to understanding what and how students are learning and using the results for improvement has the support of the institution’s academic and institutional leadership and the systematic involvement of faculty.

The group will have broad representation which includes full and part-time faculty and professional staff from various areas of the college (e.g., Academic Divisions 1-6, Lash Division, Student Services, Enrollment Services). Each stakeholder will bring an important perspective that will help to articulate what a BCC graduate should exemplify.

                                   
Due Date (please indicate if fixed & why): 12/31/15




Estimated Budget:                                        $0                                                             



Identified or requested funding source: N/A

Notification

         President of F&PS Senate                                                                             __________________________           
                Required for all College-wide Academic Initiatives



Approval
              President or his designee, usually Academic V.P.
         Academic VP                                                                     ___________________                                         
                Required for all College-wide Academic Initiatives




NOTE: Approval to Investigate Does NOT Constitute Final Approval










Appendix A: Timeline and Communication Plan

The overall timeline for this project, in response to the NEASC letter dated December 2, 2014, is as follows:
1.      Review and recommend General Education competencies, Fall 2015
2.      Create assessment plan, Spring 2016
3.      Assess competencies using assessment plan, Fall 2016
4.      Report to NEASC, Spring 2017

Note: This task force will dissolve after providing recommendations for revisions of the General Education competencies. This document only covers the first stage of the overall project.


Status updates about this initiative will be provided throughout the semester at All Academic and Professional Staff meetings, as well as at Division and Senate meetings. The final report will be published and made available to the college. 

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