3.5.1 College-level competencies
The institution identifies college-level competencies within the general
education core and provides evidence that graduates have attained
those competencies.
Judgment of Off-Site Review Committee
Non-Compliance
Comments of Off-Site Review Committee
The college has identified seven (7) college-level competencies for the general education program (General Education Goals Assessment document). Each competency is embedded in various courses; however, there is insufficient evidence to determine the extent to which graduates have attained these competencies. The Off-Site Committee observes that when general education competencies are embedded in courses that course grades do not normally provide evidence of having achieved the competency in question. The use of specific rubrics for each competency may be useful in this type of environment.
Bennett Focused Response
The general education program at Bennett College is designed to 1) create and sustain an academic community whose participants develop intellectual skills and habits of mind and action that characterize a liberal education 2) immerse students in learning that emphasizes useful intellectual skills acquired across the curriculum, and 3) involve students in active self-directed and experiential approaches to learning and the development and practice of informed values. All degree programs must incorporate the fifty-one (51) general education program hours into the curriculum, which includes more than one course for each of the required areas of study.
The intended learning outcomes of the General Education program were confused with the goals of the program. The stated goals of the General Education Program are addressed through particular courses. This alignment can be seen below in the following table.
Program Goals |
Courses |
1. integrative and experiential approaches to learning, including critical, connected and creative thinking
*Analysis/Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
*Collaborative Team Building |
PS100; PS101; EC201; EC202; SO201 |
2.understanding and appreciation of interdisciplinary, multicultural, and international aspects of knowledge
*Understanding Global Perspective
*Citizenship & Service Leadership |
FR101/102; FR203/204; SP101/102; SP203/204;; HI101/102; HI201/202; PO200; PO202; |
3. building a knowledge base across the broad range of disciplines
*Aesthetic Sensitivity |
AR100; AR202; MU225; TH102 |
4. acquiring the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas
*Communication: Speaking, Writing, Listening, Reading, Quantitative Reasoning, Information Technology |
EN102; EN103; SH103; CS100; MA110; MA120; MA 130; CS101; CS202; PY221 |
5. developing the whole person in the context of African-American heritage
*Citizenship and Service Leadership |
HI203; OR100; HE100; PE102; PE106; PE108; PE308; PE310 |
6. formulating a value system and willingness to act upon it
*Ethics |
PH201; PH313; RL315; RL425 |
7. acquiring self-directed, independent learning skills, and fostering an inquiring mind
*Analysis/Critical Thinking/Problem Solving |
BI100; BI 101; SC103; CH101; PY201 |
Assessment
The General Education Curriculum and Assessment Council began the current assessment of the general education program learning outcomes in 2004 and it continues (see General Education Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes ).
The actual competencies addressed by the General Education program are presented below as college level competencies that every graduate of the College will possess to some degree. Also, the assessment measure for each competency is presented.
College-Level Competencies |
Assessment Methods |
1. Students will develop proficiency in
communication skills, including reading,
writing, and oral presentation |
- MAPP (Reading, Writing)
- English Competency Exam (ECE)
- Student performance in EN102 – Freshman Composition
|
2. Students will develop the ability to think
critically when identifying and evaluating the components of a problem |
- MAPP (Critical Thinking Skills)
- Student performance in PH 201- Intro. to Philosophy
- Student performance in PH 313 – Intro. to Ethics
|
3. Students will develop quantitative reasoning competencies to perform necessary
Arithmetic computations to solve problems |
- MAPP (Mathematics)
- Math Competency Exam (MCE)
- Student performance in MA 110 – College Algebra
|
4. Students will have a fundamental
understanding of the Natural Sciences,
including major concepts, principles,
and theories of the biological and
physical environment |
- MAPP (Natural Sciences)
- Student performance in BI 100 – Biological Science
- Student Performance in BI 101 – Principles of Biology
|
5. Students will have a fundamental
understanding of the Social Sciences,
including major concepts of social,
political, geographic, and economic
structures |
- MAPP (Social Sciences)
- Student performance in EC 201 – Intro. to Microeconomics; PO 200 – Intro. to Political Science; PS 100 – Intro. to Psychological Science; and SO 201 – Intro. to Sociology
|
6. Students will have a fundamental
understanding of the Humanities, including
a range of literature, representative of
different literary forms and historical
contexts |
- MAPP (Humanities)
- Student performance in EN 103 – Intro. to Literature
- Student performance in AR 100 – Intro. to Visual Arts
|
Please note that the externally validated or norm referenced assessment is provided by the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress (MAPP), and English Competency Exam (ECE). The ECE and MCE are cognitive test that students must pass as a graduation requirement.
The MAPP test is an Educational Testing Services instrument that measures:
- proficiency in critical thinking, reading, writing and mathematics in the context of humanities, social sciences and natural sciences
- academic skills developed, versus subject knowledge taught, in general education courses
The ECE is a direct measure of student writing skills offered as part of the College Board's ACCUPLACER program. It allows you to administer the writing assessment as part of ACCUPLACER Online using any Internet- and Web browser–equipped computer. The MCE is a locally developed assessment to measure student proficiency in mathematics.
It is through the use of these assessment methods that we determine and measure the extent to which graduates have attained the identified college-level competencies.
Supporting Documents
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