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
Population(s) to be served: Students
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.
